ECON 2060

Definitely not a 2000 level class. There is no course material other than readings and lectures. The only grades are exams which he curves based on your score but they are very tough. One review says to know the packet readings in your sleep. I thought that was an exaggeration. I was mistaken. Prof. Thomas is a great guy and the class info is very interesting but lectures can sometimes be a drag. He often spent 45 minutes telling you something then the last 5 minutes telling you everything he just taught was wrong which was quite confusing. 3 exams total. Exams have 5 ID questions, 3 short answers, 1 essay. IDs are 1pt and not worth your time, just take the L. You get to pick between a few options for the short answer and essay questions which is nice. KNOW THE PACKET READINGS WELL and make friends in class to share notes. Do not expect an A. Settle for a solid B with a decent amount of effort.

Message for incoming first-years wanting to take this class:
PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS!!!!
I am a current third-year student who has finished the economics major with straight As (yes, even in econometrics and industrial organization), and this is the only class I regret taking in my entire UVA career. The content is interesting if you like history, but the class is very time-consuming. There are no slides, and all the content you get is whatever you manage to write down from what Professor Thomas says. If you zoom out even for a little bit, you are cooked for the rest of that day. Your grade comes entirely from exams, which puts a lot of pressure on you to perform well. Professor Thomas is super nice and interesting during office hours! However, he is a harsh grader and doesn't really re-explain concepts.

I remember being locked out for hours in Clark studying for this class while my other first-year friends were having fun with the engagements and easier classes. I ended up getting an A-, but I would have much rather spent time meeting new people and getting adjusted to college instead. If you're taking this class to get ahead with the major, there are many better ways to do so than this class. If you want to start taking econ electives to make progress with the major, I suggest you take ECON 3010 ASAP so that you can unlock all the other 4000-level electives that are far more interesting and that will take as much time and effort as this class. Take time to enjoy your first semester and build a strong GPA before you attempt harder classes, and don't waste your time with this class unless you REALLY, REALLY, REALLY love history. I'm rooting for you! <3