ANTH 2285

This was the most incredible class I have ever taken at UVA. The professor, Julia, was warm, knowledgeable, and accepting of all beliefs. It challenged my previously-held ideas about humanitarian aid, and it was very easy for me to get an A+. Grades are primarily based on one final essay (that can be a topic of your choosing), reading responses (not every week, she lets you pick), and participation. I highly recommend that EVERYBODY takes this class.

I really enjoyed this course - the material is interesting and I learned a lot despite the workload being minimal. Julia is an extremely kind professor who obviously cares about her students and the course material, but is not the most organized. I didn't have any grades until the last week of the semester, but I didn't mind too much because she was very clear that most of her grading is based on effort. She also typically didn't post the readings in advance, but they were often so short that it didn't even matter (often only one reading/week in the latter half of the semester). The majority of the readings (as well as the films) are interesting and worth your time, but you don't need to read consistently to get an A. The only regular assignments were 10 one-page single spaced reading responses and you can choose which weeks you want to complete these. You will get full credit if you write enough/made an attempt at critical thought and the responses are worth 50 points. 10 points are for participation, which is not directly tied to attendance. I didn't participate every class and still got a 9.5/10. There is an extra credit opportunity worth 5 points and a 3,000 word paper on a topic of your choice worth 40 points. 20 points are essentially for turning in a complete draft and 20 are for the final product. Again, the grade is largely based on effort and whether you made connections to topics discussed in class. Overall, the workload was definitely minimal. The reading was not overwhelming by any means and the paper, while long, isn't too bad because you can write about a topic you're interested in. As for the class itself, it's a mix of lecture and a low-stakes seminar. People participate frequently, but there isn't any pressure to say anything extremely interesting or new. Overall, I found this class to very worthwhile, especially for those who are entering the medical field or nonprofit work.