Shirley Cassing - University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Professor: Shirley Cassing

Department: Economics

College: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ECON0100
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

She tries, but unfortunately she is extremely boring. Since the slides are posted on CourseWeb, there's no need to go to class (it doesn't add anything). Also, I know it's intro level Micro, but the course came off more like a high school class. I didn't learn much, but hey, easy A.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ECON0100
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Shirley is a nice lady and she gives a decent lecture. Her tests are fair and she gave us a final with 38 questions and 12 extra credit questions. Homework every week is pretty easy. The TA I had was a rockstar. Super helpful, super nice. I would recommend Shirley

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ECON0100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Stay up to date with the textbook, and you will not have too much of a problem. Exams aren't the easiest, but with studying and reading the textbook once, as well as going to recitation, a B+ isn't hard at all. I've heard she is the best Micro professor.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ECON0100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Amazing professor. Really wants you to learn.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ECON0100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

As cheerful as she is, lectures can still be pretty long. She's probably the most clear ECON0100 professor at Pitt. She assigns weekly homework and optional recitation problem sets, both of which are very helpful.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ECON0100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dont attend lecture, she puts the lecture slides online. Read the slides along with the book. If you read the book once before the tests you can get an A

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ECON0100
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Do not even bother going to lecture. Just read the text book instead because the examples in the text book are easier to understand than the ones she talks about in lecture. Tests are very similar to practice exams, and the final is not cumulative. Final exam has 12 MC questions each worth .33 percent of your overall grade

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ECON0100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are very boring. I attended all of them, but spaced out a lot. Recitations are VERY helpful, would definitely recommend attending. A lot of confusion in the material from lecture was cleared up very well in recitation. Weekly homework problems, but the answers are online somewhere. Exams were fairly easy and similar to the practice tests

Rating # 9

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Prof Cassing is a great lady, but her lectures can be dry and a bit confusing. I spaced out a lot but The homework end tests aren't too bad. If you are between her and the other micro professor at Pitt I'd take her. the material is more linear and easier to understand. overall not bad for a professor of a giant class.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ECON100
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Only gives 3 exams. Both lectures and recitations are completely optional to attend. You don't even have to do the readings, just show up and pay attention like half the time, and you'll do just fine. Also, she gives weekly homework assignments and it's multiple choice online, but all the answers are on the internet somewhere. Definitely recommend.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ECON0100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Although the lectures were pretty boring, I enjoyed the material in this class. She posts the lectures online so as long as you study those and read the book you'll be fine. You definitely have to study the material but it;s not hard to master. This class made me fall in love with Econ and Cassing is a great professor for an intro class

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ECON0100
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Shirley is a sweet lady & she seems interested in teaching, but you can easily skip the lectures and just read the book - you'll get the same information either way (book clarifies a little better). Exams are very similar to the practices she posts. If you put in some effort and study, the class is easy. Definitely recommend her for micro

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ECON0100
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This class can go very well or rather poorly, depending how lazy you are. I got a D on the first exam because I hadn't had any Econ background but did well after that and finished with an A. Sweet lady, boring lectures. don't go. stay in bed and read the book instead. gives 10 extra credit questions on the final, each worth .5% of your final grade

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ECON0100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Not a business major, took it to fill a gen ed. Went to class at first then skipped a few afterwards fell asleep in most of them. Read the textbook and you'll be fine, she talks about the main points from the book in lecture. TA's were great, go to the review sessions. She grades the essay assignment easily. There's e.c on the final. VERY nice lady

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ECON0160
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Can't say enough nice things about her. Sweetest lady in the world. Very understanding and helpful. Assignments are fairly open ended because she wants you to study a topic you're interested in, and actually learn the material. Generous grader. Easy to understand, but class is a little slow at times. I would take her for every class if I could.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ECON0100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Took shirley for micro. Nice lady, easy tests if you attend class, read book, and enjoy econ. Don't take for fun because not fun. take with a friend for help online homework!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ECON0100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Cannot believe these comments. Lecture is totally unnecessary; recitation is not mandatory. Maybe went to class 5 times and got an A. Do your hw instead of going to class, study for exams, and you will get an A. Class was a total joke.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ECON0100
• 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:

Material is easy and intro level appropriate. Cassing tries to highlight important things and give examples of test questions and what won't be on the tests. You wont miss much by skipping class. Recitation is extremely helpful. Lecture is extremely boring. Weekly homework is assigned but nothing too tedious. An easy A

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ECON0100
• 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:

Really nice. Helps you if you go to her office hours and show some interest, but her lectures are extremely boring and the recitations by her TAs are torturous. I didn't exactly like economics but I don't think that affected my impression of her. You NEED to read the textbook- her lectures are basically a supplement to the slides in class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ECON0100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Mediocre Class, As an Econ major I wouldn't take her for any advanced classes simply because she isn't the most enthralling or enthusiastic teacher. But she is fine for an introduction class. Read slides and the textbook after class, and turning up to lectures is recommended but no need for the recitation