Brian Ogilvie - University of Massachusetts - Amherst

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Brian Ogilvie - University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Professor: Brian Ogilvie

Department: History

College: University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Rating # 1

Overview:

Course: HIS180
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

You can tell he's very knowledgeable about the subject at hand. It's a history course so obviously there's readings to do. He''s a very nice guy and is always offering to help students. If you pay attention and at least look over the reading assignments you should be fine. Don't take his class if you can't be bothered to actually do anything.

Rating # 2

Overview:

Course: HIS180
Grade Received: A-
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 1.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I attended maybe 1/4 of the lectures and discussions and rarely did the readings. The professor's nice and knowledgeable, but his lectures will put you to sleep and his slides are minimalist to say the least. I completely BS'd the tests and papers - as long as you use the right names and terms and feign any interest or thought you get a good grade.

Rating # 3

Overview:

Course: HIS180
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

He is a very knowledgeable guy. He style of lecture is a bit hard to follow at times since there's little to nothing on his slides and he tends to ramble. He assigns a lot of readings both of online articles and in books, so I hope you can skim well! I found the midterm and final to be quite difficult, but keep in mind he is there to help!

Rating # 4

Overview:

Course: HIST305
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Nice guy, very smart. Sometimes you can get drowned in the reading and fall behind, but the class is mostly papers so you won't get blindsided with tests or quizzes.

Rating # 5

Overview:

Course: HIST180
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I had to drop Ogilvie's class because of work conflicts, but I really enjoyed him. He's intelligent and interesting. It's college, he isn't supposed to spoonfeed you his subject matter. I wish people would stop giving professors bad reviews because THEY couldn't be bothered to actually take notes or attend class...

Rating # 6

Overview:

Course: 111
Grade Received: B+
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: Yes
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: Yes
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Nerdy but nice. The books were real books not textbooks--that's cool because normally "textbooks" are hella boring.

Rating # 7

Overview:

Course: HIST111
Grade Received: A-
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Ogilvie's a smart guy, but he teaches this introductory course like it's a 300 level. No actual textbooks, and his lectures are just pictures on the board which he rambles about for an hour. Be prepared to work a ton and not learn anything in the process.

Rating # 8

Overview:

Course: 112
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 2.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

This class was awful. I dreaded it everyday. Oglivie is nice, however he is extremely boring. Only two papers and a final exam. Makes this intro class way harder. He thinks everyone was a history major.

Rating # 9

Overview:

Course: 181
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.5
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

This was an awful class, his lectures were hard to follow. the grading was unfair, he treated this class like it was a 300 level course.

Rating # 10

Overview:

Course: HIS492H
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

A tough grader but very, very knowledgeable. The course was an honors seminar, so much more interactive than a lecture course. A LOT of reading though, and a substantial amount of research.

Rating # 11

Overview:

Course: HIST181
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: No
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Ogilvie is a really nice guy, but he is very hard to follow in lecture. He just stands up there and talks really fast and his slides are useless. He also makes you do a lot of reading. My TA was terrible too which made it even worse.

Rating # 12

Overview:

Course: HIST305
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Second class I've taken with him and I find him really enjoyable. He really knows his stuff most esp about this time frame. 3 papers, 2 short 1 research and a take home final. books are for references but not necessary for class all the time tho certainly help. can miss 3 classes. papers are revisable. He wants you to learn more than anything

Rating # 13

Overview:

Course: HIST180
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I admit that I found him hard to follow at times, but he does know what he's talking about. In person he's a nice guy and always replied to my e-mails. I encourage you to take advantage of his office hours because he can be difficult to understand in lecture. Oh, and be prepared to do a whole lot of writing.

Rating # 14

Overview:

Course: HIST112
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Very nice guy, extremely smart... but his class was very difficult. Lecturing is not his strong suit. Found it hard to stay awake during his lectures.

Rating # 15

Overview:

Course: HIST112
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He's a bright guy but he treats his 112 level course like a 300. Dont take this class unless you enjoy working harder for less credit.

Rating # 16

Overview:

Course: HIST112
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

i hated this class. he takes attendance, so you have to go to class, all you do is take notes and they dont even help you when writing the papers. Its a 112 level class but he teaches it like its a 350 level. If you try to talk to him about some things or argue a point, he can be rude. I really wouldnt recommend this class to anyone.

Rating # 17

Overview:

Course: HIST305
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.5
Course Difficulty: 2.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

A great professor.You can do really well as long as you do the readings (or at least skim them since there's WAY too much) and go to class. If you only go everything will make sense. Readings needed for midterm/final and two papers though. Papers can be handed in late without penalty with 10pt bonus if its on time. A big dork, but a GREAT professor

Rating # 18

Overview:

Course: HIST181
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

drop this class...do not take this class...did i stutter or did your brain skip? do not take this class

Rating # 19

Overview:

Course: HIST396
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

ogilvie is a great professor. he's lucid, brilliant, and helpful. maybe he moves a little fast, but that's only on account of the fact that he's got such a wealth of knowledge. if there can be any complaint about him, it's that he's a little more scholar than teacher. but he offers great insights and is easily the best professor in the department.

Rating # 20

Overview:

Course: HIS305
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

For Credit: N/A
Textbook Used: Yes
Would Take Again: N/A
Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I have to say this guy is super smart, very helpful, and extremely nice! Yet lectures drag on and if you ask a question he goes on and on until you cant even remember what we were supposed to be talking about. Sprouts knowledge like a sprinkler that can be unappealing at times. Workload is heavy (reading wise) and exams are difficult but he grades

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