Russ Smith - James Madison University

Professor: Russ Smith
Department: Economics
College: James Madison University
Rating # 1
Overview:
  • Course: ECON499
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Political economy was the best class I ever took!
Rating # 2
Overview:
  • Course: ECON405
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.5
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Political Economy is a tough class to understand and extremely difficult to get an A. I managed to do both because I tried my hardest to "fit" into his teaching style. Try to say something half-intelligent every class. Just one thing can make the difference when he's considering your grade. Most importantly, don?t take his insults seriously.
Rating # 3
Overview:
  • Course: ECON501
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Probably one of the best professers I had at JMU. His political views were opposite mine and most of the class, but he really made you think. If you spoke in class, you had better bring a good answer.
Rating # 4
Overview:
  • Course: ECON200
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
if you havent taken macro i wouldnt recommend taking him. however, he is hilarious and tends to piss people off easily making class even more eventful/entertaining. this quote explains it all: Question from student: So the product X must suck, right? Like no one wants it. Smith: LIKE YOUR SISTER!!
Rating # 5
Overview:
  • Course: ECON201
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Jeez this guy is funny. He hates the world, with his only pleasures being beer and Golf. It's hard to make econ easy, but he does make it fun... for him. just be along for the ride, and pray he doesnt pick on you. Notes are hard to get down, so when he gives you time write them, get them down fast! book marginal in value, tough attendance policy.
Rating # 6
Overview:
  • Course: POLITICALECON
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Ah, Russ the Red. Man, he was FUNNY, and the class was a heck of a lot of reading but wow did it feel worthwhile at the end. But seriously, it's worth taking just for the 8 pages of funny quotes you'll get from him by the end. My brain hurt every single day after leaving his class -- but it was an accomplishment.
Rating # 7
Overview:
  • Course: ECON201
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
This is the type of prof. where you'll either like him or hate him. He has a wacky and random personality, which I enjoyed, but can imtimidate you if you don't understand something. It's not impossible to pass him and I think he gives a curve. I started off with a low C before the final and ended up with a C+ for a final grade in the course.
Rating # 8
Overview:
  • Course: ECON302
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Beside for his flaming liberal views, I think he is a great teacher. He is very interesting and funny, and just makes you think before you ask something stupid
Rating # 9
Overview:
  • Course: ECON201
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.5
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
This professor is impossible. I don't recommend taking him if your not an economics major. Even so, prepare to study your ass off for a 70 (if your lucky). His tests are rediculous and his attitude is unbarably annoying. DONT TAKE HIM!!
Rating # 10
Overview:
  • Course: ECON201
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
prepare yourself to study like u've never studied before...his tests are impossible! Soo hard, but if you go to class, take good notes, and study for at least 24 solid hours for a test... you should be good to go.
Rating # 11
Overview:
  • Course: ECON201
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.5
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
He wonders why we don't ask questions...maybe because he makes everyone feel extremely stupid hoping to make himself feel better. He might seem funny at times, but his class isn't worth the laughs. If you don't have hours to spend devoted to this class--don't take it!! He loves to give take home assignments before breaks too! Isn't he wonderful?
Rating # 12
Overview:
  • Course: MICROECON
  • Grade Received: C
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
He is the most negative professor I have ever had. He constantly talks about his personal life and how much it sucks. Not to mention all of the crap that is going on in his life, he is not a great professor either. He doesn't get students the benefit of the doubt and never seemed to know how to be helpeful.
Rating # 13
Overview:
  • Course: ECON201
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Should not be a professor. Makes you feel dumb for asking questions and never agress with what you say. Can't explain material thoroughly so tests are nearly impossible and then blames you for the grades when it was his fault he can't explain. Only three quizzes count with two given 100s, still hard
Rating # 14
Overview:
  • Course: ECON302
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
hes a hardass, not for the faint-hearted...im an econ major with a 3.7 GPA within my major, yet i still couldnt grasp what he was saying (imagine dennis miller trying to explain econ..ouch)...uses big words just to feel good about himself i guess...he hates everything, especially president bush
Rating # 15
Overview:
  • Course: MICROECONOMICS
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Certainly not the easiest subject area, but he is a pretty good teacher. Go to class, pay attention, work hard and study and you'll be fine.
Rating # 16
Overview:
  • Course: ECON201
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Are you kidding me? He's not supposed to be your friend and give easy A's. This is a hard class, no doubt about it, but the guy is hilarious. He will keep you awake with his yankee hating and other stuff he does. Tests are hard and I felt he did a good job going over the material and explaining it.
Rating # 17
Overview:
  • Course: ECON201
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
class is very hard and his teaching is very misleading.
Rating # 18
Overview:
  • Course: ECON405302
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.5
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
You sink or swim in his class based on whether you can write coherently (>=300 level) and/or grasp the geometric implications of the the various graphs and charts that he teaches in class but doesn't believe in (<=200 level). He's a wonderful teacher if you don't need to have things spoonfed to you.
Rating # 19
Overview:
  • Course: ECON302
  • Grade Received: C
  • Overall Rating: 3.5
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
He is a good prof. a bit crazy. The class is challenging but not impossible. I got a B and didn't put forth much effort. 2 2pg essays. a midterm and a final each with 3 questions. Lets you know what he expects. A lot of reading but not too bad a class, don't need to have econ background to pass.
Rating # 20
Overview:
  • Course: 201
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: N/A
  • Textbook Used: N/A
  • Would Take Again: N/A
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS.... YUCK!
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