John McDowell - Arizona State University

Professor: John McDowell

Department: Economics

College: Arizona State University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ECN453
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

One of my best ASU professors hands down. Teaches in an informative and engaging way. Makes you work for an A but none of his expectations are excessive. You always feel like you're learning a lot and time flies in his class. Values participation a lot.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ECN453
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you thought watching paint dry was rough, wait til you take this class. John is as dry as the Sahara, his homeworks confusing and tests extremely hard. I wouldn't touch this class with a 39 and a half foot pole if I were you. Also, don't wear hats to his class because apparently it's the 1950s.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ECN475
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great professor. You'll work for your grade, but also learn quite a bit along the way. He'll give you all the tools you need for doing well in his class and is very accessible.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ECN312
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This course is difficult but you will learn a lot, and he cares about you. His homework and lectures translate directly into the tests, so it's important you go to class, take good notes, and understand the homework. I got an A in the class - to study, I reviewed all my lecture notes and homework and made sure I could do all the problems quickly.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ECN312
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Mcdowell is one of the better professors teaching ECN312. He makes the class pretty clear and what you see is what you get. The lectures turn into homework and the homework turns into the test. There are 3 tests and 9 homeworks. Make sure to do the homework and get help from tutor if necessary, class is easy to pass with some studying.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ECN475
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Excellent teacher who engages students and stimulates interactive discussion.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: 475
• 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:

Makes the class way more difficult than needed. Drags out projects and content. Zero clarity in instructions. Contradicts himself. If you're not one of his 3 favorite students from day 1, don't even bother. He will not attempt to learn your name or give you the time of day. Poor end to your college career.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ECN312
• 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:

He isn't easy but he is a great teacher. By far the best I've had in the Econ department so far. If you ask him questions he will explain it until you know it! The tests are just parts of the homework assignments with different scenariosnumbers. Not hard to pass if you listen, study a tad, and do the homework!!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ECN453
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

If you had a hard time on micromath, take him. By his own words, his tests are "virtually identical" to HW. If you really like this topic and want some challenges, Fernando Leiva-Bertran is a great choice and way more interesting. (I took his intermediate micro)

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: 312
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Well structured. Class lecture turns into HW, HW turn into the test material.

Rating # 11

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

ECN 312 is known as the weed out course in the major. However, Dr. McDowell is the best teacher to take it from. He goes over examples in lecture, assigns homework problems based off lecture, and then takes test questions directly from the examples and homework. If you average an A on first 3 exams, no final. Total of 9 HWs with the lowest dropped.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ECN453
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This one is a tough one!! Dr. McDowell is very passionate and highly knowledgeable. He is very fond of participation. He does offer office hours and is very helpful! If you do your homework's and use that to study for the midterms, then you will pass, and if you get A's for the first three finals then you can skip the JUMBO/Cumulative final.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ECN475
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This class as not as hard as I thought it would be. It seems intimidating at first, but its not. Most of the work is 3 papers and 3 presentations. There's also EASY homeworks. He doesn't really teach at all, its a group discussion based course so be prepared to talk in class a lot. My main complaint is that his expectations are sometimes unclear

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ECN453
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Avoid this guy if u can.I had a B but I worked my butt off.He is v/boring and dont have office hrs(he keep sayin hes 2busy).He doesnt use technology so prepare 2take notes wit his poor handwriting.Dont answer his questions in class if u have no clue coz He will definetely make u look like a fool in cass.On myopinion he dont qualify 2teach 453

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ECN453
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

One of worst mean spirited professor I have ever seen. He will cut you off wen u try to make contribution and doesnt value and only pick his people that he communicate wit in class.He tell the class that he will make his exams &Test questions very difficult& he will.Avoid him at any cost(He screwed up my 4.0GPA.I never forget.Thx

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ECN312
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Is a brilliant professor and there's a reason why he is a Doctor. However, I had to drop his class due to his fast pace and my class schedule was already filled beyond belief. He expects very high thinking from his students and begins class promptly when it's scheduled. Don't be late or have a cell phone go off, and expect to be called upon.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ECN475
• 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:

I can't compare it with other capstone classes but I enjoyed the class. It wasn't memorizing theories and forumlas for exams but instead it was memorizing speech/presentations. 3 presentations overall and weekly reading assignments were he goes down the roster list and asks everyone a question. Nice change of pace to end complete my econ major.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ECN312
• 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:

This class is 85% male, but that does not mean anyone cannot be successful. He is a quintessential economics professor, very intelligent, very knowledgable, and can be "mean." If you show up, are respectful, there will be no issues. Get the right textbook (not international), homework is out of the book. One of the best courses I've taken.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ECN453
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Near worthless class. He no doubt has knowledge of the material, but is incapable of teaching the material in a relevant manner. He discourages discussion, and does not relate theory as to its practical application in the world today. This makes this class worthless to any future economist.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ECN453
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Arrogant professor who probably hasn't changed the content of his class since when he got his PhD. Completely unwilling to discuss theory, simply tells you this is what "modern" theory is so don't question it. Unwilling to help during office hours. Highly recommend that you stay away, if you need to take Industrial Org take it with Bertran.