GVPT210 | PlanetTerp

Information	Review
John McCauley GVPT210 Expecting an A- Anonymous 12/20/2025	Courseload: No busy work, 4 paper assessments which he posts a study guide for, and one larger 8-10 page research paper. Sometimes he assigns a lot of reading but you really don't need to do it all. He will post in the study guides if a specific reading might be mentioned, read those. For bad test takers, it's possible you could struggle with the course load. Professor McCauley is a stand up guy, and is very well informed on this topic. His stories of researching made me fall in love with the idea of doing the same, enough to make me switch degree tracks. He does an excellent job of presenting information and letting us make our own opinions on it, which is unlike other professors in GVPT. McCauley remembers everyone's name in a large lecture hall, which is really admirable. If you attend every lecture, you will do well as he makes concepts so easy to understand. He only allows paper notes which can be hard when reviewing but it did help me comprehend better. Keep your notes super organized by date. Your TA is very important, they grade all the assignments and questions can be open ended so honestly you want them to like you. Overall this course changed the way I view the world, and it genuinely informed me in a way I really appreciated. If you enjoy learning about world affairs, take this class.
John McCauley GVPT210 Expecting a B Anonymous 12/08/2025	This course was my favorite this semester. Each lecture was extremely interesting, and I never felt bored. There are no major assignments throughout the semester, just 4 assessments and one research paper at the end of the semester. Exams were based on the lectures so taking good notes is very crucial. John doesn't like students using technology for notes, so my notes were handwritten but, he did allow for students to use ipads strictly for notes. Personally, I believe John is a great professor who is very knowledgeable and passionate about the subject.
John McCauley GVPT210 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/05/2025	I'm a neuroscience major and decently enjoyed the class. Your entire grade relies on participation, one paper, and the 4 "Assessments". One of the assessments he did, he called a "warriors exam" which basically is a class collective/open note exam where 8-10 random people are selected to answer questions and the class gets the same grade-- it seems daunting but you're guaranteed an A. There are a ton of readings to do but I never really did any of them towards the middle... but discussion WILL/can bring down your grade if you do not participate. The paper was a 10 page paper and was slightly annoying to write but it's nothing that Chat cant help with if you use it right. The content itself is pretty interesting and his lectures are concise, he's really kind and exams are fair. Decently simple gened.
John McCauley GVPT210 Expecting a B+ Anonymous 12/04/2025	My favorite course I have ever taken. It's a no technology class, but even as a screenager I have never been tempted to even look at my phone. Dr. McCauley explains things in very lay man's terms so even those with no knowledge of religion or politics can understand, but at the same time, any history nerd will have a field day every lecture at 10 am. The TAs are very informed too and helpful too. The exams are on the tougher side, and I probably will not even get an A but this was absolutely an intellectually enriching class.
John McCauley GVPT210 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 12/02/2025	amazinggggg class id 100% suggest to anyone. is a phone free class and exams are very predictable. this is one of the only classes where i always know whats going on because the lectures are interesting i never want to skip (as someone who always wants to skip). very easy and interesting class
John McCauley GVPT210 Expecting an A Anonymous 03/11/2024	MCCAULEY IS SO NICE AND THE EXPECTATIONS FOR THIS CLASS ARE ACTUALLY CLEAR. He is so funny and cool and the classes he teach are always interesting. I’m a STEM major and this is the first humanities class I’d really love. Mccauley is the GOAT
John McCauley GVPT210 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 03/11/2024	Amazing professor, fun class
John McCauley GVPT210 Expecting an A+ MNull 03/08/2024	GOATed teacher. Course is interesting, well taught and entertaining and I wasn't expecting to like it. Definitely take this class if you can
John McCauley GVPT210 Expecting an A- Anonymous 12/30/2023	what a guy. incredible professor who makes the lectures incredibly fun and something that’ll honestly stick with you for a while. super interesting course content coupled with a pretty interesting guy makes for a great time. course was honestly pretty easy too! just make sure you’re watching everything because there’s only a few assignments
John McCauley GVPT210 Expecting an A- Anonymous 12/12/2023	I really enjoyed McCauley as a lecturer- he is fantastic at it and really engaging, though the pace is what you can expect of a 200 level course. To date, he had given some of my favorite lectures that I have attended in my three years at this university. He also does try to get to know his students, particularly those who often participate in class, though he is less likely to call on you if he doesn't know who you are, particularly as the semester progresses. My biggest drawback is that I do feel the grading of this class tried to implement a distinction between letter grades that is not there given the exam grading was a bit harsh and did not always seem to make sense, but I would still recommend the class since it was really interesting and engaging.
John McCauley GVPT210 Expecting an A- Anonymous 02/18/2022	Professor McCauley is a great, charismatic, easy-going, and empathetic professor. Doesn't make the class harder than it needs to be and is very engaging. He very clearly cares about his students and his work and is flexible. Great guy and great class.

