3.5
Quality3.6
Difficulty64%
Would Retake160
Reviews64%
Would Retake
160
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
67
4
29
3
23
2
20
1
21
What Students Say
“Her study guides are great though, which is why I stopped torturing myself going to her class”
COMS100A - 1.0 rating“She was extremely rude and said "uhm yeah”
100A103162 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
77%
Textbook Required
67%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Stable
-0.13 avg changeRatings by Course
COM100
5.0
(1)COM103
5.0
(1)GENDERSTUDIES
5.0
(1)COMMS100B
5.0
(1)COMS168
5.0
(2)Difficulty by Course
COMMS100B
5.0
100A103162
4.5
COMS168
4.5
COMS100B
4.3
100B
4.2
Reviews (160)
Dont fall for her "tough teacher" act on the first day of class. She's cool as hell and she makes sure you know whats going on in class. Her Kansas accent makes her pretty hot too.
Avoid taking her for any class. Any opportunity she has to make you feel stupid, she will, because she is insecure. I swear I felt like I was in middle school. Good luck if you get her, you're going to need it.
She is an unreasonable grader. Her "tough teacher" attitude is not a routine. She expects you to come to her for help and makes you feel stupid when you do. She is very smart and into what she is teaching but all in all, she is unreasonable in almost every respect. DO NOT TAKE HER CLASS if you can avoid it. BTW: I have a 3.7 GPA.
People are just bitter; you might actually have to work and learn something in her class. What a novel idea!
Is a sincere teacher and knows the material
Tough on the grades, but you'll be fine if you do the work. The accent is HOT!
Professor is extremely ANAL!!!! I wouldn't take her for anything. She is not helpful at all, and I agree with everyone else makes people feel bad. An extremely rude, and unreasonable person.
Fabulous!! Great lectures with meaningful material. She is always available even on weekends by phone and email. She pushes you to be your best. I highly recommend her!
She is horrible. Rude and mean, puts students down and makes you feel stupid. I am a great student and she made me feel as though I knew nothing and should not even be in her presence. AVOID HER AT ALL COSTS!
Marquis De Sade' would be proud. Lectures include direct quotes from book. Best to know well your politics.
Her materials will come in handy for your future career. Interview tips, resume hints. all very useful. However, she is rude and play favorites. I mean... u better prepare that you might be embarrassed in front of the whole class. and.. if you r good looking, you will get pretty good grades. if you r not, u better study your rear up for her class.
Overall the class was simple and straight forward; entertaining at most. She is a demanding teacher who seems to need an attitude adjustment. She can (and will) humiliate you. She will disregard your feelings/opinions. Open to advise, she doesn't give any good ones in respect to topics or speech outlines. [DO IT, TAKE HER CLASS! HAHAHA]
Okay, she's young and has a phd..I would say that her lectures are gonna help in the future, so all that's good.. but if u take her class, be ready to work hard trying to impress her n not get into her "blacklist" cuz mann.. u don't wanna go there..
Really knows her stuff. Great class. These other people are so off. Don't listen to them.
She's a great prof. People that complain are the numbnuts that don't know how to study and are used to being able to regurgitate material without actual THINKING. If you need help she takes the extra step every time. Great prof that teaches you skills you can actually USE, fantastic idea.
her lectures are very helpful, and she is very willing to help, even goes as far as giving you her home phone number. But there were a few times she was very mean to certain students which was unecessary. Overall her class was helpful and not too hard, but I didnt like the way she played favorites.
She is really helpful and even though this is not a cake walk of a class, she'll do whatever it takes to make sure you learn what is important to you. If you want to actually learn something at Sac State, take her class.
She can kick your butt if you are not careful. She will mention that you cannot avoid communication, so when you show up late to class, she takes it personal. She can be pretty funny sometimes esp further into the semester. Personally, she still intimidates me despite the fact that i'm easily a foot taller than her =) Do your work!!!
Rude, rude, rude. The chip on her shoulder is bigger than her head. She thinks she knows it all, but her info greatly differed from other classes I've taken. Students are fooled into thinking she's smart because of the way she presents her info. If you check it out, she is wrong a lot! But she won't admit she's wrong even if you prove it to her.
The class is hard and alot! of work. If you put in the time you will become a better public speaker thanks mostly to her grad students. Irwin's lectures are long and frequently boring and Irwin can be disrespectful to her students if she thinks they are not paying enough attention. But you can learn alot from this class if you work hard enough.
