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excellent lecturer, and very knowledgable!! excited about the subject

Pretty cool guy, not a very hard class at all if you just go to class. Mid-Term and a Final. A quiz just about every week on the notes you take in class. Just go to class and you do perfectly fine.

Very interesting as well as attractive.

the class is straight up lecture adn he takes attendance. but there are only quizzes, and he's really good with helping you if you ask. You need to put effort into learn otherwise the class is a waste.

One of USC's best professors. It is not that easy that's right. But it is fascinating. If you are interested in politics and international relations TAKE HIM. Very interesting... My favourit class!!!!!!!!

Very interesting lectures, and as long as you show up to class, take decent notes, and learn it the night before the test, it's a very easy class as well. Whatever you do, do NOT waste your money on the textbooks, they are absolutely unnecessary for this class and they cost more than 80 bucks. I highly recommend this class and teacher.

He makes class really interesting and relevant to current issues. He has experiance w/Africa and Idia. His essays on tests are the hardest part of class, but even those are not too bad. For 316 you have a quiz every week and they are easy if u study. Must go to class, takes attendance.

An interesting guy. His lectures are pretty good until you figure out that he only has about 5 and he just recycles them. If you prefer memorization over writing then you'll do great.

for a non-poli major it's kind of hard but he tries to help you out. quizes every week, you have to study and go to class

Super interesting lectures! Super hard tests!! I'm still trying to figure out how to study for them. He's very helpful but he "tests his best students"....whatever that may mean. If you take him, please study EVERYTHING!!!

He is a great teacher.. His tests are kind of hard, but if you go to the review sessions he gives you the exact stuff you need to know. The tests are short answer so study study study! I loved the class. If you work hard, you will do fine!

very cool guy. really knows what he's talking about. lectures are interesting, and will make you think. he knows the subject matter from experience. gives a quiz every other class, and tests are hard but not impossible. overall one of my favorite classes i've taken, but not and easy A

Overall a decent prof, interesting lectures, tests were moderatley easy. You defintley need to study - as long as you look of your notes - you'll be fine

great teacher! tests are hard becuase he asks minute details but his lectures more than make up for it. i definitely recommend him.

great class. best poli sci class i have take that i have acutally really enjoyed. His lectures are great and dont miss them (becuase they are on the test, duh) but becuase they are REALLY intresting. He is a great teacher and i would take him again if i can. TAKE HIM if you have to!

This class is not an "easy A," but if you go to class and take serious notes, it is not bad. He tends to pull questions from lists he gives, but also some mundane details (like the philosopher's place of birth). Just three tests that make up your grade. Very interesting teacher and willing to help explain if you ask.

love this professor! he's a stickler on tests. you have to study a lot. if you hate going to class don't take him. but he makes his mantadory classes interesting. he knows his stuff. he tends to digress frequently, but he's a very smart man.

Good teacher, very knowledgable and lectures are not boring. The bad part is, be prepared to sit throught lectures all day every day, but you will not need the textbook...don't even buy it. Tests are hard, and on the essay portions, he takes credit off for spelling.

I took a class of Pro. Lanz before and saw he was teaching this and took it becuase he was teaching it. He is the coolest professor at USC. He is rough on the tests, but overall he is funny and intresting during lectures. He is prollay one of my favorite professors at USC. Take him if you can!

