A wide-ranging survey of social science research on large research universities and the undergraduate experience. Topics: origins of the modern US research university, standardized testing and college admissions, the sociology of undergraduate life including "party culture," the economics of educational effectiveness, and campus civil rights and identity politics.
1
UnitsPass no pass
Grading1, 2, 3
PasstimeInter collegiate athletes only
Level LimitLetters and science
CollegeFelt disrespected and undervalued as a woman and a minority. His x profile says everything you need to know about him. He wasn't Stanford material and ended up getting the job at UCSB where he really tries to make the life of everyone more miserable. If you take him, make sure that you are aware that he is very fragile and emotional.
Nall is an expert in American Politics/Public Policy. The course is structured to mimic a graduate-level course. You will read long, complex texts and elaborate on the content in lectures. 106AD focuses on the evolution of the U.S. bureaucracy since the 1800s and theories from APD. Also, he respects and rewards hard workers; the grind is worth it.
He is ok. He doesn't post lecture slides and doesn't allow laptops, which would be fine, except his lectures sometimes get very tangent-y. There is so much reading. The assignments aren't very hard, and there are not very many, but you don't get ANY feedback about your grade on the short answer questions he assigns each week, and there is no rubric
Had him for two upper divs, 162 and 106AD. Both were relatively straightforward as long as you paid attention to the readings and had an idea of what you wanted to do for the papers (memos in 162 and the paper in 106AD). It's a lot of reading but if you can find the arguments in each you'll be way better off.
He didn't receive tenure at Stanford so that's why he is bitter all the time. Now he only torments other people to make himself feel better. Mean professor, terrible attitude. Avoid at all costs.
Prof Nall doesn't seem to like teaching, and definitely doesn't like students. He's condescending, he's mean, and makes fun of you for asking a question. He won't allow computers in class, even for note taking. He seems angry all the time.