Awesome, extremely intelligent guy. Very personable and helps you with the course material and any concerns. Lectures are interesting, not too much course work- just reading. Take him!

Nice professor. Class can be boring, but going to class is helpful. He lectures all class and tries to make everything interesting by adding current examples. The class isn't too hard. He gives a midterm and a final. He also gives 6 reading quizzes- 10 questions with 15 minutes to do them on BB and drops the lowest. Take him!

I was not excited about taking government but Lapira really tries to make it interesting! If you go to class, pay attention, and take notes to refer back to, you'll be fine. And you don't have to write an essay or answer questions on the movie nights like other professors make their classes do!

Subject material isn't particularly interesting but he makes it as interesting as it could be! Instead of a term paper, you write 5 papers that simulate assignments you'd received if you were working for a Congressman on the hill. LaPira is well-connected and very knowledgeable! You can tell his political affiliation right off the bat though...

He's really nice and does a good job at making sure you understand the material. Def take him!! Great professor!

Class is not difficult if you show up. Not the most interesting subject matter but he tries to make it as interesting and relevant as he can. I would recommend taking it for GenEd requirement.. much easier than others in the cluster. He's a nice guy but can be short with you when you need help (probably because its such a big class)

I've never liked government, but I really enjoyed his class. He uses examples that helped me to understand the point he was making. As long as you do the work and go to class you'll get a decent grade. He's a great professor, and you should definitely take him!

Boring subject but he does his best to make it interesting. Read the chapter before the online quizes and youll do fine. Exams are tough. Fairly tough grader but the class isnt too bad.

Good class overall. He's pretty funny. Don't get on his bad side. If he likes you he will help you out. Fair grader though. Good guy.

Fun class... some readings, but I enjoyed it. Just don't be bad and go along with it, and you'll be fine.

Tim "Big Shot" LaPira is a pretty decent teacher. Funny too. Probably a good guy outside of class. Very helpful if you approach him outside of class. Will call you out if he knows you aren't paying attention.

This class is a challenge, but if you do the readings, prepare well, and don't BS the assignments, a B is obtainable. Just go along with what he says and don't be a smartass in his class. Fair grader, go to his office if you have questions, he will help.

Go to class, it'll help you will all the little assignments he gives. Nod your head and just agree with what he says (even if he's wrong...). Exams are tricky to prepare for, but they aren't too bad. Don't be afraid to ask questions, he wants to make sure you understand the material. Don't put off anything last minute. Take if you want.

Lots of little assignments to help your grade. Some are harder than others, but its to make sure you aren't just coasting in the class. You have to earn the grade you get. Different teacher when you see him in his office. Sometimes goes on long and winded lectures that make you fall asleep. Slightly condescending at times. Not a bad teacher though.

At first I didn't like Dr. La Pira but he has grown on me! He gives quizzes on Bb for every chapter in the book with are really difficult! But hes tests are essay based and fairly simple. His lectures are interesting and he seems very passionate about what he teaches.

LOVE THIS CLASS

Hands down my favorite professor at JMU. Go to class, read the text and visit him in his office. He wants his students to succeed in class and at JMU in general. Very friendly and helpful!

This class was difficult, but Professor LaPira absolutely wants you to do well. I hated government in high school, but he made the course quite a bit more interesting. You will absolutely have to work for your grade, but I still recommend the class.

This class is not an easy A, but that shouldn't stop you from taking it. Dr. LaPira is a great guy and his lectures are always interesting. There are discussions on Fridays you need to read for, but they will really help you on the tests. Work hard and stop by his office. Some of these comments make him seem unapproachable and that's just not true.

Lapira is a really cool guy. I like this class because I've only had to show up like 5 times and I have an A. All his quizzesdiscussionsassignments are online so you can do them whenever you want. When I do go to class, he has something interesting to say and he is funny too. His teaching style is clear. Get what you put into it! Easy A for me.

