Ann Swidler - University of California Berkeley

Professor: Ann Swidler

Department: TBD

College: University of California Berkeley

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: SOCIOL1
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Swidler is THE BEST! Her lectures are phenomenal, truly shifted my perspective on life. There are quite a few readings but they're very interesting and relevant to the course, and while attending lecture isn't mandatory it's SO worth it! This class made me want to major in Sociology, it's extremely relevant in today's society.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: SOCIOLOGY1
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Ann Swidler is a goddess; I took this class last minute to fill my breadth requirement, then found my self going back and forth deciding whether or not to major in sociology because I loved it so much. Her lectures are captivating (& course captured). Go to GSIs office hours for papers, and midterms are easy if you do a majority of the readings!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: SOC1
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Ann Swidler will make you love sociology. Her lectures are entertaining and the midterms and papers are easy as long as you attend discussion and do most of the readings. There is a lot of readings but you can get by with just understanding the big picture of each reading.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: SOC1
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great professor, extremely knowledgeable, funny during lectures, and sweet. She is very passionate about what she teaches, but tends to go on tangents because of this reason. The course is graded by 2 papers (5-7 pgs.), 1 midterm (2 essays and 4 short answers), the final exam, and participation in discussion. Read and you'll do well.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: SOC1
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

No core textbook for this course, but there are multiple readings (on suicide, family structures, social attitudes towards sex, etc.), all of which are interesting! Prof. Swidler is a clear speaker who also includes fun anecdotes that make lecture fascinating. If you understand the readings and make an effort, exams are doable. Really fun class.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: SOC1
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Swidler is literally the greatest woman alive. I cannot stress how truly wonderful she is. She makes sociology extremely interesting and fun, while also challenging you to think. The readings are super interesting. While there are a lot of them, they're worth reading. Go to office hours just so you can talk to her and see how amazing she is.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: SOC81903
• 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:

Professor Swidler made what could have been a very uninteresting intro course into something worthwhile. I missed class twice for personal reasons and I felt bad both times, even though lectures were posted online and missing did not hurt my grade. Good readings, good lectures, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussion after class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: SOC1
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

LOVE HER! AMAZING SOCIOLOGY PROFESSOR! she's incredible.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: SOC1
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Swidler is the best! Seriously, I looked forward to her lectures every day. I never did many of the readings because the GSI's went over it so well. However, when it came to the paper I did have to read up a lot for quotes so get ready for that. Her tests are fairly easy as long as you take good notes in class (use a computer). Lecture is webcasted

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: SOC1
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Professor Swidler has changed the way I see the world around me -- seriously contemplating adding Sociology as a second major! Note: videos of the lectures are posted online so you don't have to go to lecture, but you do have to watch them some way or another. I bought a reader but all of the readings are online so you don't need one.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: SOCIOL1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Coolest prof ever. Love the class.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: SOCIOLOGY1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

The professor was good, while the GSI I got was so useless. He use "sort of" "kind of" "ish" "like" for thousands of times every discussion, indicating that he did not know what he was talking about. Avoid M. Kowen...

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: 81603
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Renowned. Legendary. Epitome of a quality professor. She's passionate about subject & knows what she's saying. Makes dense, complex ideasconcepts clear & understandable. Her analyses provoke you to think critically. How to survive? Attend lectures. Take good notes (Pay CLOSE attention to her explanations beyond the PPTs). Keep up w the readings.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: SOCIOLOGY1
• 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: N/A

Comment:

Ann Swidler was my favorite prof ever. she made me want to major in sociology. i also had a kickass GSI (Joy Hightower). the tests and papers were reasonable and well-written. TAKE SWIDLER'S CLASS!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: SOC101
• 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:

Ann is an enthusiastic, lighthearted, profound, and thought-provoking lecturer. She tirelessly prods students to make sociological associations in their own lives through her seemingly scripted scenarios. Each glimmer reaffirms our sensational familiarity with profound ideas, and challenges us to evaluate them with course theory. She is brilliant.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: SOC101
• 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:

Had her in Soc 1, LOVED HER, had to take 101 right away when I saw she was teaching it. She is wonderful! Goes off on tangents but opens your eyes up to the world around you. You need pay attention, its dense material but it is worth it. She offers you fascinating perspectives on the world. You must take a course from her before you leave Berkeley

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: SOCIO101
• 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:

One of the best professors Cal has to offer. Very passionate, crystal clear, engaging, cute sense of humor. I'm so happy she was teaching Theory this semester because the subject itself is very difficult and she makes it a breeze. I recommend her for ANYTHING she's teaching.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: SOC1
• 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:

Very approachable, passionate about the subject, loves students that work hard in the class; this teacher will make you become a sociology major.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: LS150
• 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:

This class is a lot of work but it is extremely rewarding, particularly the 20 page paper. It's not so bad though, because the GSIs walk you through it. Swidler is an amazing lecturer and is clearly passionate about the subject. You must go to class in order to do well, but it is always a pleasure and material is fascinating. FAVORITE CLASS AT CAL!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: SOC1
• 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: N/A

Comment:

I loved this professor! She was very clear, which was perfect for Soc 1, and helped clarify that I wanted to be a soc major. She was approachable and very kind. This class was very interesting and informative.