ECON 2060

Professor Thomas was an engaging speaker, and the content in this class was very enjoyable to learn. That being said, it is an extremely reading heavy class. Around 100 pages of reading a week from a textbook + yellow book containing primary sources and opinion and analysis. The grades are entirely composed of "three" tests, the third test being a combined midterm on the last third of the content and the final which is cumulative. The midterms are very difficult: five vocabulary questions, three analysis questions about texts from the yellow book, and an essay question. I would not recommend this course if you are very interested in getting an A. But, if you are reading this and want to take it, getting an A is not impossible. My suggestions would be to skim the textbook readings at best. Attend class to get full points on the essay section, and get so intimate with the yellow book readings you can recite them in your sleep. Especially be able to connect the authors to their points. Try to understand big picture economic concepts across each "era" for the final. Attendance not checked, but I highly recommend.

Thomas is the best professor I’ve ever had. Super information dense lectures old school with no slides and a chalkboard. The course is extremely interesting and I would highly recommend it. As a non-Econ major, this was my favorite class by far, and I’m super happy I took it. That being said, this class is HARD. 2 midterms and a final make up the entire grade and they are completely written. If you want an A, you’re gonna need to start studying 3 weeks prior to exams. The most time consuming class I had by far, but that being said, if you’re up for the challenge I would highly suggest this course.

Writing this in reflection of taking this course 2 years ago, I can confidently say this was one of the most challenging courses I've taken at UVA. There is an insane amount of material that Thomas goes through at a blazing pace, and it necessary to know most of it. The midterms feel like a slap in the face, with 5 identification questions, 3 source analysis questions (analyze a quote and connect it to a particular reading), and a full essay ALL WITHIN 50 MINUTES. The exams are worth 100% of your grade, with 25% for each of two midterms and then a final that consists of 1. a third "midterm" covering the last third of the material (worth 25% of total grade) and a couple essays that connect key concepts across the units (the other 25%). I found that the best way to study was to summarize each unit on a piece of paper in order to keep track of key ideas and important academic debates. I somehow pulled off an A-, but with starting to study almost two weeks before each midterm. I wouldn't bother with the textbook. He encourages you to read it by asking about 2/3 ID questions per exam that we could've only known if we had read the textbook. But honestly, it's extremely boring and even if you do read it, there's no guarantee you'll get those questions right; so I just decided to take the L on those questions and put more time into studying the lecture and packet info (which I think paid off). Definitely read the packet readings, though. You'll need to know them pretty well for the source analysis questions.

Having said all this, Thomas is an extremely engaging lecturer and makes seemingly dull concepts actually pretty interesting. If you're trying to raise your GPA, this probably isn't the class for you. But if you're looking to get a better understanding of American history (and hear a dude with a British accent talk super passionately), would definitely recommend.

I really enjoyed this class but would only recommend it if you’re willing to put in the work. There’s a lot of readings but the textbook only needs to be skimmed for important terms. The packet readings are dense but necessary to read because they are 15/50 points on the exams. Professor Thomas talks the entire lecture and goes pretty fast but sometimes he’ll just be listing data for 10 minutes or so so that’s slower. He’s pretty easy to understand if you pay attention. There’s a lot of data memorization necessary for the class but I recommend drilling the data down and then the actual info is easy to put together in an essay. The class is only 3 exams with 2 midterms and the final which is 50% of your grade. I honestly thought the final was easier than the other 2 exams because it was just connecting the main ideas of each unit in a couple essays. Go to office hours if you ever have a question and he’ll be pretty helpful. It’s a lot of work but Thomas is great at what he does and if you have some interest in the topic I recommend.

The lectures are pretty boring and he assigns so much reading that is hard to understand. You can most likely get a B but you have to put in so much more work to get an A.

