This was a really easy class if you did the practice midterms posted on the class website. The problems are the exact same type of questions that will be on the exams. You do not need to be good at math to take this class!!! I'm terrible at math but the concepts taught in class were very basic and easy to understand. Also, once a week you meet in person but it is not really necessary to go as the problems and answers will be posted online. Definitely would recommend anyone to take it.

Being this is my first Pol Sci class ever, I'm happy to say I'd take another course again! Bawn is AMAZING at teaching! I genuinely was worried when taking this class bc I'm a comm major but I'm so glad I did because this is a GUARANTEED A if you do all your homework, practice concepts, and go to the workshops! honestly TAKE THIS CLASS and don't be afraid of doing so! She makes Game Theory easy to understand! If you ever have problems just ask because each topic tends to build on top of each other. Quizzes don't matter too much (I used to be super anal about it) and you don't even need the required text book. She gives you so much practice, you literally get the exact same questions and concepts asked on the midterm and final. As a freshman, this class really stuck with me. As long as you're responsible, understand concepts, practice, and do things timely, you WILL get an A. I literally got a 95% on both midterms and a 100% on the final, take it from me who has NEVER taken a poli sci class before! you will love this class

This class is a cake walk. Theres no lecture and the homework is extremely easy and has the same problems as on the midterm and final. That means the class is simply that easy. Just watch the videos and do the work and you'll get an A. She's a decent professor.

Flipped classroom style, 4-5 hours of video lectures, no monday class wednesday lecture is a "workshop" where she goes over one problem the entire time. It is algebra but with political word problems. Extremely boring, however pretty easy.

Bawn is an awful woman. She refuses to hear you out if you wish to dispute the absurdly harsh grading of the TA's. She even threats to give you a lower score. But, despite getting a C on one of the midterms I still managed to get an A-.

Spring 2015

After taking this class, I feel obligated to give my review on Professor Bawn and her class.

Professor Bawn is an excellent lecturer. But what I like more about is her personality. She always has smile on her face and nice and patient to every student. I m considering to take more classes of her in the future!

All her lectures are available online. you can watch them for as many times as you want. But there will be a little quiz after every lecture. Don't get stressed out bcz they are not a big part of the grades. Video class doesn't mean her hands are off her students. There is a workshop every week and you can choose to go (recommended) or not. In the workshops, you will be asked to solve some problems based on the lectures you've watched online. And of corse, she will explain the solutions after 10 to 15mins. After the workshops, some TAs will be around. so if you have some questions that you would like to ask face to face, you don't wanna miss that.
She has two oh every week. My TA has three oh per week. And they are very patient and nice. So it's almost guaranteed you won't have any confusion about the learning material you've watched online if you show up in their offices. (btw my TA is John Ray and i would recommend you guys my TA bcz he is nice and humorous)

About exams. Exams are not hard as long as you do everything you're supposed to. By this I mean you gotta watch the lectures and do hw and quizes and show up in the discussions. Besides, she sends out practice questions and exams from previous years before every exam. Try to finish them before your exam bcd they are really helpful. In short, as long as you do your work YOU WILL GET AN A (or A+)

All in all. Take her class if you can. Bcz her class might change your attitude towards poli sci.

Professor Bawn is an incredibly talented lecturer. She explains Game Theory with ease and turns what could be complicated theories into simplified problems.

It is clear that she really wants her students to learn and uses good anecdotes to connect PS30 to real life. One of the best lecturers at UCLA.

This class has literally been the easiest class that I have taken at UCLA. I love professor Bawn. She is so straightforward, and she does everything step by step, and it is so easy to follow along. The class is half online and half in person, so she posts her videos online so we can learn at our own pace, and we aren't even required to come to class unless it's for the midterms or the finals. In fact, she is so good, that other parts of the PoliSci department also use her videos.

The only thing is that, because a lot of the class is online, make sure to keep an eye on those deadlines. I missed a couple of diagnostic quizzes all together, and even though I came out with an A+, I should have been more careful with that.

Overall, love this class, love this professor. If you're going to take a PoliSci class, take this one with her.

(also took 171b)

Professor Bawn is one of my favorite professors that I have taken at UCLA hands down!! Her lectures are very clear and easy to follow. She breaks it down in a fun and interesting to way as well! PS 30 was my first poli sci class and a great introduction! I came out of it feeling highly proficient in the topic and loved it. Because I had such a wonderful experience in her class, I took her again for 171 b. This class was slightly more challenging, as an upper-div should be, but it was still easy to follow along due to her great teaching skills. It was a very interesting and cool class. She is very kind, approachable and genuinely wants everyone to do well and learn something. I would highly recommend taking her classes and getting to know her. I feel very blessed to have had her as my Professor!

Professor Bawn is the worst Poli Sci professor that I have had in 3 years. Her lectures did not go with what the TA's were teaching in sections. She made some big speech about how she would help anyone that came into see her, but when I went into her office hours she was extremely hostile and dismissive. My midterm was misgraded and I had to send multiple emails for the grade to be changed from a C to an A-. I asked to see my final exam because I thought the same thing might have happened, but Professor Bawn would not allow me to see it. I received a B+ and I think its because my final was misgraded just like my midterm. Absolutely terrible professor, and my biggest regret as a poli sci major is that I took this course with her.