He's one of the instructor's who shines with very good knowledge base.He applied the often boring theorie of most of the topics to real live examples. A lot of news paper articles were analyzed. Quizzes are challenging with essay parts ,comprehensive final. A on final = A for the curse

Great teacher, goes through all the material. Assigns interesting readings. Really easy tests as long as you do the reasings and understand the material. If you're going to take econ, take it from Joel!

Joel is a great teacher who really gets into economics and skips all of the bs. He worries me a little with his skruffy appereance and constant references to skotch and "china white." Hes cool though, and if you get a A on the final you get a A in the class.

If you read and attend his lectures it is extremely easy. If you skip class it makes his tests hard since he covers material that is not in the book. He does inforce his 3 absences policy. I found that out the hard way. Over all i liked his teaching style

He is a great teacher. His test are a little hard but not impossible. His lectures very well taought. He as a deep knowledge about economics. If you need to take econ then take it with Joel

The class was very difficult for me, but Joel did a wonderful job teaching. He kept me interested and was very helpful.

Makes the class interesting with a good sense of humor. Just read the assignments and all is good.

Great instructor. I think Joel has a doctorate in Economics, and it shows: outstanding knowledge of the subject. Good sense of humor but doesn't go overboard. Both classes that I took from him seemed just right in difficulty. Most of his lectures are fun and interesting. Would definitely recommend him to others.

Great teacher!

This guy knows his stuff. Good prof. Expands on the text in ways other profs can't. Be sure to take good notes in class.

Joel is an awesome teacher and friendly. Too bad he doesnt offer more classes.

The term micro and macro economics scared me when I signed up, but this professor makes Econ fun and understandable. I actually like economics now! He is so knowledgeable that he wrote his own text book ( with a few minor typos. haha!). you shouldn't take this class from any one else!

Joel is a great teacher. Very knowledgable. Tests are tough if you don't study, but I'm glad I took him!

I like his teaching style. When it comes to explain things in Econ, he always does a good job on it. The textbook that he chose is great(Slavin). Be prepare to read both the text and his own book that you have to buy in order to do well.

The guy seriously knows what he is talking about. Hes a really nice guy too. Hes not the easiest proffesor. You really need to do the readings to understand whats happening in class and to get the questions involving names and dates.

A really good teacher and very hot.

One of the best instructors I've had. He has a PhD in economics but is still able to thoroughly explain the most basic ideas without appearing bored. The tests aren't easy, but you come away feeling like you've actually learned something. He has a more "alternative" view of economics which I appreciate. Highly recommended class and instructor.

Very good instructor. I had no interest in economics before I took this class and knew nothing. Now I am interested in every aspect of the economy and very knowledgeable when reading the business section in a newspaper. Definitely recommend this class to everyone with little or no knowledge. You definitely have to spend time on the reading though.

He's teaching is fine. However, find him a little too bias in his teaching. Sometimes, I was concerned if he is trying to motivate his students to go against the "chinese" just because most manufacturing jobs moved to China. Even his new econ book is so bias and depressing. He has to be VERY careful with how he deliver his lesson/speech to class.

Good instructor for a hard subject. Would definitely recommend to anyone who is just starting and knows little to nothing about Macro.

Joel is amazing. I took 3 econ classes just so I could have him as a teacher. If you go to class you will learn. I would advise to keep up with the discusions and always read the books. He is very systematic in his approach to many macro questions, he lets you know exactly how he wants thing done, so everyone has a fair shot at getting a good grade

I'm thinking about minoring in Econ now JUST because of Joel. Amazing instructor who knows everything. Keeps class humorous too. If you're going to take economics (and everyone should!) definitely take it from Joel, even if you have to drive all the way to the Rock Creek Campus. It's worth it!!!

I entered economics 201 just for a prerequisite class. No interest; just wanted to get it done. Joel, however, really sparked an interest in me for the subject. He is a great professor and makes the subject very interesting and applicible to everyday life. He is humorous as well and knows what he teaches like the back of his hand. Get him if possib

I took his online class because I live in central Oregon. Joel's online class is great, as long as your read the texts and do the homework and discussion board you will do well. One of the text's he actually wrote and its very well written and easy to understand.