These people don't know what they're talking about - if you read the book and go to class you'll be just fine. I don't know how you can personally judge a professor you see and don't speak to once a week. We know our GAs in this class and they do the grading so take it out on them.
This is not a hard class at all - 2 big speeches and 2 exams which are mainly multiple choice. She gives a review before the tests that cover all of the exam material. If you pay attention to the questions, you'll get an easy A.
The book was a waste. I never used the book once in her class, all of the test material is covered through lecture notes. Make sure to take all of the notes during lecture or you can easily miss test questions. I felt this class was an overview of COMS 1, so the material to me was kind of redundant.
She is extremely nice and very intelligent. It will take more time than you think. Good luck she is very fair but hard as heck!
She'll help you out, but you'll work hard!
Nice lady...Young...Study lecture notes for tests. Speeches are done in smaller setting with GA.
This "Professor" is a bully. She continuously blurts out remarks about subjects which she has little to no knowledge; and is generally incorrect. I honestly think if she didn't have this gig Starbucks would have a new shift leader.
She's an outstanding professor. Whoever complains about her personality must understand that aspect is irrelevant to being a great teacher. If you work for your grade in this class you'll get an adequate one. She's very clear on what the students need to know and is very helpful. She has her style of personality, nothing to diminish her for.
This instructor is brutal to all students, has no regard for student comments. Her GA's are ignorant to other perspectives. Just drop the course and switch to another instructor. At least other instructors will listen to what you're saying.
I have already graduated college and thinking about this teacher still makes me cringe. She was awful...Although intelligent her disposition is rude and she acts as if she is better then you. She made our class miserable, I cried a lot and worked my butt off to get a c. She likes guys better then girls too...Take her and you'll see.
Don't recommend this course to anyone. Pick someone else!!!
Dr. Irwin is one of the best professors I've ever had. She is tough and she has high expectations, but she gives each student the resources they need to succeed and more. She is extremely available for her students, even at 1AM! DO NOT take Dr. Irwin if you DON'T want to become a BETTER student, get your money's worth, or if you are lazy/stupid.
I had this professor exams were okay, but she expects way too much from you. Don't recommend her, pick another one out of the box.
This class is hard. Most of the materials for exams are right through lecture, but there's so much to study for. Her exam reviews don't cover much and you're left confused. Text book was useless to purchase, you waste your money thinking you'll use it. Really difficult!
I had high expectations of this class, but the clarity of the course was vague and the instructor massacred our speeches. Her expectations are too high for even an A student to achieve. Work was easy but her grading was horrible.
I can't believe there are still ratings for this thing. Took her class awhile ago, like a year and a half, Coms was my world, but when it came to having it taught by this person, there was no inspiration. If you want to have your interest met, be inspired and love COMS, take another instructor.
No on in my class got less than a C and in fact most got B's so the people complaining on here must not have even sat through the class.
i love JC ..she is the best ..she was there everytime i needed her throughout the 3 semesters i had her..she is very 1 on 1 and loves her JOB..i would def recommend her..i took her 3 years and she has come to be a mentor to me. i will def keep in contact with her once i grduate.
Doctor Irwin is one of the best professors at Sac State. Her 100B is different than the others. I feel sorry for those who will never get the chance to take her class due to her career change. And for those of you who left bad ratings, you must have skipped class or not even tried in her class, because if you do the work, there is no way to fail.
She is pretty smart but also very belittling when putting fourth her scholarly knowledge. Most of the time she is very condescending to students during class. In fact, she has literally freaks out and screams at students for texting. One rating said she was a bully, that sums it up. Take class though if your an athlete, that's an A+ automatically.
I took her for Comms 100A. you MUST read the textbook. I would attend class but only if you feel like it. The paper is easy. Tests are hard but if you read the book you'll be fine. I'd also recommend sitting in front AND forming study groups.
If you're a jock, this will be easy since she has a preference that is very obvious. If you have open views and perceptions, she will destroy them and leave you wanting to drop the course. If you're an english major 'The course outline speaks for itself......'
