James Borders - University of Michigan

Professor: James Borders

Department: Music

College: University of Michigan

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MUSICOL239
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Borders is a very nice guy, but this class (Musicology 240) is extremely hard. Everyone struggles to pass, which is unfortunate in a 2-credit, required course. He does care, though, and offers a couple of extra credit opportunities. I do not recommend this class if you don't absolutely have to take it.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MUSICOL481
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Borders often has to share 1000-yr-old info in 21st c. lectures: NOT an easy task. He's incredibly passionate and truly does his best to make things accessible. And he's AWESOME in a 1-on-1 setting! My independent study has been the most inspiring, challenging, and informative class I've taken in undergrad. Work hard and put yourself in his shoes!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MUSICOL239
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Worst class I've ever taken at the University of Michigan. This is a 2 credit course that has the workload of a 4 credit and the work you do is constantly the same and not even helpful in your learning of the material.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MUSICOL239
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Borders is a pretty good lecturer, but the class is not well-structured. It is too broad a topic for one semester or 2 credits, there are too many assignments, and the grading is fairly tough. Furthermore, the tests are not curved, despite the 55% test average over the semester. Be prepared to work hard and get very little for it.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MUSICOLOGY239
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This was the most disappointing class I've ever taken. Borders was incredibly offensive and unhelpful in lecture. The grading was incredibly subjective and intense for a 2 credit course. I dedicated more time to this class than my 4 credit classes, and my time did not pay off. There were many breaches of academic integrity that were allowed.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MUSICOL239
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Biggest waste of tuition money. Learned nothing yet spent all of my time studying for this class. How is that even possible? Someone please put my mind at ease and tell me that Borders is gearing up for retirement.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MUSICOL239
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Worst course at U of M. How has the administration not fired Borders yet? He is an embarrassment to the School of Music. Lectures are pointless since he never covers material but, yet, manages to find time to make offensive and rude comments. Work is too hard, grading too strict. This class is only 2 credits, but takes up 18 credits of your time.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC239
• 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:

Grading was totally arbitrary, and this was too much work for a two credit course. The paper topics and grading expectations were unclear and painfully boring to write. His lectures were boring, and he was generally obnoxious and at times offensive.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is a REALLY enthusiastic guy, but sometimes he can get side tracked. It's not bad for you though since since he can't cover in time wont be on the exam. Read the chapters he posts!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MUSIC239
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Borders really knows his stuff but he is not so great at explaining it to us. He is a fantastic lecturer and keeps you awake, but by the end of class you don't know what the main points were that you were supposed to have learned. He grades fairly hard on papers and his exams are Hard, too.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MUS239
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MHM239
• 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:

Seems to enjoy watching us suffer on test days--in fact, he'll play happy Elvis songs and grin devilishly while we squirm. Enjoys the sound of his own voice a little too much. Basically comes off as a s***head when he lectures, though if you talk to him one-on-one he's nice. Not a fun class, though. At least my GSI was good.

Rating # 13

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

8:30 class was brutal, but Borders was just goofy and engaging enough to keep me awake. AN AMAZING feat, considering he started off with gregorian chant and kept on rolling until baroque .... fotschpinung equals forschpin-nap... except in Borders class. Those that paid attention get the jokes! Bravo to you hommie!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MUSICOLOGY139
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Borders sucks.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MUSICOLOGY239
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Didn't learn anything in that class. Nothing.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MUSICOL239
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Music students always do poorly in this class because they are incapable of doing proper academic work. So they claim that Borders isn't teaching them well. He is a very good lecturer although it was hard to stay awake at 8:30.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MUSICOLOGY239
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

very bad teacher, a real big ****

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MUSICOLOGY239
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Hate Hate Hate this class.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MUS239
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This class is not as hard as people make it out to be and Mr. Borders is a good teacher. Much better than many other musicology profs. Just know the listening examples and read the material and you will be fine. It is the students that don't put in the study time that hate this class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MUSICOLOGY139
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

One word: BLAH!