Brenda Cooper - Utah State University

Professor: Brenda Cooper

Department: TBD

College: Utah State University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: JCOM2010
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

While strict, her grading policy/process is clearly outlined in advance. She forces you to work hard to obtain a passing grade and provides a clear outline for improvement. Very interesting course that demanded me to think outside of the box.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: 5080
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Confrontational / combative / anachronistic / considers herself a Mufti issuing a fatwa regarding feminist theory as opposed to using the scientific method for discourse and discovery

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: JCOM2010
• 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:

WHAT DOES SHE WANT FROM ME?! That is the question I asked myself dozens of times throughout the semester. Projects are grueling and directions are unclear, leaving them for you to interpret. In my experience, my interpretations were wrong every single time. I'd use feedback from previous projects to improve my work and never managed to do well.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: JCOM2010
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Most of the reviews of Dr. Cooper are completely unfair. She is an extremely difficult teacher who will push you to your limits, but the grading standards are clearly stated, and very attainable. I've never learned so much in a class. She is very liberal, but doesn't expect you to be. I'm very conservative, and was never docked points for that.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: JCOM2010
• 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:

Can't believe this is an undergrad class on a 2000 level. There are 3 projects that will take each person 15-20 hours (and that's if you want a C) to complete. Grading is harsh unless you kiss the teacher's butt or are a racial/social minority. This class makes you realize that journalism is dead and media uses cheap tricks to push an agenda.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: JCOM2010
• 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:

First project: discredit FOX News using The Daily Show and a list of approved sources. This class highlights everything that is wrong with mass media today: attempting to get around ethics and shedding morals. Should not be required. Grading is harsh and, like the another review mentioned, nepotism is the only way to get anything better than a C+.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: JCOM2010
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I am a Journalism major and I hated this class. Cooper is the worst professor I have ever had. She is the most biased grader I have ever met. Your grade will be dictated by her horrible grading on group projects. I find it completely ridiculous how your grade is directly tied with group projects. This isn't high school.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: JCOM2010
• 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:

...

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: JCOM2010
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class needs to be approached differently that most undergraduate classes. the grading system is makes a standardized grading system pointless. The professor openly admits that an A grade in another class is a C grade for her class. Nepotism is an issue with this class. People who like this class like the type of work found in the projects.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: JCOM2100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very passionate about what she teaches, but she isn't very realistic with grades. Grades way too harshly for an undergrad level class. She never explains what she wants in projects/assignments. Hard work goes no where.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: JCOM2010
• 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: N/A

Comment:

I am 180 degrees opposite Mrs. Cooper (oops, I mean "Ms. Cooper". Feminists these days!). I hate dogs, I am conservative, and I don't use prepackaged mainstream "ideas" to form political opinions. It was really hard to just sit there and let her emasculate my values just so I could get a good grade. I feel cheap and used. I need a shower.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: JCOM2010
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

A professor that limits her teaching ability with vain assignments reflecting her own ideals. Impossible to know what she really wants in an assignment. Hard work will get you no where

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: JCOM2010
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

She is really nice and knowledgeable about the topic. Unfortunately, her personal biases get in the way of her teaching a lot. It's very difficult to learn what she expects of you.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: JCOM2010
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

She really loves the topic and constantly finds new info relating to the class. She has a blog that she posts everything on and going to class is a must.The class is hard and stretches your brain but is very helpful if you want to go into JCOM.She's very liberal, which is a fun change for USU.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: JCOM1500
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Biased in grading. Unclear in her expectations for projects. Very difficult to get an A because you don't know what she wants. Course objectives nonexistent.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: JCOM2010
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

People who complain that the teacher resulted in their grade are foolish. If you're willing to put in the work and put out quality group presentations in which everyone participates in, you'll do fine. You have to work hard for the grade in this class though. Showing up and just getting the work "done" won't cut it for Brenda.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: JCOM2010
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

She is smart and knows what she is talking about, and yes she does expect a lot from her students. However, "a lot" includes you being a liberal feminist. I'm a feminist too but I don't expect others to think like me. The class is mandatory, her husband's the dept head. Doesn't that sound fishy? It did to me. Don't buy the book we rarely used it.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MEDIA002
• 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:

H8ed the class as well as her & her grading It was unfair and Unjust If you dont think the way she does get ready to get a C Nothing better I had perfect attendance & am very good w Media I am a Republican and I defend the 2nd Amendment She punished me for it Especially when I named one of my Group Projects Desert Eagle name after a Gun not a bird

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: JCOM2010
• 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:

In a class that is based on sifting fact from crap in the media, Brenda doesn't prefer to remain "objective". You'd better be prepared to adopt her ideologies and outlook....or at least make her think that you have. Students are provided with next to no real bearing on where to go with a group project....ugh....

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: JCOM2010
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The class is about objectivity, but there is nothing objective about the teaching in this class. Her views are forced on you and if you don't agree, your grade suffers. For the group projects, we always started planning our projects by asking, "What does Brenda want us to say?" That's how I got an A-. If that doesn't bother you, you'll have fun.