Professor Copeland is awesome and very knowledgable about his field. The class seems daunting at first, because there is a lot of assigned reading, but it is totally worth it. If you can get Jeremiah as your TA, do it. Also, Mr. Copeland is not one to limit the amount of A's that his class can receive. If it is A work, it is A work. With that being said, you have to earn your grade. This was a pretty challenging course, but it was very rewarding and you come out know a lot more about geopolitics.

My class's breakdown included discussion worth 25% of your grade, a midterm worth 35% of your grade, and the final making up the remaining 40%. Take the class.

This class is one of the best I have taken at UVA! Professor Copeland is incredibly knowledgable about the material (part of the reading is from his own book on the origins of war) and he has enthusiasm very class that keeps you engaged!! There are extensive and lengthy reading for each week, easily 150-200 pages average, some weeks more some weeks less, but as long as you keep up with it you'll be fine! And there is only a midterm paper of 9 pages and a final of three greenbook essays, plus 25% participation form sections (which is easy and really boosts your grade). If this is a subject material you're interested in I would HIGHLY reccommend this class! Theory is first 35-40% of the class, but last 60% is all application to past and modern cases which is really interesting! Copeland forces you to think of the world system in various ways that expands your personal view and develops your critical thinking skills. Loved this class, and Copeland is great!!

Professor Copeland engages the class in lecture and is very passionate about the subject. Readings are extensive but relevant.

AMAZING teacher! He is so excited about the topic and it makes you excited. I would recommend this class to anyone. I came in three weeks late, and missed multiple classes and never felt behind. Writing just for the midterm.

Class was fairly interesting. Going to lecture is very valuable. Do the readings if you don't go to lecture but lecture is valuable and Copeland is really enthusiastic about the topic. He's a little bias towards Dynamic Differentials Theory (his own theory) but if you do the reading you can get away from his biases. Overall an interesting course and I would recommend it to Foreign Affairs and Government majors in particular

AMAZING CLASS. Really interesting and Copeland is super enthusiastic about the material. You do have to put work in- you can't get by without doing the readings. The paper was scary at first but if you've done the readings its not bad. ONLY TAKE THIS CLASS IF YOU CAN HAVE MATT SCROGGS AS YOUR TA. he helped out a lot.

Great class - love Copeland and material is very interesting. However very reading intensive and grade is basically midterm and final so you have to do well on both. Overall highly recommend

The material is pretty original and Copeland is a very interesting lecturer with his very personal opinion on the matter. He's pretty open minded though and ready to discuss anything in class or during office hours.
The amount of readings is ridiculously important and it's impossible to keep up but you can get a pretty good idea of it when attending lectures.
The midterm is a take home paper of 9 pages, it was pretty hard but helped reviewing the material. The questions for the final are handed a week before.
I'd strongly recommend NOT to take Karen as a TA, she was really nice but teaching clearly is not her thing and discussion were really boring, sometimes useless.

This course is less about the actual use of military force in international relations and more about the theory of war. I thoroughly enjoyed the class, and definitely learned quite a bit. Professor Copeland is truly passionate about the subject, which makes lecture that much more enjoyable!

Tough class. Alot of material and a self study final. Interesting if thats what you're into, but very difficult to get in the A/A- range