Jim Kearl - Brigham Young University, Provo, UT

Professor: Jim Kearl

Department: Economics

College: Brigham Young University, Provo, UT

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ECON420
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The most unorganized, difficult course in the history of courses. No TA. No reviews. No study guides. Just you and your notes. Kearl tends to act like we all went to MIT/Harvard with him so it is difficult to get anything from the lectures. Your entire grade is based on the final, with penalties if your 15pg paper is "inadequate". DO NOT TAKE THIS

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ECON110
• Grade Received: INC
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This has been the hardest class of my BYU experience so far. I was warned about the difficulty so I made sure to spend about 3-4 hours outside of class for every hour spent in lecture. If you put in enough time you will do fine! A great lecturer, just dont fall asleep or use your phone!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ECON420
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class is insane. The entire grade is the final, even though there's lots of homework assignments and a 15-page paper. The final is totally ambiguous. I took 110 and 257 from him and loved it. This class, however, is the worst class I have ever taken. No feedback, no help, just thrown to the dogs. Don't take this class.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ECON110
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Kearl is an economics wizard and his lectures are fascinating. The course is not hard in terms of homework however your entire grade is based on 2 midterms and a final. If you don't naturally think like an economist this can be a very hard class.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ECON110
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Jim Kearl is the reason I am in Economics, he is an incredible lecturer and very open if you come to him with questions or genuinely need help. Find people to study with, and read the chapters in depth because if you don't you're completely screwed.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ECON420
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I still have nightmares about this class. Kearl does not give you what you need to succeed. The material is impossibly hard to learn, there is no TA, and Kearl doesn't make himself available to help. I'm in law school now, and this class did me no good. Even if you study corporate law, this class will do you no good. Avoid at all costs.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ECON110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Great guy, super tough class, calls you out if you're asleep, the good stuff.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ECON110
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He was always full of energy; taking the class at 8 was rough but he's loud enough you couldn't fall asleep. I feel like I learned a ton from his class and it took a lot of work, but his tests were fair. He covered all the material and a lot of the reading he assigned was actually pretty interesting.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ECON257
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He strangely has a southern accent only when he says the word "so"

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ECON110
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class was a nightmare. Prof Kearl is a very knowledgeable man, but that does NOT translate well to teaching. If you miss a lecture you are pretty much done for. There is no late work and no mercy. There are two midterms and a final that pretty much determine your whole grade which are VERY challenging. Interesting subject, taught poorly.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ECON110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Only take his classes if you're already pretty good at the subject. His classes are super hard, and he has no sympathy for that. Super strict about phones or falling asleep during his lectures (and let me tell you, it's hard not to fall asleep). There's SO MUCH homework and reading you need to do, and a lot of feels like it's not even helping.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ECON257
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Took International trade and finance from him. He's very smart but doesn't show very much respect to students. Kicks you out of class if you fall asleep or have your phone out. The phone thing I understand but the sleep thing is kind of ridiculous.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ECON110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Kearl's class was one of the hardest classes I've taken at BYU so far. It was very difficult, however, it was extremely rewarding. He does a fantastic job at explaining the material. The subject itself is challenging, but he does a good job at making it manageable.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ECON110
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Kearl is the reason I left BYU. I had a 4.0 until his class where I got a C- I worked so hard for this class, putting in every ounce of time I could give it, went to the Econ lab daily, attended every review session. I swear this was the hardest thing Id ever done. Period.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ECON110
• Grade Received: D+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Tests are multiple choice with answers A-J. He said he would make you choose between answers A-Z if he could. Lectures are mandatory but they dont help you pass tests like that. The only way to prepare for them is to study for hours on end like its your only class. I got As and Bs in all my other classes at BYU.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ECON257
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I liked his 110 class a lot better than his 257 class. The textbook didn't align really at all with the tests and the tests were somewhat ambiguous as to know what to study for. HW not for a grade, you only got docked points if you didn't do your hw. Only 3 things graded. a midterm, final and an essay. Pretty stressful

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ECON110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I feel like I learned a lot from Dr. Kearl's class, but despite working as hard as I could, my grade never reflected it. The 8-10 hours a week outside of class felt like a waste as my grade never improved. The homework is intense and doesn't provide any of the promised extra credit. If you need this class to get into a program, don't take Kearl.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ECON110
• 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:

He's great at making difficult concepts clear, and his lectures are fascinating. The course content is useful for all students, regardless of major. His tests are very tough and the curve is minimal. At times he is unnecessarily dogmatic and harsh. He loves gothic architecture and foreign currency. He is the most interesting man in the world.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ECON257
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The class was really hard but super interesting. Most of the tests come from lecture, so make sure to go and pay attention.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ECON110
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Kearl is a legend. His lectures are inspiring (especially his final lecture), and he's an absolute wizard at econ, but beware of his tests. No amount of studying is enough for his tests, but he understands this and curves them nicely. I'm no econ major but I got mid-80s on all three exams and ended up with an A in the class, so don't lose hope!