Deborah W Larson
Department of Political Science
AD
4.5
Overall Rating
Based on 19 Users
Easiness 2.4 / 5 How easy the class is, 1 being extremely difficult and 5 being easy peasy.
Clarity 4.7 / 5 How clear the class is, 1 being extremely unclear and 5 being very clear.
Workload 2.4 / 5 How much workload the class is, 1 being extremely heavy and 5 being extremely light.
Helpfulness 4.2 / 5 How helpful the class is, 1 being not helpful at all and 5 being extremely helpful.

TOP TAGS

  • Engaging Lectures
  • Appropriately Priced Materials
  • Would Take Again
  • Needs Textbook
  • Is Podcasted
  • Tolerates Tardiness
  • Useful Textbooks
GRADE DISTRIBUTIONS
79.7%
66.4%
53.1%
39.8%
26.6%
13.3%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

55.5%
46.2%
37.0%
27.7%
18.5%
9.2%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

49.1%
40.9%
32.8%
24.6%
16.4%
8.2%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

36.1%
30.1%
24.1%
18.1%
12.0%
6.0%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

27.7%
23.1%
18.5%
13.8%
9.2%
4.6%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

24.6%
20.5%
16.4%
12.3%
8.2%
4.1%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

34.5%
28.8%
23.0%
17.3%
11.5%
5.8%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

32.8%
27.3%
21.8%
16.4%
10.9%
5.5%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

43.0%
35.8%
28.7%
21.5%
14.3%
7.2%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

29.5%
24.6%
19.7%
14.8%
9.8%
4.9%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

ENROLLMENT DISTRIBUTIONS
Clear marks

Sorry, no enrollment data is available.

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Reviews (10)

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Quarter: Winter 2022
Grade: A
COVID-19 This review was submitted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Your experience may vary.
March 14, 2022

Professor Larson is clear, organized, helpful, and informative. Grades are based on one midterm, one essay, one final, and discussion points. When the Ukraine crisis began, she took the time to discuss it with us which was SO appreciated because she is so knowledgeable about international relations and I loved hearing about such a scary, unpredictable situation from someone with insight. Even after classes went back in person, she still zoomed lecture simultaneously which was also very appreciated. Larson is kind, accommodating, and a great professor overall. I learned so much about international relations, history, and politics, all of which I consider valuable to everyday life (not just testing). I can’t recommend this class enough!!

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Quarter: Winter 2020
Grade: A+
June 25, 2020

PS 126 was one of the best classes I've taken at UCLA. Professor Larson is super engaging and I always looked forward to going to her lectures. The midterm and final were pretty intense, but if you put in the time to seriously study for them, you'll do great in this class. Between the midterm and final, you have to write a research paper on one of the assigned topics. Again, put in the time to make the paper good and even have your TA look over it, and you'll be fine. This is an awesome class and I highly recommend it.

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Quarter: Winter 2020
Grade: A
April 2, 2020

One of my favorite classes I have taken at UCLA. The lectures are fast and crammed with info, but Larson is clear and engaging. Super enjoyable topics, and I'm a fan of her old-school lecture style. I'm going to be honest: I never read a single thing for this class, and I skipped lecture a lot. I still got an A. If you are a good note-taker and go to discussion every week, then you're set. Class consists of a midterm, a paper, discussion participation, and a final (which became optional due to COVID-19). The exams are pretty easy, a mixture of definitions, short answers, and an essay. Making flashcards or a Quizlet is helpful for the definitions. Listening in class, paying attention in discussion, and a quick review of your notes covers should help for the short answers and essay. I got a 98% on the midterm. I wrote the term paper the night before, having no previous knowledge on the topic, and got 95%. Take this class if you can

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Quarter: Winter 2020
Grade: A
March 28, 2020