I loved his lectures they're very relatable and thought provoking. Great Professor for a Gen Ed. I definitely recommend taking him. You do have to read the textbook and take reading quizzes but nothing to bad. 2 tests. oh and we watch House of Cards for credit.

GPOSC with Lapira is difficult but worth it and you will have to read your text book to understand his lectures. Also, attend lectures or make sure to look over the chapter outlines on canvas. There is only 2 tests and a bunch of online quizzes which are easy A's. Definitely recommend this teacher, also he is extremely easy to look at.

Dr. LaPira is one of my favorite teachers! I've learned the most from this class than in any other class. His key attributes as a professor include his substantial knowledge on Congress and lobbying, along with his impressive ability to captivate the class' attention through his witty and theatrical-like lectures. Definitely a class I recommend.

Cool guy. Very informed about the material he teaches and it is clear he knows what he is talking about. A little bit challenging because he doesnt teach like your typical professor and his tests are a bit tricky but if you go to class youll do fine. Online quizzes are simple and house of cards assignments are free 100's as long as you do them

AMAZING! I went into his class expecting the worst, but I was so wrong. He structures the class perfectly & guides you along the writing process, giving you just enough room to struggle & find your strengths, while still being fully available. Not only is he an amazing prof, but he is more than happy to advise on post-grad plans. Best prof I've had

AWESOME TEACHER! Uses real world examples to keep you interested and connected with the material. Lecture heavy, no textbook, practice quizzes for easy points. Only two exams, gives outlines and flashcards. Easy A. Super funny and knowledgable.

This political science class was great. Prof Lapira lectures are informative, and clearly is extremely knowledgable and smart about the subject. He has been able to answer every question during the lectures flawlessly. He is interesting, and you don't have to go to class on Fridays. Exams are quote IDs. Also teaches politically unbiased.

Perfectly designed course. Only 2 tests each one only worth 11% of grade. Online quizzes related to the reading are most of the grade and they are super easy. He also has you watch House of Cards and write a short paragraph about how it relates to what you learn in class. Super chill dude, lecture can get boring, but still interesting and easy.

He's a great teacher I definitely recommend. it is lecture heavy but they aren't boring lectures. there is online quizzes every friday but they aren't hard. the only complaint i have is that the lectures didn't really have anything to do with what was on the tests or quizzes but he puts exactly what is on those on canvas. easy A

He is easily the best prof I've had at JMU. If you have an interest in congress you will pass. He is an active political scientist and references his own published books and research. He is incredibly intelligent and his lectures are captivating and funny. We also went on a field trip to DC so that's a plus.

The class is not hard to pass if you pay attention. He knows what he is talking about, which makes it easier for you to understand the subject. The reading were optional, but I would really recommend doing them. It would take this class for a solid genEd.

This class was generally interesting and pretty go with the flow. If you read chapter summaries that he posts online you'll easily pass the quizzes and homework assignments. I felt like the textbook probably shouldn't have been mandatory, though. Over-all good choice.

I loved LaPira. One of my favorite classes and a really great prof. Hes passionate and lectures are relevant, unbiased, and funny. 2 very easy exams - if you pay attention in class. 1 credit is watching House of Cards on Netflix. Class online Fridays but if you miss Friday assignments it affects your grade a lot!! Overall great class & prof!

Honestly he was a really good professor I did absolutely NOTHING and failed the midterm with a 60 and I went to office hours to better understand what he wanted for the midterm and I messed up and fixed it on the final which is exactly the same format ended up getting a 90!!!!!!!!!!!! I really appreciate him and his jokes are funny and I learned!