I take Lanz whenever I can. He's very funny and it makes the lectures interesting. Attendence is a must- everything on the tests comes from lecture. If you know how to study for the tests they are easy enough. Don't bother buying the book its a waste.

lanz is the best prof. i have ever had..if you consider yourself a smart person and like politics/IR..Lanz is your man. 2-3 essays in all his classes (i've taken them all) made an A in ALL but you have to be interested in what he has to say..by far the smartest/coolest/makes you want to learn more teacher at USC!!

i took the political philosophy test, and even while i did poorly on the first test, i loved this class. he is the coolest professor. think of a lifelong academic who just thinks about anything and everything and you have tobias lanz. he has interesting additive thoughts that make the class more interesting

Ok, cut him some slack. If you actually want to learn & you like poli sci then he's a great teacher. He's really hard, but thats because he expects a lot. If you are lazy & want an easy A don't take him, but if you actually want to get something outta school, take him. I really liked him & even though I worked hard, it was worth what I got outta it

Have to go to class..Tests are from his lectures ONLY but if you take good notes it is very easy to make A's on the tests..weekly quizes are what gave me a B bc i didnt study..if i had it would have been an easy A..take good notes which isnt hard bc the material is interesting..overall good class! would reccomend

Best Professor I EVER had (it's been 10 years). He is passionate about the subject matter and although his classes are not easy - you learn more than you will ever know.

took him for an entry level class. Hes actually the person who made me swtich to a poli sci major. Go to class, find a buddy two or three days before the test make note cards, one person might miss something but not two. other than that an A is very possible except when you have Lui as a TA. Than a B plus. you cannot fail this class if you study br

Easily one of the best professors I've had at SC. You will have to earn the grade that you get. He really has a passion for teaching and the subject matter which makes for a lot of fun lectures. Never used the textbook in my class, but if you take notes and know your stuff you can make a decent grade.

Decent class, lecture style just need to either attend and take notes or get notes from others

Strait up lecturer. Puts notes on an overhead as he talks. I only had 3 exams. 1 exam after every 7-8 lectures so not too much material and exams came strait from the notes. Not too hard if you just pay attention and study for 20 to 30 mins before test.

Prof. Lanz's class is very straight forward. You need to go to class and take the notes. If you do this you are almost guaranteed a B.

Prof Lanz is a big list person. Any list he puts on the board is worth studying and make sure to jot down details, especially if he points it out. Tests are short answers (the lists, sometimes you need to give ex's) and fill ins (random details). He's very straightforward and has a lot of interesting stories!

This is Lanz's bread and butter. Stick to the lists and take good notes. Attendance is normal, make it to all classes and get an extra point on your final grade. He's extremely interesting. Tenure this guy already.

He's honestly the most fascinating professor I've had at USC. His class is NOT easy, but anyone who is willing to put a little work in, will do just fine. I earned a 98% on one of his tests. If you study hard, you'll be fine. There are only 3 tests and you only have to study hard before them, so there really isn't a lot of work to remove.

As mentioned before, this was not an easy course. However, if you show up, take notes, and make flash cards before the exams of all lists and term definitions, you should have NO problem getting an A. Dr. Lanz is probably the most interesting professor I've had to date and look forward to his Terrorism class. Oh, he can be long winded at times, fyi

Professor Lanz is a really nice guy and a great professor. He knows what he is talking about for sure, but his class is not easy. His tests are all lists and ids and no multiple choice so you literally need to study everything. But it is a really great class, just hard.

Lanz is easily one of the best professors I've had.His classes are not easy if you don't show up to lecture and take good notes. If you go to every lecture and take the notes exactly how he has it then you will do great. For Poli 391T he gave 4 tests and none were cumulative. As long as you pay attention to the lists and ID's you'll do really well

Great professor, have taken 3 classes with him. Very interesting and intelligent, he makes lecture interesting with tangents. No powerpoint etc. 10 quizzes with lowest grade dropped and 2 test.

Very much to the point. Crystal clear notes, basically just copy what he writes down and you'll get an A if you study the night before. He calls it as he sees it, as far as subject matter is concerned. Great professor.

Lanz is a great professor. This class isn't an easy A but if you study a few hours before the test you'll be fine. He does take attendance and there are weekly quizzes but I found that they really helped me stay on track. I'd definitely recommend him.

