PLCP 1500

I would definitely not recommend this course unless it is a requirement for your major/you are genuinely interested in development theory. Schwartz is a nice guy, but his lectures are incredibly boring. This class was just taken down from a 3000 level to a 1000 level, but the readings/material are still at a 3000 level and are extremely dense. There are two papers, both five pages, which are pretty manageable. However, the final is solely based on memorization of the content of the readings.

This class was not enjoyable. Prof. Schwartz I believe is better at teaching graduate students. The readings were so long and dry. Lecture was difficult to sit through. By the end of the semester, nobody was attending lecture anymore. Just don't take this class if you don't HAVE to. Prof. Schwartz sends out a lot of emails so be prepared to have at least random email from him every day.

This class is horrible- do not take it. Super dense, boring readings that do not related to the lecture. The final is solely on memorizing these readings. Manageable paper. Do not take it unless you HAVE TO!

One of the worst classes I have taken at UVa. It was dense, boring, and the final is a horrible assessment of learning (memorizing the details of 40+ readings of 20-30 pages in length).At the end of the semester I learned nothing and still don't know what the course's goals were. Schwartz is uninteresting and sometimes rude, doesn't enjoy explaining answers simply. He uses roundabout metaphors to try to explain extremely theoretical development concepts. During the final review session before the final Schwartz sat silent refusing to answer a question when the class didn't know the answer. Needless to say don't take this class unless you ABSOLUTELY have to for your major (Global Studies people choose one of the other 3 core requirements)

If there was one word to summarize this class with, it would be painstaking. Schwartz is not a bad guy, but I have never seen such an interesting subject be turned into such a painfully awful experience as I did with this class. The final exam is based solely on readings...which means you never have to go class...which means you really don't learn anything except for the very esoteric arguments of a bunch of scholars. Horrible experience, I really hope they make a lot of changes going forward. If they don't, STAY AWAY!

I would avoid taking this class unless it is a requirement for your major. The material is extremely interesting, however Professor Schwartz did not teach the material well and lectures were so boring that I stopped attending early in the semester. There's way too much reading for the class and the readings are really boring. The papers were fine and my TA was very liberal in her grading so it wasn't difficult to do well, but the class overall was one of the worst i've taken.