Alan Berger - Florida Atlantic University

Professor: Alan Berger

Department: TBD

College: Florida Atlantic University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: JST4701
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

There are a lot of readings. The TA Luke is a hard grader. I'd recommend going to office hours for feedback on in-class essays to improve. It does help if you form study groups. I do not recommend not being in a group with lazy people. This class is not an easy elective. You'll need to memorize quotes from readings.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: JST4701
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

There are a ton of books to read, attendance is mandatory and the class is lecture heavy. The exams require exact quotes if you expect to pass the class. Tough class but fair class if you are dedicated.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: JST4701
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Berger's class was difficult mainly because there was a lot of reading to do. My recommendation is to get a group of classmates and review before the exams. This helped me. He does bring up interesting topics even if you don't agree with him. He does like participation.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: JST4701
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This is the worst class you could take at FAU. Berger thinks that all Germans are Nazis and refuses to believe otherwise (my dad is from Munich and we're not Nazis). The TA has no grading scale and completely pulls grades out off thin air. This class ruined my GPA in my final semester, and even after me begging for help, I received none.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: JST4701
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Not accessible through email - neither TA or professor. Requires +3 books, lots of pdfs every night. 3 exams - 5 essay questions and they pick 2 for you to answer on test day. Under 1 hr and 20 min, I wrote 5 pages for an exam and received a 93. I've taken philosophy, anatomy, and Bio in the summer - This class is the hardest of all. Don't take.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: JST4701
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Berger is a genius and challenges you to think outside of the box. The problem is his TA, Luke's grading scale is ridiculous. There are over 10 required books for the semester and the lectures can be long.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: JST4701
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Nothing is clear, nothing is fair. You will need more books than required according to syllabus, tests are extremely difficult, written response is expected to resemble a short research paper. Guess You're supposed to memorize quotes and details word for word. You're graded like a phd student but it's an undergrad class. Asking for help matters not

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: JST4701
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I knew I was in for a long semester when the TA (Luke Wilson) started the semester with, "I know my reviews and I don't care." I am amazed how a person with Dr. Berger's credentials gives so much power to a TA that doesn't care. You are expected to read a book a a week and the grading for the papers are ridiculous.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: JST4701
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Couldn't agree with the previous review more. All the grading goes through his TA, Luke Wilson. Luke makes it perfectly clear that he does not care about his unreasonable grading scale. The professor then threatens to lower your grade if you have any objections to Luke's grading. The worst experience I have encountered at FAU in three years.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: JST4701
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This professor will not accept any opinions other than his own and will attack your papers as he sees fit. 1/2 of my class dropped and the rest of us are failing. He also threatened to lower our grades if we talked to him about them. He never sets rubrics for assignments so it's a constant guessing game. Do not take this class!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: JST4701
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The readings for his class are very important. I enjoy the class and the discussions, but he's a hard grader, and his paper and test prompts aren't always as clear as they could be, leading to lower grades due to misunderstanding of his expectations. The class is very interesting and the readings are usually engaging.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: JST4701
• 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:

A very intelligent and kind professor that teaches very interesting subjects. You must read and study hard to do well.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: JST4701
• 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:

Dr. Berger is AMAZING & Dennis is such a GREAT Complement. You will need to read a lot of books, but they are interesting. Questions are Encouraged! You will learn how to think more critically & make connections. Doing well requires commitment, but expectations are very Clear & Reasonable. ADVICE: ATTEND THE PRE-EXAM STUDY GROUPS!!! :)

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: LIT4930
• 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:

Not an easy class, first day he said he runs his classes like a graduate seminar. This class was a book a week, so if you aren't going to do the reading don't bother with the class. He's a difficult grader, but you learn a lot! We even had a phone interview with Elie Wiesel after studying his works all semester. Take his classes

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HOLOCAUST
• 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:

Really good class! All the required reading is very interesting.Berger IS NICE, but make no mistake this is not an easy class and if you dont take it seriously, Berger will show his dissatisfaction immediately. grading is very tough...your wo will never be good enough. Be happy with a B, or C.I would still take this class again tho, really liked it

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: JST4070
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

As an Social Science Ed major this is a required class (or you could take 2 others that are not offered) and all I can say is good luck. The class is taught like a graduate level class where you read and he asks you about what you read. Most of what you learn is self taught. The first 3rd of the class is useful and the 2en 3rd is all theory.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: JST4701
• 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:

He is the best in his field but has a hard time being nice. Sounds like clear eyes guy. READ ALL MATERIAL AND DO NOT TAKE FINAL. 2 test and a final or project. You need to participate in class dicussions or he gets mad and dismisses class. Make friends with ta dennis and go to study sessions.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: JST4701
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Horrible class and professor. I'm sorry but I have no reason to sit in a boring lecture when all you do is talk about the readings. I want the lecture to supplement the reading! He misses so many classes and fills the void with useless information/discussion. avoid class

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: JST4701
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The best teacher at FAU. Brilliant.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: JST4701
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Brilliant guy with a lot of knowledge, but his classes on the Holocaust are taught more like theology classes. He can also be condescending if he disagrees with you. His class certainly can be interesting, it just depends on the day/topic.