Rodney B Swanson
Department of Economics
AD
2.7
Overall Rating
Based on 12 Users
Easiness 1.0 / 5 How easy the class is, 1 being extremely difficult and 5 being easy peasy.
Clarity 2.7 / 5 How clear the class is, 1 being extremely unclear and 5 being very clear.
Workload 1.0 / 5 How much workload the class is, 1 being extremely heavy and 5 being extremely light.
Helpfulness 2.0 / 5 How helpful the class is, 1 being not helpful at all and 5 being extremely helpful.

TOP TAGS

There are no relevant tags for this professor yet.

GRADE DISTRIBUTIONS
14.4%
12.0%
9.6%
7.2%
4.8%
2.4%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

21.1%
17.5%
14.0%
10.5%
7.0%
3.5%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

20.0%
16.7%
13.3%
10.0%
6.7%
3.3%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

ENROLLMENT DISTRIBUTIONS
Clear marks

Sorry, no enrollment data is available.

AD

Reviews (6)

1 of 1
1 of 1
Add your review...
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
Dec. 21, 2009

不知道他是靠什么在UCLA维持他的破饭碗的。
上课来就顺手画两个图,没有一点NOTES,重点的东西一句带过,natives都不知道他在讲什么。
然后很爱讲点色色的笑话 以显示他很幽默,我靠 一把年纪了 怎么还那么幼稚?
practice problem 就是书上的练习题,他只给答案,问他什么他说 哦 好久没看了我忘了

一点都不敬业 怎么配当UCLA 的经济学教授?

I am really disappoited at UCLA because of him.
what the professor has done during the quarter is to make u frustrated again and again.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
Aug. 27, 2009

Honestly, this guy doesn't care about any of you!! Please don't take his classes, he doesn't belong at UCLA. He simply cannot teach. For example, in Econ 121 all he will do is lecture on the graphs while he draws them. He provides no lecture notes for his own models. In fact, he provides no lecture notes at all for anything he teaches. The homework answers he provides under the "List of Links" are not relevant for the exams. So, you will be lost when it comes to studying and the exams. His philosophy is you come to class, listen to him, and try to take notes while he has you draw the graphs while he quickly and with complete disregard, rant on the important stuff that he should have you guys take notes on. His reviews for the exams are not worth going to. He provides nothing for the review but answering your questions. Also, he will not say anything about what to expect on the midterms or final. IF YOU TAKE HIM, please use a video camera to record the class because you will be lost when he starts graphing many indifference curves, relative price lines (Pc/Pf), isoquant and isocost curves.

BTW: He always has to drag the freakin' table, chair or lecturn when he comes in. Really stupid, irritating stuff!!!!

You better say no when he asks to come to class on a 3-day holiday weekend.

Like someone mentioned below - He is the biggest f-ing jerk (period).

Think about this as an Econ major:
The guy earns $35,000 for the ENTIRE YEAR at UCLA. (http://www.sacbee.com/statepayresults/index.html) What's his economic incentive to really teach you anything? He comes in with his folder of notes and just rants with complete disregard for learning. His answer to this is "You are UCLA students, you should take effective notes."

I swear on my Economics degree that in this class (Econ 111, 121 or 171) all this guy will do is draw graphs on the board with his fruity pieces of chalk and give you no notes.

Good luck trying to get a C+ in this class.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
June 18, 2009

only take this class if you actually care about economics. if you're an economics major like me, then you probably don't. so stay away unless you want to learn.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
Feb. 19, 2009

I loved Swanson. He's probably one of my favorite professors at UCLA and definitely the best economics professor I've ever had. The guy is hilarious and intelligent; I found myself talking to him about random crap after asking questions in office hours. Most of my fellow classmates in 121 thought he was intimidating. He does have a tendency to ask a question, receive the wrong answer, and then dismiss it snidely, which some (grow some balls, people) find mortifying, but that, I feel, is one of Swanson's best assets: he won't move on until someone answers his question, and he's not afraid to hurt your feelings if you're acting like a degenerate.

Anyway, study really well, pay attention in class, etc. Don't bother reading the textbook; it's well-written, but pretty useless. And definitely take Swanson if you're sick of professors who talk AT you, not TO you for three hours a week.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
April 28, 2005

Like many professors I've had at UCLA, Swanson seemed to know his material well, but could not convey this information to his students without a struggle. There are long awkward silences in the classroom after he asks the class a somewhat vague question to which nobody knows the answer. If you think he's going to give it to you, don't hold your breath. He won't. He'll throw out remarks like "This is econ one stuff people" (disregard the fact that everyone in this 100 person class has taken econ 1, yet nobody knows the answer). He'll wait until one student dares to take a guess and if they're wrong he'll shoot them down. Talk about a disincentive to come to lecture. I went to class a few times, but stopped going after a while. My grade likely suffered as a result, but that was a price worth paying.

