The best aspect of the course was the smal seminar setting where students got to discuss the material amongst their peers. The worst aspect of the course was the unclear and unfocused topics. The professor wasn’t able to clearly deliver the course content and students found themselves often confused about the readings and concepts. The course could improve if the entire curriculum was better structured to include clearer discussions and possibly handouts to help students get a better grasp of the sociology concepts. Prospective students should know that this course wil help them get a feel of sociological concepts and the workload is not very heavy.

The best aspects of this course included gaining valuable experience through hands-on activities within and around the community. Students loved the guest lecturers and felt that the work they performed was highly satisfying. Some students did believe the course was a bit disorganized and disliked that it was a huge time commitment. Students also found that the reading and writing assignments were never ful y discussed because there was never enough time. Students also found that a large chunk of their time was caught up in commuting to the worksite, so they suggested that community centers closer to Hopkins would have been a more efficient use of their time. Suggestions for improvement included meeting more than once a week to al ow ample time to discuss the materials. Students also wanted more specific guidelines on what was expected for the assignments. Prospective students should be willing to commit a great deal of time. The course is highly recommended for anyone with an interest in urban health, community service and Baltimore.

Students believed the best aspect of this course was the opportunity to get real world experience in their respective volunteer positions. Students thought the course’s weakest point was that the classes frequently went past their scheduled end time. Some students thought the course could be improved by taking out the narrative assignment. Students thought it was important for others considering taking this course to know that its greatest value was found in the hands on experience they gained in public health.