He's relaxed and open minded. There's almost no need to read the text so long as you attend class and take notes. He marks fair and, for the most part, lectures end with an interesting class discussion. Overall, great teacher.

Very good professor. Easy to understand. Very helpful. As long as you attend class you'll be fine.

Not sure what the first poster is talking about. I took the same class (Soc 3331 ? there is no 3301) and I didn?t fail. Neither did anyone else I talked to. You may have failed, but that doesn?t mean anyone else did. Bottom line: do the readings, don?t miss his lectures (he takes attendance), and you?ll do fine in his class. Also, the lectures are

Overall not a bad teacher. He would go off about random stuff in the middle of the lectures which was kind of annoying and made the class more boring than it needed to be. But it made him come off more easy going and approachable.

The value of his class was evident after I wrote the mid-term and the final. I left both tests feeling like I had learned a lot about theory. Lectures are very clear and he is good at cutting through jargon (some of the readings were tough). An approachable and easy going instructor as well. And he grades fairly. Recommended.

He was an all around great teacher. I really enjoyed his class.

good teacher, keeps his classes funny. he prefers multiple choice testing, except for the final exam which is written. He allows students to debate in class or with him, encouraging you to think about the concepts and theories represented in the textbook. I would strongly recommend him.

He tried his best to make a theory class interesting which is very difficult. The class work was not too difficult, but there is a lot of readings and essays. If you put in the effort, you get rewarded.

Initially I thought the lectures were dry and boring, but by the end I realized I had actually learned a great deal from him. As long as you attend class and do the readings, you shouldn't have too much difficulty. Not a terribly hard marker, but not an easy marker either.

This guy was great! I dont know what all you are whining about. He really knew his stuff. However, if you were lazy and didn't go to class, that's probably why you didnt do well.

Good instructor, good class. He is obviously well read, and he routinely links the textbook to current events which is helpful. Possible exam questions are given out beforehand. Lectures are clear, and most have a group discussion segment at the end. But maybe not for you if you are mad at the world because MRU scheduled your class at 8:00 am.

Really Interesting class! This guy might be one of my favourite profs. so far. This class has opened my eyes to a bunch of new ideas. Highly reccomend it

Nice guy. Very interesting. Go to claas and you will do well

Brant is in a word awesome!He cares very much about his students and loves sociology passionately. However, he dose tangent in lectures and can be hard to follow if you miss a class or don't stay engaged during the class. That being said if you have questions GO TO HIS OFFICE HOURS he will keep engaging you till you understand the material.

I didn't particularly like this class but Brant was great. He was very clear on what he wanted done and very helpful and passionate about what he taught. 10% of the mark was just to show up so if you show up to class you will do well.

Brant is a really genuine guy - likes his students, and wants them to do well. That said, he won't just give you an A, you need to work for it. He likes people to participate in class; he challenges your opinion, but only to make you think more. Oh, and Brant jokes. They're only funny to him, but he'll tell them anyways. Just smile and nod. :)

I thought that I would really like sociology class, but not with Brant. Yes he is approachable and a nice guy, but his material is just so difficult at times. Maybe it would be better if he told us his office hours, for I had no clue at all! I thought he was quite rude to some students, and not want to get to know many of us

Brant Downey is honestly a great guy ! He incorporates videos in some lectures to keep student interest. Along with this, he starts interesting class discussions to foster student input. When the time comes for tests and midterms, he will give great advice as to lead you in the right direction. I would highly recommend Brant to my fellow peers !

Words cannot describe Brant! He is awesome! He treats you like you're the only student he has - allocating generous time for help or just to have a talk about life. His lectures were engaging and he's an extremely easy marker. So long as you attend class and review here or there, you can't go wrong. Loved having him - recommended for sure :)

I have had Brant before for The Sociological Imagination (SLGY1102) and was quite pleased to see him my first day of Urban Sociology. Very helpful guy and very approachable. The text book was good to keep on hand, but his real readings were all journal articles. Fair marker and great to talk to out of class; I would recommend him if you like SLGY!

Brant is a great professor with a funny sense of humour. He keeps class interesting and provides many examples to help support the dryer theories. I enjoyed his classes and his tests are super easy but the information is easily understood. He is a great prof!

