2.6
Quality3.7
Difficulty100%
Would Retake92
Reviews100%
Would Retake
92
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
10
4
20
3
21
2
28
1
13
What Students Say
“Alot of people (approx 40%) dropped the class after one exam”
SOC134 - 4.0 rating“She is probably the most boring person ever”
134 - 4.0 ratingClass Info
Attendance Mandatory
100%
Textbook Required
100%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.41 avg changeRatings by Course
SOC17
5.0
(1)SOCIOLOGY420
4.0
(1)SOC101
4.0
(2)SOC219
4.0
(1)SOC380
4.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
302
5.0
401
5.0
SOCIOLOGY134
5.0
SOC420
5.0
SOC401
4.5
Reviews (92)
Alot of people (approx 40%) dropped the class after one exam. This is not meant to be a hard class but i think it is made hard. I have done well in sociology at advanced level in high school but in this class i am average!!!
She is probably the most boring person ever... but she can teach well... except when making the test she must forget everything. I enjoyed listening to her sometimes, but she definatly doesnt teach the test-at ALL!
The questions on her test were hard and didn't make sense. It doesn't really help studying your notes before the test because her questions are so unclear!
No Comments
An overall interesting class, although slow at first. If you read the book, you don't have to attend class all the time to get an A (although you should get the notes). Besser tells fun stories to illustrate important points.
The class wasn't too hard, it was the tests. I love lecture (only skipped 2), but the tests were difficult to understand, making the theories difficult to grasp.
I did not enjoy this class, and felt that for a one hundred level class it was way hard.
This is a 100 level course but she teaches it like you want to major in Sociology! I wouldn't recommend her to anyone, she is very unclear about what she will cover on the exams and covers 7 chapters at a time.
She doesn't give much help, just pushes you off on her TA's. Like someone already said she teaches like we want to major in sociology. It is a nearly impossible 100 course and thats not the way it should be. It's intro to sociology for a reason.
She sucks
Pay attention and you'll do fine just don't get to frustrated. It is a harder sociology class.
I agree, she sucks
I also agree that she sucks. She didn't do a very good job explaining assignments and class would put you to sleep everytime.
Besser was pretty interesting professor. Very political especially before the election. She definitely was a Kerry supporter to the core! Her lectures were well organized and fairly interesting but her assistants were not. She's not the end of the world, but she's not ideal by any means!
Her examples are very interesting and she is a great lecturer!
I heard that about 1/2 of the students that have to take this course have to retake it, including me. She's hard and doesn't seem the nicest.
No Comments
No Comments
No Comments
No Comments
I thought she was a great! She truly cares about her students and is very willing to help anyone. She made an effort to connect with students.
Terry Besser is a nice lady but it seems like she expects the world from her students. Her Complex Organiztions class is very difficult. Don't take it unless you have a lot of time to keep up with the readings she assigns...it's not easy.
Class is pretty interesting. Tests are very difficult.
by far the worst teacher i have ever had
I had her for soc. 134 and she is a lot harder in this class. She challenges you to under a lot about complex organizations. Don't: get behind in the readings, procrastinate the 15-20 page paper, or sluff off on the tests.
She's alright. But I think the tests were a lot harder than they should have. I knew the material real well and got a B+. She words the things wrong. Hope to god you get in a recitation with a bunch of dumb people because your curve is based off of the people in your recitation. Not the others.
she is one of those teacher you don't want unless you really want to go to every class and really pay attention. If you don't go you will fail.
Type of class your glad to get out of the way. Teacher isnt mean or anything just slightly difficult. I had a bad TA as well. If you go to class and study you will get a B for sure.
Unorganized and not a very good lecturer. Very random and notes are hard to follow. She has a hard time finding descent TAs too. Overall though, the best of a lot of bad choices.
I would suggest taking this class with a different prof. Dr. Besser covers a lot of material at once and her tests are very difficult. Her TAs are also not very helpful. I did, however, learn A LOT from her!
This class is way easier than people make it out to be. Here's a hint: do the reading. There are some pretty stupid questions on the tests, but they're not overly difficult. Recitation extra credit can help make up for a poor test score.
Not bad but on the monotonous side which can get long and tiresome. Has fun jokes but too late in the class to be funny usually.
I was told this class would be easy. It wasn't it was just BORING! So I didn't go and she has inclass quizes for participation and she leaves notes off her slides. The tests are really specific and she words questions in a weird way. Overall did NOT like this class.
this is a boring class that i would never have gone too if not for the fact that besser is a complete babe!! If she was 10 years younger I would totally do her.
I constantly feel that besser in lecture is up on a soap box. Her tests are very difficult, and the TA I have is worthless. Honestly, in a 100 level class this one is too hard.
This class is a complete waste of time. Questions on the test are worded wierd and half the time they don't make sense. Lecture is also a waste. The only reason to go is for in class points. Tests are difficult and her lectures confuse you more than help you. She doesn't explain the subject well. I did not like the class or her teaching style.
Very nice, easy to understand.
