Poll Smoking–Telebears XVIII, Sociology

Posted by: Avinash on Thursday, May 3rd, 2007

For our last Telebears preview, we bring you the tough slog major that is…sociology. Sociology…isn’t this what all the Cal football/basketball players who couldn’t major in social welfare or family planning or mass comm. end up majoring in? Or the department where humorless feminists go to preach social change?

Yeah. That’s what we think about the difficulty of the sociology major. Won’t stop me from rooting for our boys next fall. Here’s what they have to say about their instructors.

(Note: This will be our last Telebears section until after Finals. We assume no one really cares about their schedules by next week, unless you, the readers, flood our email boxes demanding we write up who the best professors are to take by Sunday night. Then we might reconsider. We’re taking dates too, girls only sadly. Textbooks available after the jump.)
Sociology 1, Introduction to Sociology
Ann Swidler, MW 10-11, 105 Stanley
Preschool in Three Cultures: Japan, China and the United StatesAsylums: Essays on the Social Situation of Mental Patients and Other InmatesEthnic Conflict and Civic Life: Hindus and Muslims in IndiaUnequal Childhoods: Class, Race, and Family LifeThe Impact of Inequality: How to Make Sick Societies Healthier
“Lectures are very clear and definitely very enthusiastic. Lots of reading required but not that hard to do…she was great, engaging, very nice in person…makes sociology fun, interesting, and easy to understand…It makes me smile that she still gets a “hot” rating too. Heh. Go Ann, with your smart and sexy self!”

Sociology 3AC, Principles of Sociology
Brian Powers, MWF 11-12, 105 Stanley
Inequality by DesignInvitation to Sociology: A Humanistic Perspective
“Lectures are generally unhelpful (with only a few exceptions) and often contain long digressions…unclear at times, but speaks very passionately about topics…His classes are all about examining your society and being introspective about it. You can take him for a babbling idiot, but every year there are many students who take the class seriously and get a lot out of it…Be prepared to regurguiate his socialist/leftist garbage on papers.”

Sociology 5, Evaluation of Evidence
Irene Bloemraad, TuTh 2-330, 145 Dwinelle
Doing Social Research
“OK professor, but the material in this course is unbearably boring and dry… loved her selections of readings in the course reader, not only were they interesting, but got the point across as well…keeps students engaged by frequently asking for input and discussion during lectures…made Soc. 5 a lot easier and much more interesting than it is.”

Sociology 101A, Sociological Theory
Dylan Riley, TuTh 930-11, 145 Dwinelle
The Division of Labor in SocietyThe Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (Dover Value Editions)Selected WritingsPolitical PartiesFrom Max Weber: Essays in Sociology
“Very confident and that makes a BIG difference. He is straightforward and willing to repeat himself when necessary. The class is as hard as you make it…smart and indeed quirky man. Reminds me a little bit of Tom Green…I read that he was hot before I had him and when I saw him I thought the posts were crazy. Now 2 semesters later, I am smitten.”

Sociology 111, Sociology of the Family
Mary Kelsey, TuTh 930-11, 105 Stanley
The Way We Really Are: Coming to Terms With America's Changing FamiliesThe Price of Motherhood: Why the Most Important Job in the World is Still the Least ValuedThe Second ShiftFlat Broke with Children: Women in the Age of Welfare Reform
“She is the most enthusiastic and caring professor I have had here. She will go above and beyond to help you and get to know you…such a sweet person. She has a great personality. Her humor and personal stories make class interesting. She supports all of her students…The only prof. that knew me by name at Cal.”

Sociology 131AC, Race and Ethnic Relations
Sandra Smith, MW 4-530, 101 Barker
Being Black, Living in the Red: Race, Wealth, and Social Policy in AmericaThe Price of Poverty: Money, Work, and Culture in the Mexican American BarrioBlack Wealth / White Wealth: A New Perspective on Racial Inequality 2EPunishment and Inequality in AmericaUrban Inequality: Evidence from Four Cities and Closed Doors, Opportunities Lost
“She def picks favorites and shows it during lecture which are pretty engaging…not a great lecturer (reads a lot from notes, gets off track frequently)…she doesnt give “pop” quizzes anymore instead u jus kno u have a quiz once a week and now she drops the lowest grade. this makes the class much more fair.”

Sociology 160, Sociology of Culture
J Stockinger, MWF 2-3, 145 Dwinelle
Subculture: The Meaning of Style (New Accents)Civilization and Its DiscontentsAn Outline of Psycho-Analysis
“Was unsure about the class bc of the unorganization but by the end, i had learned a lot from lecture and had done minimal reading…a nice guy but doesn’t know how to teach. He always goes over time and make me late to work. Tests are really hard…works with children too so he’s an understanding, approachable guy who wants you to learn.”

(Data taken from RateMyProfessors and Berkeley Online Schedule of Classes)
(Image from Mahopa)

Have any memories about professors in this department for a class or in general? Leave them in the comments.



Topics: Schedules, Students, UC Berkeley

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