Brant Downey was an amazing prof! I absolutely loved his style of teaching and his ability to keep the whole class involved and involved! He's an extremely funny guy and really wants his students to do well. His tests are multiple choice and the final exam is three short essay questions. Awesome class and awesome prof!

He is an awesome professor, and I would definitely recommend his class. His lectures are very interesting and engaging.

It was an interesting class. I like the format of going to lectures, reading the text and then multiple choice tests. If you study, go to the lectures, take good notes and remember all your people and theories, you are golden. He is a really nice guy and I would love to take him for drinks and pick his brain. He is the reason I'm a soc major

Brant is a fun prof! He poses questions in class to get you thinking, whilst allowing adequate time to cover all the lecture material necessary. His tests are almost painfully easy (if you STUDY like you should), his feedback is fair and as a person aside from a professor, he's one very likable and down to earth guy. Recommended FOR SURE!

Brant takes attendance each day and part of your grade is based on attendance and participation. He makes class fun while not getting off track, and his lectures are clear and concise. He encourages debate and plays devil's advocate, which is a great quality in a professor in my personal opinion

Brant wants his students to do well. With a quirky sense of humor he makes classes enjoyable and interesting to attend. Would take again at a higher level.

Downey is a good prof. He understands that the material is pretty dry and tries to get everyone involved in discussion to make things interesting. He gives exam study guides that clearly outline his expectations. Do not skip a class, he does not post lectures on BB and his lectures cover topics not in the readings.

Brant is a great prof. I've taken 2 classes with him so far and they went really well. He is clear on what he expects on the final and he's not a hard marker. He tests on the notes he gives in class so attendance is mandatory. His lectures are clear and pretty funny sometimes. He's a pretty friendly guy too.

Brant is so awesome! Personally one of my favourites.

Great professor and has a great sense of humour. He really wants his students to do well. Tests are based on lecture notes, so attendance is essential.

Just a really great guy. Clear what he expects on tests. Makes sure material is clear to everyone. Encourages participation. Attendance is mandatory as notes are not posted. AND the best jokes. Definitely recommend.

Decent prof, classes a bit boring. Lots of movies and videos. All marks are based on multiple choice tests and you need to study for them.

I've taken many classes with Brant and he is still one of my favourite profs at MRU. His midterms are straightforward and he does his best with some pretty dry material in the lectures. He marks fast too which is nice. Tests are based on lectures so you have to go to class or you'll definitely have some problems!

Brant is one of the best profs I have had at MRU. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND HIS CLASSES! His exams are easy, his teaching method is easily understood and he knows what he is talking about. He is super approachable and his classes are very entertaining.

Great prof! took intro to sociological research methods with him, contemporary and qualitative. Very theory oriented, lots of notes but overall a great professor.

I don't know how this prof does not have an A+ rating, probably one of the best profs I've had. Tests are easy as long as you show up! And he clearly states what to expect on his tests. I looked forward to going to all of his classes.

He is a super awesome proff. That welcomes new ideas. I would recommend him to anyone.

One of the best professors at MRU. There is no reason not to take at least one of his classes no matter what your major is. He is really good a bringing complex theories to everyday life so you can understand them.

I like Brant - he is funny and relatable. The class was easy as long as you showed up. He doesnt post any of his lecture slides online, so be prepared to scribble a lot of notes. One thing I found weird was that there were no projects, no homework, no papers... just 3 multiple choice tests, that's it. I would have liked a bit more variety.

Brant is realistic and funny. Show up to class to get your notes in class cause he doesnt post them online. Other than using laptops to type notes, dont use your phone or technology. Really straight forward on the 2 assignments, approachable for any questions. Would definitely take him as a prof again.

Brant's one of the best profs. He's funny, engaging, intelligent, and he uses all of these to make sure his lectures AREN'T boring. You can only get notes in class, don't use your phone in class, and take part in conversations. He made sociology fun and interesting for me. I would definitely take another class with him

Good lectures, tries to get students involved, interesting movies worth watching and relevant to the times. Tests are based 99% on lectures in class, not text book. Format of lectures are different than textbook, so it can be hard to study for tests. Tricky multiple choice, with somewhat vague options that sound very similar. almost no homework.

