PLCP 3500

I ended up taking this class in the midst of the pandemic which was kindof perfect, as we got to talk a lot about and analyze the environmental activities happening in China. You learn about the basic structure of the Chinese government and about how they have tackled environmental issues historically and presently. The class structure moves by topic with each topic being something that affects environmental policy (such as Incentives and Constraints) and then you connect a few specific environmental examples to each topic. There is a LOT of reading that you can never finish but you just need to get the gist of each one. The other assignments aren't too bad, but the quizzes are kind of hit or miss. Professor Shen is very knowledgeable and adorable, but it can sometimes be hard to understand exactly what she wants from you. Overall it was a worthwhile and informative class, I don't normally take politics classes so maybe more politics-minded folks will think differently.

Professor Shen was pretty good overall, she is very friendly and encouraging of student participation. Environmental politics in China is her specialty so she's very knowledgable on the subject. Although part of the class period involves a lecture, it is generally more discussion-based, so it's helpful to do the readings. However they can be quite long sometimes so skimming and taking notes is key. There were a couple of essays and quizzes throughout the semester, which were not super long or difficult. Overall I thought the class was interesting and very relevant what with the increased global focus on climate change and the environment, but the material did seem a bit repetitive.