John Isbister - University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA

Professor: John Isbister

Department: Economics

College: University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ECON107
• 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:

The subject matter was very interesting, however, there was no justice in grades. The TAs read papers and graded on their own expectations rather than Ibister. Some students wrote horrible papers, but got hella easy TAs. While some students were unfortunate.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ECON2ECON107
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Isbister is a very clear lecturer. He has great command of the subject and adds personal insight plus relevent current affairs into the conversation. The course load is reasonable. He'll be missed at UCSC.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ECON107
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

A perfect example of the prototypical professor. Relates material very well, gives personal arguments, and is very helpful. Though does not stand out in any one area, overall, a great professor and truly one of the best.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: 2AND107
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I absolutely love Isbister! His class is moderately difficult (i got an A, but worked hard) He's really shy, so he might come off as boring or stand-off-ish, but if you get a chance to have a conversation with him, he's really helpful and brimming with insight and concern. My favorite UCSC Prof. Too bad he's leaving!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ECON2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I liked isbister a lot. he was very interested in what he was teaching and that made it more worth while even though i only took this class for the ge. he also draws the straightest lines in the world! its amazing, seriously.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ECON12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Basicly class grade divide into hw, term paper, midterm, n final. Go to tutor with help on hw. Study old midterm review + final review, then you will do fine in this clas. Compare to Walsh, I prefer takign him than Walsh...

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ECON2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

fell asleep during lectures... but still got a good grade... so take what you will from this =P

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ECON2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I will be so sad to see Isbister leave UCSC. He cares more about his students than any other teacher I know. I was planning on majoring in Economics for all the wrong reasons. He gave a speech at the end of the quarter that truly enlightened me, and I've decided to change my major. He is inspiring, a great teacher, and he will be missed.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ECON2
• 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:

He's a really understanding professor, though he may seem boring, he has some really good lectures if you have an attention span. Really intelligent guy.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ECONJUSTICE
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Very passionate about economics, have taken econ 1 and 2 with him as well, boring but one of the least boring in the economics department

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ECON2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He bore me half to death so i went to class 5 time the entire quarter... the first few days, the day of the midterm and final!!! But i still got an A-...

Rating # 12

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ECON107
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

My favorite professor at UCSC. He is a bit boring, but this man is brilliant. He conducts his classes the way I feel university classes should be run. I guarantee, if you take economic justice with him (econ 107 - basically an ethics class â€" even if you aren’t an econ major) your viewpoints will be challenged in a productive way. As an undergrad teacher, his intelligence really can't shine through and is overshadowed by his tendency to be boring and can be easily missed by younger less refined students.

Rating # 14

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

funny, and easy going

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: 12
• 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:

i took econ 1 just for the ge. i ended up making econ a second major after i took econ 2 with him. he is interesting and brings life to the topics. good teacher.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MACROMICRO
• 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:

I totally liked this class and I'm not even an Econ. major. Nice guy.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ECON12
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

good teacher, knows what he's talking about... fell asleep a lot in class, ended up not going.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ECON1A
• 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:

Isbister has his days that are boring, but that goes will all professors. Supper liberal, but that goes with UCSC. Very well spoken and teaches a good class. He is very passionate about what he teaches too, so that helps.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MERR80Z
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Isbister is a badass among economic and ethical badasses. That is all.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ECON2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took this class for the Gen Ed and I took it as a pass/fail. Never really went to class, just went to sections and did the assignments and I passed.