Most knowledgeable professor at USC. He knows his material and gives great lectures. However, his tests are slightly difficult and attendance is mandatory. This is my fourth time having him for a reason

I love Dr. Lanz! Every class was interesting, funny, and challenging. If you go to class, take good notes, and study you will do well. Let the haters hate! Dr. Lanz is the best!

Has interesting lectures but his tests are really hard. They are only knit-picky ID questions and the quizzes are the same as the test but only 5 questions. Great professor, but you really need to go to class, take detailed notes, and excessively study for weekly quizzes and tests to get an A. Do not have to read books but it helps. Loved his class

Very clear about expectations, if you take notes in class and study them you will do well. There are TA group discussion sections where you take short quizzes.

Interesting class! You will do fine in this if you go everyday and take notes or are able to get the notes from someone who did. His tests come straight from the lectures so don't bother buying the books. Know your notes and youll be fine. Take note of what he writes on the board during lectures, he will ask questions on those facts 99% of the time

Really nice guy and fairly interesting/funny. Didn't read the textbook at all, tests are straight from the notes (he gives you an outline on the board each lecture and you fill in a few more things from the lecture and you should be good). Weekly quizzes count same as tests, so make flashcards every week and you'll be good for the test. TAKE HIM

Dr. Lanz is a fascinating dude. The topics covered were interesting to me, so I enjoyed the class. With that being said, if you don't like political science, studying, showing up to class, and taking notes, don't take him. 3 tests each 25%, and quiz average counts for 25%. Recitation is crucial. You will learn a lot, but you will work hard.

I'm not sure why so many people dislike him. I found the class super easy. Lanz is one of my favorite professors and he lectures very well. The tests are all open response which some people may have found hard but I personally thought they were very clear and easy.

Very easy to get an A in this class. Simply memorize every list you are given and review the powerpoints that the TA puts on blackboard. Got A's on all of the quizzes and tests by studying these two things alone, taking no other notes.

As said before, the class is very easy as long as you go to the discussion groups. They literally give you the answers to the quizzes and tests right before you take them. The class is super interesting and personally I think Lanz is a cool guy. I'd recommend the class if you're interested in political science or current events.

I LOVE Professor Lanz! He's one of the best professors I've had at USC. He knows what he's talking about and if he doesn't know he'll tell you. Textbook isn't necessary. Make sure you study the lists he gives you! Those are mainly what his tests are made out of. As long as you know the lists and pay attention, you'll do fine. Attendance is a must.

Lanz wants you to know your stuff and you have to. Take thorough notes in class and go over and above studying. He's funny, you will be a smarter person in the real world afterward but truthfully you have to put in work to get the grades. On his test you either know it or you don't, mostly dates, lists of facts, etc. Great,Knowledgeable professor

Lanz is a good teacher and if you study there is no reason to get an A. A weekly quiz and tests are not cumulative. No homework. If he writes it on the board, it will be on the test. BAM, there you go. Easy as that.

Lanz is funny- he's very anti computer though, so blackboard is out. TAs grade the tests and weekly 5 question quizzes and they aren't hard. My suggestion is to make flashcards at the end of the week for the two lectures and study them over the weekend for the quiz the next week, then study those same cards for the test. Attendance is taken daily.

Great professor! I highly recommend him to anyone thinking about studying political science or international studies of any kind.

Quite possibly the easiest class at USC. Textbook isn't even necessary. You go to class. Write down what he puts up on the screen. Make those into notecards. Those exact questions are on the quizzes and tests. It's not rocket science Batman!

Class is easy as long as you go to every lecture and pay attention. Tests are straight from what he says and consist of pretty much only identification questions. Save your money and don't get either textbook. Also, don't bother checking Blackboard. There are quizzes every week and you will have to study to the point of perfect memorization.

Lanz is very knowledgeable and interesting to listen to, however, his grading and tests are fairly difficult. I studied a decent amount for the TWO tests and managed to get a C+, my first in the department.

