POLS V3615

A lot of reading due for every class. He usually refers to the content but doesn't necessarily review it. Helps if you read them before class. Assignments: One short paper, due early in the semester. Midterm is multiple choice (that is not a synonym for easy). Longer 10p paper about broader themes of course. In class final, IDs short answers and essay. Tough but doable, overall. I cannot stress enough- KEEP UP WITH THE READINGS. otherwise it piles up on you. You can get someone else to summarize it or whatever but even if you just read most of it for yourself it helps. I fell behind second semester and studying for the final was much harder because of it.

Weekly readings are long only if you want to do them all, pretty short if you want to do the minimum. Final paper is the biggest deal, mine was honestly quite lame but still got me a decent grade. Overall, very modest workload for a Seminar (and all classes should be like this, maybe Columbia would have less problems with drugs, then...)

Professor Cooley is really fantastic. He knows his stuff- particularly Central Asia, his research focus. He's had some really interesting grad students and he will mention insider tidbits he learned from them about what happened behind the scenes in various institutions. The class is divided between three sections- international economy, international security, and international civil society. The economy section is about global finance- the IMF, World Bank, WTO, credit ratings agencies, CDOs and financial crisis, etc. Part two is about terrorism, private security firms, and how globalization has changed the nature of international security. Part three is about transnational advocacy networks, like NGOs and various other groups dealing with human rights, international justice, and more. Each class is pretty well organized. He talks very quickly- from the minute class starts, he's going! until the last minute of class- you ain't putting that pen down. Don't come late. (unless you're like that girl who sat there shopping on her laptop, buying herself a new wardrobe, for the entire semester...to each their own?) Do not take this class unless you already have a rough familiarity with the political institutions of the current world we live in. There are no pre-req courses and you don't really need them, though a previous polisci course will be helpful. If not- as a rule of thumb, i…

There are two types of students in Political Science and generally at Columbia. One type is heavy on gaining knowledge, reading a lot, digging deep into the subject, analyzing everything (cover pages of the assigned books included) and working really hard - without real concern for delivery or enjoyment of the class. If you fit into this category, Seminar with prof. Pinto is for you. And almost all people in class will be your type. If, however, you happen to be the other type - a laid back student, not heavily concerned about uberanalytical approach, just wanting to learn a little bit and have a decent, interesting time in class - Seminar with prof. Pinto is not for you. You will not enjoy it not because he is a bad teacher or a bad scholar (he is excellent at both) but because of his very analytical, low-key personality. In simplest terms: he is the opposite of a showman, prof-magician, something I was looking for in a seminar. Either type you are, it is extremely unlikely you will end up with anything less than A-/B+ for the class.

2 papers (one 4-5 pages, the other 8-10); 2 exams (multiple choice midterm, short answer final)

Cooley is awesome - he's a great lecturer, covers some fascinating material, and, for a class with an open-ended title like "Globalization," is extremely organized. This was absolutely one of the best classes I've taken at Columbia -- but it definitely wasn't easy. I'd recommend it highly for other Economics-Politics majors looking for a class that is actually inter-disciplinary, or for students who don't mind that the first semester seems to randomly require a pre-existing knowledge of financial markets. The second semester has more of a focus on international law as it pertains to terrorism and international jurisdiction. The workload is tough, but interesting. You definitely need to know what you're getting into (as the reviewer below mentioned). Lots of readings (four or five articles per class), which you can get along without doing, but they're generally really good, so I'd do as many as you can. If you don't do as well on the first short paper, you can make it up on the second paper - which is worth a lot more. Beyond the useless "paper-writing session" the TAs held this semester, they were very helpful in responding about outlines during their office hours. Cooley can come off as full of himself, but having spoken to him a couple of times during office hours, I think he's genuinely a decent guy -- and he seems happy to talk about the class with students. Final disclaim…

One 1500-word short paper (10%), one 8-10 pg research paper which requires only using the syllabus readings (thank God), two midterms (all worth 30%). SOOOO MUCH READING.

Though Cooley comes across as an arrogant douche some (alright, most) of the time, it's really just because he knows that he's the man. Cooley is really knowledgeable about the subject material, is a solid lecturer, and writes extremely helpful outlines on the board of what he plans to cover during lecture in case you ever space out or miss something. There's TONS of reading, to the point where it's literally impossible to do all of it for each class, so make sure to take this course with at least two friends so you can split up the readings for the two midterms. That's probably the most important thing to do or else you stand no chance on the two midterms because he almost exclusively tests on the readings. Overall, it was a great class, excellent professor, learned a lot, and though I definitely needed to put in effort, I didn't have to work overly hard to do well.

Averages about 75 pages of reading for each class. First paper isn't bad but requires a good amount of effort for only 10% of your grade. Midterm was brutal - nitpicky multiple choice where around a 50% curved up to a B but a 90% was an A. Final paper asks you to argue an opinion based on class readings so it was easier to tackle, but very few get in the A-range. Final exam was easier, short answers and essays that were almost completely doable if you just attended lectures and paid attention but an opportunity to shine if you were better prepared.

The other reviews are pretty accurate - Cooley's a great lecturer but he can definitely be a jackass. Pros: - writes a logical outline of the material on the board that takes up every minute of each class - connects the class to events in the news Cons: - fair to fairly tough grader - Cooley isn't the kind of professor you'd willingly go talk to in his office hours, and forget ever questioning a grade - paper expectations were only discussed when he returned papers - TAs aim their help at the bottom 10% of the class (advice on the essay boiled down to "write logically" and "use the active voice") Overall an informative class led by an egotistical professor. For the work of an A in a regular Poli Sci class you can eke out an A- so adjust your expectations accordingly. It's up to you if the subject and competent lectures make the grade hit is worthwhile.