Dennis Dickerson - Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Professor: Dennis Dickerson

Department: History

College: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST1410
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

There are only 4 grades, 2 papers a midterm & final, all graded by TA's. His lectures are good & i enjoyed the material & unique perspective on history. The material focuses alot on social issues and glosses over wars. If you read you'll do fine but he does ramble in lectures, is very funny too. If you're not a good writer avoid this class.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST1410
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is a pretty good lecturer, but he mispronounces several words during each lecture. If he does not have a powerpoint prepared, then expect a class where he rambles for 50 minutes. He is a very caring teacher and easily accessible. Grades depend on the TA's and were 2 papers, 1 midterm, and a final. The midterm was graded somewhat harshly.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST1410
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He was a fantastic lecturer; he made class more like listening to your grandfather tell stories than just a class. Class did sometimes feel like an AADS class. Not many tests/writing assignments but you better do well otherwise your grade will suffer. Very helpful professor with great TAs. Would definitely take one of his classes again.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST1410
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I found this class really interesting and very helpful for helping me develop my ability to write a history paper. There were times I wished the class was more in depth. I had friends that were not great writers and weren't strong in history and they struggled, but I found the class very interesting and I didn't have trouble making a good grade.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST141
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class had two papers, a midterm, and a final. If you make one bad grade, you pretty much don't have a chance to make a good average. It's super hard to be as detailed as he expects on the timed midterm and final. Even if your answers are correct, you likely won't make an A if it's not long/ detailed enough. Papers were graded pretty easily.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST1770
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I'm an atheist who took this class for AXLE credit, but I'd totally do it again. Dennis is super cool, and I felt like he was really open to ideas different than his own. While I may never use anything from this class, I feel like I definitely learned something and gained some perspective.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST141
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

An easy A if you've taken AP US History before and done well. As a history major, I took this class hoping to go more in depth about the period, but it was very general and boring and I didn't get anything out of the course. However, he's a very genuine and funny guy, and I enjoyed when he started discussions in class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST141
• 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:

Pr. Dickerson was great! Always had interesting lectures and is clearly super knowledgeable about what he teaches with great stories and examples. Wants you to do well and is straightforward about the mid-term and final. 2 Essay prompts were confusing but clarified by the TAs. TA determines grade mostly but Dickerson made this class enjoyable!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Dickerson is a passionate, knowledgeable, and humorous lecturer. I selected him as a professor on a friend's recommendation, and I have not been disappointed. Sometimes, though, you can tell that he feels limited by this freshmen-level course, and he'd probably be an even better professor in a higher-level course. (TAs do all the grading.)

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST284B
• 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:

prof seems really knowledgeable about the hist of african american health, but lectures are pointless and boring. no tests, just papers with vague assignment sheets. his grading system for papers is very arbitrary too; if you don't share his writing style, beware. 20 pg. term paper based on primary sources from Meharry archives = 1/3 of the grade.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST269
• 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:

Professor Dickerson is a genius and gets you interested in the civil rights movement, but his class is hard. He expects you to read a tremendous amount, but covers the information from the readings in his lectures. He grades half the stuff and the TA grades the other half. Generally, he gives better grades than the TA.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST141
• 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:

Professor Dickerson was interesting and provided a newfound perspective on history, focusing on the social history of the time period. Although, the TAs are the sole person establishing your grade, and over the semester, I never spoke to the professor because the TAs do all of the grading. The success of the course absolutely depends on your TA.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST273
• 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:

Dr. Dickerson is a great lecturer and has so many great stories about when he wrote his books/ met the people he's talking about. He grades exams easily, but watch out for the papers. He's not very clear in the assignment sheets. I made an A- in the class

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST273
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Show up to class and take notes and you will do very well. A midterm, two papers and an exam. Grading is easy, but he is an amazing lecturer and he makes you want to go to class. I learned everything there is to know about the civil rights movement and had a great time doing it. Definitely take this class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST115W
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Awful awful awful teacher. He taught a writing class, but knows nothing about it. A few other people seem to think he's a good teacher, but the man's teaching habits are as stubborn as the views he enforces upon his students.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST280
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Just show up for class and take notes. I never read anything and got an A-. He's an incredible lecturer, very engaging.