John McCauley
GVPT210

Expecting an A-
Anonymous
12/20/2025

Courseload: No busy work, 4 paper assessments which he posts a study guide for, and one larger 8-10 page research paper. Sometimes he assigns a lot of reading but you really don't need to do it all. He will post in the study guides if a specific reading might be mentioned, read those. For bad test takers, it's possible you could struggle with the course load. Professor McCauley is a stand up guy, and is very well informed on this topic. His stories of researching made me fall in love with the idea of doing the same, enough to make me switch degree tracks. He does an excellent job of presenting information and letting us make our own opinions on it, which is unlike other professors in GVPT. McCauley remembers everyone's name in a large lecture hall, which is really admirable. If you attend every lecture, you will do well as he makes concepts so easy to understand. He only allows paper notes which can be hard when reviewing but it did help me comprehend better. Keep your notes super organized by date. Your TA is very important, they grade all the assignments and questions can be open ended so honestly you want them to like you. Overall this course changed the way I view the world, and it genuinely informed me in a way I really appreciated. If you enjoy learning about world affairs, take this class.

John McCauley
GVPT210

Expecting a B
Anonymous
12/08/2025

This course was my favorite this semester. Each lecture was extremely interesting, and I never felt bored. There are no major assignments throughout the semester, just 4 assessments and one research paper at the end of the semester. Exams were based on the lectures so taking good notes is very crucial. John doesn't like students using technology for notes, so my notes were handwritten but, he did allow for students to use ipads strictly for notes. Personally, I believe John is a great professor who is very knowledgeable and passionate about the subject.

John McCauley
GVPT210

Expecting an A
Anonymous
12/05/2025

I'm a neuroscience major and decently enjoyed the class. Your entire grade relies on participation, one paper, and the 4 "Assessments". One of the assessments he did, he called a "warriors exam" which basically is a class collective/open note exam where 8-10 random people are selected to answer questions and the class gets the same grade-- it seems daunting but you're guaranteed an A. There are a ton of readings to do but I never really did any of them towards the middle... but discussion WILL/can bring down your grade if you do not participate. The paper was a 10 page paper and was slightly annoying to write but it's nothing that Chat cant help with if you use it right. The content itself is pretty interesting and his lectures are concise, he's really kind and exams are fair. Decently simple gened.

John McCauley
GVPT210

Expecting a B+
Anonymous
12/04/2025

My favorite course I have ever taken. It's a no technology class, but even as a screenager I have never been tempted to even look at my phone. Dr. McCauley explains things in very lay man's terms so even those with no knowledge of religion or politics can understand, but at the same time, any history nerd will have a field day every lecture at 10 am. The TAs are very informed too and helpful too. The exams are on the tougher side, and I probably will not even get an A but this was absolutely an intellectually enriching class.

John McCauley
GVPT210

Expecting an A+
Anonymous
12/02/2025

amazinggggg class id 100% suggest to anyone. is a phone free class and exams are very predictable. this is one of the only classes where i always know whats going on because the lectures are interesting i never want to skip (as someone who always wants to skip). very easy and interesting class

John McCauley
GVPT210

Expecting an A
Anonymous
03/11/2024

MCCAULEY IS SO NICE AND THE EXPECTATIONS FOR THIS CLASS ARE ACTUALLY CLEAR. He is so funny and cool and the classes he teach are always interesting. I’m a STEM major and this is the first humanities class I’d really love. Mccauley is the GOAT

John McCauley
GVPT210

Expecting an A+
Anonymous
03/11/2024

Amazing professor, fun class

John McCauley
GVPT210

Expecting an A+
MNull
03/08/2024

GOATed teacher. Course is interesting, well taught and entertaining and I wasn't expecting to like it. Definitely take this class if you can

John McCauley
GVPT210

Expecting an A-
Anonymous
12/30/2023

what a guy. incredible professor who makes the lectures incredibly fun and something that’ll honestly stick with you for a while. super interesting course content coupled with a pretty interesting guy makes for a great time. course was honestly pretty easy too! just make sure you’re watching everything because there’s only a few assignments

John McCauley
GVPT210

Expecting an A-
Anonymous
12/12/2023

I really enjoyed McCauley as a lecturer- he is fantastic at it and really engaging, though the pace is what you can expect of a 200 level course. To date, he had given some of my favorite lectures that I have attended in my three years at this university. He also does try to get to know his students, particularly those who often participate in class, though he is less likely to call on you if he doesn't know who you are, particularly as the semester progresses. My biggest drawback is that I do feel the grading of this class tried to implement a distinction between letter grades that is not there given the exam grading was a bit harsh and did not always seem to make sense, but I would still recommend the class since it was really interesting and engaging.

John McCauley
GVPT210

Expecting an A-
Anonymous
02/18/2022

Professor McCauley is a great, charismatic, easy-going, and empathetic professor. Doesn't make the class harder than it needs to be and is very engaging. He very clearly cares about his students and his work and is flexible. Great guy and great class.

Reviews for GVPT210