Jon Wisman - American University, Washington, DC

Professor: Jon Wisman

Department: Economics

College: American University, Washington, DC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ECON100
• 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:

Absolutely despise this guy. His class is way too hard for an intro level Econ class. The class average for the midterm was extremely low. He just lectures about his own political views and then loads the tests with questions from the readings and the online homework. Highly recommend looking for a different econ professor

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ECON100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Wisman is honestly amazing, he is very passionate about economics and brings a ton of knowledge to the class. He is quite the character. He is a lecturer, no powerpoints or concise notes and has a particular interest in economic history so he is not everyones cup of tea. But, just a very friendly guy, go to the ta sessions they help alot in learnig

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ECO100
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Wisman loves economics so much and it really shows! Going to class isn't necessary in order to do well on exams. Grade is based off two easy papers, two exams, and 10 homework assignments. Most of the exam is taken word for word from the homework so you don't need to do readings or go to class to pass as long as you review the assignments.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ECON100
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Wisman made Macro interesting with the examples he used. Lectures don't always relate to the reading, so it is important to read the book as well for the tests. However, the lectures are good and he kept my attention every class.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ECON100
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Sometimes rambles on about arbitrary topics and drones on, but occasionaly will catch an interesting topic he talks about. Lots of HW to do you pass but he does not really talk about anything seemingly relevant to the online homeworks

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ECON100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

You should not take Macroeconomics with anyone but Jon Wisman. He is a star, a legend. His lectures are actually semi-interesting and useful. My roommates were in a different lecture, and while they were learning about unnecessary functions and equations, we were learning about the past has shaped why our economy is what it is today. I 3 Jon

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ECON200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Total freaking man.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ECON200
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

You can tell he's passionate about econ from the beginning. However, he's a very boring lecturer and sometimes talks about econ HISTORY rather than showing us how to do econ problems he has on his tests. Go to the TA sessions each week or else you'll be so confused.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ECON100
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I thought Professor Wisman taught a great class. It was almost like a hybrid between an econ class and a history class. He was a brilliant orator as well, and gave entertaining (if not always exciting) lectures. Especially interesting to juxtapose his macroeconomics class with Danliel Lin's microeconomics class.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ECON100
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Very dramatic lectures; in a good way. Really funny, he does tend to talk about drugs more than other professors but not to the point that it isn't funny. You will probably need to actually do the textbook readings to get above a B.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ECON100
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is kind of a lunatic, but he's a nice guy and a relatively easy grader. Talks about drugs a lot.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ECON100
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Wisman means well and wants you to succeed. The work load is easy (2 easy papers and homework assignments that have answers online), and you barely have to show up for class, as his lectures are pretty much irrelevant. However, the midterm and final were my downfall because I essentially had to teach myself all of the material.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ECON100
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

(Grandpa) Wisman is a really interesting gentleman. Lectures can drag on, but they are more about economic concepts and stories rather than the history of economics. The book is good for specifics, but you wouldn't really need it if you've ever taken a basic AP econ course. Homework is online weekly and two straightforward papers are done.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ECON100
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof Wisman is a very charismatic guy and I like him as a person, but I will never take another one of his lectures again. They were irrelevant to the subject matter, I had to teach myself essentially. His TAs do all of the real teaching. Showing up to the class doesn't matter bc no attendance / relevance. Easy work load, final killed my grade.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ECON620
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The class is very boring and you can fail if you are not careful with essays. No kidding. He can close his door into your face!!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ECON318
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I found Wisman to be an engaging lecturer who deeply values the pursuit of knowledge and the consideration of ideas. He's sincerely interested in providing a quality educational experience for his students, and despite receiving a B+ I would take his class again in a heart beat.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ECON318
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Wisman as always lectured with great knowledge and expertise. He was more of a raconteur than any other AU professor I came across. This skilled storytelling allowed him to relate a vivid and enthralling story of our economic history beginning six million years ago. As a side note, the TA sessions were very useful for exam preparation.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ECON100
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Great professor, I can see how people think he is difficult but if you go to every TA session, study the book, notes and do the homeworks, you will definitely get an A. I had no trouble with the class. He's also one of the best, most interesting professors i've had

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ECON100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's an adorable old man with a passion more for economic theorists and history than the textbook content. He isn't available but his TAs are and you have to be choosy to get a good TA session. His lectures are boring but go! About half of the exams consisted of theory and history from his lectures.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ECON100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Wisman is very passionate about economics but he's not the greatest lecturer. He goes off topic and barely talks about the textbook. The TAs are really helpful and if you go to their sessions, you get extra points on your midterm/final. Wisman is very generous with curves but all of his test questions are from the online homeworks.