Jay Berkovitz - University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Professor: Jay Berkovitz

Department: Ethnic Studies

College: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: JUD318
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is very accessible and is very lax when it comes to deadlines, if you need help go to his office hours!! Since everything in the class really comes down to writing and participation, you need to do the work and go to class. It can be hard to pay attention at times, but he makes it pretty interesting. You must put in work for this class.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: JUD318
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

overall, i think prof. berkovitz is a nice person but his teaching is pretty awful. the syllabus we got said we'd be doing five 2page papers & two 7pagers. & that was ALL of your grade. writing. that's it. due to his absences & rambling pointless lectures, we fell way off the the syllabus plan & did 3 short papers & 2 long ones. i'd avoid this one

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: 391AHONORS
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

If considering Jewish Autoiographical Writings, this class is good. Becuase of the Jewish holidays we didn't have 3 classes. He's very nice and knew very little about the the jewish religion but if you read Night or Anne Frank your fine. One 5 pg a paper and a small presentation on a reading

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: JUDAC102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Ee cares a lot about the topic, however his lectures are often scattered and it's hard to keep up. His exam formats change, so it's hard to know what to expect.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: JUDA102
• 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:

Changes the formats of his tests all the time, so you never know what to expect. Plus, the questions can be a little confusing. The lecture outlines cover a lot, and it's very difficult to know what out of all of it is actually important. Only good thing about it is that it covers two Gen Ed requirements in one class.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: JUDST300
• 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:

Best teacher eva.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: JUDAI365
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Nice guy.informal lecture/discussion style. Notes, usually doesn't give them or write them out, smart Writing intensive..3 essays 55% final paper 20%..not an easy grader.not too bad.sometimes opinionated..allows re-writes..1 quiz 10%..tough but scales it and had a retake (basically same quiz)..attendance/participation (15%) Kinda dry, interesting

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: JUD350
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Berkovitz is an expert in Jewish law and is incredibly committed to enabling students to grasp complex material. Class attendance is required, there is a steady stream of written assignments, and moderate reading -- but it is all worth it. All in all, a great teacher and an excellent course.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: JUDAI102
• 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:

there's 4 quizzes in the class, but he gives very limited time. offers makeups for the 1st one. a lot of reading to do foe each outline. attendance is mandatory. we often fall behind in lecture outline. hard to remember all the terminology learned for quizzes but he does give or e-mail a study guide.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: JUD102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Clear lecturer

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: JUDST102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Alot of people criticize this guy for being boring or stubborn. But if your willing you show up to class and ask questions, you will do just fine. Each class is a lecture and you need to take notes. Quizes are challenging but not too bad. He offers a lot of makeups and takes the average of the two grades. Fairly boring, but no complaints.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: JUD102
• 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: N/A

Comment:

He is the worse professor I have ever had in all 4 years of college. Not only are the "quizzes" enough material for an exam,doesn't know any of his students and will not take any criticism. If you take this class get all the notes from someone who already took it, plan on going to most classes and don't think you can get this stubborn man.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: JUDIA102
• 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:

No Comments

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: JUD365
• 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:

he assigns an impossible amount of reading...my advice woudl be to not do it before class but go to class because he goes over what to use for papers/quizzes, then when you're writing paper/sutdying, you know where to look. but go to class and use a lot of evidence from the class when writing your papers

Rating # 15

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Best professor Ive ever had. Ever.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: FAMSEXINJUD
• 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:

Nice man, and a good teacher, I learned a lot from him. Prior comment is right---a little dry, but not boring. Really knows his stuff.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: JUDAIC365
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Good teacher, really knows his stuff in his area of expertise. Somewhat dry but not terribly boring.