Most fascinating professor I've had at USC by. far. I loved his class & enjoyed going to it. Im an avg student (3.3 gpa soph yr) but managed to get a 92 98&96 on my three exams in his class bc I actually wanted to pay attention in class. His tests require alot of studying/specifics & attendance is mandatory, but you'll enjoy learning from him.

He seems very knowledgeable but makes stuff up a lot. Not MC, grading is poorly done. Don't take

Very general information, Lanz provides everything necessary to make an A on every quiz and test during his lectures. Just make sure to write down whatever He has written down on his power point. he gives obvious cues regarding what is important (i.e. test material) He draws test material from EVERY lecture though, so attendance is a MUST for an A

You HAVE to go to class to do well in this class. The weekly quizzes are hit or miss depending on if you attended class or not. Lanz himself is a pretty entertaining guy, anti-technology though so good luck communicating with him.

He was an excellent professor. He tells you EVERYTHING you need to know and you need to memorize the notes he gives you. The book is used for "additional knowledge", so if you want to learn additional information you can read it. He gives you the answers on a SILVER PLATTER...if you can't memorize information, it's not his fault. I got a 100.

Lanz is probably my favorite professor at USC. He is often pretty funny but serious when he needs to be. Tells you exactly what you need to know for the test. Show up and give him MAYBE 30% of your attention and you'll have no problem getting an A

You have to work hard but it's do-able. Go to every class and take notes, write down everything he puts on the board. Lots of memorization of small details. He's actually fascinating to listen to but class drags on sometimes. 2 exams, non-cumulative; 10 five question quizzes, one gets dropped. Memorize all important dates & names and you're good

By far the coolest and nicest professor at USC. I took him as a freshman for poli 101 and he made me want to change my major to poli sci. I have taken every class he offers and have always gotten As. Easy class if you go, pay attention, take notes, and MEMORIZE his lists. Tests are strictly memorization. love love love him!!!

Lanz was a very informative professor that followed a clear outline. His tests were straight forwarded and usually consisted of the material in the notes, not much was taken from the readings. He was considerably helpful and made class entertaining with personal stories and jokes.

took him for 101 my freshman year. He was really clear cut on what would be on the exams. If you go to class and memorize the key terms then its impossible to get anything less then a B

You HAVE to attend lectures to pass, but the lectures are riveting--if it pertains to anything you want as a career or a hobby. He was very interesting and would relate topics from lectures to personal experiences, which were always interesting and funny. I definitely reccommend.

He's the man. Very interesting and funny. Lectures are really interesting. Takes attendance but you will honestly enjoy going to class. Pretty tough tests and thats the whole grade in the class though.

This is my third time taking him, he is one of my favorite professors and I always learn a lot in his classes. This class was harder than the other classes of his I've taken though because it's more conceptual than just memorization of dates and names. Can still get a good grade if you take good notes and work a little harder

A really great professor with an interesting background and even more interesting lectures. He really cares about what he's teaching. That being said he knows what he's talking about and expects students to show up to class prepared to learn. As long as you go to class and take decent notes you will be fine. Highly recommend!

I took his POLI201 class, he's a solid enough teacher. He isn't the most dedicated, but he teaches the information thoroughly. Tests are directly from the notes, so take really good notes. Professor Lanz has interesting views and isn't afraid to express things. Very take it or leave it. Funny dude, I'll probably take him again.

Lanz is an either love him or hate him professor. Go to class and it is an easy class, tests are straight memorization from his lecture notes so copy down everything he writes on the board. Tells some very funny stories and honestly seems like a really cool guy who 100% knows his stuff. Would definitely take again.

No text book required but passes around an attendance list every class. His tests are literally the exact same as what he writes on the white board. Memorize his notes and there is no way you wont get an A on every test. 4 tests, each worth 25%. Great guy who tells funny stories and knows what hes talking about.