I was pre-enrolled in this course and decided to stay in it because the subject matter sounded interesting and I figured it would be a chill elective course. Half of that assumption was true. This class was definitely very interesting, Mark Thomas is a highly engaging lecturer (his British accent certainly helps) and delivers the course information very effectively. That being said, the man talks only slightly slower than the speed of light, I am generally a light notetaker and had over 80 pages of typed notes for the semester. Zoning out for only a few seconds in class can mean missing somewhat large amounts of crucial information. I eventually wound up with a B+ in the class, but his exams were easily some of the most difficult I've taken at UVA. The midterms include short answer questions based of the primary source reading packet, so being familiar with that material is essential, an essay based on topics from class discussion, as well as 5 ID questions drawn from both class discussion, as well as the textbook. I personally never read the textbook and as a result typically got between 2 and 3 of the 5 IDs correct. The copious amount of extra worked required for so few extra points just was not worth it for me, but if you're hoping for an A or A- in this class be prepared to put in a significant amount of work. The work required for a B or B+ was definitely manageable, although still more than most other 2000 level courses. In short, this class was certainly very interesting and Mark Thomas is a fantastic lecturer and a great guy, but do not be fooled into thinking this class is an easy elective, it certainly is not.

The amount of sheer information in this class is overwhelming and rather unsatisfying when studying for. I read the textbook in depth to prepare for the IDs on every exam, meanwhile only to be acquainted with a new vocabulary word that I had never encountered. Your grade is based all on exams, which sounds bad but isn't the worse thing in the world due to the large curve Thomas applies. I wouldn't recommend this class to any GPA hawks, however as someone who is perfectly fine with getting a B I didn't mind it. This course would certainly benefit from a discussion section to keep a general timeline and add more structure to the class. Take it if you like history, and want a reasonably low time commitment B/B+. #tCFfall22

I swear this may be the hardest class to get an A in in the whole economics department. The lectures can be interesting, but Thomas always takes a very confusing roundtrip to his punchline for the lecture (likely for storytelling reasons but it's still kinda annoying). There are no slides or lecture materials so you can't miss a lecture. I left this class with a bunch of random fun facts about the colonial American economy but don't have too much else to show for the class.

Probably one of the most content-packed and in-depth classes I will ever take at UVA. This class was one of the best learning experiences because I learned how to study and analyze a mass amount of information. That being said, do NOT expect an A unless you are willing to dedicate a significant amount of work toward this class. Do not be fooled by the 2000 level title; it was more work and effort than my 3500 class. That being said, if you are up for the challenge, embrace it. Mark Thomas is a brilliant speaker and lecturer, and this class will give you a taste of a college level history and economics course. It covers everything from the founding of the American colonies to the economics of World War 2 in the span of 3.5 months. Read the textbook, the packet, and take good lecture notes; and study a week in advance for the exams! If you do that, I can almost guarantee you will receive at least a B+. TLDR: Great in-depth, exceedingly difficult history + economics class.

A class that is easy to get a B or higher in, but hard to get an A in. I was able to achieve an A- by skipping the textbook readings, and **forming a study group to prepare for the exam together**. We each did one of the non-textbook readings and a small writeup to share with eachother (which helped a TON for the exam essays). And also I pooled people's lecture notes to create high-level "narratives" (e.g. arguments/rebuttals for the true cause of the Great Depression) which was instrumental to my success on the exam.

This is a history class. Very basic economic concepts will be referenced but you will not be tested on them. Your grade will be determined by your comprehension of the readings & textbook, alongside your ability to identify historical figures/events/policies. Lectures are not mandatory, but they are enjoyable and I would recommend that you attend. Mark Thomas is likable and easy to get along with. He may seem a little loud and intense, but I assure you that he is actually cheery and kind. You will hand-write essays in midterms/exams, but your writing ability will not grant your the grade you want. I'm one of those "essay people," and I got a B in this class. My advice: read, read, read, read. Read everything. You truly need to be knowledgeable on the material.

Great lecturer. Very enthusiastic about the subject matter, and very knowledgeable. This could be a very dry course, but his energy (and British accent, admittedly) makes it pop.

This is a hard class. I pulled out an A, but with a lot of work. The lectures are dense (3 pages of writing per class, and I have teensey handwriting) and you'll be writing the whole time. The textbook reading isn't necessary, but is advised if you want an A. There are always a few vocab words from it on the test, and although they aren't worth too many points, there isn't a ton of margin for error on a 50 point test. The packet has some dense, complicated readings that you really only need the gist of, but I'd recommend a thorough reading, because it can help put the lecture material into context.

