Bill McCarthy - University of California Davis, Davis, CA

Professor: Bill McCarthy

Department: Sociology

College: University of California Davis, Davis, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: SOC46A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

This class was super duper hard. Not even kidding The class is structured around one midterm, one final, and multiple assignments. Although this is a lower division class, it was way more demanding than my upper division classes. The assignments were UNCLEAR AND HARD. Assignments and exams graded subjectively. No standards whatsoever. DONT TAKE HIM

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: SOC152
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This is class is very hard because there is A LOT of material and his final exam expectations were very unclear. Harsh grader. I would skip this class if you want to avoid risking your gpa. Other than that, I learned a large amount and he is a wonderful lecturer and person.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: SOC152
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Topic is very interesting but his grading expectations are at the graduate level. Midterms are pure analyzation of theories and you only have 40 minutes to write 1 essay out of 5 he gives you before hand. Last average on our midterm was a C-/D and for a sociology class this is extremely low. Passing this class is challenging!!!!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: SOC152
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor McCarthy should not teach Juvenile Delinquency (SOC 152). This class is all theoretical and dry and nowhere near as interesting as the title suggests. He basically discusses the same topics again and again throughout the quarter. Information is not intriguing or revolutionary. He spends several lectures on pure statistics. Don't take him.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: 60492
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very interesting topics, the tests were very difficult in the sense that if you didn't read and go to class on a daily, you would definitely not pass

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: SOC152
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I was really excited to take the class after reading all the nice feedback but truth is the class did not exceed my expectations. There was way too much material to remember and therefore it was hard to get the main points. He gives the test Qs ahead of time but the grading and his expectations are harsh. The TA was very helpful.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: SOC1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Do not take if you don't want your GPA to suffer. Tests are on his lectures and not much about the book and is unorganized, the test material is not of concepts in the book but of the statistics found in the book. TA's are not trained and are not helpful and grade harshly. Did several confusing experiments on us for test, like giving us options

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: SOC152
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you want an A have to work very hard, attendance is mandatory also. A lot of reading, and the essay tests are tricky. Discussion is also mandatory but the TA Teresa is really helpful. You have to be able to critically think and analyze information. The class is interesting though and he posts lecture slides

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: SOC150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you can integrate studies/articles into class concepts you'll love it. IF YOU ATTEND CLASS. I absolutely love the subject and attended class. Mccarthy is the most enthusiastic and thought provoking professor I've had in college. I'm taking 152 with him this Winter (2011). If you've got issues with attendance or testing forget it.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: SOC150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Mccarthy is so cool. He is an excellent lecturer; i wish more professors could be like him. He knows what he's talking about and he makes lectures interesting. The class is hard but if you put in the time you can get an A.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: SOC152
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

What every professor should be. He is fair, professional,very passionate about his subject, and an engaging lecturer. Anyone who complains about him is just not used to a teacher who expects them to think critically and apply knowledge, rather than just regurgitate information on a test. Very rewarding and informative class. Would highly reccomend.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: SOC150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Bill is a great teacher. He does expect a lot out of your work and the tests are mildly difficult. Make sure that you work out the essay prompts that are given to u before u go into take the test. DETAIL and ANALYSIS to get an A on tests. He expects a lot out of you but it is rewarding after the quarter is over. Shane is also the most awesome TA!!!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: SOC152
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class is VERY hard, but I enjoyed the class. The Exams consist of 10 questions and you have to answer 2 out of 4 randomly selected from the list. There is a lot of material and readings and it's VERY hard to get an A. You will need to get into study groups and divide the exam questions up, but overall it's worth it. I liked the class a lot!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: SOC150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof. McCarthy is a very engaging professor. His criminology class is thought provoking and very interesting. KEEP UP WITH THE READINGS, re-read before midterms and finals, and you are really motivated work out your essay question answers (q's provided) before the test, I am not a good writer at all (Really!), and I got an A-

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: SOC150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Professor McCarthy is one of the best teachers at UC Davis! I have taken 2 classes with him (Criminology and Juvenile Delinquency) and I have to admit, they were HARD! But, you learn a lot and the classes are really worthwhile. Tests are very long and difficult but as long as you evaluate and analyze, you will do ok. STUDY STUDY STUDY!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: SOC150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great professor, he is very clear and attendance is mandatory. He does expect a lot from his students, so this is not a easy A class. He gives you the prompt ahead of time, so as long as you go to class and do the readings, you should be able to get a good grade.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: SOC152
• 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:

Would not recommend him!!! His class avergae before ours was a C-. All he did was show us data from research studies that was impossible to remember. OK work load: a 4-6 page paper and weekly section assignments. His midterm questions and grading are ridiculously hard. I still don't know what causes crime because everything he says is ambiguous.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: SOC152
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Greatttttt professor! Very passionate about the subject. He makes class very interesting and has great stories about his own personal research, ask him about it sometimes. Class is based on mostly papers. The midterm and final are essays. He gives you a list of 10 essay prompts and puts 4 of them on the exam, and you choose 2 to write from.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: SOC152
• 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:

By far my favorite class ever taken at Davis. He's a great lecturer and you can tell he is totally interested in the subject matter. To get people to particpate, he would randomly call names from the enrollment list so I'd recommend paying attention. If you ever get the chance, definitely take this class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: SOC152
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

McCarthy is a great lecturer--- funny and so nice. He makes class a lot of fun, but don't be fooled! The tests and paper are graded harshly! He really makes you learn, I would definitely take another class with him again!