Have an interest in sports, politics or reality tv or you won't have much in common with her. Very particular in the exams but the papers were a breeze if you understand the outlining. Make sure you attend every class cause she spells out exactly what she wants on the exams. And always remember to "quote the rhetoric"
The class was pretty easy. Usually went to lecture, read the book when I missed it, did fine on the tests. BUT Dr. Irwin was frequently rude to students, and the prompt for the paper was incredibly vague. And her lectures are awful, full of basic public speaking "don'ts": bloated power point, public reading, jargon, and filler phrases.
Her tests were harder than I think they needed to be because the material is not difficult, but the questions are worded in a way that could be easily misunderstood. Also her study guides are pointless. They are just lists of the key terms in the text. She is moody and will lash out at students at random times..sometimes just to vent her anger.
Anyone who says she was hard didn't show up to class. Seriously, go to class, listen to her, and for the tests make sure you're clear on the definition of the concepts in each chapter and you'll pass with a good grade.
Dr. Irwin is tough. The material can be learned of course but the amount of work is intense. You have these work sheets to turn in on top of a lot of reading. You must do the homework as it counts as points and help you understand when you take the test. BTW...the test are writing test..no multiple choice. It will take you at least 3 days or more
Dr. Irwin really is a great teacher! Be sure to take good notes on the lecture, meaning don't just write down whats on the slide, also write down what she says! Also, review the book before the tests! From what I noticed, she draws questions from the text.
After reading the reviews on her, you're all right. She is a great teacher with a lot of interest in what she teaches. If you're good at speaking, it will be easier than if you get nervous. On the other hand, she can be very temperamental. Don't get on her bad side! You'll regret it. We had 5 speeches, 2 exams and 1 paper.
Best teacher for COMS you can have. She is always open to questions and encourages audience participation. Make sure you read the assignments, go to class, and understand the material for your speech or you will not get a good grade. DO NOT MISS SPEECH DAYS! She does get angry. Class has 5 speeches, a midterm, a paper, a final, and extra credit.
She is one of those teachers who makes her class hard in the sense that you have to put in EFFORT & actually use in-depth critical thinking. Intense, but that's good because it weeds out the slackers who shouldn't be there. She is very smart & nice, but can be rude because of temper problem. She is pretty hot too! Got her PhD in only 2 years.
Tough class with a lot of reading, but show up and pay attention and youll be fine. Dr. Irwin is very helpful in and out of the class.
Dr. J is AMAZING! the hardest and most time consuming class ever. If you don't plan on going every day, take another professor! She always wants to help email/see her! HARD HARD HARD class! Read and QUOTE THE RHETORIC!!! I think 1/25 students actually get an A-.
Loved her!! Yes this class is hard but if you put in the effort it will pay off.
Jaccie is great! She really does care about your education and wants to help you as much as she can. Favorite thing taking away from her was that she is willing to continue helping and advising you throughout your education - it doesn't end when the semester ends. She does assign work, so MAKE SURE you take the time - she wants your best work!
Very sassy and funny at first but the claws will come out. Embarrasses you in class if you speak up or ask questions. Will act like you're stupid for being wrong. Extra credit is offered and necessary as everyone ends up close to failing but it is possible to pass. Material is fascinating but I would have preferred to learn it with another prof.
You'll work hard, but won't have a class that you'll learn more in in the COMS department. I'll take Irwin again.
Professor Irwin is a complete joke she expects the most high standards out of her students, but is not willing to put in the same effort teaching the class. She will ridicule you for asking questions, make you feel very small. I understand this is a hard course, but the professor should make sure you have everything you need to succeed, she doesn't
In all honesty, you may enjoy her class if you are a member of a fraternity, sorority, or involved with sports. If this does not describe you, RUN!!!!!
The course is pretty self explanatory, information is norm compared to all other concepts. Professor is full of herself and unfortunately not much help. Will ridicule you in front of the entire study body. If I could sue for mental stress I would!
Attendance mandatory unless you are an athlete. This teacher is rude and inconsiderate to every other student. She does not help you if you are confused and her class is ridiculously hard and is not designed very well. Take another teacher.
You will not find a professor more focused on you as a student. She really cares about what happens to you both in and out of the classroom. You won't learn more in any other class.
She uses a sign in sheet, but attendance is not mandatory in any of her classes. Read the syllabus people! Be there or learn on your own (not that I would recommend that!).
