<p>I'm gonna major in econ, and I've heard that the professor for Econ 51 is very polarizing. Is this true? What makes the course so difficult?</p>
<p>I think Leachman is teaching it again, I did not take it with her, but from what freshmen have told me she does not curve at all and the averages are typically in the 70s.</p>
<p>This is true. I am taking Econ 51 with Leachman right now.
Average on first test= 69 (with 6 point curve)
Average on second test= 70.8</p>
<p>The average in the class is a C- right now.
Our class used to have 120 people.
Now that number dropped to 104.
That's going to be the thing to 'bring our average up', :)</p>
<p>You can either get Leachman or Fullenkamp for Intro to Econ.
I would say that if you really enjoy Econ that you should take it though.. the upper-level classes are much better, I hear!</p>
<p>Is the professor just really bad at teaching? or are her tests just really hard?</p>
<p>Also, is Fullenkamp any better?</p>
<p>Fullenkamp is supposedly a good, but difficult teacher.</p>
<p>Supposedly his Econ 51D tests are rather rigorous</p>
<p>
[quote]
she does not curve at all
[/quote]
She is not a bad teacher and is wicked smart at economics, but the fact that she doesn't curve at all makes this class more difficult to get a good grade in than most other 'tough classes' at Duke.</p>
<p>Is it mostly freshmen in the class? Would it be wise to take it as a sophomore?</p>
<p>If you want to be an Econ major, take it as a freshman. If you are starting from 51.. you have to take 55, 105, 110, and 139 before you can take most econ courses. (you can take 105/139 or 110/139 same semester)
I think first semester had a lot of freshmen.. my second semester class has a lot of sophomores though (who need Econ 51 to fulfill other major requirements.. public policy etc).</p>
<p>The difference between Fullenkamp and Leachman is that Fullenkamp's tests are a LOT HARDER (there have been tests where the average<50) but I think he curves to B-.. I'm not sure. A crap load of people had to drop out of his class though too (5-10%)..</p>
<p>Thanks for the info Mondo. Do you know if their lectures online? Also, could you describe their teaching styles? Do they expect you to regurgitate their lectures on the test, or is it more of synthesizing info/analysis? Oh, and finally, which one prepares better for the final, and how substantial of a grade is the final (I'm assuming it's a departmental final?). Whose tests would you say are more straightforward? (As in, if whose grade correlates more with amount of studying?)</p>
<p>Thanks again</p>
<p>Econ51D has become way more of a weeder course than when I took it in Fall 2005.</p>
<p>It used to be Econ105, not 51D, that made people stop pursuing an Economics major.</p>
<p>Both Leachman and Fullenkamp put their lectures online, which is really useful.
I don't know about Fullenkamp but for Leachman, lectures>textbook!
There are a lot of things she talks about that the textbook doesn't even cover..</p>
<p>As for Econ 51, it's only ONE professor that teaches it a semester. There is one big section for Econ. The final is not departmental.. Leachman and Fullenkamp make their own finals. It depends on what semester you take it.. but the pattern I've been seeing for each semester is..</p>
<p>Fullenkamp Leachman Leachman Fullenkamp Fullenkamp Leachman Leachman.. and so on..</p>
<p>So, I'm planning on majoring in Pub Pol, but I am considering taking Econ 51 first semester freshman year. Is this suicide?? And if I end up taking the course, should I fill the rest of my schedule with easier classes? I come from a very very small school and I know the transition to college is going to be brutal, so should I wait to take Econ second semester? I really don't know what to do!!!</p>
<p>Would it be recommended to take Econ 51 over the summer. I need the class for Pub Pol, but I also intend to major in engineering and really don't want to overload on classes or kill my gpa.</p>
<p>Lol
I never took AP Economics before and am working on a practice test right now.
The AP exam is EASIER than Leachman's tests!! :D
But if you get 70%, you get a 5!
If you get a 70% on a Leachman test, that's a C-.</p>