ANTH 3130

This was my favorite class from my first semester at UVA. The topics are extremely interesting. The weekly quizzes are three questions and one of them is your name. A lot of people get 1/3 on the quizzes but it doesn't make a big difference. Exams are very fair and straightforward. Sit near the front because he talks quietly! You'll hear some funny jokes prof Shephard makes under his breath. Cool guy, cool stuff

This class isn't awful, but it isn't great. The exams are pretty easy. They are all lecture based and he posts review slides. I studied those and did well on both midterms. The annoying part is the reading quizzes. Each one is three points. There is one free point, one question on something pretty general, and one question on some minute detail. There was also a lot of reading and some of it would be very repetitive so it wasn't worth it to try and get that third point. The topic is very interesting though!

Do not listen to the single person who raved about this class in Spring 2017. It is up there with Econometrics with Ron Michener (Look the guy up, he's THE WORST). First, you can't hear the professor and everyone tries to sit close in order to hear, but the class is packed. We have pop quizzes, so almost everyone shows up each class. Secondly, the quizzes are meticulous and incredibly specific. I'm talking an 80-page reading and remembering a random name on page 67. I've never been so stunned and disappointed by how much a professor focuses on quizzing rather than teaching. Thirdly, you'll become part of a collective groan when he changes the slides before you get through the first of many sentences of notes. Fourthly, you'll send more time studying for these tests than classes for your actual major because the professor is confusing this with the joint graduate 7130-level class. Fifthly, you should probably have some extensive biology background because unless you know off the top your head how viruses, vectors, and pathogens work on a molecular level, some concepts become really difficult to comprehend, especially when you thought this would be an anthropology class...

The lectures for this class were rather dull, but the topic was interesting. I sat in the front row, and I had had no trouble hearing the professor. This course did assign a lot of readings, but I found them to be extremely insightful and interesting, and from books that I would most likely read outside of this class. Your main grades come from two midterms (which were extremely straightforward if you studied the review slides he posted to collab--I got nearly 100% on each of them), reading quizzes (which have two multiple choice questions and you get 1/3 credit just for writing your name, are administered weekly and admittedly often ask extremely nitpicky questions), and the final exam which will be multiple choice. I would recommend this course if you are interested in disease. You get to learn about the social and scientific aspects many different epidemics occurring around the world.

Looking to take a relaxing class to offset your busy schedule? Well, this isn't it. This class has the most unnescessay assigned readings I have ever witnessed; 100 pages of reading in a week and the 3-question quiz covers who said what on page 132? Money well spent..? During lectures, the entire class simultaneously raises their phones to take pictures of each slide that passes, probably because there is too much text to even read what it's saying, but that's just a guess, I'm not an anthropologist. In another display of student teamwork & cooperation, we have collectively gone undefeated when it comes to mentioning to the Professor that his microphone doesn't catch what he is saying about 3 times per class. Really impressive to see even the TA hop on board in this effort to not really care at all. Growing sentiment in the class is this is an elaborate prank, and this is not really a class, but only time will tell. In short, do not take this, and that's obvious.

Easily the worst class I have taken at UVA. No, there are not papers or reading responses like in the past. It is now all test and pop quiz based. I couldn't tell you if John Shepherd knows what he's talking about or not considering none of us can hear what he says. Even with a microphone (that I'm convinced is a joke), he sounds like he's mumbling from behind a wall. Don't bother taking notes as his slides contain way too much and he clicks through them way too fast! The quizzes ask for precise pieces of information hidden in the 3 or more lengthy readings (80+ pages) you'll get twice a week. The tests are very detail specific and strictly graded. Do not take this class.

Honestly one of the worst classes I have ever taken at this school. Every lecture is hell and back because Professor Shepherd has the most monotonous voice and he rarely speaks into his microphone (which he only got because we all begged). Every slide has about 400 words on it, which he clicks through in less than a minute and then does not post online. Every test is the most detail- oriented test I have ever taken. Would not recommend. 0/10

This course covers a variety of epidemics, both recent and historical, including HIV/AIDS, SARS, and cholera. IN general, Professor Shepherd assigns 100 pages or less of reading, and then lectures on the topic. You must complete a 1-page reading response for every reading. The topic and lectures are interesting, but Professor Shepherd has an unfortunately monotone voice, making it difficult to pay attention. The grading is 25% participation/reading responses (graded satisfactory/unsatisfactory), and 25% for each of 3 8-10 page papers. The first two papers must be comparison and contrast using three of the epidemics from the unit. The last is a research paper in the topic of your choice and take the place of the final exam. Professor Shepherd is a fair grader. Overall, I would recommend this class for anyone interested in disease.

Really enjoyed the readings and the topic. Professor is nice, but lectures can be long and dull. Would recommend if you are really interested and you can put up with boring lectures! Grades consist of weekly reading responses and 3 papers, so not bad.