I respected her "no bs approach" all through the entire class failing the first midterm. I lost respect during office hours when she made sure to be a sarcastic "mean girl" bully and acted like I was lucky to have the score I received. I hear she's not THIS rude in all courses so stay away from her 100B. I lost a piece of my soul to pass with a B-
She'll try to get you to think. Like, really think. There are so many students that take multiple classes from her; that says something to me! I'll take her again!
She doesn't tolerate BS or laziness, but you kind of grow to respect her for that. Helpful if you aren't a BSer or lazy, reading the book helps but isn't mandatory. Lectures sometimes go quickly, I highly recommend using a laptop for note-taking, slides aren't online. Her lectures are relevant, current, engaging, and informative. Keep up!
Thought this was a comms class, but it was more like a feministic view of woman's history. Write 2 article summaries a week (she only grades 10 total). 1 large paper (expect to write at graduate level). 2 blue book tests (one midterm one final), but gives you the questions in advance to intelligently type out, then you go in day of test and write.
Dr. J is a very tough teacher, but she actually expects her students to apply themselves and do what is asked of them. She is the most helpful teacher I have had at Sac State. I respect her so much. I've taken 3 classes with her and I have learned so much. If you actually go to her for help and try to do better, she definitely notices who tries.
I really enjoyed her class. She is young and makes the class fun. She was always helpful when I asked for clarification and help. I would definitely take her again.
Dr. Irwin is a great professor. She is great in lecture and really tries to help you connect what you're learning to things that happen in real life. She's young and really funny. Anyone who says she's rude does not understand her humor at all. Very helpful! Will even advise you! I will take her again.
Best teacher of my college career. Her lectures are extremely interesting and she has a lot of passion for what she does. Don't expect to slack off though. I got a D after the first midterm and ended up with an A- in the class. She makes you work hard but she'll reward you for it. If you're willing to put in the work, I highly recommend her.
Irwin is funny and very sarcastic, which I Like in a professor. If you expect an easy A then this class isn't for you. If you go to class and put in the work you'll do great! She is very helpful as well and puts your speeches on youtube so you can watch them and get better. Some students in my class thought she graded too hard, but I don't think so
My main goal of this class was to develop my public speaking skills, however the harsh grading and unsupportive nature of the professor prevented me from doing so.
She was harsh and biting. My tears were great.
Great content for anyone aspiring to excel in the sports industy. However, I would suggest another professor. If you decide to take this professor, DO NOT call her professor. Address her as DOCTOR. Brown noisers will excel here. If succumbing to this is difficult, looking for another professor is highly advised.
Best teacher Sac state has. End of story. She makes you want to go to class and learn. I wish every teacher was like her the school would be a better place.
I took her in a small honors class. Prepare for A LOT OF STRESS! The essays were extremely easy, the speeches not so much. I would get marked down on speeches for things I shouldn't have. I went into the class confident with my public peaking, and left with the opposite feeling...
If your sensitive and can't handle constructive criticism, she will make you cry. If you feel confident in speaking in front of people, you'll probably think twice when you get your 1st speech grade back. Theres lots of time and effort needed to get an A in here. Consists of 5 speeches, 2 papers, & 2 exams. Get it out of the way! GOOD LUCK!
This class was really challenging but I learned a lot! I seriously use the skills from this class all the time. She is a tough grader, but honors kids are used to being handed "A"s. She makes you work for it, but she is fair. Sarcastic and sassy but fun and lively. Fun activities in class. Tests are easy, but not worth many points.
To be fair, I learned a LOT in this class, but just do yourself a favor and try to take it with someone else. Dr. J has VERY high standards and that's fine with me, but not for everyone. Be prepared to turn in short assignments every class period, have 13-15 page take home tests, and DO NOT miss classes. Oh, and be polite.
She has a temper, and she is not afraid to show it. Otherwise, she is smart, holds high expectations, and demands a lot of you.
Dr. J is tough &fair. You'll learn more in this 1class than others combined. There are 3exams & 2papers STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BOOK so read, pay attention and you will pass. Attendance is mandatory & lectures are long. YES, there are opportunities for extra credit that can raise your grade a whole letter. Amazing professor. Def WOULD take her again!
Dr. Irwin is probably the best professor I've ever had. If you don't plan on working, don't take her class. If you want to actually learn and get your money's worth, take every class with her that you can. She's so helpful and a dedicated professor. She'll make you laugh too.
