SOC 2052

Definitely an easy A class! There is a ridiculous amount of reading but it's unnecessary because she sends out powerpoint slides with the main topics for the readings after each class, and as long as you know the powerpoints you'll do fine on exams! Professor Blumberg is very unorganized, often late to class, and the syllabus is a bit confusing, but the class is still easy. There is a midterm and an in-class final (Both 25 Multiple choice questions about the PowerPoint) and a 5-6 page paper about your personal family experience. Also she gives opportunities for up to 3 points extra credit on your overall grade. Section attendance is mandatory though. If you go to class and look at the PP slides, you will get an A for sure.

Really liked this class. I hardly did any of the reading, didn't attend that many classes and came out with an A-.

How? Blumberg is a quirky old woman and her lectures basically just reviewed the slides and the readings. The reason you can do so well in this class with minimal work is because it's 80% common sense. The assignments were easy although I thought I had been graded a bit harshly, tests very straightforward MC exams and the extra credit is great because it takes so little work and I got myself up from a B/B+ to an A-.

If you're gonna do this class, do it with Rae

This class is easy and pretty much common sense but do not take it with Rae Blumberg. She assigns way too much reading (although I did only about half of it), her lectures are boring and hard to follow, and she always repeats herself.

Great class if you're looking for an easy A. The syllabus does contain a lot of readings but I wouldn't do any of them, I did attend most lectures and took notes, but to do well on the tests just skim the readings and go to the review session in the three days before the exam. All of the additional assignments were SO easy I thought most of my work was bullshit and ended up getting high B's or A's on them. I had Anna as my TA and when I didn't get the grade I wanted on the midterm I went to her office hours and weaseled my way into getting an A on the midterm (previously had a B- on it). I honestly did find a lot of this course to be interesting. Highly highly recommend

by far one of the most unorganized classes I have taken. Prof. Blumberg is obviously very knowledgable in her field, but she seemed a bit out of date when it came to technology. I quit doing the readings half way through the semester and I don't regret it at all. I also just went to class for the first five minutes to get the notes and then left. If you want an easy A and don't care about learning anything, then take this class, otherwise, chose another SOC course.

Let’s start with the good parts. The contents of this course, or at least what I could discern of them (more on that in a minute), were really interesting. The class was about how family structures have changed throughout history and how family values relate to broader social trends. If you’re into history, anthropology, sociology, psychology, or the social-issues aspect of political science, this should be right up your alley. Also, the course was almost ridiculously easy. The syllabus listed about a hundred assigned readings, and I assure you that you can get A’s on tests without reading a single one of them. All the contents were covered in lecture, and they were all very easy to understand.

Now for the bad parts. This class was super disorganized. I hate to say it because she’s such a great person, but I think Professor Blumberg is developing some kind of dementia. She would teach us the exact same content, in the exact same enthusiastic tone of voice, several times throughout the semester—often several times in a single lecture, as if she had no idea that she was repeating herself. Her lectures were rambling to the point of incomprehensibility; I never got a clear idea of where they were going. The TAs often did not know how to answer students’ questions, and it was obviously because Professor Blumberg never gave them clear instructions. It makes me sad because she is clearly smart, and I really like her. I hope she is doing okay.

Ultimately, I would recommend that other students take this course, but maybe with a different professor.

Overall this class is a good one to take if you are looking for something that is easy, but it is very boring. Most lectures are just you taking notes and her talking. There aren't many assignments which is a plus and the assignments that she does give are easy. I would also take advantage of her extra credit opportunities!