Overall, I'd say this is a fascinating course if you care about the subject matter (and want that history/econ double count), but if you aren't interested and ready to read, don't bother. The class is structured with 2 midterms (25% a piece) and a cumulative, all-essay final (50%), so there aren't any projects or homeworks to boost up your grade.

Very good lecturer -- lectures always felt like they went by very quickly, and made the material very interesting. The grade was based on just two midterms and the final, which were pretty tricky (he didn't give any guidance about how to study/what was the most important info). However, the exams were still very manageable if you showed up and took notes, and did the readings. Only outside of class work was readings and studying -- readings you could do at your own pace, and averaged out to not very much per week

Mark Thomas is definitely a good lecturer/storyteller and this was probably one of my most enjoyable classes this semester. That being said. I do have quite a few complaints
1) The grade in this course is based off of 3 tests, so if you mess up on even one you're screwed. I was able to end with an "A-" but I had to work harder than I did in any other class.
2) The textbook readings were really long and had a lot of extraneous content. It is still necessary to do the textbook readings, however, since 5 points on every exam is based on definitions, many of which come straight from the textbook
3) I took this class since it was cross listed as an econ course, but it is definitely heavily weighted towards historical content.

I loved this class!! you should definitely takes this class ONLY if you are interested in Econ otherwise it will be harder to grasp the material. I suggest taking Macro before choosing this class. Take good notes in class and make sure you understand everything he talks about. Hard class but you learn a lot!!!

Definitely the best class I've taken at UVA. Prof Thomas is engaging and interesting -- I never thought a topic so mundane could be my favorite class, by far. The lectures are comprised of him speaking/writing on the chalk board while you furiously try to copy down everything he says or writes. Only reason not to take this class is because of the GPA. I got an A, which I attribute to being well-caffeinated for every lecture, reading the textbook (not at all necessary if you're fine with a B/B+, but the evidence you get from them can be helpful for essays, and on the 2nd test/final, he'll pull the ID questions straight from the textbook with no mention of them in lecture), taking good notes, and studying my ass off. The key to the exams is to fill them with numbers, not just general trends/vague evidence -- throwing as many specific numbers in your essays will increase your grade astronomically. Read the course book and take detailed notes on them. Great course, great professor.

Take this class!!! Professor Thomas is the most amazing lecturer, and I was completely engaged in every class. He covers a lot of material each day, so everyone furiously writes or types the entire time, but you leave each class feeling like you learned so much. This class is much more like a history class than an econ class on the surface, but everything you learn is through an economic lens which makes it different and interesting. Definitely one of my favorite classes of the semester.
My advice would be to READ IN ADVANCE. The texts Prof Thomas assigns are a combination of textbook chapters and primary resources, and they can really add up. You don't have to read nightly, but definitely read throughout units. (Don't save it all until the day before.) As you're reading, write down and remember any terms that seem like vocab. On midterms, you have to write a few sentences about 5 random terms throughout any of the reading. You can't guess what he will ask, but writing town terms helps you get most of them right.

Professor Thomas is awesome. Definitely one of the best lecturers at UVA. He's hilarious and super easy to talk to in office hours. The course material is interesting for the most part. This is a really enjoyable class for the most part, but it's certainly not easy. There is an extensive amount of reading and the tests are all handwritten essay questions with significant time pressure that are worth a substantial amount of your grade. The syllabus says there are 2 midterms worth 25% each and a final worth 50%, but the final exam is split into a 3rd midterm and a cumulative final. If you stay on top of everything, it's definitely possible to get an A, but it's super tough. Exams are 5 ID questions, 3 one paragraph essay questions and a 1-2 page essay question. To prepare for the midterms: 1) Take great notes in lecture. This is essential, because he posts nothing online at all. Your only resources are lectures, readings and his office hours. 2) Read the PACKET readings thoroughly and be able to explain the main ideas, arguments, conclusions, etc. The packet readings are what you're tested on. The textbook readings are helpful, but you have to prioritize the packet readings. The cumulative portion of the final exam was a series of essay questions that all had to be about 2 blue book pages long. You have 2 hours to do it. The questions focus on the broad themes of the course. Honestly, it's hard to prepare for this if you didn't understand earlier material. Main takeaways: 1) Do not miss class and always take notes. 2) Do all the packet readings thoroughly. 3) Write faster than you've ever written before! It's an intensive class, but it's worth it if you're willing to put the work in.