Really interesting lectures and Larson knows exactly what she's talking about. I liked the no-nonsense lectures without slides; some professors use slides that are just a wall of info but Larson tells things more like a story. I dislike that she made her own textbook a required purchase but it made sense because her lectures were basically a more in-depth version of the chapters in that weeks' reading. The discussion sections were not the greatest (they never are). They were kind of awkward but the TA was nice at least. The mid-term was sort of difficult, the essay was pretty easy to write if you'd been to lectures and done the reading and the final was opt-out which was nice to see. A great class and would take Larson again :)

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Quarter: Winter 2020
Grade: A+
March 26, 2020

Professor Larson is a super engaging lecturer. In her class, you will never stop typing/writing notes the entire class but the material is very interesting and Larson always presents the information with clarity. I would definitely recommend people to take this class.

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Quarter: Fall 2019
Grade: A+
April 1, 2019

Larson is a class act. Hands down one of the best lecturers in the department. If you're into IR, American history, or defense/military affairs, both 120 and 126 are must-takes.

Exams are straightforward; do a good job on the study guide and you'll be set. Readings are interesting but completely unnecessary insofar as grading is concerned.

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Quarter: Winter 2018
Grade: A
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
March 31, 2019

This class was fantastic. Larson's ability to lecture is unmatched in the department. It is a fascinating topic by itself, but she really makes it more enthralling through her presentation of the material. This was the first class that made me feel like I was at an elite research institution. The first half of class covered theoretical concepts of peace and war; the second half covered case studies from the 20th century that applied the concepts. There were two exams and an 8 page paper due. I never felt overwhelmed by this class. But you should show up and take good notes. The readings aren't too long, ether. I got an A in the class and I highly recommend it.

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Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
June 21, 2010

REALLY good teacher, but its hard to get an A in the class. A- is doable but u still have to study hard for the tests and go to every class and take really good notes. Overall, I'd recommend it. The tests are difficult to prepare for, but no surprises. And the essay is not too bad but the grading is a little subjective.

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Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
June 6, 2010

Good professor, definitely have to study hard for the tests, but they aren't surprising or extremely difficult. but they are very time crunched. if you dont know the material completely, it would be hard to finish the test on time. the essay was a bit difficult.

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Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
Feb. 19, 2010

DO NOT TAKE LARSON FOR PEACE AND WAR. i had her last year and her TA was horrible. i have a 3.8 poli sci GPA and i got a B- in this class after getting an A on the midterm. The grading of the paper is so subjective; everyone I know got a B or lower. Her 120A class is much more fair. I didnt get anything out of 126 stay away from this class.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
COVID-19 This review was submitted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Your experience may vary.
Quarter: Winter 2022
Grade: A
March 14, 2022

Professor Larson is clear, organized, helpful, and informative. Grades are based on one midterm, one essay, one final, and discussion points. When the Ukraine crisis began, she took the time to discuss it with us which was SO appreciated because she is so knowledgeable about international relations and I loved hearing about such a scary, unpredictable situation from someone with insight. Even after classes went back in person, she still zoomed lecture simultaneously which was also very appreciated. Larson is kind, accommodating, and a great professor overall. I learned so much about international relations, history, and politics, all of which I consider valuable to everyday life (not just testing). I can’t recommend this class enough!!

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Winter 2020
Grade: A+
June 25, 2020

PS 126 was one of the best classes I've taken at UCLA. Professor Larson is super engaging and I always looked forward to going to her lectures. The midterm and final were pretty intense, but if you put in the time to seriously study for them, you'll do great in this class. Between the midterm and final, you have to write a research paper on one of the assigned topics. Again, put in the time to make the paper good and even have your TA look over it, and you'll be fine. This is an awesome class and I highly recommend it.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Winter 2020
Grade: A
April 2, 2020