One of the hardest subject in my opinion. But one of the best teacher, might be the only teacher you should take if you ever have to take economic in whatever reason. He knows what he's going toward, well explain the material and prepare :). Well Joel, I think you should have read these comments.

Joel is the best teacher that I have had in my process to an MBA. THanks Joel!!

I had taken Econ 201 & 202 with another teacher and did very poorly. Joel's teaching style helped me understand the subject and earn B's compared to the almost F's the first time around. Do read, do the homework and study, you'll do fine. Don?t take these courses online if you have no interest in Economics you?re setting yourself up to fail.

Joel is a really great professor. Macroeconomics is a hard subject but his choice of textbooks, coupled with his lectures (notes as I took this distance) were phenomenal. He is accessible and very willing to answer questions. Highly recommend him. If you have to take Econ do yourself a favor and take his class.

Joel Magnuson is one of the smartest professors that I've had. His teaching style is superb and he can answer your questions in a way that is easy to understand. He wrote a book for the course that's affordable, well written, and takes a non-traditional approach to economics. I took his class for ec202 had Eden for ec201. Magnuson was alot better.

I've had Joel for both in-class and online classes. He's amazing. Granted, I liked being in class better, but both were excellent. Perhaps some (whiners) don't know how to take criticism when they do poorly. Take econ with Joel, he's smart, friendly, and you won't be disappointed if you take the class seriously.

He is a very nice guy and he definitely knows what he is talking about. HOWEVER,,, his class is sooo boring! He lectures the entire 2 hours! There is no group work or anything.. just him talking to you every class

Great for online courses although I hear his lectures are increadible

I am currently taking EC 202 with Mr. Magnuson, and it is great! Unlike my other online class, Mr. Magnuson actually gives detailed responses to homework problems and discussion posts. Further, the two textbooks we use are great, especially his own book. He actually knows what he's doing, and he works with you until you learn all the material.

I have taken Joel in class two terms. He is not only a great teacher but he is realistic and really lets you get into his lectures rather then just talking at you. He answers all questions. He is insightful and SO very helpful when you need it. I find it nice to be able to compare the two books to form my own opinions with the different perspective

I took his class online and I wasn't looking forward to this one due to a poor grade in economics 201 w/ a different instructor but this teacher is amazing. He lays everything out for you as far as what to study and concepts that I thought were difficult until he explains them. He's always helpful and makes time to give you his best input.

Joel is a professor that treats students like adults and makes you accountable for your work. I like that he is clear about his expectations and that he is fair if he see that you are trying. Be expected to read your assigments because he likes to talk about the assignments during lecture. I like Joel's style, very straight foward.

Very engaging teacher; makes complicated topics very accessible. Lectures are focused, entertaining, and somehow not boring! Welcomes (and appreciates) all questions and provides thoughtful, meaningful feedback. Involve yourself in the open discussion environment of this class; you'll take much more from it. Very approachable and understanding.

He really knows his stuff. He is easy to follow. Yeah there is a lot of reading but his lectures make it worth it.

Joel is a fantastic professor and makes a broad and difficult subject like economics easier to navigate. Lectures are interesting, he clearly enjoys his subject and encourages interaction. He is not the kind of professor to just go through the motions and he expects the same from his students. I feel very fortunate to have had him as a teacher.

he is helpfull and fair, even when you totally bomb an answer his feed back is positive but constructive. Econ is a hard subject, if you want an easy grade this is not the teacher for you if you want to learn ALOT then I recomend him. Great Educator

Took his online class. Really enjoyed HIS book but the other text is pretty fluffy. Progress reports were helpful and insightful. He responds right away and clears up any incorrect test questions if you email him. Take his macro class and if he teaches micro, take that too.

Excellent Professor,took online only class. Extrememly responsive and vey timley with e-mail and discussion board postings. Lots of feedback and excellent text book. Made economics not only understandable but enjoyable, highly recommend this instructor.

