Howard Leathers - University of Maryland, College Park, MD

Professor: Howard Leathers

Department: Economics

College: University of Maryland, College Park, MD

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: AREC365
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I usually like going to class and don't mind paying attention but i have never hated a class as much as this one. like ever. I have absolutely no idea how i finessed a B in this class but I did. I never paid a lick of attention just read the book and took notes from it, got mediocre grades on exams and some how passed. would not recommend.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: AREC365
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Leathers doesnt seem to enjoy the two-way nature of teaching; he comes across as being very short with studentsboth in person and via email. Lectures were very monotone, however, he does frequently use videos. Despite his flaws, Professor Leathers is a great writer and the textbook he wrote for the course is the key to succeeding.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: AREC365
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took this course thinking it was an easy A. I was definitely wrong, his exams were harder then expected them to be given the course. You definitely have to study (not last minute) for this course, read his book and readings. No curve as well and most people i talked to in the class said they were not doing so well.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: AREC365
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Leathers is a lecturer at heart. His class is interested, but it is very large. If you like small groups of people this is not your class. Attendance is not mandatory, but he will take class pools that will count towards your grade. They are only open for a few minutes at a time. A computer or an electronic device with wifi is imperative.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: AREC365
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The class consists of 6 midterm exams, with the lowest dropped and the sixth score the average of the top five. There is also a final, in which he reuses midterm questions. The material is interesting and the exams can be relatively easy if you look over his powerpoints and read the book. In spring 2013, he didn't do +/-.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: AREC365
• 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:

Class is not really difficult if you do all the reading (both textbook and the outside reading he posts on canvas) and watch the videos. There are 6 midterm exams (each 125 points) and a final (250 points). He drops one of the six midterms, and averages the other five to give the sixth score. If you are wiling to read and want an A, take this.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: AREC365
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This is an interesting class if your interested in applied economics. Leathers is a good teacher and definitely knows what hes talking about. The book is a must read for this class but is interesting and only costs 20 some dollars. Went to about half the classes but did read the entire text. Got a B. Leathers can be mean but otherwise a nice guy.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: AREC365
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

6 midterms-every other week and a cumulative final. READ THE BOOK and you will get a B. book+additional reading+lecture notes=A.class in interesting.I would recommend him. gives u a chance to skip classes because no attendance. tests out of 125 points.No homeworks

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: AREC365
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Exams every two weeks. To me a very interesting subject, and a good teacher. Go to class, and keep up on reading and it's not hard.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: AREC365
• 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:

He makes the class engaging by showing short clips and slides with pictures. Besides the book, there are some extra readings, but most questions in the exam are not very specific. Final is cumulative, but not hard at all if you go over the most important points made on the semester.Attendance is not required,but notes are crucial for the exams.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: AREC365
• 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 liked this course a lot. The book was interesting, and I almost always came away from the lecture with a story to tell my friends about world food problems.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: AREC365
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I thought this was one of the best courses I've taken at UM. I really learned a lot about world hunger. I looks to me like the people who rate this low are people who never went to class and didn't put in much effort. But I'd say this class does reward effort with good grades and with learning alot.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: AREC365
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I took this class as a CORE diversity class, and it was pretty easy for the amount of work I put into it. I never went to class, just studied the night before the test and got B's. Homework is like 45% of the class, so as long as you get 70s on the test you should do well. Homeworks are really easy and gives you step by step instructions

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: AREC427
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

AREC365 comments are skewed since it's such a large class. Leathers' upper level courses in the Ag school are much different being as they are smaller size. He may not lecture the best but he if you pay attention you learn a lot, he's very approachable, and extremely friendly. I'd recommend any of his classes albeit AREC365.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: AREC365
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took this class because I was told it would be an easy A. It was not that easy though. There is a lot of required reading and hw every week. The final Exam was the worst exam I have ever taken at MD. Also, just this semester he is requiring $50 clickers that you have to buy. Take it with another professor!!!!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: AREC365
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

It's such a boring class. I went to all the classes up to the midterm, got an 82 on that, and haven't gone to one since. His tests are the of the "memorize every word I've ever said and typed" type.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: AREC365
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Am I crazy? I skipped every single class beside the first day and test days. Every...single...day. I got over 95% in the class. 60% of the grade is online quizzes and assignments which are gimme points. Make C's on the mids and final and you have an A in the course. But the tests are a breeze, half the questions are given on review sheets.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: AREC365
• 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 teacher and class ever. Way to much busy work and reading.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: AREC365
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

class is ok.. easy assignments/quizzes and stuff.. but HORRIBLE exams.. had a high A thru out the semester...the final was very tricky - screwed it and ended it with a B.. going to class not needed.. but must go if u want an A

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: AREC365
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I heard this class was an easy A, but boring as hell! There is A LOT of stupid busy work and the exams are pretty crucial. The only reason I got an A on the midterm was because the review sheet is almost identical to the exam. Attendence is not mandatory at all, but make sure you're there to watch the videos. Plus he's hot..in a santa claus way!!