Attend lectures , do the readings in the textbook and the course packet. Or do none of these and completely fail midterms 1 and 2 . And stare at that final which is 50% of your grade and use your basic understanding of micro and macroeconomics to try to explain the history of American economics since the 1600s.
If you have time to read the course packet do it but if not just skim the readings and write down the author , title and 2 main points they are trying to convey . This will get you 15/15 on the short answer section . IDs you just have to know so try and learn them somehow . And the essay just pick 1 or 2 topics and try and learn them super well and cram that into an essay and be as opinionated as you want as this gets you more credit .
With hindsight I would recommend showing up to lectures as you will not have to cram before every exam and scramble to get the lecture notes off people you met in the lecture on the first day of class .
Overall very interesting the handful of lectures I attended I did enjoy ! But the content is pretty boring. But yeh good course if you want to teach yourself everything 2 nights before the final and get a B .

The class was interesting, not as much history as I expected. Mark Thomas clearly knows a lot about the subject and is an entertaining lecturer but will often spend half the lecture explaining theories that aren't true which seems kinda pointless sometimes. Make sure to do the readings in the course packet!

Great course and is very interesting, but it's really hard. Make sure you record lectures and attend every class because nothing is posted on Collab or anything. All you get is whatever he writes on the board in class. Also, it seems a little disorganized and the general picture of the whole course is hard to make out. You don't need to do the textbook readings but make sure you know his readings from his booklet.
Overall, interesting course and I would recommend if you have an easy schedule but not if you already have a hard one.

Professor Thomas is one of the best lecturers at UVA. His lectures are like stories. He'll spend half an hour explaining a theory that makes seemingly perfect sense and then he'll just blow your mind and completely disprove it in 5 minutes. He makes content that some might find dry extremely interesting. That being said, this is a pretty difficult 2000 level course. Professor Thomas doesn't post anything online so you have to try to take very detailed notes very quickly every lecture, as that is virtually all you have to study before exams. On the bright side, there is very little work outside of class. You don't really need to read the textbook, there was only one ID question on one exam from it all year. But read and take notes on the class packet of primary sources because he pulls a lot of test questions from it. All in all, this was a great course and I do recommend it, as it's not easy but you can do well if you put in the effort.

A must-take-class at UVA. Mark is extraordinary both s a professor and as a person. He is incredibly knowledgeable and most importantly passionate. He is a tough grader and you might suffer but it will definitely be worth it. You will end up with a greater appreciation for how the US came to be and see the world in a different perspective.

I feel as though I'm one of the few people who saw through Prof. Thomas's British accent and realized he's not that great. I honestly love learning any subject and am normally an attentive student, but found myself on the verge of falling asleep every class. It takes him until the last 10 minutes to make his point, and even then he's usually unclear, contradicting everything he has taught in the first 40 minutes. The tests are blatantly unfair. They do not test how much you have learned and are arbitrarily graded (the question will be marked with "good" and then you'll get a 3/5). The curve in the class does not make sense in the slightest as he gives people with higher grades more points than those with lower grades. Some people loved this class, and good for them, but I did not. I was seduced by the first few lectures thinking this would be a great class; I even dropped another class because I knew this would be hard and I wanted to be able to spend time on it. Everything went downhill from there, and I'll never forget the fact that he scheduled our first exam on the Friday of Halloween weekend.

Amazing professor but posts nothing from his lectures. Lectures also don't entirely correlate with the textbook and the course goes out of order in the chapters. Little outside work and lectures are not entirely necessary if you can get the notes. Overall a really interesting class, he is amazing!