He's a very interesting professor with a lot of knowledge even outside of terrorism. Your grade is 4 tests including the final that is not cumulative. His classes are all lectures and if you copy the lists that he writes on the board and memorize them you will get at least an 85-90. The tests are ID and essay (so all answers from memory no choices)

very lecture heavy. specifically you need to memorize lists for his tests, they're not multiple choice. you either like him or hate him as he's not afraid to express his opinion. very well educated about subject matter! has bad handwriting but he'll repeat the most important stuff.

Only grades on 4 tests. THe tests are purely memorization and there is no way to pass unless you memorize all of the notes hes writes on the board. It is easy to get an A if you do so though. Lets out class early, lectures the whole class no discussion. Dont buy the books, just copy the board and make notecards. Perfect attendance gets 2 % points.

One of my favorite professors I have had by far here at USC. Hilarious guy which keeps me engaged during his lectures. His tests are verbatim from his lectures, so make sure you take good notes. Love Dr. Lanz!!!!!!!!

Professor Lanz is an amazing professor. His lectures are interesting and he makes class enjoyable. He is one of the best professors I have had at USC. The exams do require a lot of studying, however, the notes are basically the exam. This class has taught me so much and I wish I could take this class again.

His tests are basically copied exactly from the notes, go to class and take good notes and you'll get an A. Weird sense of humor but you'll get used to it. If you get offended easily, don't take this class.

Excellent Professor

Overall a solid choice if you don't mind just the usual lecture style. His tests are basically just the notes. Make sure to take good notes and you will be fine. Lanz is pretty funny/sarcastic too, makes class a bit more lighthearted. Definitely take good notes and remember them if you want to get a good grade.

This class is interesting, but tough. No homework, your entire grade is based off of 4 tests. The tests are entirely memorization of facts and lists, and there is a lot of content so you'll have to study a fair amount. Attendance mandatory, and you only get 2 absences. The content is really interesting, and he is a fantastic lecturer and very smart

If you are terrible at memorizing things, don't take Dr. Lanz. Your grade comes from 4 exams, and they're totally based on memorizing facts and lists. He was really funny and let us out 20 minutes early almost every class. Material on tests was 100% from notes, so don't get the textbook. Come to class, take notes, study hard, and you get an A.

Dr. Lanz is a very entertaining instructor and makes POLI 201 fun. There are 4 tests, with the final (test 4) being noncumulative. Basically, memorize the notes he writes in class (dates, lists, names, etc.) and you'll be fine. The tests consist of short answer (giving a date, name) and list questions (the lists from the notes).

In my candidate opinion, Dr. Lanz is a very great professor but his classes are NOT an easy A. You have to be aggressive and eager to make the A. I dedicated my time and effort to make that A. If you are lazy please skip his class or else you will FAIL. If you are serious and ready to get an A or better, take good notes and record his lectures.

Just go to class, take notes, remember them very well.. it is that simple.

Really great guy and professor. Very straight forward classes, mostly memorization. Everything on the exams are in the lecture notes. Attendance is mandatory. Lecture heavy, but I personally do well with it. Very funny professor and caring if you have circumstances. Textbook is not needed. 3-4 exams make up your total grade. 10/10 would recommend.

Dr. Lanz is a good teacher and pretty funny. His exams are based solely on his notes which are all hand written in class (no powerpoints). Three exams equally graded make up your grade. His exams are straight memorization of the notes and all write in. Come to class and memorize your notes and you'll be fine.

All of his classes are the same. He lectures, you write down whats on the board, and then the exams are exactly what you wrote down. This sounds easy, but there is a lot to memorize. The exams are easy if you give yourself plenty of time to study. His lectures are interesting and I learn a lot in his classes. You either love him or hate him.

Prof. Lanz is amazing. You REALLY need to go to classes and REALLY need to take notes, but once you understand the structure of his tests and lectures, studying will become easy. Classes are really interesting, he goes off topic sometimes, makes jokes and starts discussing big important issues. I'm honestly gonna miss classes with this guy