2.7
Quality2.5
Difficulty89%
Would Retake90
Reviews89%
Would Retake
90
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
90 total ratings5
9
4
15
3
32
2
25
1
9
What Students Say
“His tests are open book”
ECON102 - 3.0 rating“Boring lectures, notes are basically opinions”
ECON102 - 3.0 ratingClass Info
Attendance Mandatory
48%
Textbook Required
71%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Improving
+0.52 avg changeRatings by Course
ECON201
4.0
(1)ECON457
3.3
(4)ECON
3.0
(1)ECON400
3.0
(1)ECON490
3.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
ECON302
4.0
ECON
3.0
ECON201
3.0
ECON102
2.7
ECON457
2.5
Reviews (89)
Easy teacher!! Always gives examples involving beer, guns, butter and Woody's (hot)Dogs - fun to listen to.
Bring a book to read during class, it's pretty boring. That's not his fault it's just the subject. Very fair open-book, open-note tests.
Took summer session course - online homework was not in-sync with the book, or in-class instruction. BUT - the open book/open note tests were easy and fair.
Good guy, boring class. He is a chain-smoker and his office stinks.
Was not helpful at all. Tests are unclear and he does not follow the book at all. The one thing that was alright, it that he slightly curved the tests. I still hated this class and did NOT want to go to his class at all.
One of the worst teachers in my scholastic career... But extremely easy.
open book open note tests in all his classes
Law & Economics. Old school professor. Kinda funny in a dry way. Takes a certain personality to like his class.
If he were to teach out of the book, we might learn, but I like his personality, and his jokes on how to save money to spend on beer. I like how he always gives examples. Good guy, i would take his class again.
No Comments
Can put you too sleep.
this guy is sooooo unclear about economics. He's better off being some sort of menu guy when he talks about woody's hotdogs, beer, butter, and guns.
This class is super boring...put you to sleep. His tests are open note and open book but it doesn't seem to help considering he doesn't teach out of the book. The homework is on-line but rarely relates to what he teaches in class. Uses good examples..but very unclear.
He is a terrible teacher. It doesn't talk about anything that is any importance to the test. You might as well go to the library and read the assigned chapters then attend class. He does not give very clear examples and tends to go way off the subject and ends up talking about beer.
Worst class I have. Lectures are pointless! Gives us a lot of work on the online HMWK site, but doesn't explain it at all! He hasn't taught me a damn thing; but on a good note he can be funny with how he relates everything to beer, and he has open note tests, which really don't help becuase we dont get any notes thast are worth anthing in class!
The tests are open note and open book so I just wrote down the key terms and I did well. I learned mostly from aplia and the book, and couldn't really tell you how good his lectures were because I fell asleep alot. He curves everything so it wasn't that hard to get a good grade.
He is so boring!!! I fall asleep all the time. He doesnt talk about anything important, and aplia sucks! He doesnt teach economics, good thing I learned it in High School or else I would be failing!!!
Good lecturer, but economics is tough to learn unless you're actually interested in it. Dobra is very dry, but he covers the material well, explains it in accessible terms, and gives fair homework and tests.
I had him for both Micro and Macro, and his class is an easy A. He gives you 20% of your grade for attendance, which he takes sporadically so it's easy points. His lectures suck, he's very boring, but he doesn't care if you pay attention or not. He takes 25% of the worst Aplia scores off the grade so you do better, and he bell curves on all exams.
Worst ever lectures. Easy class though.
Dr. Dobra was late to class almost every day. Homework was too simplistic. Exams were easy, except for the final exam which covered important concepts Dr. Dobra failed to teach.
great curve! curves every test and the final grade! and he only takes attendance randomly!
Not too difficult of a 400/600 econ class. If you are taking 18+ credits as an econ major I would recommend this one. Four 10-page papers to do, but grading isn't harsh.
All I can say is curve! He curves every test and the over all final grade! Open book open note tests and then he curves it! I failed every test before the curve and still got a B in the class. There is homework but it’s online and super easy. He is way boring though!
Talks a lot about useless stuff.
he is way boring!!!!!! i never pay attention in class. he talks about useless things that don't have a point to it. the good thing is that his tests are open book and open notes and its graded on a curve. all his homework is online. he is late to class everyday!!!!!!
REALLY DIDN'T KEEP ON TOPIC. KEPT ON RAMBLING ON ABOUT USELESS STORIES.
Dobra's class is really easy... But really disjointed. The lectures have nothing to do with the assignments or the tests. And you have to buy an online program for $70 to do the assignments. The tests are open book/notes and they are curved.
