Arnold O'Brien - University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA

Professor: Arnold O'Brien

Department: Science

College: University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HYDRO314
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Homework becomes a group effort the hour before it is due. But if you ask him a question, he is straight forward.

Rating # 2

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

He is straightforward in his teaching methods. This is one of those classes where you need to take notes on points he does not write on the board as well as understanding the concepts he does write down. Homework is straightforward and makes you think. I loved this class, I love the subject and he really opened my eyes to a new way of learning.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO101
• 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:

His class was not the easy ride some had hoped for but he was helpful and fair.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HYDROGEO
• 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:

He is what a University professor should be. Difficult, yet helpful. Amazing amount of information is given in every class. Do your work and he will reward you. Happy retirement Arnie! We will never forget.

Rating # 5

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

just pay attention. you will do well. he is one of the best professors i've ever had. geoscience major.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO117
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Only took the lab because it was all I needed to graduate. Didn't miss a single class and got checks or check+ on all the labs and feel pretty good about the practical... He gave me a "D" for a grade... I sat up front and payed attention too...

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ASTIDK
• 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 class was terrible, I dreaded it. I'm a straight A student and this was my first D ever received. Just don't do it.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ASTRONOMY
• 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:

Tests are very difficult...he tests beyond the textbook and lecture. However, he is a nice person and is more than willing to help out.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: AST101
• 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:

comes out of left field on tests, has no idea how to teach a general education course, draws silly diagrams for half of the class which are useless when it comes to the tests. Everyone fails the tests so don't worry. I got a 62 on my first test scaled to an 87. Why teach a basic general science then throw out a graduate type test. Power trip

Rating # 10

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

He is a genuinely good guy. He is what a college science professor should be. His tests are about the hardest thing I've taken EVER, but his grading is more than fair. He knows his stuff. The way I take his class is I try to forget the grading and just try to learn the material. If you really just try to do that you will get a lot out of it.

Rating # 11

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

tough class because all he does is lecture. sit up front, he likes that and it makes you pay attention, or at least try to. you dont really need to read the book, just go to class and PAY FULL ATTENTION. study your notes about a week before your test. 2 tests. 1 final. can do an extra credit paper on anything, that gets averaged in with your final

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: AST101
• 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:

The class itself was not bad. He lectured the entire time and did not take attendance. However, his tests are IMPOSSIBLE. I made huge study guides for his exams (the last study guide being 25 pages typed) because literally anything and everything is fair game. I also read the textbook. I got a D but scaled to an A because everyone else did so bad.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Well first off this professor is a pretty nice guy and you can tell that he knows a lot about astronomy but I really regret taking his class for two reasons: #1 All he does for the whole class is lecture and it is extremely boring, so I found it really hard to pay attention & #2 his tests are RIDICULOUSLY hard, esp. for non-science majors.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ASTGEO
• 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:

He's a nice guy and if you take notes you have a better chance than not going to class, i didnt even buy the book and i got a B-. No one really passes but he scales most things so its not that bad. I am taking another course of his

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO000
• 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:

Astronomy with O'Brian was lecture and note taking--that was it, but it was by no means boring. O'Brian lectured with clarity and subtle humor. He knew his stuff, and I found science to be genius and enlightening. For those who say the class was boring: IMAGINE. Actively imagining the physics and the universe it self might have helped.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ASTRO115
• 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:

Such a boring class. He was pure evil.. grinned while passing out failed tests. Didn't go by the book at all, so reading the book doesn't help. The tests are really hard.

Rating # 17

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Great guy. I could tell he cares about teaching the subject. Only one BIG flaw, his quizzes and exams are really hard. They're poorly worded and half of the questions where never covered in class. You think he means one thing, but you find out later (when you get the test back) he means something else.

Rating # 18

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

The thing with O'brien is that he doesnt bring much personality to the class so many people find it boring.however if you really like earth science you will find his class really fascinating because he is very smart and gives very interesting lectures.his classes are straight forward, tests can be confusing though.

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Nobody knows what they are talking about....this guy was a good teacher. He explained things very well and gave good notes. However, his tests are impossible because the questions have nothing to do with what we learn about and he words them poorly. If he didnt scale the tests NOT 1 Person would have passed his class. I got a B in the class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Good instructor. Uses old school teaching methods. Focused lectures with complementary reading material. Exams can be hard. Was very helpful during office hours.