Thomas Barfield - Boston University, Boston, MA

Professor: Thomas Barfield

Department: Anthropology

College: Boston University, Boston, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: AN101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Barfield gives lectures that are sometimes interesting and sometimes excruciatingly boring. He has a tendency to ramble a bit- not always easy to stay awake. The TAs grade everything so your final grade really just depends on them. Only take this class with Barfield if you are really interested in Anthro.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: AN101
• 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:

Class is held in a huge lecture hall, and he can be dry.. but you can tell that he's brilliant. Grades depend on TF, so participate in discussion.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: AN101
• 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:

A very entertaining professor, though the topic was a little dry for people not interested in majoring. Exams and final and difficult and rely heavily on the textbook and two additional (long) books. Final exam and TEN PAGE term paper required at the end. Would not recommend if not majoring in Anthro.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: AN101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

However he is knowledgeable and experienced, he isn't that great of a lecturer if you're not genuinely interested in the material.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: AN101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dry, to say the least. He doesn't start lectures with any sort of intro, he just abruptly looks at his watch and starts talking. Which, in a crowded lecture hall with everyone conversing, makes you miss the introduction. Did I mention he doesn't use a microphone, and is quieter than a mouse? If you're really interested, fine, but otherwise...

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: AN101
• 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:

Lectures are usually interesting. Professor Barfield is funny if you appreciate subtle humor and shares a lot of interesting personal stories. Exams are not that difficult and are based solely on the textbook. The final paper is heavily weighted so make sure you go over it with your TF before it is due. Overall a good intro to anthro.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: AN101
• 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:

class is interesting, but prof. Barfield is condescending when he lectures. his overall pompous attitude is a turnoff

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: AN101
• 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:

Take discussion with Noah - it will improve the class immensely

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: AN101
• 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:

He is a great lecturer and very funny if you like subtle humor... exams are quite easy, but I would definitely recommend reading the book and readings and watching the movies. Major part of grade based on research paper, which is graded by the TF. Make sure that you have a fair TF because they basically determine what grade you get.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: AN100
• 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:

use the text book website. very helpful!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: AN101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are entertaining, he shares lots of personal anecdotes. Exams are very specific (know obscure tribe names, locations on maps, etc.) Definitely read the textbook & use the practice quizzes on the companion website. There are outside books, but you don't have to actually read them, just know the general concepts behind them. Managed an A-.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: AN101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

overall interesting class... exams (including final) are easy as long as you read the books.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: AN101
• 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:

For a 100 level course, the workload is EXTREME. There are 5 books outside the textbook reading, and a 10 page term paper due at the end. Lectures tend to be on the boring side and every movie played is dated. I would not recommend taking this course if you do not have to.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: AN101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is very knowledgeable and definitely knows the subject. His lectures can be boring at times, but they're based on the books. His exams are honestly not difficult if you study or even review right before the test. He's also a really funny guy... overall great professor. I would recommend the class for a social science requirement.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: AN101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The point of this intro course is to give some basic background in anthro using different examples, which is why some ppl probably found the readings to be disconnected. Read the books (not the textbook), go to discussion/lecture and you should be fine. Barfield is funny & quirky. His tests sometimes have confusing mutiple choice ?s. Easy B.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: AN101AN360
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Barfield is an amazing professor. I found his lectures to be really interesting. I thought the lectures were also pretty easy to follow.I loved having him as a prof. so much that I took AN360. That class was great because it is all about nomadic tribes which is his specialty. He's funny and weird which makes his lectures even better.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: AN101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lots of reading, but manageable if you keep up and most of the material is interesting and Barfield is fairly amusing himself. Exams were a cake-walk, use the text website tutorials to study. Final and 10-page term paper are tough, but I still managed a B+.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: AN101
• 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:

BARFIELD IS MY GOD. seriously. this man is wonderful. he is witty, adorable, full of interesting anecdotes, and brilliant. his class does have a lot of reading, but it is all pertinent to the subject and really interesting. i highly recommend taking a class with him.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: AN101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

worst teacher ever, too much reading, boring class, impossible tests, average was probably a c-, doubt anyone managed a's

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: AN101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The lectures were interesting and covered a lot of material, but had no real direction. It was very difficult to know what to study for the tests, especially since many questions would be very specific and irrelevant to the course material. Discussion sections were pretty boring and didn't help, and you had to write a 1-page paper every week.