Dr. Irwin is an intelligent and amazing professor who teaches the classroom by introducing current events and letting the whole class participate in the discussion around them. The assignments are not tough if you do the reading and the effort you put in will be rewarded. Most significant are the ways that this class will inspire you.
Very tough grader. One of the professors who believes that if you complete everything on a check list then that is average and you get a C. To get an A or a B you must go above and beyond.
Hardest but best class I have taken. Taking it in 6 weeks was rough, but Dr. J pushes you to your best. I wish I had more time at CSUS to take more classes from her. You will work you butt off but it's 100% worth it.
Survey of Communication Studies. Dr. J is an amazing human being. Very intelligent and takes no BS. Her passion for this class shows in all her lectures. She is thorough and specific when she assigns something. 4 exams and a "paper". I suggest not putting the paper off until the week it's due because it is extensive and tedious.
She is an overall great Professor. She is organized, knowledgeable, funny, and straight to the point.
She may come off as being super tough in the beginning but towards the end she lightens up. You will work hard but honesty you are in college what do you expect? You learn a lot in her class about rhetoric and honestly I was super intimidated at first but towards the end Dr. Irwin was an awesome professor.
Dr. J is one of a kind. I actually really like her. She is a tough grader but she is very helpful. She can be intimidating but she is really a sweet person. You need to attend class, she gives extra credit sometimes randomly, so don't miss class! Read the text for exams! Class is graded on 4 exams and 1 paper.
She is a nice individual but if you ask for help she makes you feel very insecure. Majority of my time and effort was focused on her class but it was not enough.
Great professor, love the way she teaches, gives good examples to help you understand. If you don't understand something, chances are you weren't paying attention.
Amazing professor! Everything on the exams are in the book. Class was fun!! I felt like I was just hanging out with friends talking about coms. DO NOT WAIT TO TO ANNOTATED BIB. It is easy but time consuming. Know how to do proper citations. Show up every day, she gives random attendance EC. I'd write more good stuff but RMP cut me off. No HW.
You will learn a lot if you go to her class. If you don't go, don't expect to pass. If you ask for outside help she is extremely rude and condescending. Take it if you want work hard on your own.
Dr. Irwin is an awesome professor. I had her for 100B and it was by far the hardest college level course I had ever taken. Didn't help that I took it over summer either, but Dr. Irwin is the most honest, and caring teacher I've had at Sac State. She genuinely cares about you as a student which anyone can appreciate. If you want to learn, go to her!
This class was interesting and I did not mind waking up to be there at 7:30 because she related it to real life. I found her to be helpful, but is impatient and a little rude in office hours.
She's very dedicated to her work. She is no nonsense.
Narcissistic and rude. Class is a waste. Her study guides are great though, which is why I stopped torturing myself going to her class. Extensive annotated bibliography, which isn't even for a research paper.. it's just for practice.. ten times over. Don't recommend at all. Super easy A though.
Stopped by her office hours for major advising as I was told to do by the department office. She was extremely rude and said "uhm yeah. I'm not here. Sorry"
One of those teachers that will give respect if you be a respectful student and make an effort. Comes off as condescending and rude but once you're on her good side, shes the best. Show up, be on time and USE THE STUDY GUIDE. Each bullet point is a question on the test. Super helpful.
She really knows her stuff and teaches it well. She uses real life examples to explain new concepts which make difficult concepts easy to grasp. Her lectures are very thorough. She is witty and has personality so her lectures are not bland. She very frequently emails students about upcoming tests/ assignments so you are always in the loop.
Irwin is no nonsense when it comes to immaturity and hand holding. She lectures a lot in this class but brings humor to everything she does. Treat her with respect and you'll get it back. I loved her and appreciated her realness. Can't wait to take another class with her!
Irwin is undoubtedly one of the most close minded professors I have ever dealt with in my college career. I am a girl and it gets exhausting hearing her constantly rant about woman rights and her opinion on different issues that are completely irrelevant to the class. I wouldn't recommend her to anyone I know unless you want to waste your time.
Dr. J is hands down the best. Her class isn't easy but you will learn so much. Things to do: Be respectful, ask questions about the exams (even if you're scared), have the motivation to do well and don't be late. 3 written exams, 2 papers & 1 extra credit paper.
