David Swartz - Boston University, Boston, MA

Professor: David Swartz

Department: Social Science

College: Boston University, Boston, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CC204
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I would not say he was inspiring but I did enjoy the class, even if it did feel a little disorganized some of the time. He does talk a lot, but gives very good feedback on papers.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CC204
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Tedious in lecture and a bad discussion leader especially if you've taken other core curriculum classes. Do not take him as a discussion leader if you like to talk with your peers in class. He pointlessly talks most of discussion and his commentary on other's input is useless and frustrating. Hes also a hard grader. 10/10 wouldn't recommend.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: SO303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I think he's a good professor for this course. The classes would sometimes drag because he would lecture with no powerpoints, but it was all very interesting and related. Take REALLY good notes for the midterm and final (the only tests). He was also pretty lenient on the exam dates (if you got enough people in the class to ask he would move them).

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: SO444
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Swartz is one of my favorite professors in the department! I personally liked how the class was organized, with him introducing a topic or theory, and then assigning individual students to do a small presentation on one of the readings. I didn't end up buying the books that he used, because I was often able to find the articles online for free.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CC204
• 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: Mandatory

Comment:

(1/2) Professor Swartz is completely out of touch with current approaches regarding issues of race, sex, and gender. His views are archaic, and he often makes the entire class uncomfortable due to his lack of respect for perspectives other than his own. He constantly “fishes” for answers, which puts students on the spot.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CC204
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He isn't a very engaging discussion leader and he is unclear about writing expectations in terms of style. He also expresses a clear political bias, making class uncomfortable for students who do not share the same views. He is not open to discussion or theoretical perspectives that do not coincide with his.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: SO303
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Worst professor I've had at BU. Doesn't care about students and lectures incredibly boring. Very hard grader and has little respect for students.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: SO203
• 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:

super fine. very intelligent but the tests are super hard.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: SO203
• 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:

Although he knows what he's talking about and his lectures aren't boring, he is one of the worst graders i've ever had at BU. He holds you to such high standards, it's impossible to do well in his class.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: SO203
• 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:

Clearly knows what he's talking about and makes things easy to understand in class. HOWEVER, he is the most unfair grader ever. Tests don't allow you to explain what you know, he's only looking for specific wording.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CC203
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Swartz is the man. I'm pretty biased though because I think he's gorgeous, and have only had him as a lecturer. It's easy to keep up with him when he's speaking and he tries to engage the class but overall I like him as a lecturer.

Rating # 12

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I enjoyed this class. Swartz knows his stuff and is very interested in the topic at hand. He is flexible and takes students interests into consideration. He grades quickly and gives good feedback.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CC204H
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Swartz is a great professor! He cares a lot about his students and is not a very hard grader. He personally knows almost all of the authors we read in the course, so no bs-ing allowed in papers or discussion. Going to office hours was very helpful.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: SO201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

If your a Soc major and have to take this class, take it with Swartz-he does his best to make dry material interesting, uses contemporary examples. Don't bother reading, just go to class and take good notes. If your grade on an exam isn't what you want, you can just go to his office hours and he'll probably give you extra points. Nice guy.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: SO203
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Makes effort to teach theory, which is dry material to being with. Uses contemporary analogies, which helps. Class is interesting for ppl. who are into soc., but otherwise not. He is a nervous speaker, mumbles quite a bit. He has someone else grade exams, so if you think you deserve more points, he'll re-evaluate your response--mostly in your favor

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: SO203
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

One of the worst professors I had at BU -- dodges questions and is unclear about what is expected on exams. Repeats unnecessary information and stutters making it hard to follow lecture.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: SO203
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very interesting material if you are into sociology. Attend class and you can get away with not reading. Long essay and short answer exams. He is personable and knowledgeable though lectures can get a bit dry at times.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CC201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This man is so full of himself it's sad considering that he rarely ever has anything profound to say. He's a competent teacher, but overall quiet a dumbass.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: SO203
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Nice guy, but what a boring class! Take good notes, don't buy the books(most of them are in the library anyway); Go to class, he checks attendance randomly. Talks a lot, not much discussion, doesn't answer questions well; Very fair grader, easily accessible at office hrs

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: SO203
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are extremley borring, but as long as you go to the class and take decent notes you will get a good grade. It is not neccessary to do any of the readings as long as you take notes. I recomend not buying the books. Borring subject matter, but there is little he could do about that.