A course definitely worth taking - if only for the professor himself. Mr. Thomas is very passionate about the material and he makes the course flow in a majestic manner to keep you constantly engaged no matter what period of history is being dealt with. There is, however, a lot of material that is gone through over the course of the semester, and as such it can be difficult to keep up. There's a fair bit of reading, and the exams see how much you've paid attention during the lectures and done the source material readings. It can be a bit overwhelming, but very worth taking in the end

I absolutely loved this class!!! The tests were very hard though, so make sure you go to the lectures because that's is where he pulls the most material from. I didn't realize until the very last test that the textbook was basically USELESS so all you need to do is skim it at best, because he will pull some IDs from it; but it'll only be 3/5 IDs, because he will probably mention the other two in class. Also make sure you read the supplemental readings because that will include 15/50 points on the test, while IDs will be 5/50 and the essay will be 30/50. Overall, I loved the class and would totally recommend it. I would say you need some kind of experience in micro, macro and Us history and I took them all in high school, so I was fine.

Very interesting class, but very difficult. I took this first year (not a humanities person), and found it difficult to understand everything. While he does explain economic concepts (very quickly) I would have done better if I had taken macro before taking this class. Great topic and an amazing professor, but really hurt my GPA.

Great professor, tough class. Go to lecture and take good notes otherwise you will not do well.

One of my favorite class, really interesting! Some interest in history would be an advantage but he will manage to get you excited with his enthusiasm. However, really hard to get an A. I put a lot of work into the readings but his tests are rough because they are based on the lecture (he uses no slides) so you really have to pay attention. In his exams, he sometimes asks for terms that were mentioned maybe once in class. To sum it up: Take the class for the professor, not the grade.

Professor Thomas is the man. Best lecturer I have ever had. Going to class was like listening to a story. If you are willing to put in the work, Thomas will reward you. This class is not easy, but is extremely interesting and rewarding. I learned a ton. Couldn't recommend Thomas any more.

Hilarious, knowledgable, brilliant at explaining concepts. Puts a nice twist on American History. Really cares about the students. Tests are blue book. Two midterms, each with ID's, short answer, essays. ID's are based upon supplemental readings. Final was the same, plus 5 essays that tied together themes across the whole semester. Textbook is useless but he does pull some ID's from it. Take notes on the packet and pay attention. Highly recommended.

Tough class to get an A, but really interesting and enjoyable

Very enjoyable course. Professor Thomas is an engaging lecturer. Material presents familiar American history through the lens of economics, so I learned about new things that shaped the U.S. Easy A-, difficult A. As an engineer, I highly recommend this.

Thomas is a great lecturer but you have to do the readings. Not an easy A but definitely one of the most enjoyable classes I've taken so far.

This course was very interesting and Thomas was an engaging lecturer. However, the final grade was created from two midterms and a final, and Thomas can be a pretty tough grader. There was also a lot of reading and you had to know a lot of figures for the tests, which were all essay style. Only people with a strong background and interest in history and economics should take this course.

Mark Thomas is the best professor I've had. He is the most interesting and by far the most entertaining with his British accent and mannerisms. You dont have to read the textbook but you have to read the individual readings. Tests are all from lecture and these readings. If you take really good notes then you will be fine. There are no surprises, but he literally tells you all the material on the test its just a matter of studying

Thomas is an amazing professor and lecturer. He is very insightful and his lectures were always interesting. His exams aren't extremely difficult if you pay attention in class and do the reading. Don't expect to get an A by doing nothing.

great professor, you can tell he really knows the material. however the curve was minimal and i felt i should have received a better grade

Thomas is a really good teacher. His lectures are very structured, which helps you understand the main points of the class. It is very important that you take VERY GOOD notes if you want to do well. On top of that, you need to do a pretty large amount of reading, and go over it at least twice before the exams.

A LOT of reading. 2 mid-terms and a final. Material isn't too difficult, but it's a lot of information that he expects you to retain. Thomas is a good lecturer, though.