The thing with Brant, he is a great guy - but you need to show up if you want to do well, he expects a lot but he honestly is absolutely willing to help, a super stand up guy - I would recommend any Sociology major to him for any class he teaches!

The lectures are pretty heavy but fairly easy to understand and Brant gives you the exam essay questions ahead of time and if you actually go through them and prepare answers, you can easily get and A in the class. Attendance is also mandatory as he does not post lectures online.

If you're a sociology major taking this class towards your degree I would highly suggest taking this class with Brant. He makes an effort to make sure everyone's on the same page and uses plenty of examples. He encourages intersting class disussions. Make sure to stay on top of readings and ask questions because he's very approachable.

I have really enjoyed Intro to Research Methods with Brant! Like other commenters have stated, his tests and assignments are easy to do well on as long as you come to class. Some have written that he's rude - my perspective is that he just doesn't let students drag on and on while making comments, which the rest of us really appreciate. Great prof.

I love his Brant Jokes. Always looked forward to going to his class. Easy marker and very understanding. Very organized and clear about his standardswith exams, assignments etc. Love the discussion questions grade booster! Lectures are really detailed and useful for exam studying. Exam study guide is very clear and concise. Best prof.

Brant really makes sure that everyone in the class understands the content by using many examples. Highly approachable and understanding. GPA booster as long as you attend class and really study for the midterms. best prof at MRU. Sometimes lets us out of class early! Lectures are clear& straightforward. Very intelligent & passionate about SLGY.

Brant is a very passionate professor. If you are unclear of any topic in class he encourages you to ask questions and his clarifications are quite clear. His tests are straightforward, but if you do not show up to class or do the readings you will not do well. I would strongly suggest taking at least one class with him if you are a soci major

Make sure you read the textbook, even just the reviews at the end. Study lots or passing/getting a good grade will be really tough. Basically, put in the work and you'll be rewarded. Brant is really good at holding a conversation between himself and the students, making for good discussions.

Ive had Brant for numerous Sociology classes. by far in my top 3 professors. really cares about his students, hes easy to contact out of class / will make time for you if you need help. Hes a nice guy, but you have to go to class, the textbook gives you a tenth of the info he gives in class and you wont pass without his notes (he doesnt post them)

Brant is one of my favourite professors in slgy. He is kind and caring towards his students and gives great feedback on papers and exams. All his courses require a lot of note taking but if you go to class and listen you can do great. I find the learning style very effective and he always makes class engaging and enjoyable!

Anyone can see Brant's love for sociology. It doesn't take long to figure out how passionate he is. He loves to provoke thought and he truly cares about his students a lot. He's super funny and makes class interesting.

I have had Brant three times. You must go to his lectures to get his notes, so make friends! He is not a bad professor at all, you just need to read the textbook in order to successfully pass his multiple choice questions, and the written exam questions he will give you ahead of time. Go to class, ask questions, and you'll do great!

Brant is passionate about teaching and sociology. His notes are interesting and he makes alot of room for participation and topics we can relate too. This class had 3 tests, a participation grade for showing up and a final exam. no homework at all

This is a pretty lecture dense class, however, Brant does a pretty good job at keeping it light with little jokes along the way along with finding ways to make the material relatable. Its just three test for the class along with 10 percent participation, follow his study guide closely and you will do well.

he is absolutely my fave prof at MRU

Real great guy. Fair in his marking. For the most part, it's lecture heavy but he keeps them interesting and the slides are really helpful. Provides a really nice study guide for tests. The class is made of purely testing and attendance though.

I have had Brant twice as a professor and he is amazing! He is very funny and knows that when his lectures get boring, he will make it more interesting with funny remarks, examples, participations and short films that are integral to the course. He respects you and doesn't give you a hard time with participation. 10/10 would take him again.

He loves teaching sociology. I would recommend his class. You will have 3 tests and a final. The tests are straight forward. If you show up to class and take notes, you will pass.

Brant is awesome and if you're in sociology you will probably have him a few times. Lecture heavy classes and must show up for attendance.