My point: Don't take Swanson unless you have a very strong will and don't care that a 70% is an A since his students don't learn very much.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
April 14, 2005

Prof. Swanson is not a nice guy but he is a good teacher. If you can stand sitting through lectures filled with his opinions about marriage, politics, world affairs and god knows what else, you can survive. I found the book very helpfull. It is crucial that you be able to recreate each graph he draws. The hardest part about his tests is that it is often difficult to figure out what he is actually asking. Once you figure out what model he is asking you for, you can just recreate his graphs and you'll be fine.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
Dec. 21, 2009

不知道他是靠什么在UCLA维持他的破饭碗的。
上课来就顺手画两个图,没有一点NOTES,重点的东西一句带过,natives都不知道他在讲什么。
然后很爱讲点色色的笑话 以显示他很幽默,我靠 一把年纪了 怎么还那么幼稚?
practice problem 就是书上的练习题,他只给答案,问他什么他说 哦 好久没看了我忘了

一点都不敬业 怎么配当UCLA 的经济学教授?

I am really disappoited at UCLA because of him.
what the professor has done during the quarter is to make u frustrated again and again.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
Aug. 27, 2009

Honestly, this guy doesn't care about any of you!! Please don't take his classes, he doesn't belong at UCLA. He simply cannot teach. For example, in Econ 121 all he will do is lecture on the graphs while he draws them. He provides no lecture notes for his own models. In fact, he provides no lecture notes at all for anything he teaches. The homework answers he provides under the "List of Links" are not relevant for the exams. So, you will be lost when it comes to studying and the exams. His philosophy is you come to class, listen to him, and try to take notes while he has you draw the graphs while he quickly and with complete disregard, rant on the important stuff that he should have you guys take notes on. His reviews for the exams are not worth going to. He provides nothing for the review but answering your questions. Also, he will not say anything about what to expect on the midterms or final. IF YOU TAKE HIM, please use a video camera to record the class because you will be lost when he starts graphing many indifference curves, relative price lines (Pc/Pf), isoquant and isocost curves.

BTW: He always has to drag the freakin' table, chair or lecturn when he comes in. Really stupid, irritating stuff!!!!

You better say no when he asks to come to class on a 3-day holiday weekend.

Like someone mentioned below - He is the biggest f-ing jerk (period).

Think about this as an Econ major:
The guy earns $35,000 for the ENTIRE YEAR at UCLA. (http://www.sacbee.com/statepayresults/index.html) What's his economic incentive to really teach you anything? He comes in with his folder of notes and just rants with complete disregard for learning. His answer to this is "You are UCLA students, you should take effective notes."

I swear on my Economics degree that in this class (Econ 111, 121 or 171) all this guy will do is draw graphs on the board with his fruity pieces of chalk and give you no notes.

Good luck trying to get a C+ in this class.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
June 18, 2009

only take this class if you actually care about economics. if you're an economics major like me, then you probably don't. so stay away unless you want to learn.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
Feb. 19, 2009

I loved Swanson. He's probably one of my favorite professors at UCLA and definitely the best economics professor I've ever had. The guy is hilarious and intelligent; I found myself talking to him about random crap after asking questions in office hours. Most of my fellow classmates in 121 thought he was intimidating. He does have a tendency to ask a question, receive the wrong answer, and then dismiss it snidely, which some (grow some balls, people) find mortifying, but that, I feel, is one of Swanson's best assets: he won't move on until someone answers his question, and he's not afraid to hurt your feelings if you're acting like a degenerate.

Anyway, study really well, pay attention in class, etc. Don't bother reading the textbook; it's well-written, but pretty useless. And definitely take Swanson if you're sick of professors who talk AT you, not TO you for three hours a week.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
April 28, 2005

Like many professors I've had at UCLA, Swanson seemed to know his material well, but could not convey this information to his students without a struggle. There are long awkward silences in the classroom after he asks the class a somewhat vague question to which nobody knows the answer. If you think he's going to give it to you, don't hold your breath. He won't. He'll throw out remarks like "This is econ one stuff people" (disregard the fact that everyone in this 100 person class has taken econ 1, yet nobody knows the answer). He'll wait until one student dares to take a guess and if they're wrong he'll shoot them down. Talk about a disincentive to come to lecture. I went to class a few times, but stopped going after a while. My grade likely suffered as a result, but that was a price worth paying.

My point: Don't take Swanson unless you have a very strong will and don't care that a 70% is an A since his students don't learn very much.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
April 14, 2005

Prof. Swanson is not a nice guy but he is a good teacher. If you can stand sitting through lectures filled with his opinions about marriage, politics, world affairs and god knows what else, you can survive. I found the book very helpfull. It is crucial that you be able to recreate each graph he draws. The hardest part about his tests is that it is often difficult to figure out what he is actually asking. Once you figure out what model he is asking you for, you can just recreate his graphs and you'll be fine.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
1 of 1
2.7
Overall Rating
Based on 12 Users
Easiness 1.0 / 5 How easy the class is, 1 being extremely difficult and 5 being easy peasy.
Clarity 2.7 / 5 How clear the class is, 1 being extremely unclear and 5 being very clear.
Workload 1.0 / 5 How much workload the class is, 1 being extremely heavy and 5 being extremely light.
Helpfulness 2.0 / 5 How helpful the class is, 1 being not helpful at all and 5 being extremely helpful.

TOP TAGS

There are no relevant tags for this professor yet.

ADS

Adblock Detected

Bruinwalk is an entirely Daily Bruin-run service brought to you for free. We hate annoying ads just as much as you do, but they help keep our lights on. We promise to keep our ads as relevant for you as possible, so please consider disabling your ad-blocking software while using this site.

Thank you for supporting us!