Ayana Karanja - Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL

Professor: Ayana Karanja

Department: Anthropology

College: Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: SOC280
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I'm a Soc major and this was my least favorite class, it was so disorganized. She was very vague about assignments and if you ask her a direct question she doesn't help much. She hardly posted grades, so even the last week of classes I had no idea what my grade was. She is a nice lady and the discussions were interesting, but I would not take again

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: SOCL215
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class was frankly a mess. There was absolutely no clear rubric, graded heavily by an annotated bibliography and a journal - both with no rubric. She'll randomly add things to the final "journal" throughout the semester and expect us to just read her mind. Gets frustrated when THE WHOLE CLASS doesn't understand her assignment.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: SOCL215
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Really regret taking this class. I can't tell you what I've actually learned since it was completely discussion based with no concrete theme or focus. She tends to build discussion off of students whose ideas mirror hers, so there was very little balance in thought. Also quite disorganized. Just an overall confusing course.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: SOCL215
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She is a nice, but that's about it. Her classes are extremely disorganized and every single assignment has no clear rubric. She doesn't explain her assignments. Takes attendance everyday, class graded on a very confusing journal that doubles as a literature review, abstract, presentation, and a final paper. Class is nothing and then stressful.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: SOC222
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Took class MY first semester. Suggest TAKE last sem of your last year. Allows you to focus your papers and presentation on a topic of your choice. Make it something you are a passionate about. Research must be done on your own time build and grows w/each assignment. Class is discussion bring topics, current events, & opinions to the table. Easy A

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: SOCL252
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

She's is a really nice lady but this class was a waste of my time. Every single class was a VAGUE discussion on globalization, with no concrete input, actual case studies or specific ideas/theories. One presentation, 2 papers on the exact same topic. I'm genuinely passionate about SOC and I learned NOTHING. Don't waste your time!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: SOCL252
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She is a very nice lady, that being said I would never take her for a class again. She is disorganized and requires you to be in class while you learn nothing new from outside the readings. The final Exam, which consisted of two 5 page papers and one 4 page paper, was assigned the weekend before finals week which caused a huge amount of stress.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: SOCL215
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I really enjoyed the material I read & learned from reading the book. That being said, it is a self-taught class. Never really gets much done in class. She's spoken condescendingly to me many times. I'm sure she is a wonderful lady, but I would not recommend taking a class from her. TA is very helpful. 2 papers and a presentation.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: SOCL215
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The class is disorganized. Most of the semester it was unclear which sections we had to read but it's all mostly common sense material. Show up to class and participate. Three papers including the final and one presentation. Easy class. She takes attendance everyday.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: SOCL252
• 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:

Dr. Karanja is a great professor. She has had a lot of experience within her field of study. I took her Global Inequalities class and she is a very big advocate for social justice so she was very knowledgeable within this subject area. Not many opportunities to get points, so do the assigned work.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: SOC121
• 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:

She's nice, but odd teaching style. Every class was a large discussion, where she worked off what others said. Also, she was very unclear about what she wanted from us for the final paper, and the whole class stayed after to get a definite answer. She's good, but maybe not for this course

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: SOCL222
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Karanja is a very sweet woman but her teaching style is strange. Very interesting subject matter but she is not clear in her expectations and most of her assignments (& even one paper) were not on the syllabus. Grades heavily rely on class participation but it's easy to get those points because the entire class is based on discussions. No exams

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: SOCL222
• 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:

Dr. Karanja's class was the best class I have taken so far at Loyola - the class was very engaging, you get out of it what you put into it. It took up a lot of my time and effort, but I enjoyed doing the work because I actually felt that I was learning something. One textbook is all you need to buy, and I enjoyed it so much I still have it.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: SOCL230
• 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:

Not the best teacher, basically a self taught class. All you do is read the book and write a 3 page paper every week for the class. In class presentation over a chapter of the readings and the Final is a 10 page paper - should be considered writing intensive I wrote 43 pages. Unfair grading too, I earned 100% in the class and I got an A-....

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: SOCL230
• 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:

I love Dr. Karanja! Classes were quite open for discussion (and the topics were very pertinent to every day life in a sociological context). Small reading critiques, good to participate, and a final research paper. Very interesting (readings were worth the time). She is very kind and sweet. Recommend, for sure.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BWS202
• 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:

I LOVE DR KARANJA!! class is focused around interesting discussion and class readings. There is alot of writing involved, and one presentation. She is open to any topic you choose. This is a great class!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ANTH271
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I was extremely disappointed by this professor. She structures lectures more like a round-table discussion, and interjects minimally to add worthless comments. She made little effort to introduce pertinent topics or teach new concepts. As a business student, I took this class to expand my education, but ended up learning nothing. NOT RECOMMENDED!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BWS202
• 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:

Dr. Karanja has changed the way I look at teachers and professors. All of her classes are extremely relevant and helpful, regardless of race, gender or creed. I recommend her classes to anyone. Just come and be ready to be part of amazing discussions, regardless of the class. they all rock! and the work isn't hard at all!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ANTH300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I attended Loyola U over 12 yrs ago and to this day, Dr. Karanja is one of 3 professors who I thank. And every month I pay on my student loans I remember that indeed yes, SHE was worth it!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ANTH271
• 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:

I had her for a World Cultures class. The first day was a bit of a surprise as it was actually a Black World cultures class. I was hesitant at first, but it has become one of my favorite classes. She's an amazing teacher, and really keeps it interesting. There are no tests, only essays. The final project is a bit large. Take this class!