If you are in the UEO program, this class is a solid choice. The grading consists of: Participation and attendance(10%), 2 small assignments (2%), 3 tests (10-25%) and the final. As you can see, participation and tests are important, so if you are a slacker don't come here. He's a nice guy, and often he can change test marks if tests Q's are bad!

Brant is an awesome prof if you are a student that likes to attend class everyday. He doesn't post notes online so you have to show up but his class is very enjoyable and easy if you show up. Tests follow off his study guide and textbook readings.

2nd time having him, both times got an A. He's clear on what he wants on his written tests, so make sure you know what to write and provide examples outside of the textbook to get full marks. focus more on his written sections than the MC on tests. You don't have to read the text unless it says to on the test cheat sheet just show up for his notes

Honestly, you have to really study for his tests to get good marks. But this class is not that hard to do well in if you put in the effort. Brant is great honestly. But make sure you focus on what to write for the written portion of his tests, not the MC, since the MC is not worth much. And show up to all classes and write everything down.

Brant is funny, relatable, and an engaging professor. He made classical theory interesting.

Brant is great, and the course was really interesting. He is accommodating as well within reason.

Brant might be one of if not the BEST prof I have had at MRU during my time here. The guy is fluffy and caring roundabout. He seems like he's a harsh guy but he's actually chill to the core and relatable with his students. When it comes to his teachings he doesn't post powerpoints at all so be prepared to write down. GIVE MY MAN RAISE ASAP. Easy A

Calls on students in class to give insight or answer a question which personally I love. Very funny and uses skit videos like laughs for gags to illustrate concepts he teaches! Not much homework at all and he explains concepts very well so tests are a blast! One of my favorite profs. As long as you are respectful you will love him.

online and asyncronous. he was a gem and recorded lectures. only 3 papers and a take-home essay for the final that you are graded on. textbook was only used for the papers. you had readings to do that were discussed in class that day but they weren't too long, he explained them in depth. he's a solid prof.

Brant ended up being a great prof. There is only three assignments and a final essay, which he marks fair. The scary thing is everything weighs a lot so you want to make sure you are doing well on those assignments. Good, short lectures. Interesting readings and articles too. He is truly a genuine, sweet man with a passion for SLGY. Would recommend

Easiest intro class I've ever taken. Gives very good feedback on essays, so you know what to improve on for the next.

Great prof! He makes everything very clear on what he expects from you and you're only graded on 4 things. I would recommend him to anyone who needs a GPA booster

Best GPA booster ever! Really easy to pass this class and it is only graded by a few essays which are very short and easy to do, but you will easily get an A on them. He makes everything very clear on what he expects from you and provides great feedback! Highly recommend this class and prof

Brant is an amazing professor. I always looked forward to attending his lectures. He is very clear clear on expectations. Make sure you attend class, participate regularly and read the textbook.

Brant is witty and in class, he just has a way of speaking that makes you want to listen for hours. He's so interesting and down to earth. Can't wait to take another class with him.

He is an amazing and intelligent professor. The outline of what is expected on midterms and finals are always clear and he is also a fair marker. His lectures are interesting and you can tell that he has a lot of knowledge about sociology (had him for three courses).

Lecture heavy classes, so commit to actually going to class. He gives a lot of in-class examples and will test you on more than just the slides. Humorous and relaxed. Grades were just 3 exams and participation, so study hard. Expect some obscure multiple choice. He gives a helpful study guide that allows for proper preparation for exams.

Brant was an amazing prof and made his lectures easy to follow, he knows how much time it takes to write things down and gives us enough time to do so. he is super engaging and really good at exploring and explaining different theories! his study guides are exactly how the test is, no surprises

Very good caring prof slideshow notes are never too long and always give time to write everything down. Gives a study guide to all three tests and the final. Tells you the short answer questions on the final so you can memorize the answers. For someone who isn't very good at school and test-taking, he made it really easy to get a good grade.

Brant really tried to design this course so that students can stay engaged. A couple papers, a lot of group work in-class (not for marks), a mid-term, and a final. He gave the final long answer questions prior so we know what to expect. He is approachable and caring. He does call on people but he's never rude about it, just wants participation.

