Cathal Nolan - Boston University, Boston, MA

Professor: Cathal Nolan

Department: History

College: Boston University, Boston, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HI284
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Nolan is one of the best lecturers Ive ever had. Hes very intelligent, but doesnt rub it in your face. Many times I just liked talking to him about history because it is interesting, not necessarily for the class. On top of that, he was very informative and helpful in office hours. Would highly recommend!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HI408
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor nolan tells it like it is. He doesnt bull you and will scare the living sh out of you but you will be interested to say the least. He is also very understanding with grades and deadlines.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HI284
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Nolan is the best lecturer I have ever had. Class with him is like listening to the most amazing audio book. Attendance is not mandatory and tests are mostly on readings, but I would not miss his lectures. The TF grades, but he is more than willing to evaluate the fairness of grades. Cannot recommend enough!!!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HI336
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Nolan's lectures are by far the most entertaining I have attended at BU; His passion for the subject matter he teaches is plainly visible. The assignments are quite long, but the reading are interesting and entertaining, and it's the only class I have that I would be genuinely dissapointed to skip, even on a nice day.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HI336
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Nolan knows a lot about what he is teaching and it shows. His lectures are prewritten but nevertheless very engaging. He's very open to questions but has a tendency to not actually answer the question you ask; however you will learn something. Overall a very interesting professor worth a couple visits to office hours.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HI408
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Professor Nolan is incredibly knowledgeable when it comes to the history of warfare. It's also clear that he's incredibly passionate about what he teaches. Lectures and discussions are entertaining, full of tangents, overall you come out of the class with a fantastic understanding of each era of history that you study. Great professor, great class.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HI408
• 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:

Definitely the best history professor in BU. Great accent and great personality, his class is always interesting. Be prepared to read A LOT OF texts if you're not familiar with the topic, and I don't recommend people who know little about the military history to take his advanced courses.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HISTORYOFWAR
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I loved this class, Nolan is great. Comes off as arrogant and unwilling to listen to students, but if you push your way in there, he's totally not like that. Funny lectures with lots of information and if you're into WW2 you will love him! He knows a lot. Assigns book reviews and too much reading, but is very helpful at office hours. DONT skip.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HI150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I had no interest in taking this class & day 1 totally scared me…as did day 2,3,4,and 5. But then I realized how awesome Nolan is and how helpful he is (go to office hours!). He's totally understanding of most things. I had no knowledge of war and really helped me set a pace to learn more. The papers aren't hard & books aren't necessary.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HI284
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took History of War with Nolan last fall. I'm sure it would be very interesting for someone who didn't know much about warfare going in... But I did, and I found it boring and generalized. Nolan is pompous and his lectures often seem driven by emotion/pathos rather than by fact. Not the type of history I'm used to. It was an easy class, though.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HI150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Prepare to learn more about war than you ever wanted to know. Nolan goes incredibly in depth about war, especially the gore of it. You watch a lot of gore and listen to his gory stories. I did NOT read any books, but got an A-. Only 4 grades (3 essays and 25% is attendance). Overall though, it's awesome and is perfect to fulfill that WR150.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I was a little intimidated about taking his class at first, but I'm so glad that I did. His lectures are interesting, engaging, and just brilliant. I'm so glad I took this class. I've learned so much from him.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HI307
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

And to wrap up, HI307 was NOT a difficult class. I don't really do school. I don't read much or study much, and that's the truth. I looked over my lecture notes the night before both the midterm and final, read my two (choose-your-own) books for the papers, and got an A-. I honestly wish I could take this class again. Nolan is such a boss.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HI307
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Honestly I can't give this guy a high enough rating. I always skip a handful of classes every semester and couldn't care less... I missed one of Nolan's lectures and I was upset. He is the greatest. His lectures are epic and he makes you actually care about what you're learning. I would take four classes with him every semester if I could.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HI537
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Took this class over the summer. One of the most enjoyable lectures i've ever had, and it was 2 and a half hours long. So knowledgeable and passionate, funny and opinionated, overall interesting, the textbooks were unnecessary and the book review papers were basically the whole grade. amazing class.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HI307
• 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:

Best professor I've had at BU. Passionate, extraordinarily knowledgeable, personable. His lectures are fantastic though he doesn't require attendance, and I did no reading outside of the day before the midterm and final and I got an A-.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HI307
• 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:

Tough professor. Not helpful. Very insecure. Class boring.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HI307
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Glorified book club. If you have nothing better to do but read 170 pages a week on British Infantry tactics and whatnot, take this class. Otherwise... don't

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HI307
• 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:

Low returns in thi class. Not interesting, little respect of students, hard assignments.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIS307
• 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:

Hard course, little rewards. He has his favorites, and he talks a lot. Assignments are difficult. He treats undergraduates like ....