Professor
Eric Sheppard
Most Helpful Review
Fall 2019 - This was my first GE, so I don't know much about other GE's, but in comparison to the other GE I took this quarter as well as comments from upperclassmen, this class is definitely not the easiest GE to take. I chose to take this class because it seemed interesting, and it definitely lived up to that. Even though my other GE was easier, I was much more interested in this class, which helped me stay engaged. The grading is 20% midterm, 20% recitation activities (attendance, participation, and a seminar in discussion), 30% term paper, and 30% final. The midterm and final have the same type of questions, except the final is a bit longer. The exams are all free response. One half of the exam is defining and relating basic concepts to globalization and the other half is essay questions. There are always multiple basic concepts and essay questions to choose from (you don't have to answer every question). There are study guides for both the midterm and final, including a list of all possible basic concepts that will show up on the exam and sample essay questions. The term paper is on a transnational corporation of your choice, and I received a lot of help from my TA. I think it's also important to get a good TA since they will be grading your basic concepts and term paper. Professor Sheppard is extremely knowledgable on the subject. Some of his lectures were a little dry, but for the most part, I enjoyed the class. The professor did offer one extra credit opportunity if a certain percentage of the class completed the class evaluation. There is a course reader, and some of the readings were a bit long. However, I was still able to attend all the lectures and do all the readings. Mentioning the readings and lectures will help you score high on the exams. TLDR: Overall, I enjoyed this class, but it's not the easiest GE. I would take only if you are interested in the topic and prepared to put in a bit of extra work.
Fall 2019 - This was my first GE, so I don't know much about other GE's, but in comparison to the other GE I took this quarter as well as comments from upperclassmen, this class is definitely not the easiest GE to take. I chose to take this class because it seemed interesting, and it definitely lived up to that. Even though my other GE was easier, I was much more interested in this class, which helped me stay engaged. The grading is 20% midterm, 20% recitation activities (attendance, participation, and a seminar in discussion), 30% term paper, and 30% final. The midterm and final have the same type of questions, except the final is a bit longer. The exams are all free response. One half of the exam is defining and relating basic concepts to globalization and the other half is essay questions. There are always multiple basic concepts and essay questions to choose from (you don't have to answer every question). There are study guides for both the midterm and final, including a list of all possible basic concepts that will show up on the exam and sample essay questions. The term paper is on a transnational corporation of your choice, and I received a lot of help from my TA. I think it's also important to get a good TA since they will be grading your basic concepts and term paper. Professor Sheppard is extremely knowledgable on the subject. Some of his lectures were a little dry, but for the most part, I enjoyed the class. The professor did offer one extra credit opportunity if a certain percentage of the class completed the class evaluation. There is a course reader, and some of the readings were a bit long. However, I was still able to attend all the lectures and do all the readings. Mentioning the readings and lectures will help you score high on the exams. TLDR: Overall, I enjoyed this class, but it's not the easiest GE. I would take only if you are interested in the topic and prepared to put in a bit of extra work.
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Most Helpful Review
Spring 2018 - This is the best class I have taken at UCLA. I have had some amazing professors from the UCLA geography department and Sheppard was by far the best. The class was so informative and really straightforward. Honestly the class was inspiring too! There is a discussion which sucks but I had Clare Beer as my TA and she was great too. She often let us out early if we had finished our work in the section. She was so approachable and sweet! The tests are straightforward just go over the slides and main themes. There was a final paper but if you put the work in you could get a good grade on it. Overall I would highly recommend this class.
Spring 2018 - This is the best class I have taken at UCLA. I have had some amazing professors from the UCLA geography department and Sheppard was by far the best. The class was so informative and really straightforward. Honestly the class was inspiring too! There is a discussion which sucks but I had Clare Beer as my TA and she was great too. She often let us out early if we had finished our work in the section. She was so approachable and sweet! The tests are straightforward just go over the slides and main themes. There was a final paper but if you put the work in you could get a good grade on it. Overall I would highly recommend this class.