Joanne Brewster - James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA

Professor: Joanne Brewster

Department: Psychology

College: James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PSYC335
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I really like Brewster. She gives you all the tools you need to do well in the class and tells you from the beginning that this class requires work. This class made me realize how lazy most psych majors are because they are used to being spoon fed info. So many resources to help you improve and this class will teach you how to work for a grade.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PSYC335
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Brewster is a good professor. The class is definitely hard, but abnormal is a hard topic with a lot of material. People don't take her class because they are afraid of trying hard, but if you put in the effort and do the study guides, you will do fine. There are 4 exams including the final, which is not cumulative. She also gives extra credit.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PSYC335
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Funny, energetic, and passionate professor. Attendance for extra credit and only grades are 3 tests and it really helps to do the study guides! I'd say about 50% of the test content is straight from the book- she really means it when she says you need to do the reading! I learned so much and she is extremely intelligent. Highly recommend!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PSYC335
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I read the entire book from cover to cover (the first class I've ever had to do this for) but it was so worth it. I really enjoyed the class and the material. Dr. Brewster knows it's a challenging class but gives you plenty of resources and extra credit to help as much as she can. It's a completely doable class if you're willing to put in effort.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PSYC335
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

At the beginning of the semester Dr. Brewster will try to scare you away but her class really isn't all that bad. A ton of the test questions come straight off the study guides and practice quizzes and she has so many resources for you to use if you're not understanding the material. That being said if you want to get an A I wouldn't recommend her.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PSYC335
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Take this class if you're ready to work really hard and learn a lot. Required the most reading and studying that I've ever done, but Dr. Brewster is extremely knowledgeable, has endless resources to help her students, and ensures that students properly learn the material.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PSY335
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

To do well in this class, you have to read the textbook. I don't know why people expect to get an A in a class where you are told day 1 that all the material won't be covered in lecture and the syllabus lets you know that in bolds and all caps on the first page. I learned a lot in this class and Brewster is one of the nicest professors I've met.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PSYC335
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Abnormal isn't impossible, students are just used to getting grades handed to them. You should be willing to work for an A and Brewster believes that too. Put in the time and get a good grade. Definitely prepares you for grad school and the real world. If you try to get easy A's throughout college, you're cheating yourself out of your education.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PSYC335
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This is a very hard class. At least 2 chapters on each test were not taught during lecture, so if you are looking for an easy A, do not take. If you are looking to learning everything on the subject, take her. It's very time consuming, so I recommend not taking at the same time as Biopsych or Sensation&Perception. Extra credit for attendance

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PSYC 335
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class impossible. You teach yourself all of the information. Lectures don't make a dent in the info. This class requires an unspeakable amount of time- there literally aren't enough hours in a day to complete the reading/ prep for the tests. This class is as impossible as people say.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: 365
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Don't be as scared for Brewster as everyone tells you to be. Her class isn't easy, but it's not impossible. She's straightforward with you about the tests and grades, and she offers lots of opportunities to do well over the course of the semester. As long as you read, you'll do fine.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PSYC335
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Brewster is an incredible professor. Her class is difficult, and she's very clear about that, but she is very helpful if you're willing to work for it. If you read the textbook and attend lecture, chances are you'll be well off. She gives students a lot of resources, such as tutors, review sessions, and study guides. Love this professor!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PSYC335
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

VERY DIFFICULT! You're reading the whole book (and the chapters are like 30-40 pages long). She also doesn't go through everything in class, so bring your laptop and type EVERYTHING! However, she does give a lot of help. You can be tutored by her TAs and/or go to study sessions they have before every exam. 4 exams and extra credit with attendance.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PSYC335
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The class is a lot of material, yes; but this is the case with any professor. Brewster may only go through half in class but that's because no one has time to go through all of them and I loved that she went so in depth with what she did cover in class because she made it interesting & gave a good picture of what some disorders really look like.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PSYC335
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Don't take this class! She is a sweetheart, but her class is so ridiculous. Tests are hard and cover too much material--most of which you won't learn in class anyways. I would definitely take it with a different professor!!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PSYC335
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Too much! This class should be a 400 level class. Material isn't difficult but there is just so much! She only covers half of it in class and you're left on your own to do the rest. Only take if you are really interested and you don't have a heavy course load.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PSYC345
• 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:

Dr. Brewster is a great instructor. This class involves a lot of reading, but as long as you do the reading and study you will receive a good grade. She is interesting, funny, and fair. None of her exams have any trick questions or anything used to confuse you. She gives study guides that tell you exactly what your exam will include.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PSYC335
• 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:

In order to do well in this class, you need to go to class and you need to read and study the book. This is a very beneficial class to take if you are serious about the subject and want to learn the material. She is a great teacher, but you also have to be able to teach yourself. It's work, but it's worth it.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PSYC335
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Awesome and really interesting class. A lot of work but if you can keep up it's totally worth it. She won't cut you a lot of slack if you screw around but if you're dedicated and care about the content she's really nice and helpful

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PSYC335
• 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:

One of the best classes I have taken at JMU. A lot of work, but you will learn so much from her. Highly recommended if you are serious about this major.