Jayasinhji Bapa Jhala - Temple University

Professor: Jayasinhji Bapa Jhala

Department: TBD

College: Temple University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ANTH0867
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Bapa is the stereotypical "sweet old man" prof. He doesnt care much about what you do in class, he just wants to having meaningful discussions&spread knowledge of his subject. you watch a lot of documentaries in class&do online group assignments. as long as u turn them in ontime&follow grading criteria u will get an A. (doesnt put grades in canvas)

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ANTH3326
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

While this class was an easy grade, if you don't like structure he isn't the prof for you. No given syllabus, no clear guidelines for assignments or projects (there was only maybe one assignment the whole semester along with a final project). He never took attendance though and didn't seem to really mind if people weren't always there.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ANTH2408
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

A really nice guy, but there were NO specific topics covered clearly. Bored to tears every class. No syllabus. No homework. No readings. We only watched documentaries, and if there was time at the end he would give a lecture that didn't have anything to do with it. Project had no rules; didn't learn anything about making videos or media in general.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ANTH2408
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I took Bapa for visual anth, and sheer anarchy would probably be the best way to describe it. That being said, I really loved his style and would totally take him again if I could. His class is really welcoming, and very discussion-based. Easily the best class prof I've had at Temple. Most definitely the most easy-going.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ANT7777
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Bapa's class is much like sitting on the porch with your grandfather. There seems to be potential to learn the world but all of the effort must come from you. Unfortunately in Anthropology there is already very little to start from so I would recommend a more proactive professor or you will be lost, but get an A.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ANTH0867
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I'm kinda conflicted on "Bapa's" class. On one end, it's EXTREMELY easy and literally all we do is watch movies every week. There's a small presentation on the film divided by group and it's barely 'work.' On the other hand, we learn pretty much nothing in class. Take him if you want an easy A with little-to-no-effort, but you won't learn a thing.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ANTH3326
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I went to India with Bapa and since then he has proven to be the best Professor I have ever had. Cynical and realistic in a hilarious a film almost every day. He has made more films and knows more film makers than he will bring up in class so ask. An endlessly helpful resources who taught me how to think and view the world in a different way.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: VISANTHRO
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Do not take his class unless you are able to just go with the flow, because he is unconventional. He's kind and helpful when you seek out the help. He is much more on top of it than he seems, and is very knowledgeable. I liked him.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ANTHS1725
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Took his summer film course at Harvard. He was great.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ANTH2408
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Seriously, I almost never went to this class. When I did go, I twirled my thumbs for 90minutes. I threw together a last minute project (day before) and got an A-. So take that as you will.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: VISANTH
• 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:

Bapa is the best professor and mentor any student of anthropology could have at Temple University. Really spend time to talk to him and you will learn a lot. Lets your own interests guide your projects and will help you in any way he can. Just wants to see students producing work instead of useless papers.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ANTH4444
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

His classes are really for the self-driven student. There is no syllabus, no readings, just come to class and chat, maybe watch a film and his only expectation is a final project at the end of the semester, usually a film since its visual anthro but you can write a paper, you could even draw a stick figure on the board & earn an A.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ANT7777
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If it isn't clear based on the varied emotional responses, Bapa is an enigmatic professor- perplexing, indifferent, absent-minded, charming. The only obstacle to his class is you. You must be willing to guide your own exploration and he will be there alongside, sort of. A great class for savvy, self-made students. Not good if you're new to anthro.

Rating # 14

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Bapa's class was an incredible learning experience. If you sit and really listen, you will learn. Granted your whole grade is based on one paper, but you are really allowed to do what interest you. I would take a class taught by him again.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ANTHR300
• 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:

He's the warmest teacher and loves conversations with students. He has a palace in india that he has brought students to in the past and where they earned credit...

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ANTH226
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I had Bapa for Visual Anthro. This guy's class is sheer anarchy. There are no real rules, no daily/weekly assignments, no readings... Just one final project. In other words, one assignment will dictate your grade for his class. I'll admit, he was mildly entertaining at times, but, when it came down to it, I didn't learn anything in that class.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ANTHR158
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Excellent prof w/brilliant things to say.Sweet,generous&unorthodox with endearing idiosyncracies.Occasionaly infuriating.He doesn't babysit:he gives u space to be responsible.U definitely have to ask for what u want from him and do stuff with out waiting for him to ask.U will only like him if U are open to figuring out&accepting how he works.

Rating # 18

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Good, in the sense that his lectures are informative, and you can blow off the reading, b/c there's no reading schedule, and no tests. But, he'd often put on a movie and just leave. The 20 page final paper was tough; he's a nice man but never bothered to learn our names (in a class of 12).

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ANTHROPOLOGY
• 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:

The grade you receive in Bapa's class is sort of based on one assignment, a paper. I say "sort of" because while the only requirement for his courses is to hand in one paper he doesn't actually read it. If you ever try to talk to Bapa about your paper it becomes very clear very quickly that he has no idea what he's talking about.

Rating # 20

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Screw what these people are saying; Bapa is a genious. He's more focused on teaching important concepts than on forcing students to do meaningless work. He assigns one long paper and that's all. Bapa just wants to make sure you learn something you can take with you in his class.