John Herman - Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

Professor: John Herman

Department: History

College: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST387
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Don't be afraid by the reviews on Rate My Professor. Herman is an amazing professor. I've taken him for two classes and would definitely recommend him to any history major. He's incredibly knowledgeable on China and is an amazing person to learn from. You do have to put in the work, but an A is definitely manageable in his courses.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST387
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Herman is an excellent teacher who will help you to understand the transition from feudalism to communism and its impact upon the Chinese culture. If you want to learn more about China, take his class. Read each source thoroughly several times.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST108
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Herman is one of my favorite teachers. He is a great lecturer and very knowledgeable on the subject matter.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST108
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you're not genuinely interested in history I wouldn't recommend his classes: they're dense, writing heavy, and a knowledge of nuance and a good memory for detailed information is required. If you are passionate about history, however, definitely take this professor's courses. He's one of the most knowledgeable professors I've had thus far.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST387
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Absolutely hated this class. Dr. Herman is funny, but can be extremely rude and condescending at times. He knows the material, but his lectures are extremely confusing and all over the place. Definitely will not take another class with him.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST387
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Herman obviously knows the subject, but he's an over-rated professor. He's pretty funny, but can be rude sometimes. The class itself was pretty boring. Not sure I'll take him again and regret signing up for this class. Grades consisted 2 exams & 2 papers (out of 6 topics), although the final exam ended up being a paper.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST387
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Herman knows the subject of Chinese history front to back and it is clear he has devoted his professional career to Asian studies. Listening to his lectures on Chinese history is simply inspiring. His narrative style of lecture is simply unparalleled with anything I have experienced as a history major at VCU so far.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST108
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Herman really knows what he's talking about. I thoroughly enjoyed this class, even though I'm not that interested in Asian History (& Im not sure Ill take it again). Overall, the course was relatively easy, but expect to read 100-150 pages per week. Tests are 10-15 questions, an essay and then 2-3 identifications. You really have to do the work

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST385
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Ten thumbs up. Doesn't offer sacrifice at the temple of political correctness. Thorough lectures packed with rich & exhaustive detail. Straightforward assignments. You'll get your moneys worth. Knows enough about China to give Confucius himself a good spanking. Apologists, revisionists, and idealists beware.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST382
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Herman is an intense and engaging professor who knows more about Chinese history than anyone I've ever come into contact with. He connects on an etherial level with the Chinese people and the national narrative, and actually tells decent jokes in his lectures. Not an easy course, but I highly recommend for history students.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST332
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Maybe not a typical class with him because it was film-based, but the lectures we did get provided enough information and the papers were all doable. Obviously extremely knowledgable on Chinese history.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST382
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Cool professor who knows his stuff. Its not a class that you can just breeze through but if you attend and take notes it isn't bad. He provides plenty of outlines/study guides and even youtube videos to help. Only drawback is he has you read 7 books throughout the semester and write essays on them but you only have to do 2 so it works out. Worth it

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST382
• 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:

I literally HATED this class. I am a history major who is no stranger to hard work, but this class was ridiculous. He is disrespectful to students and his lectures are dull and packed with a ridiculous amount of way to detailed information. I think he expects you to have a basic outline of Chinese history already. I do not recommend this class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST382
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Best Hist prof at VCU, period. Took three of his classes, best lectures ever. Seriously could listen to him talk all day, he makes Asian history awesome and knows EVERYTHING about it (can answer any question off the top of his head). Gives good study guides. He'll make you write and he'll make you write well, I learned so much from him.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST107
• 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:

He's all right. A rather run of the mill history professor. It's straight lecture with no sort of interactivity to keep your attention. I've never fallen asleep in class before this class. Since it's history it's reading-intensive but the exams are all crystal clear and he's a fair grader. Just show up to class and keep organized notes.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST107
• 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:

probably one of the best history professors at VCU, if not the best. Outstanding. The class is very interesting because he makes it that way. Just study and you'll do well; he is very fair.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIS107
• 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:

Never worked harder for a class in my life, including 300 and 400-level classes, but he's very helpful and eager to help you learn. The amount of information, especially for a survey course, can be intimidating. But he's always there to help.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIS351
• 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:

Outstanding teacher. Took three of his classes despite little initial interest in Asian studies. I have modeled some of what I do as a teacher now on what he does.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST391
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Herman knows his material and makes it easy to understand. This particular class didn't rely on a textbook, but was still pretty reading-intensive. It was hard work, but well worth the effort.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST107
• 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:

really really hard class with ALOT of reading and 10 pop quizzes. he's a really nice guy though. really understanding and he really knows his history. you'll learn alot of you pay attention. this class is not for slackers. you need to keep up with your reading. gives lots of extra credit.