Dr. J knows her stuff when it comes to communication and it isn't a super hard class. Just don't offer up your own opinions during lecture because she is pretty close minded and will either just flat out say you are wrong or make you feel bad.
she a wonderful professor, you can learn more than just "com B." She actually is very informative about everything about communication and useful future advice.
Dr. Irwin may have been funny but she was rude to her students. She curses in class and discussed her personal life. She assigns a lot of homework. Her paper assignments and exams are exciting until you receive your very bad score. She doesn't give enough helpful feedback. She talks down to her students. I wish I saw this page before I took her.
sticks to the text like a bible, has a military mindset, yells at the group and such, very smart, very funny, all in all a great teacher but it's a grueling class. too much homework, too strict about the "language", says "don't use words you learned outside this class."
She's not PC but will help her students and has their interest at heart. She has 4 exams, each 20% of your grade, with study guides you can easily fill out. There was a huge annotated bibliography due more than halfway through the semester. DO NOT SLEEP ON THAT! It takes a lot of time and effort for 20% of your grade. Would take again.
Professor Irwin is an engaging professor! Her lectures are informal but also thorough. The only things you will be graded on are 4 exams and a annotated bibliography. It is only tough if you wait til the last minute!! Showing up and studying will see you through this class fairly easily. She made a 7:30 A.M. class not so terrible at all!
In my opinion, I thought she was the most honest professor out there. I went to her office hours to help get advice on my career and my paper as well, and she just gives the most straight up answers ever. Not a lot of professors are like that which is what makes her unique. COMS100A was tough but manageable if you put in the work. Great professor.
Dr. Irwin is great in her lectures, however she gives way too many essay assignments. A few throughout the semester would be fine, but it's excessive & cuts into valuable study time that could be used for other classes. Very time consuming & she takes them at random and doesn't collect them all, so you could easily waist a good 2 hrs per ppr.
Do yourself a favor and read the textbook, do the bibliography early, and show up to class, and you'll get an easy A. The less you have to deal with her outside of class, the less headache you'll get. Also, watch out for fake reviews, as they seem to come in abundance around here.
4 tests and a paper. It's a big class so you have to work hard to get noticed, but the work isn't hard. Start the paper when she tells you to.
AVOID THIS CLASS if you want your mental health and well being to be in tact. She reads from pieces of paper that say exactly what her dumb powerpoint slides say along with what the book says and is RUDE about always showing up to class. I get it, you should, for every class... but this class is HELL. Never recommending this class or professor.
She is one of the most difficult professors you will ever have. There is a ton of writing and she can be extremely stubborn. But, if you make it past all of that you will learn way more than with any other professor. Expect to show up and work.
Amazing Professor, but was a pretty hard class. STUDY FOR THE TESTS AND GET STARTED ON THAT ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY ASAP!! I literally stayed up 2 days in a row to finish that bibliography.. Don't sleep on that b/c the biggest mistake in this class is waiting last minute to get that assignment done.. you'll regret it if you do..
This professor takes herself way to seriously. The first 2-3 days of class she made it a point to let everyone know she is tenured, which honestly as students we don't care about. She pushed her liberal views on the class a lot & used teaching this class as an excuse to make it okay. Her grading is very unclear, if you can avoid her class, DO SO!!!
Dr. J is a very straight forward and blunt person. She will not let you cruise through 100B; you actually have to try and participate if you want credit. She isnt afraid to call you out on your BS and she will do exactly that. I never had a professor like her at CSUS but I wish I did earlier. She gives you a hint of what life after college is like
If you do not like to write or are a procrastinator, do not take this class. She assigns an Annotated Bib that is due at the end of the semester. She is very outspoken and isn't afraid to speak her mind. Tests are semi-hard. She does offer some EC.
I honestly stopped going to class because I could read the chapters and do well enough on the test, but there are usually a couple (2-5) questions that are specific to materials covered only in lectures. She is a sweet teacher and lays out very clear rules and guidelines. The paper is intensive, I would start asap. TONS OF EXTRA CREDIT!!
Dr. J is an awesome teacher!! I'm literally taken back by all the negative comments :O. If you want to pass, you will. She welcomes all questions during and after class hours and is always open to helping you with her class and any questions you may have about school/life. Do the work, show up to class and study- YOU WLL DO AWESOME! TAKE HER CLASS!
Dr. J is not the easiest professor but she makes everything worth it! Her classes are amazing and she cares deeply for each and every student she teaches. Put the work in for her and she'll put the work in for you.
