T. Parker Ballinger - Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX

Professor: T. Parker Ballinger

Department: Economics

College: Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ECO231
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This was a challenging class for me, the material in and of itself was just difficult. However, Dr. Ballinger does his best to prepare you for the exams and provides extensive prep materials. This will likely be my first B ever, but I'm not an Econ or business major. Read the book, do the bonus problems, take the practice exams, & attend lecture.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ECO231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He knows his material. Like the way he teaches, if you take care of business outside of class you will be fine.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ECO231
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He gives a lot of practice tests as study guides and puts some questions from there on the real test. He posts the notes online. If you do the practice tests and the review, it should be an easy A.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ECO231
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Bonus are very HELPFUL!!!!!! Read the textbook and you'll pass easily. Don't have to go to classes he just talks about textbook.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ECO231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

1 homework assignment due every week, and 4 exams. That's all you'll have. The last exam is given as your final, it's not comprehensive. He has the lecture notes online for you to print, and he doesn't require attendance. So if you do well learning information from notes rather than sitting through a lecture, you'll barely even need to go to class.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ECO231
• 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:

He definitely knows what he is talking about. All the lectures are online but you should still go to class because he gives extra notes in class. He gives extra credit periodically too. I would definitely take him again if I needed another ECO class.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ECO231
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Ballinger is very nice & good at what he does. I found economics really boring and sometimes confusing but he is honestly really good at explaining it and answering your questions. Tests are not super easy and take a lot of studying but he posts reviews for each chapter that are super helpful &he even puts some of those questions on the test!!!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ECO231
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took this class in fall 2016 the class was my easiest class. He post all his lectures online but still go to class he fills the blanks in. He post practice test which are JUST LIKE THE TEST DO THEM.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ECO231
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

took Dr. Ballinger TWICE. One of the better instructors I have had. This was a full semester course, so we did cengage work - graded based on avg. attempts. He allows you to do practice quizes all year to prep for regular exams and final. DO THEM! Final is proctored - just do prac. quizes and ur fine. Read the book 2!! offers 5pt overall bonus too!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ECO331
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took ECO 331 in Summer I, and I took him in Spring for ECO 231. He was clear from day one, he allowed us to take practice quizes as many times as we needed. He also offers bonus work for up to 5 points overall. I had an exam every week (summer) but read and do the practice quizes and you will be fine. Final proctored - do prac. quizes!! u b fine!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ECO351331
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Ballinger's class is 4 tests, with the opportunity of bonus up to 5 extra points on final grade. This was the same for ECO 331 online and ECO 351 in class. ECO 351 is a challenging class and you cannot pass the tests without the notes from class. So go to class. Sometimes hard to pay attention, but write everything from the board down. I made an A.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ECO231
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Awesome teacher, probably my favorite at SFA! Tests are easy if you go to class and do the practice tests, he gives extra credit problems and goes over notes in class and explains them very well! Mono tone voice but an awesome guy, very smart, and great at what he does!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: 351
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Ballingers Intermediate economics class is taught the old fashioned way. No homework, 4 tests. All the tests are take home, but that does not mean they are easy. Ballinger is there for you if you ask for help. Attendance is not mandatory, but if you want a B or above, get to class. Using the class notes on tests really do help.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: 231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you must take Economics take him. Tough class but he explains concepts very clearly. Moves fast but is a solid teacher. Posts lots of practice and help. If you ask for help he will help you.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ECO231
• 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:

He is a great professor very understanding and willing to help you whenever its needed. He gives practice test and homework to help your grade out. The test are exactly like the practice test so study.The homework is time consuming, but helps a lot. Its a lot of note taking involved because he writes them all down, but its worth it.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ECON231
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is a really good professor to take! He gives you reviews for the test in advance, and he the homework assignments help your grade out a lot. While attendance isn't mandatory I would suggest that you go because you will miss a lot of notes if you do not attend. Other than that he is great and I would definitely recommend him to anyone.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ECO231
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Awesome professor! I wasn't very interested in the class before I took it but was surprised that I actually enjoyed it. He made everything so clear and the homework was easy. Gives practice test that have the same questions as the test. Would highly recommend him!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ECO231
• 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:

Was really worried about this class at the beginning, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this class, and it was because of the professor. Very nice guy and very knowledgeable on the material. He gives practice tests that have the same problems as on the test. Do the homework, do the practice tests, and you should make an A.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ECO201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

What can I say, Economics sucks but if you have to take it, Dr. Ballinger is as good as it gets.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ECO331
• 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: N/A

Comment:

Dr. Ballinger definitely knows what he is teaching and that made me more enthusiastic about the course. There is no HW, no mandatory attendance, just 4 tests that are open book. Would take him again!