I had Joel for both EC201/EC202 in the classroom. He is by far the best instructor I've had at PCC. He knows his subject & teaches a difficult topic well. He is clear on his expectations for the midterm/final. Gives feedback on weekly homework. Econ is not an easy subject. Do the weekly reading and attend the lectures so the concepts really sink in

Great teacher! I took his online Macro class and found him to be very responsive. His book is great, but the accompanying textbook isn't as good. The exams make sense and test you on things you've actually learned, and are paced well throughout the course. He does 4 Progress Reports per term to let you know where you stand, which is fantastic!

One of the best professors PCC has to offer. My only regret was that I didn't have him for EC 201 as well.

He takes attendance for my class but I think that's only because this course is part of a 'student professionalism' evaluation. Gives weekly reading and printable study guides as 'homework', though it is not graded. a couple quizzes, the midterm, and final are the sources of points for your grade. Great teacher, engaging. Smart man.

Takes attendence and does not allow students to use laptops. Makes me feel like I'm in high school again. Pretty light on homework though.

Great teacher. I would recommend him if one was greatly interested in economics. He is a good teacher if you're starting off in the Econ or business direction. Great teacher.

Joel is an amazing teacher. He really knows his subject and and has an engaging teaching style. Highly recommended!

Mr. Magnuson is awesome! I learned a lot in this class. It is great that he wrote a book too. A real professional. By far the best teacher Ive had at PCC so far!

This was a great class and I plan to take another class with Joel next quarter. Fabulous teacher!

Excellent teacher! Pay attention in class and you'll get a good grade. Or if you are interested in economics, the environment, or understanding the world we live in- this is prof for you, too. His book should be required reading for all students, it is that good.

Joel, is a very good teacher. Lectures are always interesting and sometimes funny. There's no homework just test and quizzes. Make sure to thoroughly read the chap. he assigns its very interesting and will help you greatly for the test and quizzes. You will learn a lot in his class, highly recommended.

Joel is very passionate about economics. He is very friendly and makes the class fun. He is understandable and makes sure everybody gets the concepts before moving on. The tests are ok - obviously you have to do your part as far as studying. Highly recommended professor for this class!

Took this class online. A lot of reading required since it is online. He gives supplemental notes which are very helpful. He is VERY responsive and gives comments on every homework. He is also very straight forward with what he is looking for when it comes to tests and essay. Highly recommend him for online and in class lecture!

I took this class online and even though I dislike economics; Joel made the content more interesting and easy to understand. His feedback is very thorough and helpful. Very quick to respond to questions. Quiz times are pretty short so REALLY prepare. Light on homework. Just a nice guy in general.

As long as you do the reading you will be ok. Taking notes in class is a must. His tests are from the books and from his lecture. He will repeat things that are important. No.. really.. take notes and do the reading and you will be fine. Do this and you will get an A. there is no trickery.

I took the online course and found it to be clear and well organized. Everything is pretty straight forward, and the material is well presented and easy to comprehend. Joels book "Mindful Economics" is also well written and full of great insight into the US economy. Awesome course!

I took two other profs and dropped them both. Joel is great. Teaches real life econ. Explains things well. Nice, funny, all around good guy. His book is less like a text book and more like a novel but a fun read. The other book is easy to understand. DO THE READING! FILL OUT THE STUDY SHEETS! No HW. Two quizes, midterm, final. Take Joel!!!

Best instructor I've taken at PCC. I agree with everyone whose opinion gave him a good quality rating. Great, great teacher. Hated econ before Joel, now I can't remember why. Passionate about econ, fun, makes things understandable. Do the reading (everyone should read his book). Fill out the study sheets. No HW. Two quizzes, midterm, final.

Joel made class interesting with his sense of humor and honesty (the Fed lies!--I didn't say that...), and the class was pretty easy. But I was disappointed that he would answer questions with "I don't know", not followed by "I'll look it up and get back to you." Guess my science teachers have set that bar a little higher.

I took Joel for 201 and 202. Before this class I had no interest in this subject, but after his teaching style I am very interested. I left his room actually feeling like I learned something. He is not super helpful for the people that don't understand. I thought the class was easy for an A. Don't take if English is second language and not fluent

Best online class I've had yet! Joel is very responsive and helpful, but you have to study the modules. Do the practice problems too.

Had Joel for both campus and online classes. Awesome! Not difficult and the campus class was really interesting. Don't listen to whiners here. Joel is great.

