James Egan - University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA

Professor: James Egan

Department: Anthropology

College: University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ECON152A
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

My elective class that I thought was going to be my GPA booster class ended up being my hardest class. I recommend recording his lectures and listen to them when preparing for the midterms. What he says is way more important than what is on his powerpoint slides. The average is an F for all exams, so prepare to study a lot if you want to get an A.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ECON152A
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Interesting material. Great enthusiasm for the material by the professor. Test are non-cumulative. Curved. Study guide given out. Averages were quite low. Overall, great professor but very difficult class. Not an easy A, though if you have few classes and able to concentrate on this one, It is achievable.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: 2B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

You Have to go to lecture to do well on the midterm and final(both are multiple choice, final was curved which is v helpful). It's a lot of memorization but his lectures are super interesting and he is hilarious. If you remember high school biology the midterm should be easy.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ANTHRO121AW
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Egan is very eccentric in his lecture style, kind of hard to follow sometimes. I didn't read anything aside for the articles in the course packet. His exams are lecture focused so take good notes and go to office hours before exams for some guidance. The class will make you feel overwhelmed but it is manageable. He grades papers with mercy.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ECON152A
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I took this class thinking it was going to be easy but I was wrong. Egan is super passionate about his lectures, but notes taken in class are nearly irrelevant when it comes to the test. Get ready to read multiple books that makes no sense. Anthro majors think this class is a breeze, but as an Econ major, don't waste your tuition taking it.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: 152A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took his Economic Anthropology class thinking it would be a piece of cake because it was anthro. Boy was I wrong, LOTS of reading, and he actually refers to the reading a lot on his tests. 3 tests, non-cumulative make up your entire grade. He curves which helped me at least. Definitely not an easy A. The professor was passionate and amusing tho.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ANTHRO169
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Egan is a very entertaining professor. Talks fast but knows what he is talking about. Extremely heavy reading load, but you can skim the material if you attend lecture. Hard tests because he makes you apply the lecture material, not just memorize it. But fascinating guy and a real gem for UCI.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ANT2B
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Seriously a great professor! His lectures were really entertaining! He acts like a Jim Carrey character during his lectures which can be pretty funny. Discussions are optional and aren't much help.. The tests are easy as will, IF you are good at memorizing. Literally memorize EVERYTHING on the study guide with FLASHCARDS and you'll do well on exams

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ANTHRO2A
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I totally recommend. He is very passionate teaching this course. BUT BEWARE, don't be dumb like me and skip class a lot because you will not do great if you plan on doing so. Two midterms and a final, each test being noncumulative when it comes to topics. Grading curves nice and fair since the tests are VERY tricky. Great professor, but be careful.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: 2A
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Egan is a nice and funny professor who made class fun. Tests were pretty tricky. He's that professor who'll put "all of the above" on his tests to mess with you and all the answer choices sound correct when its not. Grade will be based on three exams. TAs are nice so go to discussion though they are optional. He curves the class as well.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: 2A
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

You don't have to read at all. He goes over everything in lectures, so go to class. Lectures were mostly interesting. His personality is fun so lectures aren't boring. 2 Midterms and a noncumulative final. Midterms have one essay question each. Final has 2 essay questions. There's quite a bit to memorize and some of the questions are tricky.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: 2A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is a good professor overall as in that he's very interesting and funny. He uses a lot of emotion during lecture which makes his lectures more bearable. You don't really need to read the book, however if you don't you will need to attend lecture and pay close attention to everything he says. Midterms and final are a little tricky.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: 2A
• 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:

I would not reckoned this class to anyone who wants it as a GE. Good lecture but his class is based on two midterms and final. If you skip you wont pass. A lot of reading and memorization for this class. His tests are tricky too. If you arent a good test taker dont take this class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ANTHRO2B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I really enjoyed his class! I love his passion and enthusiasm when lecturing, and he I can tell he truly cares for his students. I will surely miss his class just because he is so fun to listen to. This class is based on two hw assignments, one midterm and final. It's honestly not that hard as long as you don't slack off, there is alot to memorize.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ANTH2A
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

In this class, you are graded by few things (just test). His lectures are clear on the powerpoint but he ventures off into other discussions or complicates things by changing his voice. He relies on a lot of outside reading if you don't do it you will not understand some information. He is very passionate though it makes it interesting to listen to

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ANTHRO2A
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He definitely made the class very enjoyable. Half the class he wrote notes on an overhead projector and eventually he switched to power point. Midterm and a final plus two homework assignments that should be extremely easy to pass.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: 2B
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I've been in two of Egan's classes and he's great in both. Make sure you take notes on his slides and what he says. He's a very passionate speaker so it'll be fun going to class. Do your readings too. His lectures go over most of what's on his tests, but not everything. Discussions are not mandatory and not too helpful.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ANT2B
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Egan is really passionate about what he teaches. I have talked with TAs about his class and they said that he goes more in depth than other professors. He loses his dignity for students to learn. Go to office hours and he'll tell you some of the questions on the exam. Prepare to study for exams. You get what out what you put in this class

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ANTHR20A
• 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:

He's a professor who is actually passionate about what he is teaching. He only has one midterm then the final, so make sure to pay attention during lecture and to review your notes often!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: 2B
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Egan's class was very entertaining especially with the material after the midterm. He is very friendly and is willing to help you even after class during office hours. Take note that you WILL have to memorize a long primate tree after the midterm to study for the final. Overall, it was a good choice for a GE.