The best aspects of the course included the subject itself, and the guest speakers from the World Bank. The worst aspects of the course included the lack of structure in the class regarding assignment deadlines and the professor’s discussions which seemed to stray very easily. Students were not provided with previous background on Economics in Africa and there were only a few class meetings. The course would improve if students had clearer assignment outlines and more class lessons. Prospective students should know that the course meets only for half of the semester and that there is a 40 page paper due at the end of the course. 100

The highest rated aspect of the class is the independent structure of the learning. Students thought choosing their own subject to focus the semester long paper on made them feel more invested in the course. However, this led to disorganized class meetings. A more thorough introduction to the big picture concepts was suggested as an improvement. Prospective students should know that the class is focused on producing one 40-page paper over the course of the semester.

Students enjoyed the independent course structure and opportunities for one-on-one attention from the instructor. Students felt the workload was intense and the professor had a tendency to veer of topic. Suggestions for improvement included having smal er portions of the paper due throughout the semester, providing opportunities for peer editing, and scheduling more course meetings. Prospective students should be self-motivated and prepare for an independent study based course. The course grade is determined by one 40 page economics paper.