Jagdish Handa - McGill University, Montreal, QC

Professor: Jagdish Handa

Department: Economics

College: McGill University, Montreal, QC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ECON330
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Yeah he's not a good professor, no two ways to put it. Probably one of the worst lecturers that I've ever seen. However, the silver lining is that he wrote the textbook so the exam is literally the questions at the back of the book and they're extremely fair. So don't go to class and read the book, you should do just fine compared to alternatives.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ECON330D1
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Well he's definitely bad at teaching but, let's not forget that his exams are actually not that tough... If you can study on your own for this class I would definitely recommend taking Econ330 from Handa. You can just show up to the exams ( you can also skip the quiz he makes in October since it's not mandatory) and get a good grade!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ECON330
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If you are a student considering taking Econ 330 with prof Handa, do yourself a big favour and don't... just don't. You will waste so many hours reading his dreadful textbook just trying to decipher the 'point'. By the end of it you will hate your life and hate macroeconomics forever. This was without a doubt the worst course I have ever taken.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ECON330
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Wow... where do I start? This course has the unique accolade of making you walk out more confused about macroeconomic ideas then before you started. Its that bad - seriously. Reading through 400 pages of that terrible textbook made me want to scream. It just makes no sense. Every copy of that book should be purged from existence. Horrible.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ECON330
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

While the textbook is poorly written, I think he's a knowledgable lecture that's super approachable. His expertise in the field can be seen when he talks about the subject. Super nice to talk to in office hours, he genuinely wants you to do well.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ECON330
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The textbook is your bible here. He is a dull professor, and you might be willing to sacrifice some points to avoid the lecture. There are exam questions that he only covers in class. However, you can get an A if you only do the textbook work.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ECON330D1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The worst professor I've ever had in my time in academia. He is a dry, boring, convoluted lecturer. The material is poorly presented and makes no sense. If you thought you could fall back on the textbook to compensate for bad lecturers, well guess what, the textbook is just as terrible. Avoid this prof. If you can't, then wait next year someoneelse

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ECON330
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Normally when you get a professor who isn't great at teaching, you can rely on the textbook to learn the material. The big problem with this class is that the textbook is Handa's own textbook, and it is AWFUL. Probably the worst textbook I have ever had the misfortune of reading. Errors on every page, horrible horrible explanations. Just avoid.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ECON330
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

According to the syllabus, it says "If you miss--or choose not to do the mid-term exam, Dec exam weighs more then, medical notes are NOT required for missing" As I have a 337 exam the day before it, so I planned to miss it to fully prepare 337. Then he said that the exam becomes a must-go just FKING 2 days before the exam. Nice bait.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ECON461
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

terribly designed class (100% paper on whatever econ topic you choose, but mandatory (or mark deduction) attendance to classes on irrelevant topics in monetary policy (I think - wasn't listening?) very nice guy - horrible lecturer: Take Hist of Thought 1. (the avg for HOT 1 was 84%)

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ECON330
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Speaking to fellow students, he is very knowledgeable and his material is very interesting since he has opinions of his own that differ from the main stream. I personally found his lectures to be incredibly lack luster. He has his own textbook that is VERY mandatory to have, and he literally teaches word for word from it. You can skip the midterms

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ECON330
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is very knowledgeable and is ready to help you if you have any questions. The textbook is very long and can be boring, but if you pay attention in his class and read the textbook thoroughly, the tests would start to look easy. It's either you do the work and earn good mark or don't do the work and do poorly. Very simple.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: 330
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Terribly unclear and obviously is trying to force his students to buy his overpriced textbook. Seriously, it's like you have to drop 100+ bucks or you won't do well in this course. Very vague, not sure how to study, ludicrous questions. On the plus side, kindergarten-like easiness.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ECON330
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Handa gets a bad rep but he grows on you after 2 semesters of class. He is not a talented lecturer but he is kind, knows his stuff and gives fair exams. He sometimes hints at what will be on them. The paper is a good way to boost your grade and provide some security if you are going to choose to move the weight of midterms to the final.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ECON230
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The WORST! Book is illegible, lectures are unintelligible. AVOID!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ECON330
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Handa seems like a nice fellow but his class is absolutely awful. The compulsory textbook for the course, written by him, is largely incomprehensible and riddled with errors â€" not to mention it will set you back a hefty $100. His marking is harsh, and his dry delivery of the subject matter has all but vanquished my love for macroeconomics.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ECON330
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Seems like a nice man and he goes out of his way to help students outside of class. Nonetheless, I am sorry to say that the class is absolutely terrible. Lectures and material are incomprehensible.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ECON330
• 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:

From the way he speaks, he knows his economics, but he lacks the right skills to be an effective professor. Lectures are slow, feel VERY disorganized, and his voice is often to quiet. He wrote the textbook for the course to study that you're good to go. He also lets you have the option to miss midterms and have the weight fall on the final.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ECON330
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class is mandatory if you're majoring in Economics, and it is such a shame that you have to go through it with professors such as Handa. Cannot understand anything he says in class, so there is no incentive to go. His teaching methods are very poor, and if you have a strong interest in econ he will most probably disgust you from it.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ECON330
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

With regards to Mr Handa's macro class, it is easy to get a good grade, IF you really really study the text book well, and above all practice the questions he gives. Practice the questions, work backwards with them and you should be fine. Having said that his grading technique is in my opinion flawed, as its literally all or nothing.