Derek Shanahan - Millersville University, Millersville, PA

Professor: Derek Shanahan

Department: Geography

College: Millersville University, Millersville, PA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: GEO226
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Shanahan is a great professor. Hes very funny while also being incredibly knowledgeable about his subject material. If you have to write a paper for him, do the draft as it will help you get a better grade.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: GEOG227
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Most of my struggles were that I am not made for online classes, but regardless, I thought we could have been provided with better information. The readings may work well for some people, but I think some would learn better using Powerpoints and/or videos.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: GEO227
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Just the worst online class I have ever taken. Did not assign a book so you have to print out 40 page chapters each week. He only gives 4 tests or quizzes which make up most of your grade. I felt like I was not learnong anything because he makes it unnecessarily hard to get to the material. He needs to take online classes 101 or not teach that way.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: GEOG226H
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Shanahan is one of the best professors I've ever had at Millersville. His lectures are very informative and he also uses humor to keep class very enjoyable. Do the homework he assigns (which includes the textbook readings) and if you have to write an essay for his class, I STRONGLY recommend doing the rough draft. Work hard and you'll do fine.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: GEOG226H
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Shanahan is a fantastic professor and going to his class was something I always looked forward to. Most of his class was lecture but those lectures were always fun and he always open to different ideas. I would recommend him for anyone who needs to take a geography course.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: GEOG342
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

For context this is an online course. He is unclear in what he wants from papers and doesn't answer any questions. I emailed him with a small set of questions the day before a paper was due and he responded "it's a bit too late to be asking questions". I've had multiple negative experiences trying to talk to him. He's condescending and rude.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: GEO227
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very unclear with expectations. One example--essay question for exam with directions "don't worry about paragraphs", yet he said I didn't write enough. Tripled the amount I wrote for the next exam and he said I didn't write enough. He said he didn't think I read the material?? Anyways, if you take his class I would ask for a grading rubric. D

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: GEO226
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

You'll be laughing all lecture. Lectures are very long and very detailed but the quizzes/exams are directly from the lectures. There is a lot of reading but this is an easy A. This is a writing course so of course there is a paper. DO THE ROUGH DRAFT!!! The draft is optional... but you won't get an A in the class if you don't do it!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: GEO227
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Took the 227 class - not sure what the fuss is about. Interesting class and if you just follow the rules you'll be fine. Most of the complaints I heard about were not about class material just about not getting points for missing deadlines. He answers emails quickly - especially in the summer (I did another on line class with him in the winter)

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: GEO227
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Does not help at all when you ask questions. Very rude when you do ask him questions. Makes his students feel stupid. Very easy class, but a very bad prof. Nothing positive to say about the prof. except it is an easy class.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: GEO227
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Class is really easy? But then you needed help? That's for the student below

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: GEOG342
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is a very tough grader and loves to give criticism that is just rude rather than constructive. Everyone that had him for a face-to face class loved him so maybe his sarcasm and humor gets lost over email. I would recommend taking a regular class rather than an online one with him or you may have the same problem.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: GEO227
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Doesn't help students at all. Class is really easy though. If you could use name calling on here I would for sure cause this guy has no people skills what so ever.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: EUROPE342
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is extremely rude. I emailed him with ONE question, and I got: " Really? Honestly? There's almost nothing to look at and you can't find the book chapter?Perhaps an on line class is not the best educational vehicle for you if you can't just click your mouse a little bit." In the end, there was no posted chapter. And no apology.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: GEO227
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

For the student that said that "we just read it ourselves" - it's an on line class you fool - what did you expect?

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: GEOG227
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This was an online class I took led by Dr. Shanahan. He had us read a chapter per week and there were easy discussions posts each week too. There were two tests and two quizzes. As long as you keep up with everything it will be fine. The only thing is that he doesn't really teach us the material, we just read about it ourselves.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: GEOG227
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took Urban Geography with him online and it was a very easy course. He was an interesting professor and he had a lot of different opinions on the different topics we discussed. The discussion posts were helpful and the quizzes and tests were not difficult. Definitely a manageable online class. You need the textbook because it's an online class.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: GEO227
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He was an alright teacher. It wasn't a very easy class at all. There weren't very many opportunities to get points for the class... 2 tests, 2 quizzes, and a few discussions. It was an average class. He could be very rude at times over emails to the class.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: GEOG226
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Best teacher Ever!! He is hilarious.. he knows a lot and he makes the class interesting.. Its like going to a stand up show and coming out with actual facts and figures. More professors should be like him. Ahh loved his class and his lectures

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: GEO220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Relatively easy class. Just needs a little bit of book information and you are set for an easy class. Don't forget to do online work.