Susan Whitbourne - University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Professor: Susan Whitbourne

Department: Psychology

College: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PSY365
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This professor is very annoying and talks a lot about her daughter whom is in her 30's. she basically lets students teach with the group projects that are once a week. She doesn't care about her students even when the Dean of students gets involved. There are no make up exams unless you want to take the mandatory cumulative final.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH365
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I honestly don't think I have ever learned less in a class. She tells long stories and shows complicated graph and goes over the important info very briefly. To do the HW you need to go to every class and there are weekly group presentations. If you go though I found it to be a pretty easy A, I would have preferred to learn something though

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: AGING
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Half the lecture is totally irrelevant story-telling. Pretty annoying. Just restates everything she put in the book.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PYSCH100
• 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:

If you do the work, you'll be fine! Take advantage of the extra credit and go to class as long as you can. I missed some Friday classes and had no problem. Use the study guide and lecture notes and you'll do well

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH100
• 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:

Sue does everything she can to help students succeed. Make sure you attend class as the exams are heavily based off of in class examples, and go to the extra credit discussions. She does everything she can to make the class lively and exciting. Solid teacher

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Whitbourne made the class interesting, and gave many opportunities for extra credit. She rambles a lot to herself, but she makes the class fun and lively.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH100
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Most obnoxious annoying teacher around, grading scale is higher than normal, to get an A grade you need around 95.5% rediculous

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH100
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you are truly interested in taking/majoring psychology, then go right ahead and enroll. If you have no interest whatsoever (such as engineer major or filling in GE requirement), this class will be pretty difficult. I personally found it harder to score higher on her exams compared to those in my engineering major.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH100
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If you are interested in psychology take psych 100 with another professor. She rambles to herself about only jokes she can understand and she is all over the place, which makes the class miserable. Trying to follow her should be a course in and of itself. She is always unavailable and doesn't care about her students at all. AVOID THIS CLASS!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Pretty boring class, her jokes are very bad and she never stops making them. Attendance is not totally mandatory but it definitely helps. There are a bunch of extra credit opportunities. Not too bad of a class if you do not mind horrible jokes and obnoxiousness.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH100
• 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:

She's very nice and highly enthusiastic for a 9AM, but lacks clarity at some points. Some TAs aren't helpful either. Tests can be tricky, so come to every lecture (with printed notes!), do the textbook readings, and keep up with quizzes. 20pts extra credit for discussions is a plus. Get LearnSmart!!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Super nice. Not helpful at all. What she lectures is rarely on test. GET LEARNSMART

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Whitbourne gives you a packet of her notes to fill in which is extremely helpful. Most tests consist of her notes and in class videos/presentations. Online assignments are fairly easy just somewhat tedious but overall the class should be an easy A. She is full of energy and enthusiastic which doesn't hurt either. A good class, hardly used book.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH100
• 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:

She has lecture notes written in which you have to fill in for every lecture, so you have to go to class every time. Her exams are mainly focused on class activities/videos. Her hw was fairly easy and helpful. Discussion available for 20 extra points.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

You need to come to class to watch all of the videos and understand the notes that you are taking. Everything that she says to study is barely on her exams. You need to read her huge textbook. Shes nice, but shes not helpful. Her TAs do all the work for her, and aren't helpful either. Not many people get over a 70 on exams

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

She has good intentions and really loves to teach psych. She is really into the material.There are a lot of extra credit points given out, which is nice. She isn't helpful when you ask for help. She has her TA's do all the work. Her tests are really hard! I would try to take it with another teacher if possible!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

She's so great. Explains everything you need to know, and in fun ways, and offers a lot of extra credit. You can tell she's passionate. It's hard to do poorly in this class, not because it's easy--Whitbourne just makes a point you know all the information. Highly recommended for Intro to Psych!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She likes to hear herself talk. DONOT TAKE WITH HER. They make everyone take the final even though its optional because they wont release your exam 3 grades until after. Have to buy her book and notes so its 300 for loose leaf paper. AVOID

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH100
• 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:

Loves to teach...sometimes a little bit too much to handle at 9am. Definitely wants her students to do well, as long as effort is put in. I would strongly reccomend going to class because test questions often involve details from in class videos. Reading the book is also helpful. Go to discussion groups too because you earn 20 bonus points!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH365
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

She's very nice and loves to teach, and (for the most part) keeps it interesting. She has a bunch of different material to help keep your grade up (I'm not a great test taker). However- GO TO CLASS! I missed 3 in class assignments by skipping and felt it... just go! Learned my lesson.