Karen Nissen - Butte College, Oroville, CA

Professor: Karen Nissen

Department: History

College: Butte College, Oroville, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIS10
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great Professor. She'll make you work for the grade.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST3
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Her class is set up like highschoool. Wants everything color coded and her way. Her quizzes are very difficult.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST3
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I Love History but this instructor made the class harder then it needed to be. The cost of the units and 3 books was ridiculous. You better like reading and be able to convey back to the instructor what Ramses II was thinking at the time. If you dont interpret the readings the way she does, your wrong. Avoid, History is awesome with a good teacher

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST3
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very type A personality. Expects sooo much from her students without clear explanation of material. She knows her information inside and out but unfortunately I think she forgets that us as students do not. I would no recommend this teacher if you are at ALL intimidated by history classes. Very in depth and covers too much material in a 16 weeks.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST010
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The hardest class I have ever taken. The majority of your grade is based on tests and quizzes. Extremely packed lectures, super tough grader, her tests are LONG and hard to study for, and she often went over time.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST010
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The bad reviews are probably people looking for an easy class. I took her class 3 years ago and still remember so much. It honestly was not that hard and she is a GREAT teacher! Her organization helped me be better organized in school. She is smart and very interesting to listen to. Highly recommend to get what you pay for and take her class!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST3
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Nissen is probably the best history teacher I've had at Butte, but she's probably not for everyone. If you're looking for a GE class and don't specifically like history it's probably not worth the effort. You do not need the optional book just the list of sources she put together. Tests come mostly from notes, use the study guide and go over notes.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST8
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

DO NOT TAKE A CLASS FROM HER AT ALL COSTS. She is by far the toughest professor I have had. She is a tough grader and I have never gotten 100% on anything. The class is about history, but instead of it being factual, it is about how SHE interprets it. She is rude to students and treats us like children. I will never take a class from her again.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST8
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

She's difficult. Will never take a class from her again.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST10
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Karen is very organized and I appreciate that. BUT, you MUST attend all her lectures or you will miss vital information. She gives you a binder worth of notes but the information that you are tested on is actually from her lectures. You need to be able to read between the lines during her lectures and pretty much write down everything she says.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST3
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

May be easier if you LOVE history. She is organized, but spends most of time telling you how to take notes and organize binder, not enough explaining material. You're expected to interpret history, but then you're answer is wrong when she interpreted it differently??? You take quizzes before the material is covered in class. Monotone lectures.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST3
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

There was an extra thousand years added to the course. Due to that things got a little unorganized. You have assigned seating, color coded classes/paper color, all binders are all organized the same , on everything you do you have to write "last, first (seat #)," There was so much info thrown at us in class it was hard to keep up. Tough Professor

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST3
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I honestly think Karen gets a bad reputation from students who are not willing to put in the work. I see a lot of people saying they never got 100%, but if you are willing to go in and see her during office hours she will help you get there. I am walking away with better analyzing skills and I have her to thank for it! Would easily recommend!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST3
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I am a good student, I go to class, take notes and usually do well. She totally over does it. She throws way to much information at you and puts the most random questions on the test. Most of the test is what SHE thinks is the best answer not what you would think is. NEVER will you see a 100% on homework, quiz, test, or essay. Good Luck.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST3
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Karen makes a lot of physical fitness analogies, because she's a fitness instructor at Chico State as well as a History teacher. Her course requires you to spend an extra $65 dollars at Mr. Kopy for course materials (course reader, lecture notes and quizzes), which was a little expensive and totally unexpected. Wouldn't take her class again.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST8
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The class wasn't terrible by any means but it most certainly was not great either. Tons of information thrown at you at once, a lot of which you don't actually need to know. Extremely tough grader; don't expect to EVER get 100% on anything. Tends to lecture students on their organization and study habits daily, while also doing the long lectures.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: C6613
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Karen is a wonderful professor that will teach you everything and anything that you will need to know about anything Fitness and History related. Her grading criteria is clear and concise. Definitely avoid if you are lazy or can't stand lectures. Would certainly recommend.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY12
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I've very much disliked this teacher since the 2nd class! She is very disrespectful to students and treats her classes as children. She isn't a good teacher at all. I don't ever understand her lectures. I feel she should be a stay at home mom. Hate is a strong word but that's how I feel towards her and her family!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY12
• 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: Mandatory

Comment:

Very disrespectful to students, and treats you like a child. If possible, do not take this class with her.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY8
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Clear, concise and organized.