Behzad Diba - Georgetown University, Washington, DC

Professor: Behzad Diba

Department: Economics

College: Georgetown University, Washington, DC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ECON003
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Nice, funny guy, however, found the class to be very difficult. In hs, I took AP micro and macro, really enjoyed econ. Now I dread it. The homeworks are tough (completion grade though) and the quizzes and midterms are formatted like the homeworks. You have to understand how to answer the questions rather than content to do well in class

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ECON003
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

He's funny but half of his lectures are on topics he says we don't need to know for his class. Wish he would've stuck to what would be on the tests more because they could be hard to predict. Decent curve though so it's not hard to get an A. He also lets you use notes on every test and quiz. His TAs were pretty bad though.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ECON102
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Diba is a solid choice for Intermediate Macro. He is very clear about what you're expected to know and what you're not expected to know, and he holds office hours twice a week for multiple answers, so he's very available. That being said, the class, by it's very nature, is difficult. His tests really stretch the course material, so learn it well.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ECON102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Prof Diba is a very caring professor, but his lectures are kind of boring. You don't really have to come to class (which he tells you) but during class he'll tell you what isn't on the exams, which is like half of each powerpoint. Solid choice for a required major class.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ECON102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Go to his office hours, he is amazing at explaining things one on one. The homework is hard to do and the TA's explanations are often not the best. The class is on a curve like every other econ class so if you want to get an A/A-, you have to work for it but a B+ is pretty much guaranteed. Beware the final because it's 40% of your grade.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ECON003
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Lectures were OK, he lightly expands off his ppt. 90% of your grade is tests, so study hard! Everything is accessible online. His tests (2) are very difficult, but his quizzes (2) are almost exactly like the HW. His TAs are amazing, and work hard to help you understand. They grade your tests too. Cheat sheets allowed for tests. Didn't use textbook.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ECON102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Prof. Diba is a great choice for any macroecon class. The subject is difficult, but he explains the underlying concepts far more clearly than any textbook will. That being said, if you want to do well in his classes, it is not enough to only attend his lectures--going to his office hours will substantially improve your grade. Also, has amazing TAs.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ECON003
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Professor Diba is definitely knowledgeable and if you ask him specific questions or go to his office hours he can explain to you what you need to know. In his lectures, which were boring and drag on, he included superfluous information that we were never tested on. The class was easy, though, but probably just because the TA was an easy grader.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ECON003
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Diba is good if you actually like econ (particularly the math side) but rather meh if doing it for requirements. The TA is usually more helpful. Tests are hella hard unless your a genius like me but are curved the crap out of. Almost fell asleep in lecture a lot because his tone of voice is sleepy, I knew the material, and it was late afternoon.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ECON003
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

He is excited about his subject. His lectures are interesting and he really does care about your learning. However, the exam is not easy.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ECON003
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Prof Diba is as easy to understand as they come. Not an easy class, but not unreasonable. If you have an interest in the stuff and are willing to put in some work, you're in good shape.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ECON102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

He's not afraid to delve deep into subjets. Once in a while, he'll tag content as "non-test material". You'll be free to doze off or pay attention if you're interested. The tests are brutal, but they're just meant to spread a meaningful curve, you'll be fine.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ECON102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Real solid for such a boring class. Dude makes it real clear whats going on and if you go to class, you're guaranteed the B+

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ECON102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

His lectures are boring and hard to follow. Spends more time telling you things you don't need to know for the final than what you will actually be tested on. Did not learn anything in class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ECON003
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Professor Diba is a really nice guy, talks about his kids now and then, and tells some good stories. He can be a little hard to follow at times but he's always more than happy to slow down and say things more than once. I hope I get to take another class with him.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: INTMACRO
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Nice and funny person, but intermediate macro was a nightmare, mainly because of exams (problem sets/hm reasonable). Exams IMPOSSIBLE to study for, averages were in the 50s.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ECON102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Good for intermediate macro. Easy hw, hard tests but there's a big curve. Powerpoints are clear and useful.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ECON102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Awful for intermediate macro. He tests us on things that he mentions once in class and gives no guidance as to what the midterm and final will look like. Gives MyEconLab weekly in addition to recitation homework that must be handed in to TA's (who are just as clueless as the rest of the class). Worst class I've taken at Georgetown.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ECON102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

DO NOT TAKE FOR INTERMEDIATE! No help on letting you know how to prepare for midterm or final, no class time spent on review and new practice problems or review sheets given. Median grade for midterm is 52, no guidance on how to study or what to know, these are glaring flaws for an econ professor. AVOID AT ALL COST FOR INTERMEDIATE LEVEL MACRO!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ECON002
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

take him for macro. by the way he teaches you how to be a boss along with econ.