He can be rude at times but he was an okay professor. No "Actual" class on fridays but you do have to take some timed quizzes which open at the time your class starts so you always have to be ready for that. midterm and final are the exact same format. also have to watch House of Cards on netflix as assignments. seemed like a pretty lenient grader

LaPira's class is pretty simple to succeed in. As long as you do the Friday quizzes on time and watch the House of Cards episodes required then completing the assignments you will be fine. Enjoys telling Dad jokes during lectures.

took his 4 week online summer class and it was very straight forward and easy... would suggest doing if you want to get ahead and get a good grade

Several assignments due a week, on the same day. Assignments on How Democracies Die and watching House of Cards due biweekly. Fair grading. Assignments are easy to do without going to class or reading/watching the needed materials. Slight disconnect because it was asynchronous. Still holds class accountable. Great for first semester freshmen!

This class is very helpful with learning about government and politics. He is very passionate about it which helps a lot. The assignments are pretty easy and he is a very fair grader. The quizzes are also very mangable.

Easy class with weekly quizzes. Although it is easy,because it was online this semester you had to get a 98 or above to get an A. Drops 2 quiz scores. Read the textbook and did the assignments, never listened to a lecture. How democracies die and house of cards assignments fairly graded and pretty easy as well. Holds students accountable for work.

Really easy A, just do the quizzes every week and the reading and you will be fine. He is clear about what he wants. Also no midterm or final this semester so that was nice. Super awesome teacher and knows life happens!

I found Dr. LaPira's US Congress class to be so informative. And so useful if you ever want to work in Congress. The class does require work, but that's with most high level posc classes. LaPira's a busy person outside of class, but he will always take time out of his day to help you out if you're ever struggling and need help. Great professor.

Dr. LaPira's Congress class was one of the most informative classes I've taken. He's a walking textbook on politics. He lays out all expectations in the syllabus and is very clear with class expectations. Still gotta work for your grade, as with every upper level POSC class. While he's slow to reply to emails, he's still accessible outside class

Took this class for posc 225. attendance is not required. i didnt really go to classes and i have a B. weekly chapter quizzes, which most of the answers are online. i would recommend to read the textbook and take active notes which will help. there are a few papers but graded fair. i would take this class again

You don't really have to attend the lectures as they don't have much to do with the quizzes or work in general but I'd still recommend going to learn. Lapira made the class interesting and I would for sure take his class again. Everything you need to know is in the textbook. One chapter quiz each week plus about six super easy 250 word assignments.

Easiest 4 credit class youll take. Lectures are interesting and quizzes are every week but literally super easy. Definitely recommend this class. I hate school but this class is the one

easiest gen ed ever. everything is ok quizlet and i would highly recommend taking him

I never used the textbook, all of the chapter notes are on canvas. Theres about 5-6 quizzes per week which are super easy. Lecture isnt mandatory and I never went to class and ended with an A. The only hard part was the 250 word assignments on 4 Threats and House of Cards. He gave little to no feedback so you never knew what you did wrong.

I personally really enjoy Dr. Lapira. He has a lot of government experience, and his quizzes every week really are not hard or time consuming. Attendance not mandatory, but I do believe it's beneficial to hear his lectures! I also connected with him during office hours and that was when I was able to get good feedback about my writing assignments.

LaPira's posc225 class is a pretty easy 4 credit class. There are weekly assignments and quizzes that take an hour or less total to complete. Occasional book and show added assignments. The quizzes are kind of difficult so read the book and use quizlet. Lectures can be boring but he tries to make it interesting. Overall a fine and fairly easy class

If you want an easy GenEd, take this class! Attendance isn't mandatory and you can do every assignment at home. Don't waste your time getting a textbook, I didn't use it once and all the weekly quizzes are on quizlet.

LaPira is awesome! He makes you work for it, given that it is a high-level course. But he is very fair. He is also very understanding if you have external circumstances, and he is extremely accessible out of class. A lot of information and reading, but he is so well-versed in everything he teaches. He is a great choice if you want to learn a lot!

Professor LaPira's lectures were actually interesting and he didn't just read off the slides. This class does require a lot of reading from the textbook and there is a slim chance of passing all the quizzes without it. The workload of this class isn't overwhelming and the content is enjoyable.

