Edward Berkowitz - George Washington University

Professor: Edward Berkowitz

Department: TBD

College: George Washington University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST3322
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Berkowitz is a character. We've spent a significant amount of time on tangents. Going to class is a must. Your grade in the class is based off four short papers (5 pages). Two of the papers are take home exams, the other two are semi-research papers. Lectures must be cited in your papers for information. I find the textbook to be useless. Cool dude

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST2322
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Berkowitz is a great professor. Knows seemingly everything about US history, making lectures useful and interesting. Exams are based almost exclusively on the lectures, but I definitely recommend doing the readings. Do not skip class, and take notes on the random details that he talks about. Pander to his interests when writing. Easy A.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST2322
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Berkowitz is a phenomenal professor of U.S. history. Really enjoyed his lecture style; very conversational and he hints at the important themes he expects you to know and understand. As long as you take good notes, do the reading, go to class, and prepare for the exams you will do fine.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST2305W
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Oh my goodness! You are expected to read a lot for this professor, and by a lot I mean a lot. You're expected to complete a book every two weeks and have an essay (3-5pgs) on said book. He will grade your essays harshly, but his criticisms are actually very helpful. The range in our small class was between B- and A, and I constantly got A-'s.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST3322
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Berkowitz is a fascinating guy. He's ridiculously knowledgable and loves talking about his subject matter. He's hilarious. His style is straight, non-stop lecturing, so beware of that. For the class he assigns whole biographies to read, and I recommend actually reading them.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: 87150
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I was disappointed by this Professor considering how excited I was for the topic "US History 1890-1945". He doesn't teach so much as talk at you in a non linear way. Probably on topic 20% of the time. Saving grace is that this year he gave a bunch of potential essay questions. If he hadn't done that test would have a nightmare. Do not come late.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: 2321
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

One of the most respected scholars on Social Security and other topics. Excellent class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST3322
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He assigns a ton of reading, but knows that no one is going to do it all. Attendance isn't mandatory, but he notices when you're not there, and will make fun of you next time you come to class. He is incredibly knowledgable, but lectures in a really roundabout way. People tend to either love him or hate him.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST3001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Took Modern American Presidency. Was super easy. Two small exams with 10 Id's each and two papers, one five pages and the other 10. The papers are from books you read, and he grades them very fairly. He is a sarcastic guy, and will make fun of you, but he is obviously knowledgable.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST3320
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Best professor I've had at GW! Very intelligent and really cares about what he teaches. Throws in the occasional witty/hilarious remark in the middle of the lecture. Doesn't use a text book, but an excellent reading list instead. Grade: 3 papers, 25% each, 25% participation. He doesn't take attendance, but notices when you don't show up.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST133
• 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:

Best professor I've had at GW. So interesting, makes class really enjoyable. He uses novels instead of textbooks which makes it even better. It's obvious he really cares about what he's teaching and his students. Attendance not mandatory, but he notices when you're not there. Class is great, so no reason to skip. Definitely take if you can!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST133
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Reading is only novels, one about every two weeks. Papers are based on reading, not class notes. Class isn't necessarily mandatory but noticed if you don't attend. He's so interesting and knows everything. He's funny, makes class enjoyable and tries to get to know his students. Take him, especially if you're a history major!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST133
• 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:

Enjoyable class. In addition to the standard larger themes, spends some time to paint a detailed picture of what life was like for normal people in the time period. Discussions were limited, but he was helpful during office hours. Excellent reading list. 2 midterms (overblown quizzes) & 20 page paper. Attdnce recmmnded but chckd only on dscssn days

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST133
• 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:

A good professor and he cares about his students' success. Mid semester there was some criticism of the organization of his lectures, but I thought they had been fine - but he still tried to ramp up organization in response to student comments. I really liked the use of non-textbooks (novels) in the class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST176
• 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:

Agood professor, I had him for two back to back classes on overlapping topics. Passionate about the topic but lectures are not liner in thought. Exams based heavily on reading, 10 short answer questions. Comes off like he does not care about your work, but listens and is really helpful in office hours. I would take another class with him.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST214
• 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:

The best part about this class is its reliance on non-textbooks. Professor Berkowitz tries to make you think and will challenge you to be at his level, but this is a good thing. I think that Professor Berkowitz deserves to feel more confidant about his brilliance and his significant contribution to the study of public policy.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST176
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I really enjoyed Berkowitz's lectures. They were quite interesting. However, his expectations are way too high. He requires that you write a complicated paper and has it due on the same day as the midterm and final. Reading the books is basically essential for an A. Listen carefully to his lectures. He'll test you on strange things.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST176
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

...interesting man, to say the least. Quirky. But the class isnt difficult. You read one book every two weeks and the books are covered on the mid term and final. He asks for two papers that are totally unrelated to course content but are on his expertise, Social Security. If you do take his class, do all of the work and attend every session.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST176
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He suffers from the same problem a lot of GW profs: He is smart as hell, but can't teach. He knows his stuff, but it's relaying that stuff to students where he fails. For this class, you had to read about 150 pages/week, and he takes attendance almost every class. He is unclear about expectations (which are way to high, when you do discover them).

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• 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:

Awful. He teaches classes with the most interesting topics and makes them more boring than your worst class. He won't ask questions or engage students. Reading off a paper the whole time isn't teaching. He could email that out. No discussions, no questions, just monotony. I want to take his other classes b/c I'm intested in the topics, but I won't.