Whoever said she was a good teacher is simply wrong. She makes up words and tries to sound intelligent. She is rude to people who come in late, and her tests are specific according to class statistics. Need to pay attention in lecture & pretty much need to go to get 'reaction points' and full notes. I only did well because of my high school class.
This professor was very weak. Her performance was slow and labored making it hard to follow along without becoming bored. The amount of reading was great for the few questions asked over the text. Very lousy.
Not all that bad as an educator. The tests were much harder than anticipated.
Always talks about herself. Sometimes relates it back to sociology. Getting a good TA is key since she can go through slides fast and make the class a little more boring than sociology really is. Easy class overall if you just memorize the vocabulary before every test and go to most classes. She takes attendance somedays.
I don't know what all of these complaints about 134 are about! The class was very easy! My TA was exceptional. The readings were important but easy to understand and only took like an hour a week! All of her lectures are powerpoints and she puts them on webCT. So just go to class to earn the class points. This class was too easy..
Entry level class not that difficult. You do have to make an effort like showing up for class and maybe looking over the book before the test but the book was very interesting. Not that difficult people. Attendence makes your grade with in class points. Don't show up, don't expect an A.
Loved this class! It was easy. Just got to class and recitation. Take good notes. Read the chapters..it will help you in class and some questions on the test are taken from readings. You need to go to class because she randomly gives very EASY reaction points where you have to write a short essay about a topic you just talked about. EASY!
A few sophopmores told me they didn't like her, but I have no idea what they were talking about. As long as you attend lecture, take notes, and review them you should do fine. Liked this class a lot! Recitation was pointless, though...
Besser is a great professor. She's extremely prompt with emails or any questions you may have. Lecture can be kind of boring, but if you pay attention/take notes and study the notes and read the book chapters, the tests aren't bad at all. Recitation is a total waste of time. I just don't think it's needed for a Sociology class.
Test questions can be unclear and complicated even if you study and attend class. Lectures are fairly interesting.
Not the most exciting class. The material is dry and not always clear. Instructor seems enthusiastic about Sociology but at the same time doesn't provide much help. Don't argue with her about test questions because she won't budge even if the question is poorly written and/or misleading. But would take her over the other instructor for this clas
Besser didn't explain the matirial well at all. She goes really fast through the slides so write fast or print off the pp before class. Tests are hard. Memorize class statistics.. there's questions on the tests about them. I studied at least 5 hours a week for this class and more before tests and let's just say this class definitly lowered my GPA
There are 3 5-7 page papers due before each test which seems a little much for an introductory class. The tests are very long also and multiple choice which can either make or break your grade so good luck!
Besser makes certain material seem important and other just to be random facts. Such as class polls about how religious the class is and on their average house income. In stead of studying useful material for the test you have to make sure you study and memorize all of the useless in class polls and memorize the percentages. Dry lecture. Dry class
I did not like this like at all. Teacher was very unclear and runs through notes so print them off before and she makes up random words to try and confuse you.
Good teacher, though lecture is a little boring. Liven it up!
Very Good Teacher, Found class to be interesting, and easy enough as long as you acutally attend class and do the readings
Incomprehensible. Professor Besser is very opinionated and tends to teach more of what she seems interested in rather than anything relative to sociology. Lecture is useless, might as well read the notes online. Did not learn anything.
I am a straight A student, but struggling to get a B in this class. I don't think she reads over her tests to check for clarity.
Exams are not very clear, she is very opinionated. If you are looking for a easy class...this isn't it.
This class isn't the funnest but Dr. Besser tries to have fun with mid-class breaks. Exams are somewhat hard, you leave feeling like an A and come out with a B+. In terms of getting help your on your own, the TA's wouldnt respond or help. Do the extra credit! go to class!
Boring lecture, easy subjects, easy tests, CONFUSING COURSEWORK. Having students pick options from this contract thing with mismatched due dates and vague requirements guaranteed the confusion of everyone in the class. Got a horrible grade on my paper, and I consider myself a great paper writer. HORRIBLE TAs.
She is a terrible teacher and the TAs are horrible. They don't help or respond to help if you need it. And she has these stupid reaction points after some of the lectures that are supposed to be "easy" five points and all they do is slowly lower you're grade because she doesn't give you a good grade unless you have the same opinion and ideas as her
Good instructor. The topics that she discussed were interesting. She know her stuff when it comes to Sociology. As long as you show up and take notes you should do well.
Prof. Besser is a great sociology teacher! I really liked attending her lectures; and it got me interested in possibly taking another soc class. The response questions were a little annoying, but if you showed up to class, skimmed the book before tests, and actually turned a research assignment in, you were fine. I'd want her as a teacher again.
Worst thing: TA'S SUCK & they do all of the grading. "Reaction points" only lower your grade, even though she claims it will help. Tests are extremely difficult; must attend lectures, take detailed notes as well as read/understand the textbook (100's of pages) is nearly impossible. Don't take this class if you want an easy A. You won't get one.
