I took this class as a freshman, and I had many concerns going into it. However, this class is designed to cater to freshmen. The course material was a bit dry at first because the first half of the course focuses on the history of economic globalization. But this class really picks up after the midterm. So I'd suggest you hang on even if you feel like dropping out after the first few classes. The professor is very well-versed in the subject but does feel like he rushes through his slides at times - and he doesn't even upload them. So skipping class is not a good idea but if you go to his office hours, he's extremely helpful. There is a course reader, and multiple long readings are assigned on a weekly basis. The readings can be long and tedious, but doing them will greatly improve your grade. There are also weekly quizzes on CCLE, but they are super easy and you get full credit for doing any 6 of them. The midterm and final are essay-based and are really difficult to finish - but if you reference the readings in your answers, you'll get a good grade. There is also a research paper - but it doesn't require much work and is quite enjoyable. As an economics major, I loved this class, and would totally recommend it to anyone interested in global/international economics. BUT DON'T TAKE IT AS AN EASY GE! IT'S A LOT OF WORK!

This is the most impactful and eye-opening course I have ever taken.

Dr. Sheppard is a brilliant and informed lecturer who offers students the opportunity to dramatically alter the ways in which they perceive the world. That said, this class will only be impactful if you are willing to engage with the materials with an open mind.

The midterm and final were extremely fair, as Dr.Sheppard provides comprehensive study guides prior to every exam.

I would 100% recommend taking this course.

Straightforward, interesting class. Sheppard is a good lecturer with a cool accent, and really gets you interested in what he's taking about. I'd definitely take this class again. It's not a particularly difficult or challenging course, but you learn a lot and leave with a different understanding of the world.

This course made me rethink so many constructs and knowledge I've gained in my life. After every lecture from Professor Sheppard, I would feel so mind-blown. He is such an amazing lecturer and really effectively introduces you to the topics. I also admire his openness to opinions and respect/high regard towards his students despite his accolades. Readings are definitely on the heavy side but if you are disciplined about it, you only need to read a few pages every day. Exams are essays and definitely require a lot of content but nothing ever comes up as a surprise. I had Fernanda as my TA and I highly recommend her--she really helped make discussion useful and engaging. If you're at all interested in development and capitalism, even if you don't know much about the third world, you should give this class a chance!