Joel is really good teacher. His study guides are useful, lectures are interesting. My only complaint is that I was hoping he would teach from his book. Highly recommend.

I thought this class was easier than micro and Mr. Magnuson made it fun and interesting. The book was easy to read. Great class!

He is a great teacher. Everthing is explained clearly in the class. As long as you do the reading assignment, you are good to go. And he is always glad to help student whenever needed. Alice Babia

Joel is decently thorough in lectures. Grade based on 2 quizzes, midterm, and final. However, his quizzes and exams are extremely difficult. It is very hard to get a good grade in his class. It is definitely necessary to study extremely hard in order to get a good grade. He also is rude and egotistical. This is an extremely intense course.

Joel's teaching style builds your understanding of economics in a manner that ties everything together and provides for a great learning experience. Lectures intermingled with his sense of humor, are interesting and thought-provoking. Admirable in that he doesn't put up with irreverent behavior - we're all adults, lets act that way.

Joel is a great professor who isn't too tough if you just pay attention in class. Doing the reading is helpful but his quizzes/tests are based primarily on the topics he discusses at length, not random facts from the book. Study your quizzes and you'll rock the exam. Just don't leave class to use the bathroom if it isn't break time..

I highly recommend Joel for EC 201 and 202. Explained econ on a level many could relate to. Class content and expectations were clear. His tests could be on the difficult side but if you apply yourself they are completely doable. The grading was primarily from the tests and quizzes. No homework, but it is important to read and use his packets.

Instructor is very knowledgable in the subject. Course is very well-organized. It is not an easy course or subject matter, but you will learn about macroeconomics in great detail.

Magnuson is the BEST professor. Period. Wonderful in everyway. Puts tricky concepts into clear simple words for students to get.If you want to LEARN, take his class!!!

Experienced, professional, and knowledgeable. Kept his opinions largely to himself except when students asked. Genuinely seems to want students to learn and succeed. Fine person and teacher. :-)

Good class, great teacher. I plan to take EC 202 next year!

This is not an easy course and you have to study hard but Professor Magnuson made the concepts much easier to grasp. Very clear and well organized class. He was very consistent,professional and willing to answer questions. I have been going to PCC for 3 years and he is my favorite professor so far. Great teaching style, I highly recommend him.

Extrimelly well organised, GREAT TEACHER. Loved the class! Wish I can take this class every year!

I took Dr. Magnuson's classes a while back but wanted to acknowledge what an amazing professor he is! His knowledge, work ethic, ability to push you to do your best and explore issues beyond the textbook, have served as a strong basis for my success in education and my career. He stands out as by far one of the best professors I have ever had!

Joel is an awesome teacher. The key is to pay attention in class, and act like an adult. It's not much to ask for. As far as the quizzes and exams, it's a matter of listening in class, taking notes, and studying. Joel was willing to help when I needed it. He always responded to emails. He is a great person and teacher.

Joel is definitely one of the best professors I've ever had. He is an expert in his field, and makes economics an easy and fun subject. Helpful and approachable, with a great sense of humor. There is not much homework; tests are not hard if you are paying attention in class and reading the textbook. I highly recommend taking his class.

Four easy steps to get an A in Joel's class. Step One: Go to class. (he will repeat things, it's on the test) Step Two: Read the book. (Only the specific topics stated in the modules, it's on the test). Step Three: Do the module homework. (It's on the tests) Step Four: Study the tests. (It's on the final) That is how I got an A in Econ 201.

Awesome. Great lectures (no powerpoints!), very clear about what will be on tests. Homework was optional but he'll give feedback if you do it. He is very knowledgeable and well-respected in his field. If you can take him for Econ, do it. I had him 2 terms and got A's in both. He gets sick and cancels class a lot though.

This was very good and helpful class. I like that the instructor approaches economics as adult education and doesn't waste time. Well educated professor.

Joel's passion clearly isn't teaching, but he does an adequate job of preparing you for macro. Completely test-based, only counts 6 of 7, if you do the reading and show up most of the time, you'll get an A. People who complain about having to submit things on time should maybe reconsider their aptitude for higher learning.

A pretty easygoing teacher. Our only assignments were to read the textbook in preparation for a quiz every week. He is a competent and nice instructor. I'll take him again for EC202.