It's hard to get an A but also hard to get a C or below. 100% of your grade comes from the 2 midterms (50%) and final(50%). Thomas is a good lecturer, but grades are a little harsh.

Hard class but really really interesting. I enjoyed it a lot, but had to really work for a B

Fantastic lecturer, extremely difficult grader. His exams will be tough because you'll need to know ALL the readings really well. That combined with his ruthless grading makes this class more difficult than necessary, but I definitely learned a lot and a subject that should be boring (who cares about colonial America anyways?) is made more lively by Mark Thomas.

do the readings and go to class

Best lecturer at UVA. Exams are hard, require a lot of studying.

Although no prerequisites are stated on the course description, I think it will serve you well if you have taken ECON 202 or at least know the concepts behind Macroeconomics. A lot of the economics concepts that are used in this class are macro- based.

Also, I wouldn't really recommend this class to international students, unless you have some knowledge about US history from the colonial period to the early 20th century or have a great deal of interest in US history. This class is more of a history class, than an economics class.

Professor Thomas is a great lecturer, but you need to be able to recall details for the exams. There are only three, and the final is worth 50% of your grade. If you're not a good essay test-taker, don't take this class.

Lectures are great but they don't cover much of the readings at all. The exams are much more from the reading than the lectures. Difficult for a 200 level class

Professor is very enthusiastic about the material and the subject is very interesting. It takes the American History that you know and love (or hate) and puts an economic spin on it which makes you look at things you've known for many years from a completely different perspective.

Lectures were alright, but the subject matter was very boring. The exams were relatively hard for a 200-level course. I wouldn't recommend taking this class- it was one of the most uninteresting classes I've taken.

An obscene amount of reading and work. I've worked more for it than any other econ class I've taken (I'm an econ major), and recieved the lowest grade I've gotten at UVA (a B). Very interesting, but don't expect an A.

Your entire grade in this class is based on two tests and the final. He lectures well but in a roundabout way (he will explain one theory in great detail and then tell you why it is wrong). Make sure you remember some of the numbers he throws out and use them in your essays. The tests are hard but if you pay attention in lecture you can get at least a B-.

This class was incredibly boring and very very hard. You're expected to memorize basically books full of information. He seems like a nice enough guy, but this is definitely the hardest class I've taken while at the University, and the only B I've gotten to date.

Although it is very hard to get an A in this class, a B is definitely doable. Professor Thomas is brilliant and his lectures rarely get boring. It shows application of economics, which I think is just as important than theory. Definitely take this class, but don't expect a stellar grade.

If you're really interested in the subject, then you will really like this class, if not you will probably be really bored. His tests are all essay, and he is a pretty reasonable grader. Do the reading from the course packet because many of the discussion questions reference it explicitly. Not my favorite class, but not too bad either.

The class is very interesting that the professor tries hard to make the subject alive, even though it's economic history~ It is very hard to get an A in the class since the average of every tests is only a B or B-. Reading is essential and exams are hard.

He is a great lecturer, but exams are hard. There might be no curve. If you are looking for A's, DON'T TAKE THIS CLASS

MT has a British accent, which makes everything he says more interesting. The reading can be dry, but for the subject material he does a great job making it interesting and accessible.

Great Professor. There is so much material, but you learn so much too.

This class was pretty hard.

Great professor, but the textbook is terrible and somewhat boring. The textbook material is very basic and doesn't coincide with the lectures very often. It doesn't contribute much to the lectures. Test questions, however, are very nit-picky so you have to have read the material in order to ID things correctly.

Those were always the longest 50 minutes of my life, even when I was writing fast. I hated expounding on minutiae, like, "and in this year the growth rate was 4% but the following year it was 4.2%, etc." and I hate analyzing the analysis of someone's analysis of something, which is what it was all about.

Great lecturer but the midterms are very challenging.

Thomas is a great lecturer, but the tests are brutal -- massive amounts of memorization and lots of reading. Not quite the 200-level class I was expecting, but worthwhile, nonetheless. Probably the fastest 50 minutes of lecture in any class I've taken -- maybe because I'm writing so fast. ;)