Susan Eckstein - Boston University, Boston, MA

Professor: Susan Eckstein

Department: Social Science

College: Boston University, Boston, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: IR425
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

One expects Eckstein to have more insight into women's issues and more interesting information to share with students. However, most of the material presented is intuitive and repetitive. She just wants her lectures regurgitated for assignments. Classes are extremely boring. Eckstein struggles to engage the class and to encourage participation.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: IR242
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She claims to teach this class from a developing country perspective but it's very superficial and when you ask for deeper questions she stutters and doesn't have an answer. The tests are graded very arbitrarily. Unorganized, uninteresting, borderline problematic. She once asked if there were any DACA students in the class.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: SO242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I hated going to class. She was always frazzled, always forgot to bring back graded quizestests, would go off on rants during lectures, and struggled to stay on track with the syllabus and what was expected. Take very good notes for the 2 exams, and don't miss a class (she doesn't most lectures online and there's no discussion section).

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: IR242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Terrible lecturer and bizarrely arbitrary grader. I found out early on she just wants to see her own opinions mirrored on tests but she wants every element of her own argument present for credit. I once approached her about misreading the directions on an exam and she shrugged, and said she couldn't explain or even understand what she had written.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: IR242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Just do what the other people said: buy the reading list, skip the class. This woman is not a very good lecturer, very dry and repetitive, and is a very arbitrary grader. We didn't talk about the books or the other assigned readings (even though they were on the exams), which made class very boring. Just don't bother.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: IR242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

It's not worth to put so much time reading the books that the professor has signed to us. The readings are absolutely interesting but her lecture is absolutely boring. Even you attend the lecture and read the books you still don't get a good grade because she grades exams objectively. For example, if you mention two points then she wants three.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: SO242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I came into this class so interested in poverty and development and the class was such a disappointment. We only discussed the very superficial level of the issues and she put half the class to sleep. The only good thing about the class were the readings, but we NEVER discussed them. Unfortunately she made this interesting topic very boring.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: SO420
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I loved it. A LOT of reading but it's so interesting. don't fall behind because your 2 grades (besides participation) are the midterm and final which are essays based on the readings. So if you can handle a lot of reading and reading talk about it you'll do fine. Go in depth on midterm and final, talk in seminar and an A is possible.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: IR242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Eckstein is incredibly passionate about the subject and the readings are fantastic. That being said, if you are the type of person who needs a study guide, detailed in-class power points, or even just a textbook, THIS IS NOT THE CLASS FOR YOU! Great content, but very disorganized class structure. 3 in-class essays (which are quite difficult).

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: IR425
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great Prof!So passionate about the subject she teaches.I understand the concerns seen below but I can assure you she is a COMPLETELY different professor in a seminar setting-- I've seen this w/other profs too. The readings and discussions for IR 425 are life-altering.She listens and facilities fabulous conversations. Don't miss out! Take IR425

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: SO242
• 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:

VERY interesting course. Readings changed the way I think about the issue of poverty. However, Eckstein demands HIGHLY detailed answers on exams. Grading seems subjective and unpredictable. Grade based on 2 quizzes and 2 exams. Glad I got the experience but not sure I'd recommend it unless you're great with memorization. Not impossible to do well.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: SO242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I DISCOURAGE anyone from enrolling in this class. Although the readings are VERY interesting, this professor is horrible and grades very unfairly. If you are opinionated about global poverty, please don't take this class.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: SO242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Eckstein is a brilliant woman but a sub-par professor. She expects extremely detailed answers on exams, so it's very difficult to get an A, but it's possible if you really understand the material. Even though the class is difficult, esp. if you don't have a lot of background in the topics, I recommend taking it. The readings make it worthwhile.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: SO242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Expects a lot out of written responses for exams. One of the worst professors I have ever had. RUINED my GPA

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: IR242
• 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:

Prof Eckstein is a really lovely lady especially when you visit her during office hours. I missed out on that till the last two weeks of the semester. IR was really interesting and she definitely has a lot of passion for the subject!! It's been a joy being in her class! Go for all her lectures! That's when you'll learn and get her notes

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: IR242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She is great both as a professor and as a person. Go to office hours and have a chat with her, she's very nice and interested in the contribute of the students. She grades poorly and the exams are worthed a huge amount of the grade. But on the overall, AMAZING READINGS and interesting lectures.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: SO242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Much wiser to do the readings on your own time and save the tuition money.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: IR242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

aerawer

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: SO242
• 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:

She is a horrible professor. She has no idea how to work technology and spends half the class trying to figure out how to work her powerpoint. The information is interesting however, in a class of 100+, she gives essay exams and grades them horribly. This course is not worth taking.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: SOC242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

She is horribly boring, very disorganized, complete dunce when it comes to technology. The one good class was a guest lecturer. The readings ranged from dry to interesting. Lectures were unbearable. She doesn't use a textbook, so you have to attend and take notes or you won't pass. Luckily, if you just copy from the powerpoint you'll be fine.