An easy way to get through your econ requirement. His curve is the best thing in the world. If you want to learn about the history of economics, take this class. If you want to learn about real-world application of economics, take another. He tends to ramble on about random things semi-related to the topic. He'll get you through, though.
Dobra is... boring to say the least. You will learn some stuff from him, but I learned more from the textbook. Of course, do the homework. As far as class, he talks about history and some current events. It was hard to get myself to go to class, and I rarely miss my other classes. Take another professor if you can.
Easy to understand, down to earth, fair grader, not too bad to listen to
I'm still trying to connect the class with the homework/exams. What he taught in class, other than the graphs, did NOT reflect the content in the tests. He uses Aplia and that's pretty much ur professor. Print out the aplia assignments, the online book and (I guess) his lecture notes, and you'll be fine. He curves, so pray everyone else screws up.
Moderately interesting at times. Smart dude, he knows his stuff very well. He takes attendance about 6 times through the semester. With 150 people this can and does take a long time. Test questions come from a bank associated with the book, and the tests are open book open note and have a fairly heavy curve. Bring the book to tests.
You have an online book and online homework. What he teaches..if you consider it teaching has nothing to do with what youre learning online. He is several weeks behind the class. The tests are hard,but he doesnt do minuses which is a plus.
Going to class was awful, SO BORING! What he talks about in class rarely relates to anything he test you on. He uses Aplia, the WORST website on this planet. PRINT OUT the Aplia homework assignments and the chapters in the book he uses. That helped me the most. But if you can... avoid him. Oh and he takes attendance and random times...
One of the most intelligent instructors at Nevada. Listen correctly and you will learn.
He is the worst professor I've had at Nevada. His lectures have nothing to do with the tests nor the homework, and he just uses class time to rant about how much he hates the current political administration half the time. I learned little from him, as the book was my professor. If you like professors that TEACH do not take him: he's infuriating
HORRIBLE teacher. To do well in the class your best bet is to learn the book. Read every chapter. And printing it out from Aplia is a huge pain in the ass, its worth your money to just buy the book. That way when you take your open book test, at least you have an index. Dont bother listening in class... serious
Read the book, bring it with you to examinations, and you will do fine. His lectures are odd, and the humor he tries to interject falls flat: he once joked about asking a Chinese student if dog meat was a normal or inferior good. Like any class, if you study you'll learn something, just not from him.
I loved this class! John is a really nice guy who understands ECON isn't everyones subject. Everything that is graded is graded with a curve based on the rest of the class. For my class, that curve was pretty significant.I would recommend him! Just be sure to buy the physical book since all tests are open note/book.
Very strange guy. We wrote two 7 page papers (he graded pretty easy), took an in-class, open-book midterm and wrote a 4 page take home final--that's it. Lectures were very unstructured and not terribly relevant to the assignments. I think he'd be fun to sit around and drink martinis w/, but he's not the most engaged Prof.
Very boring, dry teacher. His powerpoints and lectures rarely translated to the tests. The tests are open book though. I never read and got a C, so im sure if you did the reading youd be fine.
Open book/note exams. Super boring lectures. Randomly takes attendance. Curved everything. Not really a bad class, just not all the particularly interesting.
Great professor. Very intelligent. Pay attention and you will learn.
Great small class! Challenging material, and while the lectures aren't a 5, they're certainly not poor. I'm sure some larger classes (like 102) might not take to him, but his upper-division stuff is great! Work hard and you'll get a good grade =D
This class is extremely easy as long as you pay attention. The professor usually knows what he's talking about but sometimes goes on tangents. It's okay though, he's some extreme eyecandy to look at.
Though dull to listen to sometimes, even his tangents are related to the material in some way. Very nice professor. Tests can be challenging, but utilize your resources to study for it.
Really easy teacher, goes on (occasionally interesting) tangents in lectures but tangents have a point to it all. Massive curves on tests (20/39 was a B on a test and was open book), if you do the homework (easy as well), then you'll score well above the curve. An easy A with minimal work.
I honestly didn't like this class very much. I was boring and very easy to fall asleep. His tests are open note and book which was great! Overall it is an easy class but the least exciting one.
As an accounting major, I didn't find this class very useful or interesting. It was quite boring and I don't think I got the info. I need to do well on the BEC part of the CPA exam. I suggest finding another professor if you want to learn and remember concepts for the CPA exam.
This class was average. His lectures are boring, and his voice and speech patterns made me sleepy. The tests are curved, which is helpful. He takes attendance on days that he notices there aren't very many people there. If you can, I suggest you take another professor.
