John Guilmartin - The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

Professor: John Guilmartin

Department: History

College: The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST508
• 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:

I took Several classes from Dr. G when I was an undergrad and grad student. He is an excellent professor who knows his stuff but you have to put forth the effort and think for yourself; you will not be spoon fed. If you are not in to learning about military history, putting forth serious effort and or are looking for a PC safe space do not take.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY3570WW2
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Best prof. I have ever had at Ohio State. Took history of WW2 and wish I could take it again. Grade essentially consists of 3 exams (15%, 30%, and 50% of grade respectively. He is a true expert. Exams are pick what you want, for instance pick 1 of 6 essays. I caution because I love WW2 history and if you have no background this class will be tough

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST3580
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

One of the smartest professors I've had here. Learned a lot about the political/military/cultural part of the Vietnam war, and his tests were pick 4 of 12 short answer, etc. so you could focus on what interested you. He was slightly disorganized, but if you attend class/guest lecturers you will be fine. Definitely recommend this class!!

Rating # 4

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Please stay away from this class ... Just stay away

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY3580
• 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:

This is easily the worst teacher I've ever had in my formal education. His lectures and lecture notes are unorganized, his exams test on things that were never discussed in class, and the TAs were two of the most condescending people I've ever met. Stay as far away from this class as you can.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST3580
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Deplorable class. Nice man & respect his 2 silvestars, but, it is time for him to hang up the coat & enjoy life - to be respectful. I did NOT get anything from this class - NOTHING. I learned more from The History Ch & Wiki than him. This was suppose to be a Vietnam War class - we barely touched the war. AVOID THIS CLASS & PROF!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST308
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

AVOID CLASS AT ALL COST Impossible to study for half the stuff on the tests are not in his workbook and his lectures are pointless because he just reads his note without elaborating then expects you to write a page essay about it. I would avoid this class unless you already know a great deal about not only the Vietnam war but the entire history.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST308
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Guilmartin is indeed an authority on military knowhow, but unless you are a history major or only interested in the military standpoint of the Vietnam War, please do not take this class. I love history, but this class holds absolutely no valueable information for you to gain if you aren't in the marines or a major. DONT TAKE AS A GEC!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIS307
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Guilmartin was a fantastic lecturer who is clearly an authority on military history. He also was kind enough to allow me to do an independent study to make up the last few hours I needed for graduation. With that said, he is a bit disorganized and his lecture notes are not always up to date or relevant for his lectures.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST580
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Word of warning: the class was completely unstructured. Prof couldn't stick to syllabus, and was all over the place. Literally no one took notes by the end of the quarter bc it was impossible. He goes into tons of details and tangents and the powerpoint is useless. Had to rely on book, wikipedia and memorizing facts to pass this class.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST308
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I really enjoyed the content of this class, but the tests were pretty wretched. ABSOLUTELY go see the TA's!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That got me through the class!!!!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST308
• 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:

If you aren't interested in military type things-don't take this class. He teaches it completely military based. There is no useful guidance for the exams which are difficult. He wrote the textbook which is in shorthand notes that dont make sense if you dont already know stuff abt this topic. Basically taught myself thru google. Disappointment.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST282
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Simply the finest professor I ever had in eight years of college at four different institutions (including study abroad and grad school). He's military, you're going to get military thinking from this guy. The insights are priceless.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST307
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Expert and knowledgeable. Interesting explanations about importance of certain countries' aircraft in World War II. Also interesting is his personality explanations about famous people, such as Churchill, Roosevelt, Stalin, and Adolph the Hitler. He is also a great maritime/ships expert and historian.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST307
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Awful. He is so unprofessional. I can't believe he teaches at OSU. His lectures are awful and half the time he is injecting his political views (right-wing conservative). He blamed FDR for making the depression worse (after reading several "convincing" conservative books). He even found a way to bash Jimmy Carter in a WWII class! Stay away.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST308
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If you do not like military-type things, do not take this course. Sometimes I felt as though I were in classroom at West Point. The powerpoint presentations and the book, his collection of slides, for the course are worthless. Half of the class used wikipedia prior to exams.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Very sweet old man who just happens to be one of the worst professors I have ever had. His powerpoints are confusing and his lectures are boring and self-indulgent. I learned more from the 9 books on Vietnam I checked out of the public library than anything associated with this class. Plus, he likes to quote himself.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST308
• 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:

I took the class to to as an elective for my major and was surprised . He is one of the best professors I have ever had. He is not P.C and brought in good guest speakers.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST307
• 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:

I love WWII history and really looked forward to this class. Unfortunately, this class was nothing like I expected. Dr. Guilmartin taught the class from the militaristic point of view. If artillery, battle tactics, ect aren't your thing DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS! Also, lectures are pointless--he digresses into random stories that don't help at all

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST508
• 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:

Here's the deal: if you like military history, or just history, you can't go wrong with Dr. G. If you hate history or don't like having to go to class, then you'll have problems. He can be unorganized and his lecture notes are somewhat out of date. His tests aren't typical and there is a lot of material. That said, he's great. Give him a chance!