I'm gonna echo the "lol wtf is this class" comment. This is the easiest class I've ever taken or heard of at UVA, bar none. I think I did one reading all semester, and I finished with an A. Blumberg has been teaching this class for YEARS and has the content memorized, which means that she repeats the most important information about 10 times. She prints out her slides, which cover everything you need to know from the readings. Her lectures are repetitive and dry (except when she tells stories from her own life), but you show up, she gives you the most important information and you get out of doing the readings. The exams are multiple choice, and her expectations for essays are low, so any effort at all will yield a good grade. That being said, I actually loved this class. Blumberg has lived a fascinating life, and she's extremely smart even though she seems like a rambling old lady sometimes. It was also my first sociology class, and I feel like it is a good one to take if you want an introductory taste of sociology. The course studies the 5 bases of human society, from hunters and gatherers to industrialism. It was interesting to look back on the patterns of history and understand where we currently stand from a neutral, sociological perspective. Blumberg has also worked all over the world in development, and she applies the sociological patterns of human history to current reality to propose solutions to issues present in developing countries. I recommend this class. The lectures are going to be boring, but if you stick it out, you'll learn in the long run and get a good grade as well.

Lol wtf was this class. Prof. Blumberg is repetitive as hell, to the point where everyone in the class knew that when she talked about Australia's geographic luck, she was going to say "they did not have one suitable cultigen genetically plastic enough for cultivation," w o r d f o r w o r d. That being said, she is undoubtedly the most entertaining professor I've ever had, and has experienced quite a bit in here time in the field.
The class is broken down into two parts. The first part is the 'deep history', which covers how humans have progressed from hunter-gatherers to the industrial societies of today. The second part covers the sociology of developing and developed societies today, focusing particularly on gender.

There are two exams, a final paper, and ample extra credit opportunities. There are reading assigned for every class, but she covers all you need to know from the readings in class, so there's no point in doing the readings. Overall it was a pretty easy class, I'd recommend it

This is honestly the most worthwhile course I've taken at UVa - gives you a much better understanding of the links between history and the present, and causes of current world issues. Rae hands out notes in class and is tremendously knowledgable, if rambling. As long as you study her handouts, you can get away without doing the readings. She gives out up to HALF A LETTER GRADE (e.g. difference between A- and an A) of extra credit and grades generously. 1 short paper, 1 5-6 page research paper and 2 midterms (about 40 multiple choice) *GO TO REVIEW SESSIONS. They are well worth your while.

This course has a final exam and a midterm. One research paper that is 4-6 pages long. Requirements are no big deal. The most annoying thing I found about this course was Blumberg's method of making you come to class. She doesn't post her powerpoints online which are basically summaries of key points you should know for exams and she doesn't even post her syllabus online...I don't know what's up with that. You have to go to class to get all the materials she hands out or go to her office hours. She's a very nice professor, laid back and a little eccentric. There is a fair amount of reading if you want to keep up with the course. This course also has a lot of feminist theory tied into it being that Blumberg's work revolves around it so expect a lot of Gender and Development material.

This class is a really interesting class. Its a very broad overview of human societies throughout history but really focuses down on modern day gender and microfinance issues later in the semester. If you do the reading and listen to things Blumberg emphasizes in class its not at all hard to ace this class

She knows TOO much. Bounces around a lot and tells a ton of stories about her past experiences, but overall a very interesting class.

it was a 2.5 hour lecture with little discussion. twice a week would be a better course. takes a while to get to discussion of contemporary development (and not just world history), but blumberg is funny and nice.

Interesting course but must attend lecture AND do the readings to succeed

Blumberg is very knowledgeable, require quite a lot of readings though

Rae knows a fantastic amount about development, starting from prehistoric times and continuing through to today. Classes are one big lecture from Rae, but not hard to listen to if you are interested in the material.