Rick Olsen - University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC

Professor: Rick Olsen

Department: Communication

College: University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: COM200
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Olsen caring and funny, & gives entertaining lectures that most really enjoyed. While his stories are pertinent and apply the concepts he's explaining, more time needs to be spent 1) explaining concepts (instead of breezing through slides); and 2) clearly outlining his expectations for assignments. Get clarification and ask questions!!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: COM200
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The nature of COM 200 is hard. It's a lot of work and a lot of group work. If you work well with your group and do the work to the best of your ability you will be fine to make the B or better to make it through the great way. He moves quickly through material, but take good notes and enjoy the hilarious jokes he cracks at 8 am.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: COM200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

First of all, this guy is hilarious. He could make a living doing stand up comedy if he wanted to. It was hard to get up every morning for his 8 classes but his energy made it a little easier. The class was extremely difficult but if you attend class and work hard you'll do fine. Also, he's kind of hot.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: COM200
• 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: Mandatory

Comment:

Absolutely awesome professor. Go to class, bring your clicker, and most importantly find a good group. He's super willing to help you out in literally any way possible, even giving step by step tutorials for many assignments. Not to mention he's a madman in the gym. Highly recommend taking him for as many classes possible.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: COM200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Olsen is the best prof in the department. This class is really difficult and you do a lot of research, but put forth the effort and he will make sure you do well. Talk to him as much as possible, he's there to help and even though he is the department head he will make time for you and your group. He's super funny also, class goes by fast.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: COM200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you want to get a good grade, just show up to class everyday and bring your clicker. Show up on time though because he does clicker Qs first thing. It's a hard class but it's important to be devoted to it and not just slack off. PS: does anyone else think he's hot?

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: COM200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Get a group that is committed to doing well and meet with them every week. It's challenging but it won't feel that way if you pick topics for your research projects that interest you. The final product was pretty rewarding for me and I learned a lot about random topics when doing secondary research. The friends I made here still inspire me.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: COM200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The class itself is challenging, but it's manageable. Dr. Olsen makes the class as interesting as possible and all of his assignments make sense. It's true that the material learned in his COM200 class is crucial for all the following courses in the Communication Studies program. Don't skip class, there are daily quizzes that help your grade!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: COM200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Olsen gets a bad rep for being the Department Chair that teaches the gateway class into COM. This class is hard but Olsen will help you if he knows you are working hard. He's funny and makes a class based on research and academic reports as interesting as possible. You'll get a lot out of this class if you keep a good attitude and always go!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: COM200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Hard class based on group work and clicker quizzes every class meeting. The quizzes are extremely important, I missed 3 quizzes and my grade was failing because of it. So go to class, be prepared and don't miss quizzes because a majority of your grade comes from them. Also STUDY, don't expect your passing grade to just be handed to in this class.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: COM200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I have never taken such a disorganized COM course... I expected better.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: COM200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

You don't really have a choice, but Olsen isn't such a bad guy if you do the work. Grades a little harsh, so don't expect this gateway course to be easy by any means. Not always clear with instructions on assignments. He'll take off points for something but sometimes doesn't explain why. Needs a little bit more structure..

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: COM200
• 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:

You have to take this class anyways if you are a COM major...Olsen is a nice guy when you speak with him alone, but he isn't very clear with his instructions. He is often rude over email and assumes that everyone knows what he means without clarification. It's almost impossible to get an A in his class. It's a headache.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: COM200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Huge disappointment. Thinks he's the end all be all of communication. Won't listen to reason and won't compromise on any debates. Make sure you check your grades every day because he's convinced that communication studies is the most important thing anyone's got going on in the world. Avoid like the plague.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: COM200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I wanted to change majors because I had such a terrible experience with him and Tammy Bulger...they think their classes are the most critical thing in the world and its all BS. I was at the library every night practically until 3am for projects that were DUMB. I got a B+,but worked my butt off and hated my life there.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: COM200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Not that hard of a class, but you will bust butt to get that B or A. He's also chair of the department. He really has the students' best interests at heart. If you need something done, take it to Dr. Olsen. Always has time for students, even if they're not currently in his class. COM 200 is a screen for higher level courses, so show him hard work.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: COM200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Not THAT bad. Ok it yeah its going to be hard. But keys: get a steller group (friends arn't always the best), go to class 95% or give your clicker to someone, stay on his schedule and ask him lots of questions to develop a relationship. As long as you stay on top of it, this class is way over rated as being impossible and not too bad.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: COM200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Definitely the worst class you will take in the dept! But since it is mandatory, you have to suck it up and deal with it. Don't learn many practical lessons for future jobs, but definitely learn how to research and cite a lot. Attend every day and be on time for the quizzes (that's a huge portion of your grade). Take notes for the library exam!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: COM200
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Olsen is an awesome professor! He's very understanding and willing to help students but he's far from a pushover so do your work. Daily quizzes are PIVOTAL for passing this class since he pulls most of the curve points from the quizzes. As long as you communicate with him and work well in your groups you should have no prob getting at least a B

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: COM200
• 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 didn't know what I was doing in that class all semester, but through some miracle I passed with a B+ and so did my other group members! I definately would advise people to read the book or at least look at the textbook website b/c a lot of his test questions came from there. The final is a different story, but don't worry there is a big curve!