I never went to this class. He had chapter quizzes due every week that were very easy and most of them were all on quizlet. Requires you to watch a Netflix Show and I never did those 3 assignments and still passed. The beginning of the year I went to lectures and he made no sense. He talked the whole entire hour and 15 minutes with like no breaths.

I don't know what these other commenters are smoking.I love learning inside information on what working for government is like.A lot of people rating this class think the topic is boring. If that is the case, why did you even sign up for the class, or a political science major in general? P.S. this class is not difficult if you care about the topic

Taking him for posc 225 was one of the best decisions I've ever made. His lectures are definitely not mandatory, although he can get on you for not showing up (although it doesn't affect your grade). There are weekly quizzes that are super easy and you can take them open note so.

my favorite professor i've had. he can ramble sometimes but his lectures are actually interesting and he doesn't just read off of slides. he cares about the topic and actually knows what he's talking about. weekly quizzes are open notes and the class is easy if you're interested in the topic. literally couldn't recommend him more.

Professor LaPira can be arrogant, but he is a very good professor. You have multiple quizzes each week, including 2-4 questions and 1 25-question quiz every week. You write 6 250-word essays throughout the semester that are based on Four Threats and House of Cards. I haven't used the textbook he assigned even once and everything is on Quizlet.

Lots of busy work to do outside of class, but not hard. Professor Lapira can get hyper fixated on small topics during lectures, and will make snarky comments about most students skipping. There are no midterms or finals, and all work is done outside of class. He grades harsh on essay assignments for Four Threats (book), and House of Cards (Netflix)

Professor Lapira's class is a good gen-ed to take! Although it is full of long and somewhat boring lectures, all the assignments are online. There are weekly textbooks reading along with chapter quizzes and 6 essays you have to write over the course. Everything is online and there arent real exams. Although this class can be boring its an easy A

Nice guy, had to leave mid semester due to a family issue but overall great professor.

I could go on and on about how amazing I found this class! Dr LaPira is so knowledgeable and passionate about lobbying, but he never explains anything in a complicated way like some experts do! His lectures are incredibly engaging, and there are no at-home papers which was a huge bonus! Definitely take this class if it is offered!

His class is very easy. Quiz's are all open note and online. Exams are in person but he let us use notes one time. Really chill class and attendance is not mandatory. The quiz's are weekly as well so many opportunities for good grades.

decent professor. Must go to class and pay attention though(doesn't post slides/txtbook annoying to read). Can yap a little bit but does eventually go over what you need to know. Typically 3 assignments a week, two of them are easy and then there's a quiz but its all open book. Tests aren't that hard just know terms and the applications/nuance.

LaPira really knows what he's talking and goes really in depth with his lectures. He likes to ramble of some topics sometimes though. His tests are based on both the textbook and his lectures so it is important to read. You have hw due the day of the first class of the week and then quizzes due Friday night on what we talked about in class.

he doesn't post the lectures so you have to come to class because he goes over more than what's in the textbook. textbook is online and there is usually one chapter smartbook and one quiz every week thats open note. the exams are in-person and multiple choice. tends to ramble in class so sometimes hes hard to understand but repeats a lot of info.

Professor Lapira clearly enjoys what he teaches, which makes his lectures engaging. He does stutter at times, but it doesn't affect learning. The class has three multiple-choice exams that are tough but doable. Quizzes make up 60% of the grade, and doing well on them sets you up for success. would 100% take this class again.

He's a great professor. Show up to class and take notes that's all u gotta do. Ur grade is dependent on discussions, midterm, and final. I kinda loved this grading set up. I felt like I actually took away the whole semesters load of info.

Professor was good. Class was very lecture heavy. If you want to do well on the exams you need to read the textbook and take lecture notes. Exams were a little difficult because sometimes he asked very specific questions, so just be prepared and study. Overall class was decent.