# PSPA 201 — Introduction to Political Science (AUB) > PSPA 201 Introduction to Political Science at American University of Beirut. 3.9/5 from 17 ratings · 25 student reviews · 1 shared file. Source: https://studiety.com/aub/course/699 Retrieved: 2026-09-17 ## Facts - Course code: PSPA 201 - Title: Introduction to Political Science - University: American University of Beirut (AUB) - Subject: Political Studies and Public Administration - Department: Political Studies and Public Administration - Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Sciences - Credits: 3 - Counts toward General Education: Societies and Individuals - Professors on record (12): Dima Smaira, Ghada Awada, Ghada Mohammad Awada, Hilal Khashan, Hilal Khashani, Jamil, Jamil Mouawad, Michel Bariche, Ohannes Geukjian, Simon Kachar, Vera Choulhadjian, Zeinab Mirza ## Catalogue description An introduction to the study of politics with emphasis on the basic concepts, ideas, and issues relating to the process of government in the modern state. ## Quick answers ### What is PSPA 201 at AUB? PSPA 201 Introduction to Political Science is a 3-credit course at American University of Beirut (AUB), in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. An introduction to the study of politics with emphasis on the basic concepts, ideas, and issues relating to the process of government in the modern state. ### How many credits is PSPA 201? PSPA 201 Introduction to Political Science is worth 3 credits at AUB. ### Is PSPA 201 hard? Students rate PSPA 201 3.9 out of 5 overall, from 17 ratings. ### Who teaches PSPA 201 at AUB? Studiety has 12 professors on record for PSPA 201: Dima Smaira, Ghada Awada, Ghada Mohammad Awada, Hilal Khashan, Hilal Khashani, Jamil, Jamil Mouawad, Michel Bariche and 4 more. Sections change every term, so check the registrar for who is teaching now. ### Are there past papers for PSPA 201? Yes — 1 file for PSPA 201 have been shared by AUB students on Studiety, including exams, quizzes, syllabi and notes. They are free to download with a student account. ## Student ratings - Overall: 3.9/5 from 17 ratings ## What to expect - Has Midterm - Has Final - Has Attendance - Has Graded Homeworks - Has Participation ## Shared course material 1 file shared by students. Free to download after signing up. - Syllabus: 1 ## Student reviews 25 of 29 reviews by students who took the course. Any review carried over from elsewhere is marked with its source on its own line. - **4/5 · 2023-08** — POLS 201 (PSPA 201) is listed among the easy elective options. - **4/5 · 2023-11** — PSPA 201 with Vera is recommended as an easy social science elective. - **4/5 · 2022-08** — PSPA 201 with Vera Choulhadjian is recommended as an easy elective. - **5/5 · 2022-08** — PSPA 201 with Vera is a very easy course; she's super sweet and students can get an A+ with a bit of effort. - **4/5 · 2022-06** — Vera Choulhadjian's PSPA 201 is an easy intro course that involves some memorization, and Dr. Vera herself is nice and lenient. - **4/5 · 2023-11** — PSPA/POLS 201 with Vera is recommended as an easy social science option at AUB. - **5/5 · 2022-06** — Vera Choulhadjian is very nice and lenient in PSPA 201, an introductory course with easy material, though it does involve a fair amount of memorization. Students prefer her section over the alternatives. - **4/5 · 2023-08** — Simon Kachar is described as nice and approachable for POLS 201, and students can easily score in the 80s in his class. - **5/5 · 2022-06** — Ohannes is recommended for PSPA 201, with students calling it an easy A and saying it's definitely worth taking. - **4/5 · 2022-04** — PSPA 201 with Ohannes Geukjian is an easy course and students do pick up a few useful things from it. - **5/5 · 2022-06** — PSPA 201 with Ohannes is considered an easy A and students strongly recommend taking it with him. - **5/5 · 2022-04** — PSPA 201 is really easy, and if you can get into Michel's section it comes definitely recommended. - **1/5 · 2022-04** — Students say never to take PSPA 201 with Jamil. - **4/5 · 2022-03** — The PSPA 201 midterm with Hilal Khashani is very easy — revising the key concepts and ideas well is enough to do fine. - **4/5 · 2022-11** — Ghada Awada is a nice and approachable professor for PSPA 201; she values participation and attendance (which is graded), gives students several second chances, and assigns group work culminating in a presentation for the final. Grades in the high 80s (A-) are attainable. - **1/5 · 2022-04** — Students warn against taking PSPA 201 with Ghada; any other section is fine. - **3/5 · 2023-11** — Ghada's political studies courses carry a heavy workload, but an A- or A is easy to earn as long as you follow her instructions exactly. - **2023-03** — In Vera's PSPA 201, grading is based on a final exam rather than papers; a presentation may also be included in fall and spring sections. - **2023-03** — PSPA 201 with Vera is assessed by a midterm and a final exam rather than papers, and in the fall and spring sections there is also a presentation. - **2022-06** — PSPA 201 counts as a social science elective and is offered in summer at 9:00-10:15 with Vera Choulhadjian. - **2021-11** — Lenient with grading, easy course but requires studying - **2021-08** — I took the course online. It is a good introduction to the world of politics if you want to learn more about different political concepts, and want a social sciences elective. The explanation was good and good grades are achievable. There were two papers to be written. - **2020-11** — She is an amazing professor but she rarely gives a 89 or above. - **2020-04** — The course is really easy and with Prof Jamil easy 90 and very interesting - **2020-04** — Took with Ghada, it's an easy course and really 90s are achievable, only problem was with the workload : 3 presentations exam 1 , 2, 3 w midterm and a final ## See also - [All Political Studies and Public Administration courses at AUB](https://studiety.com/aub/subject/political-studies-and-public-administration.md) - [Every AUB subject](https://studiety.com/aub/subjects.md) --- From Studiety (https://studiety.com/), an independent, student-run course guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by any university. Reviews are the opinions of individual students.