He posted everything we needed to study on his website, that was very clear; and there was a quiz every week on the previous week. That was a really great setup. Great teaching style, easy quizzes as long as you make sure that you study and read the book every week.

Very knowledgeable instructor. There is a quiz every class. Just come to class and do the your reading to prepare for each quiz and you will do fine.

Overall he is a pretty good teacher. my only problem is that you only have an hour to get 30 multi choice questions and 5-7 essay questions and the essay questions are usually worth 40% of the test, not enough time.

He's a good instructor and really knowledgeable. We have weekly quizzes which are easy if you read the chapter and understand the material. Only one comprehensive final test. Great class setup!

Good teacher, boring class. Lectures feel long because the material is quite easy and seems pretty repetitive. If you really understand the first few chapters it will be pretty easy for the rest of the class.

I liked the fact that this instructor commands some basic manners in the class. Im tired of my classmates acting like lazy, disrespectful, losers. Magnuson does not let them get away with that.

Joel is excellent at returning emails, answering ? & providing feedback. However, structure of class is standardized testing: 8 quizzes, ranges from 19-25 mult/short answer ?'s, 30-40 mins allowed only, lowest score dropped, no HW only quizzes count towards grade. Do learning modules, rec pract prob, read graphs in text, ask ?, you can get an A.

Very organized for an online class. Easily accessible and responded to emails with questions quickly.

He has 8 quizes and 1 gets dropped. Want to get an A or a B? Read the chapter assigned and do like 5 practice problems. It is such an easy A! I would literally read the chapter in 2-3 hours and take the quiz after and get an A. If you can't sit and read then you're not taking college seriously enough.

Took MicroEcon online over the summer. This professor was honestly one of the most understanding and reasonable teachers I have ever had. He was always quick to email back and let me make up work that I had missed. I would 100% recommend him if you need to or want to take this class.

Joel's class was the perfect online class. Clear expectations. Read -> take test. Read -> take test. He has additional readings outside the text book & you'll definitely want to read them. It wasn't the hardest nor easiest class in the world & if you don't read, then you'll struggle. If you do what you're supposed to do then you'll be just fine.

Online class. Read 8 Modules (Chapters). After each module, take a test. The best 7 count towards final grade. No comprehensive final exam. Not difficult if you do the work. Easy A. Professor is compassionate, def. recommend him!

This class was great. The textbook used was actually entertaining and easy to understand all of the concepts. The format was basically read the chapter, take the quiz and that's it. Teacher was accessible and helpful when needed. Wish I would have had him for EC201 as well.

Thee is shooketh. THIS CLASS WAS GREAT. The textbook was such an easy read and actually gave great real life examples. Your grade is based on 7 of the 8 module quizzes you have, that's it. They are reasonably easy if you actually read the text. I cannot stress enough how easy this class was and would def pick this over an in-class version.

Online EC 202 course - have to purchase a custom PCC Econ book :/. Pretty easy class, you're graded on 8 quizzes (thats it); worst grade dropped. Every week consists of reading 1 chapter 30pgs - tbh you can skim it ez. Quizzes are timed 45 min but majority is multiple choice and a few easy free response. Not much calculations/graphs - Take him!

There was 8 total exams, lowest one is dropped, and that's it! If you read the textbook, do the practice problems for each module and receive feedback on them, and take good notes you will do just fine in class. The only thing I didn't like was that exams opened on Sundays and ended on Wednesdays, but you get accustomed to it after awhile.

If you're taking online classes because you have a busy life, HE IS YOUR GUY. I completely appreciated this class because literally all you have to do is read the textbook and take 8 exams online. The lowest score is dropped. I do understand why there are some negative reviews, because he is about as "hands-off" as can be.

Magnuson was one of the best professors I ever had at Willamette University. He was always pleasant, funny and helpful. I was there when a bunch of students launched a smear campaign against him for requiring them to take their final exams in the classroom rather than online. I'm not surprised to see postings here that are full of lies. So unfair.

Magnuson is an excellent professor - engaging, helpful, and fair. While the class can be challenging, his teaching style and the support resources like unstuck ai make it worthwhile. Definitely recommend taking his course.