Jim Glassman - University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

Professor: Jim Glassman

Department: Geography

College: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: GEOG281
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Interesting topic, but the lectures were boring due to the plain black and white slides and his monotone voice. Weekly readings were long. Questions for the essay exams were quite vague, so I found them challenging to write. Consider taking this course if you are genuinely interested in the topic (Pacific Rim) and you like writing papers.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: GEOG121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Interesting topics covered but monotone and scattered lectures, workload is pretty doable, no textbook only assigned readings, and it's easy to skip class/readings and still be on top of work. Hard to get a high mark though low average for a first year arts course (like 60%)

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: GEOG121
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Jim Glassman motivated me to go to classes on days where that was my only class. I enjoyed 'Storytime With Jim', and am ever so thankful for his contributions to my degree. This class was eye-opening, and much of its worth had to do with the lectures given by Jim. Every word he says is gold!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: GEO121
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Jim is dry - really dry. The class itself was pretty easy. I didn't receive an outstanding mark (75%), but it was achieved with minimal effort. 2 midterms (20%), an essay (35%), a take-home final (35%) and participation in lab (10%). I couldn't focus in class at all as he is so monotonous, and the 50 min. felt longer than my 80 min. classes.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: GEO121
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

One month into the class I started falling asleep almost every lecture and it wasn't even at an unreasonable time. You interact more with the TAs than you do with him. Try to go to class regularly even though his lectures are boring. He provides extra info during lectures which are useful for writing the mid term quizzes and final essay

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: GEO121
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very monotone, I could not focus for more than 5 mins each class. You barely even notice his existence throughout the course since most interaction is done with the TA (discussions, they grade your papers, etc). Tries to engage the class but is very, very unsuccessful. He's a good guy & makes u comfortable, just not my favorite type of professor.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: GEOG121
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very knowledgeable and passionate about the subject, but lectures tend to drag on - not the best lecturer. The course was not what I expected at all, but at the end I came out with a lot of new knowledge and a different outlook on things. 2 midterms and a final essay. Not too difficult, but don't slack cause you'll struggle to catch up.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: GEO121
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Glassman clearly has his experience in Geography. Lectures can be long depending on the day, but if you listened he throws in some interesting side notes. You need to be interested in the topic of the day or else you might fall asleep. Papers assigned unavoidably require strong knowledge of the month's material.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: GEOG121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

For the first month, I thought this class was so dry, but I came to appreciate his knowledge for the topic. His slides seem dull but pay attention and his lectures are packed with interesting information and concepts. A mild guy, and his list of terms he prepared before each exam was appreciated.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: GEOG121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

WORST PROF EVER DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS. He was very rude and unhelpful when I emailed him with questions. His lectures are boring and useless, and his monotone voice makes it hard to pay attention even when you make the (wasted) effort to attend class. I easily passed his class, but the fact remains that he sucks. Just don't take his class, period.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: GEOG352
• 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: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Amazing! Jim Glassman is one of the best teacher I’ve ever had. I took both geog380 and geog352 a while ago and believe me, you’ll have to work hard, but there are VERY few other courses where you’ll have the opportunity to learn as much as with him. Plus, he's really kind and his courses are a lot of fun (he starts geog352 with some world music)

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: GEOG121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I am interested in the topic, but I agree that this course would be boring for others. A lot of material is covered. Lecture notes are all online and a study guide is given at the end of the term so coming to class is pointless.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: GEOG121
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Jim Glassman is thorough, well meaning, but a terrible first year instructor. He covers far too much material in a short amount of time (ex, WW1 in one lecture), yet, in some subjects, far too much detail for a first year course. He is dry, monotone, and makes class attendance difficult. In addition, he assigns long, irrelevant readings.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: GEOG121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dry and boring lecture. Dreaded coming to classes. Regret taking this class. Please take something more interesting.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: GEOG121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

speeds through lectures really fast but his notes on vista are very detailed. Great prof knows his stuff well

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: GEOG121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I used to love Geography until I took Glassman's class. His lectures were boring and dry and seriously lacked major spark. He said that the exams and papers would be focused on major themes but in ended up as being marked heavily on specific topics & events. His lecture notes itself barely makes sense unless you attend class.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: GEOG121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I initially couldn't stand this class -- Glassman speeds through text, and the amount of material to cover was daunting and dry. Over time, though, I grew to enjoy his lectures and appreciate his depth of knowledge and excitement. Learned a lot, wish it had been longer so that specific periods and moments could have been given more focus.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: GEOG380
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's a nice guy, but He talks for 90 minutes straight without breathing, you will have to do three 12 page essays, and he is definitely not an easy marker. That said, he is a genius, and very helpful if you go to his office hours (although a little intimidating). Avoid if you just want a good grade.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: GEO380
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

i took 2 classes with him years ago.... i love Asia yet he was such a killjoy. boring, suffocating, monotone, development theory kind of prof. and a hard marker. i got a grade lower than usual in his classes.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: GEOG352
• 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:

Prof. Glassman is well-spoken and truly interested in the topic of this course. Sure, the format of the lectures isn't the most engaging, but the subject and his analysis are enough to forgive this. Requirements were laid out clearly enough and assignments were really interesting. Class notes are key. Really great prof overall.