Professor
Zsuzsa Berend
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Most Helpful Review
Winter 2017 - This class is a fantastic combo of being both generously graded and an interesting subject, I definitely recommend it as a Soc upper-div (and honestly maybe even just as a relatively easy upper-div for anyone). The readings are interesting and fairly short for a Soc class. The one weak point of the class would be lecture. Berend lectures without any sort of slides or whiteboard use and tends to ramble so it can be rather dull, but her lecture outlines are both handed out in class and posted online which makes following along fairly simple (and attendance probably optional, although the EC on the final was based on something only said in-class). Class also ended 20 minutes early every day which was great. There are four short multiple choice quizzes, pretty easy to figure out if you’ve done the reading or at least know what’s going on in class. There are also two short papers (single-spaced, less than 1 page) that are pretty easy to throw together and interesting to write. The midterm is 20 multiple choice and some short answer, plus extra credit questions. The final is in-class and not cumulative, basically a second midterm. I scored over 100% on the midterm and felt good about the final, too. There’s also an additional extra credit opportunity at the end of the class which only requires you to write three sentences, so I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t do it. All in all, though lecture is a little dry, the readings are actually useful and an A basically requires the minimum effort.
Winter 2017 - This class is a fantastic combo of being both generously graded and an interesting subject, I definitely recommend it as a Soc upper-div (and honestly maybe even just as a relatively easy upper-div for anyone). The readings are interesting and fairly short for a Soc class. The one weak point of the class would be lecture. Berend lectures without any sort of slides or whiteboard use and tends to ramble so it can be rather dull, but her lecture outlines are both handed out in class and posted online which makes following along fairly simple (and attendance probably optional, although the EC on the final was based on something only said in-class). Class also ended 20 minutes early every day which was great. There are four short multiple choice quizzes, pretty easy to figure out if you’ve done the reading or at least know what’s going on in class. There are also two short papers (single-spaced, less than 1 page) that are pretty easy to throw together and interesting to write. The midterm is 20 multiple choice and some short answer, plus extra credit questions. The final is in-class and not cumulative, basically a second midterm. I scored over 100% on the midterm and felt good about the final, too. There’s also an additional extra credit opportunity at the end of the class which only requires you to write three sentences, so I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t do it. All in all, though lecture is a little dry, the readings are actually useful and an A basically requires the minimum effort.
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Most Helpful Review
This was by FAR the worst class at UCLA I have ever taken. And it wasn't just the class, it was the teacher! Berend must be avoided at all cost! Her accent is so difficult to listen to, shes babbles on about things that have no relevance to the content of the tests, her tests are so backwards its impossible to study for! The worst!!!
This was by FAR the worst class at UCLA I have ever taken. And it wasn't just the class, it was the teacher! Berend must be avoided at all cost! Her accent is so difficult to listen to, shes babbles on about things that have no relevance to the content of the tests, her tests are so backwards its impossible to study for! The worst!!!
Most Helpful Review
Ok when I first encountered Dr. Berend I was in her Honors seminars to write a senior thesis. (I'm an over a achiever and I can deal with shitty professors and I went into it very optimistic) I am almost 100% sure that I will drop her based on her unprofessional behavior, lack of tact, disorganization and stubbornness. She believes is very unreasonable.I highly dislike her! I read some of the reviews and they all pin point her to the dot. She also makes fun of other students, and calls being rude "constructive criticism" The positive reviews... I cant say I agree with much of them besides the fact that she is a nice person but a horrible professor. (Trust me being in a 15 person class with this woman for a quarter gives you a lot of 1 on 1 time)
Ok when I first encountered Dr. Berend I was in her Honors seminars to write a senior thesis. (I'm an over a achiever and I can deal with shitty professors and I went into it very optimistic) I am almost 100% sure that I will drop her based on her unprofessional behavior, lack of tact, disorganization and stubbornness. She believes is very unreasonable.I highly dislike her! I read some of the reviews and they all pin point her to the dot. She also makes fun of other students, and calls being rude "constructive criticism" The positive reviews... I cant say I agree with much of them besides the fact that she is a nice person but a horrible professor. (Trust me being in a 15 person class with this woman for a quarter gives you a lot of 1 on 1 time)
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Most Helpful Review
Fall 2024 - If you like seminars and find the topic interesting DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS, SHE WILL RUIN IT FOR YOU. To call this a seminar is a joke, this professor has ZERO tolerance to students connecting their own perspectives with the material and asking questions that go against her interpretation of these dust old papers. She doesn’t ask questions to make you think engagingly about the topic. Instead of discussions, she conducts verbal quizzes like the AR tests in elementary school. Checking if you remember what author said on page 3 on topic ___. She’s just talking about her personal reading list in this class and isn’t approaching it from the pov of a student trying to take a bloody SEMINAR on the topic. Always gushing about her own interpretations and being completely uninterested in the pov of other students on such broadly experienced subjects such as “money and emotion.” I also hate how restrictive it was to American western practices when it clearly wasn’t a region specific classic. Money, emotion, and gifting clearly mean hastily different things across cultures and none of that was even acknowledged,
Fall 2024 - If you like seminars and find the topic interesting DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS, SHE WILL RUIN IT FOR YOU. To call this a seminar is a joke, this professor has ZERO tolerance to students connecting their own perspectives with the material and asking questions that go against her interpretation of these dust old papers. She doesn’t ask questions to make you think engagingly about the topic. Instead of discussions, she conducts verbal quizzes like the AR tests in elementary school. Checking if you remember what author said on page 3 on topic ___. She’s just talking about her personal reading list in this class and isn’t approaching it from the pov of a student trying to take a bloody SEMINAR on the topic. Always gushing about her own interpretations and being completely uninterested in the pov of other students on such broadly experienced subjects such as “money and emotion.” I also hate how restrictive it was to American western practices when it clearly wasn’t a region specific classic. Money, emotion, and gifting clearly mean hastily different things across cultures and none of that was even acknowledged,
Most Helpful Review
I had her for the Honors Thesis. Like the past review, I was optimistic. I am on track to graduate Summa Cum Laude so I thought I could take her on. She is probably the most rude, unprofessional professor I have ever encountered. I am thinking of dropping the Honor's Thesis because I don't want to deal with her for a whole year. DO NOT TAKE BEREND!
I had her for the Honors Thesis. Like the past review, I was optimistic. I am on track to graduate Summa Cum Laude so I thought I could take her on. She is probably the most rude, unprofessional professor I have ever encountered. I am thinking of dropping the Honor's Thesis because I don't want to deal with her for a whole year. DO NOT TAKE BEREND!
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