If you want to sit in a lecture and do other things like Facebook and homework, then take his class. Lectures are so boring and he gets off topic very easily. People may say it's an easy A, but everyone in my 200 people class are having trouble with this class. Avoid Dobra at all costs.
I failed all three tests in this class and managed to get a C. The class average for the tests were 50%... so everything had a great curve on it. I never read the book, but if you did, you'd probably get a better grade. Lectures have nothing to do with the homework or tests. BORING TEACHER. If you do not like Economics, take another professor.
horrible class. lectures have nothing to do with the homework or the exam. open book which is helpful but not an easy A even with the big curve. if you arent good at econ to start with then DONT take him. great guy but horrible professor.
Open book test, online homework, takes attendance and counts towards grade! Easy class but you don't learn a lot!
Dobra is a great professor for 102 and 103. He does not just teach the book word-for-word and have you regurgitate it back on the test like some other instructors. This seems to be the source of most complaints about the class. If you pay attention and learn the concepts you will do well on the exams.
Dobra is the man. Period. Open book open note tests WITH A CURVE, so if you can't pass them then you probably shouldn't be in college. Very knowledgable, lectures have little to do with tests, but this is where you learn the truth about econ from someone who's been doing it for awhile. Inspiring no nonsense guy who really knows his stuff.
This class is easy but I have had him for a couple different classes, and has to be one of the worst teachers I have ever had. His lectures are pointless because he just babbles about himself, and doesn't talk about anything that is going to be on the test. So your only chance on the test is reading the material. Even then I got an answer straight from the textbook and still got it wrong because he didn't agree with what was said in the textbook. Still an easy class, he's just a horrible prof
Homework and book is online through Aplia(very expensive) and homework can get a little tricky. Tests are very hard and based almost completely off of the book that isn’t required to read… but his tests are open book (if you print it out) and note, and has a huge curve. Knows what he is talking about, but very boring. Does random attendance checks.
Professor Dobra knows the subject well, but is so boring. His tests are extremely hard, even though they're open book. They have a curve. The homework is online through Aplia and is expensive, but is generally pretty easy. Aplia is expensive, but you don't have to buy a textbook so that evens it out. If I had to do it again, I'd take someone else.
Dobra is one of the most precious men I've met. His teaching skills could use some help, but he is a cool guy and his class is easy. Attendence isn't needed and the curve can take you from a D to a B on most exams. A very good GPA boosting class!
Dobra is a nice guy but his class can be pretty dry. Open notes for tests and he has an extremely generous curve on each one.
His tests are open book and open note, but are not easy. His lectures are so dry, they are almost impossible to sit through, and his homework doesn't really line up with lectures and tests.
Do yourself a favor and don't take this class unless you're an Econ major andor you have to. Lectures focus on theoretical economics and principles, but good luck getting help on how to actually solve the problems. He doesn't even touch on it during lectures. No real opportunity to ask questions during lectures he can be very rude.
I got a B in this class luckily only by the curve. I did all the homework (which everyone get 100% as long as you do it) and pretty much got 50% on the tests but his curves are life savers! Open notes, but don't have any time to use them. Super boring. Do not recommend.
Dobra's tests are difficult but he curves it like crazy. On the last two tests I would've gotten a C but with the curve I received A's. You can use notes and your book. Dobra is a super cool man but just can't hold the students' attention. He randomly takes attendance in class. I would recommend for an easy A but you won't retain much information.
John Dobra was really friendly when you needed to talk to him, and he knows the subject well, but the lectures were GOD-awful. Boring, dry, and dragging on, I almost dozed off every class i went to. The homework is easy, auto A really, and the tests are curved big time. All tests are open note and open book, so bring them and you're golden.
Incredibly boring. Very, very boring. If it wasn't for his boring lectures, he'd be nice to have as a teacher. His tests are open book. He usually takes attendance the class after tests. I didn't study at all and got a B+.
I did not like this class at all. Professor Dobra is generally all right, but sometimes he injects conservative comments into lectures. All of the tests are open book and open note, but lecture notes and the online homework you have to do aren't relevant to the tests. If you read the book, you should be fine. Each test has a massive curve. Easy A.
Boring lectures, notes are basically opinions. everything is online. tests are extremely difficult but the curve will save your life. All the homework is due the night before the final but it's long, and hard to do. the homework and tests are not even close to being the same. takes random attendance. tests are open note and book, but it won't help
John Dobra was completely kind and helpful, but the lectures were long, boring, and horrid. You will take four tests, all with massive curves, since even he knows they are difficult. Homework is annoying, and doesn't help much with the tests. Read the book, or bring a four-sided dice for the tests and guess. Good luck
Take this class if you have a lot of upper levels and are about to graduate. two papers and two tests, open note/laptop. Should be an easy A for everyone.
