James Ward - College of Charleston, Charleston, SC

Professor: James Ward

Department: Art History

College: College of Charleston, Charleston, SC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HPCP199
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

DO NOT take an online class w/him! I'm speaking as an adult student w/ a great work ethic; I teach at Trident & make straight A's. Two months in, and he has not posted lecture material connecting core concepts to presented materials. He assigns so much reading and busy work that I am actually struggling to keep up in other classes. AWFUL.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HPCP199
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's unrealistic. I enjoy the subject but I wish he would be efficient. His syllabus & ppts are a confusing mess & he assigns too much reading. I don't mind doing the work, but one day, he assigned over 110 pages of reading. That is just too much for a 199 level class! And he req's notes turned in for all readings, so you absolutely must find time

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HCPC299
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Ok so here's the deal. Ward is so nice, accessible if you need help, and super enthusiastic about what he teaches. The class however is an incredible amount of work and unclear in general. He is so willing to help you and lenient with grading that it's impossible to be angry with him about organization. Being frustrated though? Definitely.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: URST310
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof Ward is a kind, inspiring, and effective teacher. You will learn a lot in his class. Workload may feel overwhelming at times. In all fairness he means well, is accessible after class hours, and gives good feedback. Super energetic about his field of expertise. So, if you honestly want to improve your knowledge and skills, then take his class.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: URST310
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Ward is interesting, clearly enthusiastic about the subject, and taught me a lot. However, he also assigned impossible amounts of work (even for a summer class), was extremely vague about directions, and insulted my intelligence on multiple occasions.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HPCP199
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very knowledgeable professor, but not so organized. Wouldn't take this class unless you ABSOLUTELY needed it or an elective.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HPCP199
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are very boring and his powerpoints are slammed pack with notes, but you do not have to write them. The papers take time but he is a fairly easy grader. Choose a good group for the projects, it matters a lot. The midterm is exactly like the study guide he gives so just study that. He is very nice and means well.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HPCP299
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Ward has a reputation for being a bit vague in his studio assignments. However, he is a very lenient grader, especially if you speak to him during office hours. If you spend time with him the lab, it would be extra helpful for you. He is dedicated to teaching you.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HPCP199
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Pretty easy course. It required a four papers, though, the longest being 8 pages. Knowledge of the Charleston area and local current events come in handy

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HCPC299
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

HPCP 299 studio is basically the initiation of Historic Preservation at the College. The horror stories of this class are true. The group work is unfortunate so pick your partners well. You will spend probably 15 hours a week working on projects outside of class. The initial instructions are unclear but meeting with him outside of class is helpful

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HPCP299
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Professor Ward's class was the absolute worst I've had in college. Unhelpful, rude, not clear, and you will spend 12+ hours per week working outside of class (mostly in the studio) to get little or no reward. A's are pretty much unheard of, and the cost of unnecessary materials and copiesprints per week is overwhelming.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HPCP299
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

HPCP 299 is for Historic Preservation majors, I would probably never recommend it to anyone not interested in the field. With that said this class is rewarding only if you put the work into it. Don't take the class too seriously and depend on the syllabus, Ward will help you if you ask for it and can get him to stand still for more than 10 seconds.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HPCP199
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Ward's class is a rough one. He is excited and knowledgable, but he does no organization and will set assignments to all be due at the same time. The midterm was awful and I found myself in the library until it closed 3 nights in a row. The end of the semester was even worse. (a 2 page paper, a 6 page paper, and a final) Don't take him

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HPCP299
• 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:

Professor Ward is interesting. He is completely unhelpful when it comes to anything so plan on being completely self-sufficient. Also you barely use anything he tells you to buy so before you spend $150 just buy the absolute basics. He expects you to be perfect even w/ no experience. This class is ridiculous and meant to weed you out so stay strong

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HPCP299
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

If you are a HPCPmajor I suggest taking this class. He may seem like a tough grader at first but anything you submit he lets you resubmit and it really improves your grade. It is time consuming but very fun and you get a chance to bond and make new friends with other HPCP students

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HCPC299
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

PresPlanStudio with Prof. Ward is meant to weed out HP majors that can't cut it so take his class early and make sure you're at least interested in what he's teaching or you don't want to be an HP major. Not an easy class, VERY time consuming (at least 15 hours a week outside of class in studio)-very scatterbrained and not particularly helpful.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ARTH275
• 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:

Knows alot, but expects you to learn everything he knows. He is a good teacher but there is allooooot of information, and the tests are really hard. He can be unclear sometimes at what he expects you to know

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ARTH275
• 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:

Professor Ward is really a great professor. When he says there is a quiz next class, it means there is an exam, but they are easy to study for. He posts all his powerpoint presentations online, and the books he uses for class are short and easy to read. He is interested in you learning about the subject.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ARTH230
• 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:

The course was very interesting, but there is a LOT of work. The final project is a huge pain and time consuming, but you can do it. The tests really aren't too bad at all. Ward is a little eccentric, but he is very friendly and loves Historic Preservation. Take this class if you are intersted in HP, you won't be disappointed!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ARTH230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I was so excited going into this course but sadly by the end of the semester I was so burned out by this professor teaching the class as though it was the students chosen major. It should have been taught as an introduction class and not a 400 level class. Nice guy, but a good bit too intense for this particular class.