James Messerschmidt - University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME

Professor: James Messerschmidt

Department: Criminology

College: University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CRM317
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Gender and Crime? More of like mandatory gender class for Crim majors. This credit was an absolute PAIN. Lectures consist of bias & one-sided information. Very hypocritical teacher who is painfully self-absorbed. His own book were required reading & he talks of himself in 3rd person. The content of this course was mind numbing. Avoid if possible.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CRM317
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

With the four years of being here, Messerschmidt is by far the best professor I have ever had. Humorous, respectful, responds quickly to emails. Even wrote a recommendation for me. I highly recommend him over anyone else.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CRM216
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Multiple classes taken. Fantastic professor who knows his stuff. He does assign a lot of reading but knows that many USM students have jobs so he is usually very understanding-- do the readings by the exams. He likes when students ask questions/challenge him (back yourself up with facts). Scales & boosts grades when effort & improvement is shown.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CRM216
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took a few classes with him a few semesters ago and the majority of the time he just talks about his personal opinions on politics.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CRM216
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are a must!! It is so worth it to go to class when you have Messerschmidt as a professor. He makes great points and expands upon the reading he assigns- he doesn't just go over it again. Have taken him before and will continue to take as many of his classes as I can! You learn so much. Exams are a lot of work but material is interesting

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CRM216
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great Professor. If you don't take good notes during his lectures you'll have major problems on the exams. Very clear and thought-provoking. A lot of reading.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CRM317
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He's an awesome professor, who gets right to the point. Lots of reading, but he gives essay exam questions before the exams that he chooses 3 questions off of. They're tough, but if you do the work and prep for the exam, you'll do just fine.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CRM216
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I liked Jim very much, tests were kind of tough, but I loved how he always let us out early consistently during the 2hr 30min class.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CRM216
• 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:

I've had Jim for both White Collar and Gender & Crime. He really is a fantastic professor, but he does like to hear himself talk. Which is okay, cause whatever he says is funny or important to the class. Take good notes, screw the reading, and you'll get an A.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CRM317
• 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:

Gender and Crime is a great class, but with a large work load. Be prepared to read up whole books within a one week period. Overall, this class is beneficial and it does teach you a lot. Jim is one the smartest and best professors at USM. Study hard and you'll do fine.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CRM216
• 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've taken both white collar crime and gender and crime with him. He's a great guy, and it is easy enough to get an A. He gives you study questions before exams (there's 3 essay exams in both classes), don't be overwhelmed with the reading, he covers it thoroughly in lectures. take good notes! one of my favorite professors!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CRM216
• 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:

If take White Collar Crime with Jim than you are most fortunate at USM. Jim is the most interesting professor about crime. He is sometimes funny and serious with his lectures. There are 3 exams with take home study questions before each exam.I would take more classes if Jim offered them. If you study and take notes you too will get an A, I did.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CRM216
• 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:

White collar crime is a great class. Jim is a wonderful professor, he deeply cares about you. There is a decent amount of reading, not overly difficult. The exams, there are three, are quite difficult if you don't study. Best advice, get into study groups and tackle the study questions. Overall, Jim teaches a great class. Great professor.

Rating # 14

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Jim is the most educated, professional, fun, laid back, focused, clear lecturing, motivational, worldly, caring, and wonderful professor I've ever had at USM. I can't say enough good things about him. He LOVES the material and makes you want to learn from him. SIMPLY AMAZING PROFESSOR! TOUGH COURSES SO WORK HARD AND YOU CAN ACE THEM!!!!!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: GENDERANDCRIM
• 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:

I never do these things but Messerschmidt is one of my favorite professors. Gives you the essay questions to tests before hands, if you study them you'll ace it. Dont slack tho, or you'll pay the price

Rating # 16

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

This class is as hard as you make it on yourself. To do good you gotta really study the questions in full detail and show up to class. Grades you only 3 tests and the last test is in a group. If you are a worker you will do fine, this class is not a breeze.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: 317220
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Amazing teacher. If you pay attention you'll do great. Nice guy, understands you have a life outside of school. Def one of the best CRM professors

Rating # 18

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

He is a very nice guy, but his classes were soooooooo boring. If you can stay through them, you'll get a good grade. His exams are very hard, but he gives you the questions before hand. A LOT OF WORK!!! But hey we're in college, it's supposed to be hard. Last exam is group exam!!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CRM317
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Messerschmidt is a caring instructor who clearly knows the material in this course and has a passion for it. The tests were difficult and required a lot of preparation but you will learn a lot in that process. Answer all of the questions on the test review sheet and you should do well. I did! I got an A!