PUBPOL-590-1

ADV TOP IN PUBLIC POLICY

Not in Fall 2026
PPS · Taught by Schanzer, David · Last offered Fall 2024
Term

Overview

Feedback is mostly positive. The strongest signal is that students say they actually learn something useful. Best for students who want substance, not a disposable elective.

DepartmentPPS
Terms offeredFall, Spring
Typical enrollment15–26
Semesters of data2
4.3
Hrs / week
12
Responses
41
Enrollment
29%
Response Rate

Evaluation Scores

Overall quality
Teaching, content, and experience combined.
4.5
12345
Intellectually stimulating
Challenges students to think deeply.
5.0
12345
Instructor effectiveness
Explains concepts and facilitates learning.
4.8
12345
Difficulty
Higher means harder.
3.4
12345

Feedback Analysis

Feedback Analysismedium
Analysis based on student evaluations
Based on 12 comments across 2 sections

Feedback is mostly positive. The strongest signal is that students say they actually learn something useful. Best for students who want substance, not a disposable elective.

Student Reports
How hard is the A?
A is doable but not automatic
The signal here is more do-the-work-and-you-should-be-fine than easy-A chatter. Students do not describe the A as automatic, but the evidence also does not paint grading as punishing.
Homework Load
Moderate homework load
Homework load looks moderate. The recurring signal is steady weekly work, but not a course that turns every assignment into a grind.
Lecture Load
Lighter lecture burden
Student comments describe this as more discussion-, seminar-, or workshop-driven than lecture-dependent. The lecture burden itself does not sound like the main source of friction.

Student Responses

Wargaming really helped me consider how companies and countries would make decisions to further their strategic interest. It also was fun to see how negotiations and trust played into the game.
Fall 2024 · Schanzer, David
- Thinking about real impact of international relations - Importance of national security - Thinking about ways to minimize white supremacy
Fall 2024 · Schanzer, David
1. Presenting in a concise, coherent manner: briefing your audience while also proving a point. 2. Teamwork: learning how to effectively communicate and facilitate different team dynamics. 3, Memo writing: mastering the art of writing concisely and persuasively while maintaining clarity and avoiding "twisting" your words.
Fall 2024 · Schanzer, David
Hands-on research, trying to decipher what is dis/misinformation (and the difference between both), I learned about and from the perspective of foreign adversaries, including foreign relations and differing points of view and their weak points. I also engaged a lot with causal thinking, and learned more about foreign relations/negotiations as well. Being in a group/team setting also helped strengthen my collaborative and leadership skills
Fall 2024 · Schanzer, David

Rating History

Rating history
Error bars show \u00B11 std dev
TermInstructorOverallDifficultyHrs/wkEnrolled
Fall 2024Schanzer, David 4.9Rate My ProfessorsQuality4.9Difficulty3.9Would retake100%Based on 11 ratingsClick to view on RMP →4.53.45.815
Spring 2024Schanzer, David 4.9Rate My ProfessorsQuality4.9Difficulty3.9Would retake100%Based on 11 ratingsClick to view on RMP →2.826

Instructor

Schanzer, DavidPPS
Also teaches
PUBPOL-221 9/11 & ITS AFTERMATH4.8PUBPOL-290-2 SELECTED PUBLIC POLICY TOPICSPUBPOL-292 NAT SEC SIM5.0PUBPOL-517 NAT SEC SIM4.9PUBPOL-803 POLICY ANALYSIS I4.8