Historical instructor

SCOTT STRAUS

Adjusted rating
RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 4.44/5 from 80 quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average (3.66/5), weighted as 20 additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who chooses to leave a review.

RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.

What students say

Original student reviews · all captured dates

PS191 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 2/5
He was fantastic! I took a POLSCI seminar class with him at UC Berkeley; he always encouraged everyone to participate and ask questions, was extremely kind and understanding, explained concepts in a clear manner, and led thoughtful discussions on difficult topics. He was also very understanding if anyone every had to miss class. Love him!
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PS124H · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 3/5
Professor Straus provides clear and organized lectures, he will not try to confuse you. Guidelines for grading were clear, also open to student questions and comments. Thoroughly engages with the topic (human rights), was able to do my final research paper without feeling lost. You can tell he enjoys discussing the subject matter. Great professor!
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pol124g · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 3/5
I take at uc berkeley. Best teacher ever. He speaks clearly and eloquently. He clearly cares about the material and it shows. Hes not intimidating to speak to. Best experience ever.
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pol124g · course not matched
Quality 2/5Difficulty 4/5
Told us to study “main points” and midterm was on the details. Mediocre professor with hard test.
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PS439 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 3/5
Professor Straus is one of the best professors I have taken from. His 8 week course on genocide had 4, 30 min lectures a week. Lots of reading but you can skim it and just take notes on the big pictures. The material on genocide is SO fascinating, also disturbing but has made me more well-rounded about the world. Would 100% recommend this course.
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PS439 · course not matched
Quality 5/5Difficulty 4/5
My favorite professor at UW-Madison. His course on Genocide was one of the best classes I've taken. His lectures are so interesting that you want to pay attention and take notes without it feeling like a chore. Skimming the readings and paying attention in class were enough to understand the material and do well in this course.
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Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.

Classes with SCOTT STRAUS

No teaching recorded in Fall 2026.

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Recorded teaching history

Distinct courses recorded per term

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Browse recorded courses
TermCourseTitle
Fall 2020POLISCI 990Research and Thesis
Spring 2020INTLST/POLISCI 439The Comparative Study of Genocide
Spring 2020POLISCI 948Seminar: Topics in Comparative Politics
Fall 2019POLISCI 990Research and Thesis
Spring 2019POLISCI 990Research and Thesis
Fall 2018POLISCI 990Research and Thesis
Spring 2018INTLST 682Senior Honors Thesis
Spring 2018INTLST/POLISCI 434The Politics of Human Rights
Spring 2018POLISCI 919Seminar-advanced Methodology
Spring 2018POLISCI 948Seminar: Topics in Comparative Politics
Spring 2018POLISCI 990Research and Thesis
Fall 2017INTLST 681Senior Honors Thesis
Fall 2017INTLST/POLISCI 439The Comparative Study of Genocide
Fall 2017POLISCI 800Political Science as a Discipline and Profession
Fall 2017POLISCI 801Dissertation Proposal Research and Writing Seminar
Fall 2017POLISCI 990Research and Thesis
Spring 2017POLISCI 801Dissertation Proposal Research and Writing Seminar
Spring 2017POLISCI 990Research and Thesis
Spring 2017POLISCI 999Independent Work
Fall 2016POLISCI 601Proseminar: Topics in Political Science
Fall 2016POLISCI 800Political Science as a Discipline and Profession
Fall 2016POLISCI 919Seminar-advanced Methodology
Fall 2016POLISCI 948Seminar: Topics in Comparative Politics
Fall 2016POLISCI 990Research and Thesis
Spring 2016POLISCI 699Directed Study
Spring 2016POLISCI 990Research and Thesis
Fall 2015POLISCI 800Political Science as a Discipline and Profession
Fall 2015POLISCI 990Research and Thesis
Spring 2015INTLST 601Topics in Global Security
Spring 2015POLISCI 682Senior Honors Thesis
Spring 2015POLISCI 699Directed Study
Spring 2015POLISCI 990Research and Thesis
Fall 2014POLISCI 681Senior Honors Thesis
Fall 2014POLISCI 948Seminar: Topics in Comparative Politics
Fall 2014POLISCI 990Research and Thesis
Spring 2014INTLST 101Introduction to International Studies
Spring 2014POLISCI 987Comparative Politics Colloquium
Spring 2014POLISCI 990Research and Thesis
Fall 2013INTLST 101Introduction to International Studies
Fall 2013POLISCI 987Comparative Politics Colloquium
Fall 2013POLISCI 990Research and Thesis
Spring 2013INTLST 101Introduction to International Studies
Spring 2013POLISCI 699Directed Study
Spring 2013POLISCI 990Research and Thesis
Fall 2012INTLST 101Introduction to International Studies
Fall 2012POLISCI 699Directed Study
Fall 2012POLISCI 990Research and Thesis
Spring 2012POLISCI 990Research and Thesis
Spring 2012POLISCI 999Independent Work
Fall 2011POLISCI 990Research and Thesis
Spring 2011POLISCI 682Senior Honors Thesis
Spring 2011POLISCI 692Senior Thesis
Spring 2011POLISCI 699Directed Study
Spring 2011POLISCI 900Topics in Political Science
Spring 2011POLISCI 990Research and Thesis
Spring 2011POLISCI 999Independent Work
Fall 2010INTLST 101Introduction to International Studies
Fall 2010INTLST 699Directed Study
Fall 2010POLISCI 681Senior Honors Thesis
Fall 2010POLISCI 691Senior Thesis
Fall 2010POLISCI 900Topics in Political Science
Fall 2010POLISCI 948Seminar: Topics in Comparative Politics
Fall 2010POLISCI 990Research and Thesis
Spring 2010INTLST 699Directed Study
Spring 2010POLISCI 682Senior Honors Thesis
Spring 2010POLISCI 900Topics in Political Science
Spring 2010POLISCI 990Research and Thesis
Fall 2009INTLST 101Introduction to International Studies
Fall 2009POLISCI 681Senior Honors Thesis
Fall 2009POLISCI 698Directed Study
Fall 2009POLISCI 699Directed Study
Fall 2009POLISCI 990Research and Thesis
Fall 2009POLISCI 999Independent Work
Spring 2009POLISCI 990Research and Thesis
Fall 2008POLISCI 698Directed Study
Fall 2008POLISCI 990Research and Thesis
Spring 2008LAW 918Selected Problems in International Law-seminar
Spring 2008POLISCI 682Senior Honors Thesis
Spring 2008POLISCI 699Directed Study
Spring 2008POLISCI 948Seminar: Topics in Comparative Politics
Spring 2008POLISCI 990Research and Thesis
Fall 2007POLISCI 681Senior Honors Thesis
Fall 2007POLISCI 699Directed Study
Fall 2007POLISCI 990Research and Thesis
Spring 2007POLISCI 682Senior Honors Thesis
Spring 2007POLISCI 699Directed Study
Spring 2007POLISCI 948Seminar: Topics in Comparative Politics
Spring 2007POLISCI 990Research and Thesis
Fall 2006POLISCI 681Senior Honors Thesis
Fall 2006POLISCI 699Directed Study
Fall 2006POLISCI 990Research and Thesis

Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.

Instructor identity & provenance 
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