One of my favorite classes I have taken at UCLA. The lectures are fast and crammed with info, but Larson is clear and engaging. Super enjoyable topics, and I'm a fan of her old-school lecture style. I'm going to be honest: I never read a single thing for this class, and I skipped lecture a lot. I still got an A. If you are a good note-taker and go to discussion every week, then you're set. Class consists of a midterm, a paper, discussion participation, and a final (which became optional due to COVID-19). The exams are pretty easy, a mixture of definitions, short answers, and an essay. Making flashcards or a Quizlet is helpful for the definitions. Listening in class, paying attention in discussion, and a quick review of your notes covers should help for the short answers and essay. I got a 98% on the midterm. I wrote the term paper the night before, having no previous knowledge on the topic, and got 95%. Take this class if you can

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Winter 2020
Grade: A
March 28, 2020

Really interesting lectures and Larson knows exactly what she's talking about. I liked the no-nonsense lectures without slides; some professors use slides that are just a wall of info but Larson tells things more like a story. I dislike that she made her own textbook a required purchase but it made sense because her lectures were basically a more in-depth version of the chapters in that weeks' reading. The discussion sections were not the greatest (they never are). They were kind of awkward but the TA was nice at least. The mid-term was sort of difficult, the essay was pretty easy to write if you'd been to lectures and done the reading and the final was opt-out which was nice to see. A great class and would take Larson again :)

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Winter 2020
Grade: A+
March 26, 2020

Professor Larson is a super engaging lecturer. In her class, you will never stop typing/writing notes the entire class but the material is very interesting and Larson always presents the information with clarity. I would definitely recommend people to take this class.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Fall 2019
Grade: A+
April 1, 2019

Larson is a class act. Hands down one of the best lecturers in the department. If you're into IR, American history, or defense/military affairs, both 120 and 126 are must-takes.

Exams are straightforward; do a good job on the study guide and you'll be set. Readings are interesting but completely unnecessary insofar as grading is concerned.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
Quarter: Winter 2018
Grade: A
March 31, 2019

This class was fantastic. Larson's ability to lecture is unmatched in the department. It is a fascinating topic by itself, but she really makes it more enthralling through her presentation of the material. This was the first class that made me feel like I was at an elite research institution. The first half of class covered theoretical concepts of peace and war; the second half covered case studies from the 20th century that applied the concepts. There were two exams and an 8 page paper due. I never felt overwhelmed by this class. But you should show up and take good notes. The readings aren't too long, ether. I got an A in the class and I highly recommend it.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
June 21, 2010

REALLY good teacher, but its hard to get an A in the class. A- is doable but u still have to study hard for the tests and go to every class and take really good notes. Overall, I'd recommend it. The tests are difficult to prepare for, but no surprises. And the essay is not too bad but the grading is a little subjective.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
June 6, 2010

Good professor, definitely have to study hard for the tests, but they aren't surprising or extremely difficult. but they are very time crunched. if you dont know the material completely, it would be hard to finish the test on time. the essay was a bit difficult.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
Feb. 19, 2010

DO NOT TAKE LARSON FOR PEACE AND WAR. i had her last year and her TA was horrible. i have a 3.8 poli sci GPA and i got a B- in this class after getting an A on the midterm. The grading of the paper is so subjective; everyone I know got a B or lower. Her 120A class is much more fair. I didnt get anything out of 126 stay away from this class.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
1 of 1
4.5
Overall Rating
Based on 19 Users
Easiness 2.4 / 5 How easy the class is, 1 being extremely difficult and 5 being easy peasy.
Clarity 4.7 / 5 How clear the class is, 1 being extremely unclear and 5 being very clear.
Workload 2.4 / 5 How much workload the class is, 1 being extremely heavy and 5 being extremely light.
Helpfulness 4.2 / 5 How helpful the class is, 1 being not helpful at all and 5 being extremely helpful.

TOP TAGS

  • Engaging Lectures
    (7)
  • Appropriately Priced Materials
    (6)
  • Would Take Again
    (7)
  • Needs Textbook
    (6)
  • Is Podcasted
    (6)
  • Tolerates Tardiness
    (5)
  • Useful Textbooks
    (4)
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