Alan Deserpa - Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ

Professor: Alan Deserpa

Department: Economics

College: Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HON394
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If you like arguing and having your worldview challenged, this could be a good class. The assignments (with the exception of the midterm) aren't too hard, but the lectures last infinitely. The theory and econ history at the beginning's not bad, but the semester gets rougher and dryer as it gets more abstract. Would advise caution before enrolling.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HON394
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Just don't take this class. There's some interesting content in this course, but the professor makes it not worth it to take the class. He goes on random political rants, sent out an email that called Obama an "arab-backed imposter" and he'll make you show up to class early for presentations instead of just planning out the semester better.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HON394
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I cannot speak to Dr. Deserpa's other economic courses, but Behavioral Econ might be the worst class I've taken at ASU. He often came to class unprepared and even admitted his severe lack of interest and enthusiasm several times. Assignments and exams were random, unrelated microecon math problems. A mess of a class, would not recommend!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ECN394
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Excellent class for honors econ majors. Behavioral economics is a relatively new subject in the field, and Dr DeSerpa teaches the class in a very special way. He said in the very first class that he is learning the subject as the class goes, and he's right. This is a good thing because he can be wrong too, so it makes class participation more fun.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ECN450
• 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:

Excellent teaching. He not only conveys interest to economics, but also the US common law. His teaching are often clear. There are times when he messes things up in the assignments, but he always gives out full grades to the whole class when that happens. Best professor ever.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ECN312
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class was great! Not easy, but it was interesting. His tests are difficult but you can do it if you study. The people giving him bad reveiws are just lazy. Make time for homework and get in a group and you and you'll be just fine.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ECN312
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Hard course overall. I worked for hours on homework sets and tests but only got a B. This ruined my 4.0 GPA!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HON394
• 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:

He knows Economics very well and you can see he's pretty passionate as well. Problem Sets are difficult but with enough effort can be done. Expects a lot from his students and his expectations for the problem sets got to a point that he annoyed me. But stick it out and you'll learn from him.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HON394
• 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:

Professor DeSerpa knows his stuff, but it seems like his lack of preparation before class hurts its flow. Even though its behavioral economics, you really need to have a good background in economics to take this. Books are interesting too.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ECN450
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I've taken DeSerpa for 312 and now 450 and I love it :) His tests and problem sets are difficult BUT doable. He rewards students that go to office hrs and show they TRY and are passionate abt the subject. I will be taking him for his 404 class! Problem sets are awful - go to office hours! For midterms, study the old tests and understand prblm sets.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ECN312
• 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:

He is not a very helpful teacher at all and he assigns a ton of homework with one problem set due at the beginning of every class. His tests are nearly impossible the class average was 60% for the first test and he doesn't allow drops. I got the class average but because its 25% of the total grade I had to drop

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ECN450
• 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:

This is my second course with Prof. DeSerpa. His classes are extremely rewarding but not for the disinterested economic observer. You really have to immerse yourself and go to the TA sessions to succeed in his class but it is worth it!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ECN314
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Better becareful. Everything in this class you need to figure it by yourself. I took his classes ECn314, ECN 404 & ECN 450 and i got all D. I did go to class but it's very boring and so every time i fell asleep. I did realised those who got A's are those who self study by their own but because DEserpa is a great teacher.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ECN212
• 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:

Think twice before taking this course. Professor DeSerpa knows what he's talking about, but his class is very difficult, especially if you are liberal at all. A lot of his exam questions are subjective, and if you do not think conservatively, you will fail. I'm an honors student and very dedicated. The best I could do was a B-. Final was optional

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ECN314
• 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:

Best teacher I have had so far. Makes econ fun and easy. I did not get econ before his class and after it not only did I get it but I actually liked it. Great teacher and makes econ very easy. Turns econ into common sense. Go to the TA sessions and do your homework and you will do great.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ECN314
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Good Prof. He really knows his stuff, and works with practical applications. Class is hard, but he wont let you fall. Dont drop class. He grades fair on the hw, and tests. Your exempt on final if you do well.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ECN314
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

No one finds intermediate microeconomics EASY, but unlike other teachers DeSerpa knows how to separate the wheat from the chaff! By the end of the semester, you'll really understand the marginal value of taking another economics course with him.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ECN314
• 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:

He doesn't perform any useful examples during lecture; just reads his PP and looks silly when he can't remember how he derived the answer shown on the screen. Learn the material on your own or you won't learn it from him.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ECN313
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Intermediate Microeconomics is not an easy course. Deserpa gave a bad first impression but he got better as the term went on. I really liked the guy, but he comes off as very "academic." Homework and tests require extensive effort. It has been my hardest class at ASU but I put in the work and got an A+

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ECN450
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great class, really gets you to apply theory to the real world. Problem sets can be difficult, but he drops lowest assignment grades and curves the class.