I have taken two classes with Dr. Irwin and I have never met a teacher who cares as much as her. She makes it known that she is incredibly excited about what she does and is excited for all of her students futures as well. Her work load is doable, follow the study guides you will be fine. She got me excited about Sac State and my future. TAKE HER!
I've taken many classes with Dr. J and let me say, she is AMAZING. She is an ally and ALWAYS advocates for students. She genuinely cares and will do her best to help in any way possible. Dr. J is wicked smart and very funny. I would continue to take classes with her as she is one of the BEST coms professors at Sac State. Dr. J is hands down great.
Dr. J honestly deserve better ratings on here. She is so cool and approachable beyond belief. Honestly, just read stuff twice, three, and four times. It is tedious, but trust me, it is so worth it. She gives great feedback and does not feed you the answers which is great because in the real world, no one is going to do that. Also, she is funny!
Dr. J is a great professor! There is a lot of work and a lot of reading. This class isn't super easy but it's not extremely hard. Unfortunately, I'm that student that does things last minute and I got away with doing that in this class too. If you need this class, Dr. J is a good choice.
Dr. J is a gem. She takes time to make sure that she is available for her students and offers great advice. If you have the chance to take her, I would 100%. She is direct and abrupt, but once you get past that part, she is truly amazing. The class itself was a lot of fun. Dr. J loves politics and that shows when she teaches it.
I loved Dr. Irwin, She is extremely kind and helpful and the class requirements are easy to achieve. She requires a new textbook that is quite expensive but I rented an older edition of the book off amazon for much cheaper and the material was the same just the chapters were numbered differently.
By far the worst professor I have ever taken. She is so rude, uses explicit language in her emails, and should be fired. She is extremely disrespectful to her students and I would never take her again. Avoid taking her at all costs.
Dr. J is a real gem. She's real, down to earth, and holds nothing back. This professor goes the extra mile for her students. Don't take that as she's an easy A. You will have to put in the effort to earn your grade, but she offers extra credit. If you are serious about comms studies, I highly recommend you take at least one class with her.
I have taken Dr. J for multiple coms courses and she is by FAR the most caring and helpful. She can come off as cold but she is so direct and honest, do yourself a favor and just talk to her! Dr. J is SO HELPFUL even post grad. Don't be afraid to talk to her and maintain that relationship, one of the best decisions. Dr. J is a wonderful & funny.
DB and exams. DB's are easy but the exams are a little harder. Can't go back on questions and generally 50 questions in 60 minutes. Annotated bib assignment at the end of the semester which takes a lot of time so be prepared. Overall not bad, answers questions though I did hear she was a bit rude to others so be warned.
Professor Irwin was one of the toughest professors/teachers I've ever had but kept it real all of the time and provided assistance if a student asked.
Dr.Irwin has hands down been the most fantastic professor I have had in all my years of college. Her standards are high and every tool you would ever need to meet them are readily available at all times. She has gone up to bat for me and saved me from numerous tight spots as well with general college issues. If you want to grow, take her class.
Very unprofessional. Gave students in her class a zero for using the incorrect font. Sends copious emails almost daily. Micromanages her students as if they aren't adults. Stalks her students on Canvas to monitor exactly what they're doing and for how long. CREEPY. I do not feel as though I learned anything, except that I don't want to become her.
Took her coms course during the summer and she was very organized in her process to get the assignments done in the short time. VERY caring and easy to talk personally, cares for her students. She goes out of her way to help students.
Very caring and gives good lectures, she likes to use video clips from movies, comedy, and tv shows to make her lectures sound more reasonable and entertaining. She offers extra credit and is always willing to offer any help with papers and projects. Highly recommend for Comms 100A.
She is just so rude to students that ask for help. She tries to play this off as "being real," but the way she talks down to others is completely unnecessary. She pushes her political beliefs onto students. The class is not too hard, just be prepared for some attitude if you ask for help. On a more positive note, she is very accessible.
She is very straightforward. She helped me get a job, but at times, when asking for help, she made me feel dumb. DB is easy, but the exams are challenging. The annotated bibliography made my grade go down.
Her lectures are little confusing even when you've read the textbook chapter ahead of time. Shes very judgemental and can be very rude to you when speaking one on one. Her good points are that her class in general isn't hard, she's very organized, and she does give out extra credit when attendance is low.