Lectures are ver long and very boring and tests are tough. The curve will save your grade every time.
He's a decent professor but the material can be tedious. The class was enormous so forget about getting individual attention, but if you really need help, you can get it if you pursue it. Homework is easy but all due at the end of the semester. If you wait to do it you'll regret it. Got an A without too much difficulty. Just read and pay attention.
Literally easiest A. He is super easy and I never showed up to class once. Read the textbook while in your home and you will be good to go. His tests as well as the final are super duper easy!
Honestly, this class was tough and made me realize that I hate economics. However, if you have to take this, just read the book. The tests are solely based off of the book and not the lectures. So just read through the chapters a few times and make sure you understand the material. He takes random attendance so I would go. Tests are open book.
Very boring. But hand out attendance sheets randomly. Especially be there after tests. He curves EVERYTHING, tests, homework, and the whole grade at the end. Easy A. Get a study group.
Dobra is good. Sure, it's not the easiest subject matter, but he makes it as easy as humanly possible: curved attendance, curved grades, throws out lowest 5 HWs and open note tests. I ended up getting sick before the final and he was quick in letting me reschedule it: he's a good guy. Just make a minor effort to study and it's an easy A.
Dobra's lectures are awful. Once you go into class everyone pulls out their phones, since tests are open note/ open book and he doesn't try to get anyone's attention anyways. Attendance is random as well. If you really want to learn econ, you'll have to self-study with him. His tests are basically a gamble so be ready to test your luck.
Dobra doesn't take time to thoroughly explain the material. If you want a good grade, make sure you read the chapters. Also, make a schedule to complete all the online homework. The homework isn't due until the end of the year and it's really easy to procrastinate.
As long as you bring your textbook with you for the tests, there is no reason to not get at least a B in this class. However, it is also difficult to get better than a B.
Honestly just read the textbook and go to class and you should be fine. The tests are open note but they are hard so familiarizing yourself with all the material will make it way easier to find on the test. Tests are a large portion of your grade so you should be set if you put in the necessary work right from the start.
If you want a super easy professor take Dobra. 2 exams and a final, each is 20%. Exams & final are open book & open note. HW is 30% & its all due the day of the final & its easy - I would not recommend waiting until last minute though. If you did 1 hw/day you could finish in less than 3 weeks. Attendance is 10%. Lectures are SO BORING! I never went
Class was pretty easy. All the exams are open note and open textbooks. The lectures were pretty boring. Attendance isn't required, but he does surprise attendance which is worth 10% of your grade. The exams are curved a lot and easy to get at least a C on all the exams. Overall the class is easy to pass if you do the homework and exams.
Tests are open note and open textbook. Don't wait until the last minute to do all the online homework or you'll regret it. If you skim the chapters the night before the test you should get an A. He takes attendance randomly, but definitely be there the day after tests. His lectures can be dry, but he sometimes says funny things & tells stories.
Dobra is a very dully professor. However, you don't need to know any econ to pass this class. Every test, homework, and attendance is all graded on a curve, a huge one at that. Very easy to pass. Also all tests are open book and open note. Attendance is taken every once in awhile and show up on the lecture after the test for attendance.
This professor is very dull. The lectures would make me fall asleep. I was able to pass this class just by reading the book & doing the homework. Everything is graded on a curve (a very big curve). Attendance is taken which is why I would show up to class. Not the easiest nor most interesting class I have ever taken; however, still very manageable.
He is dull and his lectures are hard to stay focused for but his tests are based strictly off of the book so if you read the textbook you can get an A on the tests. He curves the test grades to the class, so basically a D on a test is a high B. He rarely takes attendance, and because he goes off the book its not necessary to go. Good class overall
His lectures are heavy and he doesn't speak up when he is lecturing. I really had hoped that his lectures would be beneficial but the only thing beneficial was reading the book and the open note test. The homework gives you lots of tries to get good grades.
Class Info
Attendance Mandatory
48%
Textbook Required
71%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Improving
+0.52 avg changeRatings by Course
ECON201
4.0
(1)ECON457
3.3
(4)ECON
3.0
(1)ECON400
3.0
(1)ECON490
3.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
ECON302
4.0
ECON
3.0
ECON201
3.0
ECON102
2.7
ECON457
2.5