One of the hardest classes I have taken at ISU. Do not take it if you want an easy A. The tests are so hard you will laugh and fill in the dots. Exam two taken had an average of 55%. There is 150 kids that received a bad grade. Is it the teacher or the poor studying? I think your smart enough to figure that question out.
Literally could not understand her tests. No point in studying for them. She straight up said to the class teaching an undergraduate class was a "waste of her time" and would rather focus on upper-level courses. The only thing I got out of this class was a lower GPA. If you want to do well find someone who had the class before and saved notes.
She is obviously very good at what she does, but comes across as very stereotypical. I dropped this class because I was not doing well and needed to keep my GPA up. It's interesting material, but the professor is terrible.
She knows the material inside and out. But when it comes to teaching it to students, she's horrible. The material is beyond interesting but the exams are impossible to study for. She will never help students prepare for exams which are about 80% of your grade. If it wasn't for the curve grading scale. 90% would fail. I don't recommend this class.
Besser is very knowledgeable of Sociology but her teaching methods are in need of improvement. She is obviously very passionate and the material is interesting, but the powerpoint slides are hard to focus on especially in such a big class. It is hard to get help and studying for the exams is impossible. Thank god for the curve.
The EXAMS is the HARDEST!!! Difficulties: Level 100= Level 300.
Extremely hard exams. She expects a lot out of you. You have to read the material in the book for half of the exam. She only covers maybe 3/4 of the material on the exam and then you need to read the other half. She does understand what she is talking about but has a hard time explaining it to others.
Good Professor who knows a lot about the subject. Tried hard to make all of the subject matter interesting.
This was my only 100 level class I took this semester and easily the hardest. Tests are hard and nearly impossible to stud for. If I could go back I would not take this course.
Never went to class and I paid the price. Fail the class; hard exams, lots of reading and studying. She is tough and expects a lot. GO TO CLASS.
Tough but fair. Requires a moderate amount of reading and frequently assigns papers. Does not allow laptops in class. Is pretty clear about what she expects from written assignments, and if you make the necessary changes, your grade on papers will improve.
Lots of cool info in this course. I went to class, I listened, I did well. The book is unnecessary if you don't mind missing a few points.
No more words. Worst that I've ever taken any class :(
You learn the material well
Too many papers!
Tests are impossible, doesnt give study guides. I would not recommend taking this class with her.
Tests are very difficult. So many notes and book readings
Such a terrible teacher. She ruined my interest in sociology and I probably will never take a sociology class again. If you have the choice with another teacher go with the other teacher and not Besser. The tests were nothing that she taught and her notes are extremely disorganized.
Pretty tough class. If I had to write one more paper for Mr. Besser this semester, I would have just dropped out with 9 credits left until graduation. Seriously. My head hurts. However, I did learn a lot.
Terrible teacher, went in to talk to her to try to get help and was helpless. Very frustrated to pay so much for a class and get little to no help. Get a different teacher.
Notes unorganized, tests awful. If you have to take sociology, I would recommend another teacher.
worst teacher I've ever had. Impossible test and confusing course work. Test not even related to what we learned in class. Doesn't help with any questions; she always directs you to her TA's. If i were you, get a different teacher before she ruins your GPA.
Very very intelligent teacher. She is very interesting to listen to and is always very clear in her explanations. She explains expectations well and grades very very fairly.
I loved this professor. She was a very lenient grader. She curved all tests, homework, and our final grade. She made adjustments to assignments and tests that she made mistakes on. It is necessary that you read every chapter in order to do well. If you do that, you will do great. The people giving her a poor rating probably didn't do the homework.
SOC 134 with Dr. Besser was my worst class of the semester. The TA's did not respond to emails and were rude when you needed a grade they messed up fixed. Dr. Besser was sometimes polite in email responses, and other times quite rude. I have been trying to get my grade corrected for this class for a month, but it still has not been fixed.
Very interesting material, but extremely hard class. Dr. Besser lectures with PowerPoints, but does not allow laptop use nor does she post complete PowerPoints to Blackboards. The TAs are helpful. On-line homework is ridiculous; textbook doesn't help for homework, just for test preparation. The on-line tests are very difficult, but the curve helps.
Rudest Prof ever. I was in her class for a week and didn't understand the classical readings that were required and she basically told me i was an idiot, because i was a college student who couldnt understand the readings. She also told me to have a nice life when i had her sign my drop slip. DO NOT RECOMMEND
Her class was super hard, because she was never clear on how to study for exams and what would be on them.
Attend class & DO THE ASSIGNED READINGS or you will fail the pop quizzes. Everything on the test is directly from the book. She HATES when people are late to class and will seriously stop a lecture to shame someone and/or tell them to LEAVE for being late! The way she pronounced the countries: "Kenya" and "Niger" is something I will never forget.
Class Info
Attendance Mandatory
100%
Textbook Required
100%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.41 avg changeRatings by Course
SOC17
5.0
(1)SOCIOLOGY420
4.0
(1)SOC101
4.0
(2)SOC219
4.0
(1)SOC380
4.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
302
5.0
401
5.0
SOCIOLOGY134
5.0
SOC420
5.0
SOC401
4.5