This is a major requirement, so all SOC majors have to take it at some point. I would NOT recommend taking it with Olick. He's the head of the department, which is great for resources, but the way students are treated is absolutely insane. Cell phones are strictly prohibited, as is breathing basically. Literally, I had a TA come up behind me during lecture because I had notes for a different class up, and she tattled on me to my TA. Additionally, computers are forbidden in discussion, which is ridiculous because it basically requires you to print the readings. Somehow this lecture of over 250 people felt like a high school class. The subject matter is actually really interesting and comprehensive because, after all, it is a 1010 class. The reading is consequently a lot. Exams aren't exactly hard, and the final was free responses to questions you selected. This was one of the most annoying classes I took at UVA - because of Olick.

I absolutely LOVED this class. Opinions on this class definitely differ whether you are interested in sociology or not. I honestly found this class amazing! The readings were great and so were the lectures. Olick's lectures don't have much to do with the readings, most of the content in the class comes from your TA and what you read. The final is pretty easy compared to the midterm, but as long as you do your work and show that on the two exams & in discussion, you'll be golden.

So I really felt like I didn't take away much from this class. I wanted and tried to, but didn't. Professor Olick isn't a fan of the traditional lecture with informative powerpoints, he kind of just talks about topics loosely related to what we're learning for the week. There were a few "damn, I didn't realize that until now you bring it up" moments in lecture, but that's about it. He is pretentious, but means well. Something that i didn't like is that the grade is ultimately up to your TA, and for some reason I felt that my TA had something against me. Readings were long and barely related (also not very necessary). Like I get it, he wants to instill the idea of thinking about sociology into us, rather than spoon feeding it to us. But the execution wasn't very well done.

If I could have just not taken sociology and self-studied for the MCAT, in hindsight I totally would have, and urge you to do the same. Don't take this class with Olick.

Professor Olick is very knowledgeable about his subject and clearly shows his passion for sociology. He isn't laugh=out-loud funny but he has amusing anecdotes and is a nice person. He does talk a lot, and he rarely shows videos/pictures, but the content of his lectures is usually interesting and makes you think. There's no textbook but we have assigned readings every week, and they are on average 15 pages each. Those readings make up the majority of the exam, so pay attention to those and go to office hours/discussion with your TAs for that also. Show interest in sociology, talk to the professor, and you'll do really well!

Olick is a talkative guy who obviously knows a lot about the discipline, but he's also not humble. Maybe I'm easily annoyed, but his air of pretension, even in office hours doesn't sit well with me. Go ahead take his class for an easy grade, but for an education, go elsewhere.

Olick speaks well and knows a lot about sociology. This class does not use a textbook, as lectures go over the textbook-like info and weekly discussions go over the readings. Sometimes Olick goes on and on during lecture but overall he has a lot to offer and you can learn a lot of things from what he has to say. This class is not an easy A. You only have two exams and they collectively make up 70% of your grade. These exams are identifications and essays and can be graded quite harshly. Despite the grading, I think this is a worthwhile course that everyone should take!

This is a pretty easy class that assigns five assignments that can be an easy 100% which can act as 20% of your grade. I just studied the day before the test and got an A in the class. This professor definitely provides a better class than Kingston.

Amazing teacher. Very passionate and knowledgable. He cares about his students and is a fair grader. Recommend 100%. He is also head of the department so he gets the best TAs.

This class is an easy A. Olik doesn't put much on the power points, and he tends to go off on tangents, but he is a nice guy. The material is basic logic, just with a twist on perspective. Didn't have to do all the readings, because the discussions filled me in on what I didn't do. Would recommend if you're interested in sociology or want a gpa boost.

Professor Olick goes off on tangents and most of what is discussed in class is never asked on exams. There is a midterm and final, both of which were easy if you kept up with the readings and went to class (he does point out concepts that he says he will test on during lecture). Very easy if you put in the work.