Andrew K. Hanami

Dr. Hanami is all bark and no bite. He spends the entire semester from day one trying to scare you. However, you later realize that he is quite a lax grader. Be prepared to do two professional 15 minute presentations and a 15 page research paper. Also, you'll be writing a 20-25 page midterm and 22-28 page final exam within a 4 hour class. One question (10 pages) is given to you a week in advance and 5 other short answers (2 pages each) are given to you during the exam. FYI: Hanami doesn't really read your writing. It is blatantly obvious that he only skims through the research papers and exams. As long as it meets or exceeds the length requirements and is fairly coherent, you can expect at least a B.

I like Professor Hanami and I feel like I learned a lot in his class. However, I also feel like I would have retained WAY more if I hadn't spent every second of every lecture furiously trying to write notes. He goes over material quickly and puts overheads up which disappear just as fast as he can read through them. This would be OK if we were just listening to a lecture and didn't have to write down everything he said to prepare for the unholy 10-15 pages of essay we'd have to write in class for the midterm and final.

The grade is based on the midterm, the final, a briefing, and a term paper. On the midterm and final he seems to grade a little hard. A girl in my class recieved a 95, and Dr. Hanami told us how "astounding" it was, and that it's the "highest grade he's given in several years". The brief and term paper he seems to be a little easier on, but this class is one of the most difficult I've taken so far at SFSU.

Overall, I'd recommend him. Even though my grade brought down my GPA slightly, I feel that I learned a TON from him. He has a very reasonable take on most foreign policy issues and isn't a hyper-liberal or a warhawk. If you can take good notes and remember every detail for the tests, you'll do well. If not, hopefully you're a good speaker and can write a hell of a term paper.

Hanami's course is not for the weak of hand...be prepared to spend the first 2 hours of each 4-hr class speed-writing a good 10+ pages of notes which, in itself, wouldn't be an unreasonable task, except for the fact that, even with the aid of a mic, it is nearly impossible to hear a single word that escapes this man's lips. The overheads with the notes' outlined points is usually hand-written, and these illegible acribbles are almost a hard to discern as his lecture, which moves at a pace that is way too fast to keep up with, even if they were audible. The research assignments and country-briefing power points require weeks upon weeks of preparation, and offer only minimal guidelines as to what exactly he WANTS from each finished product. While there are some worthwhile discussions and fascinating information covered within the course, it just isn't enough to justify sitting through a semester of his lectures and tearing through the research assignments. Hanami really is a brilliant man (just ask him...), but a decent professor, he is not. This class is a req. for IR-majors, but I'd recommend opting for a diff. prof. if at all possible. He is, however, very open and willing to work with individuals when problems and questions arrise. And good luck on the 20-pg in-class mid-term/finals...eeek..

Professor Hanami is one of the finest professor I've had at San Francisco State or any other place. Prof. Hanami has vast knowledge of history, economics, politics and various areas of the world. What the Prof. know is just absoulutely incredible. He is great at answering questions, leading a discussion and keeping an "open" atmosphere and attitude on the class and on the subject.

International Relations is immensely important to all our lives. It not only affects our national security, but our economic lives as well. We all live in the one-world now.

This class is a must take and urge all students to take the class. Prof. Hanami is one of the finest teachers at SF state.

Dr Hanami is the best lecturer in the department; bar none. His support for all students, non-judgemental attitude for all questions asked and his candid approach to the material, combined with his vast experience in research are all top noch. Dr Hanami has supported and guided students well past their undergraduate and graduate level studies; for among other things internships and graduate level opportunities. Dr Hanami richly deserves the full professorship rightly due him.

Professor Hanami has been the best teacher I have had at State. Rather than assigning homework for the sake of assigning homework, you have to do a research paper and two presentations to the class - one on a country and one on a chapter of the text. Because you have to present them in front of the class, you really go that extra mile to make sure you do a great job, as does everyone, and everyone's presentations are very interesting. His tests were hard, but if you go to class and study for them, they really are not all that bad. And the final paper was a little intimidating, but a good experiance. Professor Hanami is definitely getting you ready to move on to bigger and better things in life, but at the same time takes time with each student. And he has such a nice personality that you cannot help but enjoy his lectures. I would really recommend this class to anyone, even non-ir majors like myself!

I enjoyed Professor Hanami's class. He is a very nice teacher, and even though the course was one of those four hour night classes, it was tolerable. One thing that is great about Hanami is that he will not jump down your throat if you ask questions or make comments in class that challenge his opinions. Because he wants to prepare his students for grad school, he gives exams that are very LONG. I'm talking four hours, all essay. He grades very leniently though, so if you pay attention in class and study a little bit you will probably get an A. Each student has to take a turn briefing on the reading, which is a very good way to make sure that everyone keeps up. You also have to do a briefing on US relations with a country of your choice, and a term paper (which you have to present). This is not a class for sissies, but it is rewarding. I did have some difficulty when I tried to meet with Professor Hanami during his office hours. He is not always there, but when he is available he is happy to discuss anything you want. If I had the opportunity I would probably take another class with him.