Amber Boydstun - University of California Davis

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Amber Boydstun - University of California Davis

Professor: Amber Boydstun

Department: Political Science

College: University of California Davis

Rating # 1

Overview:

Course: POL165V
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: No
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

The lecture recordings were AMAZING but the downside of this class is you are assigned SO MUCH. You are also required to do 3 projects, 2 of which are in groups, 3 midterms, quizzes every week - even during exam weeks, and reads from 3 required books. The amount of work is 3Xs the amount of any other upper div. Unless you love media, don't take.

Rating # 2

Overview:

Course: POL165
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

This class was online so assignments were due every sunday. Quizzes every week, 3 big exams, and 3 big projects. Very heavy on content but the layout was nice. Professor is very lenient and understandable but be sure to stay on top of all assignments.

Rating # 3

Overview:

Course: POL165
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

POL165 is a great class and prof Boydstun is the perfect teacher for it! She is funny and passionate about the material, striking the right balance of fun and rigor. She is an absolute genius in the filed and has a great sense for dealing with very tricky topics. She is also crazy well organized, giving you the best possible chance to succeed.

Rating # 4

Overview:

Course: POL165
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

First upper div pol class I've taken where most of your grade isn't weighted on your midterm (15%) and final (15%) you have 3 mini-projects/assignments that could potentially boost up your grade. Lectures are super interesting. No assigned textbook you have to buy, all readings are files on canvas.

Rating # 5

Overview:

Course: POL165
Grade Received: A-
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Boydstun is a wonderful professor! Good Interesting lectures. Make sure you participate (Answer a question every now and again) because even though it's a lecture hall she grades participation. Your grade is two exams, participation, an easy group powerpoint project, and a 3 part research project. The project is long, but it's common to get 100%.

Rating # 6

Overview:

Course: POL165
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I feel like I did not deserve an A in this class since I did not participate as much and wasn't as enthusiastic. First pol class that has other assignments other than a midterm/final and a paper. It actually has a project which is very helpful for the grades because everyone probably scored high

Rating # 7

Overview:

Course: POL165
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: No
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

She is very passionate about what she does. Honestly the greatest professor Ive had so far. TAs gave good helpful advice for final. The class has a group presentation, optional parnter paper assignment, content analysis project, coding alignment, midterm and final. Read her articles, stay on top of her relatively easy slides, use TA. Do extra cred

Rating # 8

Overview:

Course: POL165
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

She was very engaging and always stayed on top of her lectures. We watched a few movies in class but they were interesting. There was a project with an optional partner that was tedious but not terrible.

Rating # 9

Overview:

Course: POL109
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Professor Boydstun is by far the best professor I've had at UC Davis. She makes her lectures engaging and interesting. She makes you excited to attend lecture. You don't have to read if you attend lecture and pay attention.

Rating # 10

Overview:

Course: POL109
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Professor Boydstun is organized, knowledgeable, easy to follow and really funny. I have taken POL 109 & POL 165 with her and would highly recommend her. She posts her slides before class so you can easily follow along in class and take notes. Everything you need to know for the exams is covered in the slides and the readings. You won't regret it!

Rating # 11

Overview:

Course: POL109
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

LOVING her 109 class. Concepts are big and abstract but she ties them to real world issues and I'm learning a ton.

Rating # 12

Overview:

Course: POL005
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Boydstun is a great lecturer! Lots of reading, and two BIG group projects/papers in the class. Super interesting during election season, also just a cool and supportive prof.

Rating # 13

Overview:

Course: POL165
Grade Received: A-
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Dr. Boydstun is amazing. She's very clear with her expectations: midterm, final, and project. She's also absolutely hilarious and shows videos in class all the time. I highly recommend her class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

Course: POL165
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

You really have to work in this class and keep up with the readings, but it's SO worth it. It was especially neat taking this class during the election but it would be great anytime.

Rating # 15

Overview:

Course: POL165
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Boydstun is the ideal professor. I take all notes on my laptop, and she doesn't allow laptops in class so I was wary in the beginning. However, I ended up doing well in this class. If you go to class, pay attention, and read, it's an easy A. There is a content analysis project, it is tedious, but interesting; it is fairly easy and straightforward.

Rating # 16

Overview:

Course: POL165
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

At first I was nervous when she said she was going to call on people but it has made me step up my game and make sure I'm paying attention. I also like the way she integrates class conversation with lecture. Seriously the best professor I've ever had.

Rating # 17

Overview:

Course: POL165
Grade Received: B
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: No
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

She is straightforward about what she wants you to know, but her exams are rough. She is willing to help whenever/where ever, lecture can be boring but she's laid back in class. However she randomly calls on students :/

Rating # 18

Overview:

Course: POL005
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Great lecturer, enjoyed the class, but get ready to read and participate, a lot of group work

Rating # 19

Overview:

Course: POL106
Grade Received: B+
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Boydstun is the epitome of awesome professors.

Rating # 20

Overview:

Course: POL165
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

She does not allow laptops on "scientific" grounds despite the class being dense, ideal for typed notes. Insists on nametags and name announcement for every comment, despite forgetting literally everyone's name repeatedly, rendering this useless/waste of time for grading. Forces random students to repeat all she says. Condescending to students

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