McCurdy lectured at lightning speed, and was really passionate about the material. Definitely necessary to attend every class and do most of the reading (which was pretty heavy), but well worthwhile because the themes of the course were interesting, connected, and relevant. Really altered my perspective on modern American history.
I recommend Professor McCurdy to everyone. He is absolutely incredible. He knows the material backwards and forwards, is very passionate, and crams unthinkable amounts of information into each lecture. You will learn so much and be greatly entertained. McCurdy is also very willing to help you if you are struggling (although he can be intimidating to approach), and the TAs are fantastic. That said, I will echo the sentiment that this is probably the hardest class I will ever take at UVa. I also took Early American Law and found it slightly more manageable. It is nearly impossible to do ALL the reading, the lectures are intense, and on the exams, even the take-home parts are demanding and require that you have a comprehensive understanding of the concepts. You will have to work really hard, and you may not get the A you were seeking, but it's totally worth it. McCurdy is a gem in the History department and he will be sorely missed. Take him while you still can!
One of the best classes I've taken at UVa. McCurdy is an exceptional lecturer who not only combines an incredible grasp of the material with an ability to entertainingly lecture on the driest topics. It's a pity he's not teaching the class again.
Great professor, great class
Fantastic lectures from a great professor. He has his lectures down to an art and makes it look easy. Make no mistake however, this class is extremely difficult and time consuming. Caires is a solid TA and knows his stuff so be prepared.
Great class for anyone interested in legal history. McCurdy is a phenomenal lecturer and Caires is a great TA.
McCurdy is legendary. His lectures have a ton of information but are amazing. I really enjoyed this class because I learned so much. You are able to look at American history from a completely new perspective. Be warned; it is challenging, but well worth the effort.
McCurdy is an amazing professor. He is approachable, cares about his students, and provides entertaining lectures. Readings and lectures contain a ton of info- you really have to keep ahead in the class and attend all lectures to do well. Schedule meetings with your TA. Overall, great class, probably easier than Early American Law
This class seems intimidating at first, but after a few classes, one gets used to and learns to enjoy McCurdy's intense, fast-paced lectures. There were two tests (one was all take-home, the other was half take-home and half in-class) and an in-class closed book final. Heavy workload, but I'd say it's worth it for anyone interested in law and/or American history. HIUS355 is the complement to this class, and I'm definitely planning to take that with McCurdy as well.
Well, this class is plain old hard. The hardest class I have taken as far as difficulty of material. He talks at light speed and assigns esoteric readings. Nevertheless, he is brilliant and I learned a ton about the subject. He is also a Law School professor, so this is a good class for Pre-Law.
