To offer a more pessimistic rating, I would not recommend this professor at all. There were only two grades for the entire class, so if one grade is poor, then the final course grade will also be poor. Minimal work though, none of the reading mattered besides the terms. The term paper at the end is tough, so get a head start on it!Rate My Professors ↗
Historical instructor
BYRON SHAFER
What students say
Original student reviews · all captured dates
Quality 3/5Difficulty 4/5
Quality 4/5Difficulty 1/5
The 2.5 hour lecture does get long, but he is a very knowledgeable person. HIs past experiences allow him to go more in-depth on topics other professors don't. However, lecture is very boring. You have a midterm that is wroth 40% of your grade and a 20-30 page term paper. Study the lecture and terms from the book and you'll get an A.Rate My Professors ↗
Quality 4/5Difficulty 1/5
Don't be put off by the 2.5 hour lecture. He has so much real experience in the field that his lectures are always fascinating. Even though he seems super formal, he is very kind and willing to help.Rate My Professors ↗
Quality 5/5Difficulty 2/5
The material wasn't thrilling, but that being said Shafer is a very knowledgable professor and I would definitely recommend him. The class consisted of a midterm, a final paper, and a final exam... which was cancelled (based on what the class voted on). Start the paper early, 20 page minimum requires a lot of work.Rate My Professors ↗
Quality 4/5Difficulty 3/5
Very enjoyable and interesting guy, class was a little boring but overall worth it. One midterm, which was pretty easy and a 25-30 page paper. Overall pretty good class.Rate My Professors ↗
Quality 4/5Difficulty 3/5
Professor Shafer knows a lot about American government. However, class was fairly boring (due to long lecture). Mid term was pretty easy, and the class votes whether or not to have a final after midterms. 20-30 page research paper also due the day of the final...ouch!Rate My Professors ↗
Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.
Classes with BYRON SHAFER
No teaching recorded in Fall 2026.
View last recorded teaching term →No courses match this selection. Try the full catalog or another term.
Recorded teaching history
Distinct courses recorded per term
Explore courses taught by this instructor →Browse recorded courses
| Term | Course | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2018 | POLISCI 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Fall 2017 | POLISCI 900 | Topics in Political Science |
| Fall 2017 | POLISCI 904 | Seminar-american Politics |
| Fall 2017 | POLISCI 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Fall 2017 | POLISCI 999 | Independent Work |
| Spring 2017 | POLISCI 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Fall 2016 | POLISCI 904 | Seminar-american Politics |
| Fall 2016 | POLISCI 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Fall 2016 | POLISCI 999 | Independent Work |
| Spring 2016 | POLISCI 900 | Topics in Political Science |
| Spring 2016 | POLISCI 904 | Seminar-american Politics |
| Spring 2016 | POLISCI 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Fall 2015 | POLISCI 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Spring 2015 | POLISCI 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Fall 2014 | POLISCI 904 | Seminar-american Politics |
| Fall 2014 | POLISCI 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Spring 2014 | POLISCI 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Fall 2013 | POLISCI 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Spring 2013 | POLISCI 904 | Seminar-american Politics |
| Spring 2012 | POLISCI 900 | Topics in Political Science |
| Spring 2012 | POLISCI 904 | Seminar-american Politics |
| Spring 2012 | POLISCI 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Fall 2011 | POLISCI 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Spring 2011 | POLISCI 682 | Senior Honors Thesis |
| Spring 2011 | POLISCI 900 | Topics in Political Science |
| Spring 2011 | POLISCI 904 | Seminar-american Politics |
| Spring 2011 | POLISCI 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Fall 2010 | POLISCI 681 | Senior Honors Thesis |
| Fall 2010 | POLISCI 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Spring 2010 | POLISCI 682 | Senior Honors Thesis |
| Spring 2010 | POLISCI 699 | Directed Study |
| Spring 2010 | POLISCI 900 | Topics in Political Science |
| Spring 2010 | POLISCI 904 | Seminar-american Politics |
| Spring 2010 | POLISCI 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Fall 2009 | POLISCI 681 | Senior Honors Thesis |
| Spring 2009 | POLISCI 900 | Topics in Political Science |
| Spring 2009 | POLISCI 904 | Seminar-american Politics |
| Spring 2009 | POLISCI 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Spring 2009 | POLISCI 999 | Independent Work |
| Spring 2008 | POLISCI 900 | Topics in Political Science |
| Spring 2008 | POLISCI 904 | Seminar-american Politics |
| Fall 2007 | POLISCI 699 | Directed Study |
| Fall 2007 | POLISCI 999 | Independent Work |
| Spring 2007 | POLISCI 699 | Directed Study |
| Spring 2007 | POLISCI 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Fall 2006 | POLISCI 900 | Topics in Political Science |
| Fall 2006 | POLISCI 904 | Seminar-american Politics |
| Fall 2006 | POLISCI 999 | Independent Work |
Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.
Instructor identity & provenance
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