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.

Okay. I took this class to fulfill my History GE. Let me tell you it was a big mistake. Although the class is incredibly interesting and relatively easy if you do the readings, the workload made it my least favorite of the quarter. There is a ton of reading and an online quiz each week. The professor doesn't post detailed slides on the website as incentive for students to show up to class. This class has definitely given me a new point of view of the world, buuuuut... if you don't have to take it (i.e. you need to fulfill a GE) don't.

Professor Sheppard's class was one of the most engaging and eye-opening classes I've taken at UCLA . Although he might be a bit drab during his lectures, his accent and the content he talks about makes up for it. The readings can be difficult, but if you do all of them and pay attention in class, there's no way you can't get a decent grade.

There's also a research paper due which was worth like 30% of your grade, just pick a large corporation that has had a lot of controversy surrounding it and you'll be fine.

Take this class if you're an IDS major, but I wouldn't recommend it as a GE unless you're willing to challenge yourself.

This class ended up being my hardest class of the quarter and possibly one of the hardest courses that I have taken at UCLA. The papers are graded very harshly and the exams require a certain type of studying. First, you must know and understand all of the terms presented on the study guides and then you must memorize about 20-30 concepts/facts in order to be able to reproduce them on the in-class, timed essays. Responses to the concept questions are also graded very intricately and harshly. I recommend only taking this class if it is a required major/minor course.

His classes were SOOO interesting but he was not. I would attend class just to listen to what he talks, not for him. DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS AS A G.E. JUST DON'T ITS MUCH MORE THAN A G.E. DESERVES!!!!
Assigns a LOT of reading and makes TAs assign reflections for readings, and there's a 1500 word essay in the end.
Midterm and Final were A LOT OF WRITING so if that's good for you then you'd be fine.
Its a MASSIVE class with over 350 students in it.
Final was choose 3 out of 6 topics and write a page for each, 2 essays of 2 pages each and 2 essays of 3 pages each. Literally death. Final makes your grade lower so PREPARE TO WRITE A LOT.

This is one of the most eye-opening class I have ever taken in UCLA. Professor Sheppard is an expert in dissecting abstract concepts into understandable chunks for students to regurgitate. The class will challenge your belief: it requires you to question the world's truth-like norm and expand your horizon.

There's a research project for this class. You have to research about a transnational company. Professor Sheppard provides really good guidelines for the essay, so it shouldn't be a problem.

It was a very eye opening class because it really introduces you to the issues and aspects of inequality in terms of geography. Also a very difficult class with the hardest final I've ver taken, I would not recommend taking this as a GE.

Like a previous review said, don't take this as just a GE because it is more than a GE deserves. Not an easy A at all but so rewarding and eye-opening. Many people thought that Sheppard was a boring lecturer but I personally feel as though I learned really well from his teaching style. His lectures are very organized which I personally appreciate, especially after having a TA that I felt was fairly sporadic and disorganized. Most of the content is about globalization through neoliberal policies, but we didn't get into that much until after the midterm (pre-midterm was a lot of history on colonialism/capitalism and other topics). The midterm and final (IDs and essays) definitely require a bit of studying and are just so much writing, but you can do well as long as you grasp most of the main topics of the class. Thankfully the exams are the kind that allow you to discuss only what you know (choose 3 out of the 6 topics to write about) so that really saved me! Sheppard uses a lot of case studies to teach concepts which I also thought was great. There is one paper that's about 6 pages on a transnational corporation; it's time-consuming, but you basically only need to apply the concepts from class to the corporation's practices. Overall this has been one of the most rewarding classes I've taken! So many interesting topics regarding development were brought up; if you are an IDS major or you care about the betterment of the "developing" world, take this class!!! My only complaint is that i felt my TA didn't teach in my preferred teaching style (organized, thorough) but I will say all the TAs tried hard to help us succeed! (-:

Not gonna lie, this is not the easiest class and you should not take it if you're looking for an easy GE. There is a LOT of readings and the midterm and final are in class essays so you really have to keep up with lecture and readings. Either way I do not regret taking this class. It is a really eye-opening class and Sheppard knows what he's talking about, he'll give you a lot of reading materials to drive the point home. His lectures cover a LOT and end exactly when class is supposed to, usually not a second earlier. I found he is a little fast paced for a screen-free classroom so its often hard to get everything on my notes.

I love Sheppard! His lectures are dense but he’s an interesting guy, the material is engaging and the workload is definitely not too bad. Besides a weekly online quiz on lectures (slides are posted online) there’s just one main short paper. The paper grading is dependent on your TA so I would check in with them throughout. solid GE class and good professor.