My favourite sociology prof

Great professor, structured and evaluates through multiple choice tests and a final written exam. Discuss any concerns about similar answers in quizzes openly, and adjustments may be made. Caring and supportive, he encourages your best efforts, providing study sheets for quizzes and finals.

One of my favourite professors! He picks on people to talk in class but he won't out you if you said the wrong answer, he just asks about your answer. His lectures are based on textbooks, but tests are half and half so it's good to have the textbook or you might not do well. He's also very openminded and helps if you have any questions.

Funny guy, brief and straightforward lectures. Exams are a bit tough bc of the annoyingly complex MC questions but they're half a mark each so it's manageable, I suppose. The exam study guides are super useful and he specifies what you can expect from his tests. You get a choice of which topic you want to write about in the long answers portion.

Brant Downey is a must take professor if you are taking sociology. He is hilarious in his lectures and a fair grader. It is really important to read the textbooks and take notes from there and his lectures for his exams. Exam prep sheets will tell you exactly what you need to study. Be prepared to do lots of readings and participate in class.

Brant is a funny guy whose lectures are entertaining ( I certainly looked forward to his class). The grade consisted of just 3 multiple choice tests, participation, and the final. The tests were quite hard in my experience, though not unmanageable, he closely bases his lectures on the textbook, and there are a lot of test questions on it.

Professor Downey's class is a GPA booster. With clear expectations, useful feedback, and engaging lectures, he makes the material accessible. Textbook is required, but the real key is attending class and using resources like Unstuck AI to ace the essays and exams.

Brant is a wonderful prof! He takes his time to explain everything in lectures and goes above and beyond for student success! I will say his study guides are pretty hard to follow. There isn't an actual outline of the question he will be asking; it only outlines chapters in the textbook (like chapter 6 on youth and risk, etc.), which can be hard.

Brandt is honestly an amazing prof, he is passionate about what he teaches and truly cares for his students. His tests are on the harder side but if you go to class then you should have no problem at all passing. Plus his "Brandt" jokes are the best, and he makes the class relatable to current events so that you're not lost.

Brant is an excellent instructor. His lectures were very engaging. He discusses essential historical and current events, which adds depth and a sense of care to his teaching. Class participation is expected, and he calls on students, but he does so in a way that feels inclusive rather than intimidating. Overall, a fantastic professor!

Brant gives great examples to help you understand the concepts. It is VERY lecture heavy, as his slides are a skeleton of what we are talking about, so be sure to go to class. Follow his study guides and you will do well. You are only graded on two midterms and a final, but there are two opportunities to boost your grade by a letter grade.

Brant is such an amazing professor. If you have the opportunity to take Classical with Brant do it. You get graded on 3 exams and participation. A lot of the material from the lectures appears on the exams but he gives you great study guides. He also uses dry humour which lightens up the mood of a very heavy theory course.

Brant is a great prof. I had him for both SLGY 1101 and 2218. I never felt stressed with in his class, you are marked on 2-3 in class tests and a final exam, as well as an attendance grade. I would recommend going to class as he gives many examples not listed in his slides and you get an attendance grade. Overall I would definitely recommend

Love Brant, he is a great lecturer and has a lot of thought-provoking ideas. He is entertaining, and the tests are simple as long as you go to class and read the lecture slides. Plus, he always sends out study guides. Would recommend his classes to everyone.

Decent professor but hes fairly dogmatic in his own right. Coming from Rural Alberta he seems to take pride in treating me differently then the other students. It's very subtle, but it's like he assumes i am either stupid, or greatly disagree with him on a political level. I am likely the only one who experiences this, his class is decent aside.

Love this professor. He is very enthusiastic during his lectures and always makes "Brant jokes". The course grade is split into three exams (including the final) and 2 minor assignments, creating discussion questions based on the reading. He notes down students' attendance in almost every class, which applies to your participation mark as well.

Funny prof; lectures are really easy to go with as long as you pay attention. There are only a few exams, a final, and participation marks, so study up before going into an exam.

Brant is a great and genuine guy. His lectures reflect his passion for the topic of sociology. This course is 3 tests, two question assignments throughout the semester. All concepts spoken in class are not on the slides, so attendance is key. Participation is a mark, attendance is recorded daily. All tests are multiple choice!