Jean Forward - University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Professor: Jean Forward

Department: Anthropology

College: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ANTHRO104
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Probably the easiest A you could get in this school. Lectures give you information that is basically common knowledge, with half the time being her just giving her own opinions and life story. Luckily I had a good TA so this class was bearable.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ANTHR104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The easiest class ever at UMass!! She has clear expectations and theres no reason that you shouldnt pass with an A. Love her!!!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ANTHR104
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

One of the easiest classes I have taken here. There are assigned readings that you dont really need to read and the pop quizzes are pretty easy to pass. Her assignments are all really short and easy and all are due in discussion. You dont even need to show up to her class to pass. There are some group projects but everything is graded very easily

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ANTHRO270
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Graded based on 5 easy essays (3-6 pages for 2 questions, no works cited) - Lots of movies, many easily accessible online (she lists them on Moodle) doesn't take attendance, didn't feel like I had to come - Very nice person, always felt approachable and warm - Very knowledgeable on subject matter, but way more movies than lectures.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ANTHRO370
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Jean is always wonderfully helpful. This is the third class I have taken with her and I would highly recommend.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ANTH104
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

There is no tests in this class! There was one short map quiz at the beginning that was only worth 5 points and nothing after. She gives you a question to bring to your discussion at each lecture and tells you the answer in lecture. There is a few VERY easy assignments. This is the easiest class I have ever taken.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ANTH104
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Easiest class of my entire life. 10/10 would recommend for a pretty much guaranteed A GPA booster

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ANTH104
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Easiest class I have ever taken, no tests, two group projects are the majority of the grade, do not need to attend class, and class is extremely useless anyway because it has nothing to do with the small assignments that are completed in discussions. Prof. Forward is very passionate about Anthro, unfortunately for her not many others were

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ANTH104
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I took this class for a gened and it might have been the easiest gened at UMass. Jean is really nice but there are no exams so the notes she gives are basically pointless. She makes you go to class to get questions you bring to discussion but your entire grade comes from discussion sections. I would recommend this class for an easy A.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ANTHRO270
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I loved this course and Professor Forward. She makes the lectures interesting and I loved learning about cultures other than my own. I can see how someone who is not an anthropology major would not like this course, but because I am an anthro major, I thoroughly enjoyed this course and Jean's teaching.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ANTHRO104H
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I LOVE Professor Forward!! I looked forward (lol pun) to going to this class every week. It's a very relaxing atmosphere, and she is very open to comments and hearing different perspectives. She likes to learn from her students as well as expects you to learn from her. No exams, most of the readings are online except for 1 book. Would take again!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ANTHRO270
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

An easy class to use for the gened. Take notes from the lectures and browse the readings and you'll do fine. Very straightforward questions for the essays (5 - 20% each), and she tells you exactly how she'll grade them. Passionate about her subject if you have any questions. You watch a film every week- not a stressful class.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ANTHRO270
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I really enjoyed this class and Professor Forward. There were no exams, and your grade is based on five papers. To do well, all you need to do is go to class and take notes on her lectures and the movies. This is where the material for your papers comes from. If you ever had any questions at all, she was super eager to help. Very great professor!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ANTHRO104H
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I love Jean Susan Forward! Her class was the highlight of my day because it was so easy it was relaxing. I'm pretty sure everyone in the class got an A. Since it was a small class, we got to know her well and she is a great and funny lady. The class is a little random and scattered ("Is this even anthropology?"). I will miss it though.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: 270
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

It's an easy class. Go, take some notes. You really don't need the book, there are essay questions that don't require the book at all. Most of what you need can be found online.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ANTH270
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I took her North Amerindian Class and it was very enjoyable.Her lectures were organized and entertaining(the movies were not though)and we only had 5 3pages papers to do.Attend all the lectures,read the book a little bit(only if you have time, because it's a boring one) nd include some general knowledge in your paper and BAM you just got an easy A!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ANTH104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

The title of the course is Food and Culture. That is never discussed outside the semester project. Lecture is boring, lecture notes are incomprehensible and un-needed, do the reading and get an A. This class feels like a waste of tuition money.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ANTHR104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Forward is a kind woman, but horribly disorganized. Her TA's are unprepared, and the assignments have nothing to do with lecture. Easy A if you attend discussion regularly. Weekly assignments, 1 final 5pg paper, and a couple of 2 pagers throughout.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ANTHR370
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I am an anthro major and this class is impossible. Don't take because you must buy aplia which is EXPENSIVE and hard! She grades hard and I went to her office hours and that still did not help! I struggled for a C+ and I have a 3.7GPA!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ANTHR104
• 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:

Going to class is a waste of time since theres no tests and she rambles on about nothing the whole time. The class is also very disorganized with TAs often forgetting to hand out assignments and then expecting them handed in on time. But its sill an easy class