Brian Levy is a great guy and a super accommodating professor! Going into the class, I wasn't expecting as much content about bureaucracy and bureaucratic structures, which a lot of the lectures focused on-- but there were really interesting case studies on certain countries that made the lectures more worthwhile for me. The grade, however, is entirely. I mean ENTIRELY. based on 2 essays- a midterm essay (40%) and a final essay (60%). While he is a generous grader, and will work with you to workshop your essay (this class is small, about only 20 people), be prepared to write some long, thoughtful essays. The final essay can lowkey be about anything you want as long as it uses course content tho which was chill. Great prof, funny, small-discussion-based.

Probably the smartest professor I've had at UCLA. Super knowledgeable on the public sector. Take if you're interested in international development, especially institutionally/government-wise, as the class mainly revolves around that. Harsh grader though.