PUBPOL-908S

DISSERTATION PROPOSAL SEM I

Offered Fall 2026

PPS · Taught by Gibson-Davis, Christina · Last offered Fall 2025

Overview

Feedback is mostly positive. The strongest signal is that teaching clarity stands out. Difficulty runs on the high side even without a single dominant complaint theme. Best for students who want a structured class rather than chaos.

DepartmentPPS

Terms offeredFall

Typical enrollment9–10

Semesters of data2

4.1

Hrs / week

Responses

Enrollment

62%

Response Rate

Evaluation Scores

Overall quality

Teaching, content, and experience combined.

4.2

12345

Intellectually stimulating

Challenges students to think deeply.

4.2

12345

Instructor effectiveness

Explains concepts and facilitates learning.

4.3

12345

Difficulty

Higher means harder.

3.8

12345

Feedback Analysis

Feedback Analysismedium

Analysis based on student evaluations

Based on 17 comments across 3 sections

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

Regular lecture load

Lectures matter here, but the evidence points to a fairly standard lecture burden rather than a course dominated by long or exceptionally dense lectures.

Strengths

• Teaching clarity stands out; students repeatedly say the material is explained clearly and effectively.

Tradeoffs

• Difficulty runs high even when comments do not settle on one dominant complaint.

Best fit for

Best for students who want a structured class rather than chaos.

Student Responses

First, in this class, I have developed a draft of my dissertation proposal. Second, I have great feedback for my fellowship application proposal. Third, I have greatly developed my academic writing.