Work load is ridiculous and is a very hard grader
If you don't like work don't take her. Dr.J values those who work hard and do what she asks. Her instructions are MORE than clear for everything you just have to be attentive. I will say there are times where she can be a little over dramatic but take it with a grain of salt.
Prof. Irwin has a strong personality that might rub some people the wrong way, but she also knows how to teach. She sends out many emails a day, and will always remind you when something important is coming up on campus or her class. I enjoyed her lectures. If you go to office hours she will like you.
Professor Irwin is good at working towards perfection. Professor Irwin can have more information and directions that will confuse you but if you contact her she will make it simple. Professor Irwin knows what she wants and she will expect you to do it. I had two classes with her and she is not soft, she knows what she wants. She offer extra credit!
The material of this class was highly abstract & conceptual, which can confuse students trying to understand what Irwin is looking for. We are provided a textbook but the additional readings that Irwin provided added more confusion. Every week discussion post or a 1 page summary. She is particular in how she wants things written. Stressful class.
I really wound not recommend taking 100B at the very least with Dr. Irwin. She isn't flexible at all and she is a harsh grader. You can follow the instructions to exams and essays to the bone and she will still find something wrong with them and mark you down heavily. She is a nice person, it's just that she is was too hard on her grading for 100B.
It's important to note that Professor Irwin has strong personal views that seep into her teaching. It's worth mentioning for students who prefer a more neutral approach in the classroom. Students should be prepared for her strong opinions on certain matters that might differ from their own.
Not sure how she is for other classes, but for 100A she was the best. She doesn't take attendance and there was only a few exams and the big annotated bibliography. The exams are on online so they're soooo easy, the annotated bib is definitely a big assignment that might take you a few days but doable for sure! Easy A for the 100A requirement!
Prof. Irwin has a strong teaching style that may not suit everyone, but she knows the material well. The exams are challenging, but the assignments like the annotated bibliography are manageable. Attendance is mandatory, and the textbook is used. Utilizing resources like unstuck AI and staying engaged can really help in this class.
Dr. Irwin is opinionated and stubborn. Grading is tough and depends on whether you challenge her views. Be ready for debates. Attendance isn't mandatory, but crucial since content varies. If you engage in discussions and argue your point, you'll learn a lot, but grading can feel subjective. Stay in class to succeed.
She's lecture heavy, but includes pretty good examples of different types of communication through short clips of movies, shows, etc. Offers the book as a PDF, so you won't have to buy anything and wants her students to succeed. Attendance is mandatory.
Dr. J may very well be the best professor I've had in my academic career. She is direct, yes, but not rude by any means. Go to class and show that you care about your education. Will love you if you go to office hours. Exams & annotated bib are a breeze if you study. I am very grateful for Dr. J and highly recommend her if you have the opportunity!
if you plan on taking this class, you will need to participate, it got to a point in one of my classes where she cried because only 3 people were answering her questions. The class overall is okay, the annotated bib is written in person and the exams are relatively easy if you study.
She is pretty nice and very care about me, and she is very talkive person and very encourage students to talk with her in class ;)
Unfortunately, Dr. J was one of the worst professors I've ever had. She often complained that students weren't speaking up, but was demeaning when they would. I know this from experience. I spoke up only twice in class (I was scared to talk), and she interrupted me both times. The first, to talk to another student, the second, to nitpick. Avoid!
Very friendly professor, answers emails very quickly. Her content can be a little heavy but it is manageable. I didn't like that the assignments were only 3 exams, it was a lot of pressure when taking those. Annotated bib isn't hard. Offers small extra credit here and there.
Professor comes off rude, which I chalk up to her old-school style. She openly shares political views and judges students by theirs. Once, she paused a lecture on surgeons to insist we should request female surgeons, citing stats. It felt more like persuasion than learning and took away from the class.
Do not take Dr. Irwin. Her grading is extremely subjective and not clear. Even when you follow the instructions, she tends to mark down heavily for small issues. There's very little room for interpretation or partial credit, which makes the class more stressful than it needs to be. She has a strong personality that can be a turn off. Warned!
Dr. J very care about me especially she helps me a lot at the back like tried to help me ask the DAC service if I can enroll the class earlier, and she offered a lot of extra credit in that class.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
77%
Textbook Required
67%
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B
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