Laura Kissel - University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC

Professor: Laura Kissel

Department: Fine Arts

College: University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: FAMS110
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Kissel is a very tough woman. She is not very understanding and makes us struggle to get good grades. We were forced to by an expensive app for attendance and the app barely ever works. All homework and major assignments are completely opinionated and graded through her thoughts. She is not very helpful, expects students to know the subject already

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: FILMMART110I
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Kissel is a frustrating professor, she doesn't grade or handle anything herself everything is given to a TA to grade or handle making it very frustrating to ask any questions about grading, her lectures are long and dry and seem hard to relate to actual class? We talked about communism for 2 weeks? and deflects questions she doesn't get.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: FILM110
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She's really cool, laid-back, lectures are interesting and easy to follow. Just do the reading and pay attention and you'll be golden.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: FILMMART110
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class was hit or miss. Do NOT expect this to be some easy A if you have never cared about film or media before. 95% of this class is reading the stupid, boring articles she will force you to read. The class is easier once you get the hang of it. The lectures are incredibly boring and can feel repetitive. The Tuesday night movie is just ok.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: FILM110
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

A complex human with interesting perspectives on film theories. She is so beautiful and intelligent so it's hard not to pay attention in class. However, as a film major I thought this class was a little too meta for an intro course. (quizzes require you to apply abstract thought and deep analytical thinking)

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: FILM110
• 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:

I took this class hoping it would be an easy A. I was wrong. The TAs and instructor are generally helpful. You shouldn't take this class unless you're a Film/Media Arts major or have prior knowledge about the subjects, as she treats the class like everyone knows what she's talking about. Participation is REQUIRED so try and participate in class

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: FILMMART110
• 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:

This class is pretty difficult and takes some getting used to but if you pay attention and get into it it's actually very interesting. The TAs are pretty helpful and she picks a few great movies. Was really not a fan at times but overall am glad I took it. I liked her!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: FILMMART110
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She's really really into Film and media which is good but her lectures always go until the last minute. If she finishes 2 minutes early she will fill that 2 minutes with something. Classes also run over time too. You're screwed if you don't go to class. Attendance counts for a ton. Read the articles and watch the films or you'll fail.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: FILM110
• Grade Received: INC
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Kissel is an interesting and fun person, but unless you know a good bit about film or media arts you shouldn't take this class. She tends to assume that everyone knows exactly what she's talking about and like we have prior experience in what she is teaching, even though this is an introductory course.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: FILM110
• Grade Received: D+
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Do not take this class with this teacher. I guess she forgot this was a beginner class and acts like everyone knows what she is talking about 24/7. Just avoid.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: FILM110
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Kissel's class definitely caters to FilmArt majors. Some of the topics covered in class were above and beyond a 100 level class. Expect harshly graded weekly papers. The TA's watch the classroom like hawks for anything but note taking on computers and cell phone usage. Some films were interesting, but attendance was mandatory for them.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: FILM110
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This was by no means an easy class. If you are not a film major then I would suggest that you take a different AIU. I definitely was introduced to many new topics, but I feel like I didn't begin to understand what it was that we were even learning until a few weeks into the class. The worst part is definitely the weekly papers that are graded harsh

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: FILM110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I am not a film major and took this class thinking it'd be an easy elective. It was really interesting and I learned a lot but for an elective it was very time consuming. Attendance is mandatory plus a lengthy homework assignment due each week (and she doesn't tell you what it is until the week of). Do expect to work for a good grade

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: FILMMART110
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I have never taken a film class before, but I still ended up with an A. Tuesday classes can be long and sometimes the film runs longer than the allotted time, but the assignments aren't graded too harshly. (Essay due every Thursday) I've done well on every assignment and quiz. Definitely a doable AIU. Just time consuming and sometimes tedious.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: FILMMART110
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

She's a very smart lady with a lot of important things to say. I loved her class and it has not been that difficult either.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MART553
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

She was the best professor i ever had. She cares about her students, she is always willing to help and she knows what she is talking about!!!!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MART571B
• 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:

This class was wonderful! Prof Kissel did an excellent job exposing us to different kinds of documentaries and really encourages her students' work. She has an obvious passion for her work and her students and is extremely helpful if you ask! By far my favorite class in college.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MART553
• 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:

Prof. Kissel is a very nice woman. However this class is a little misleading, and tends to be a lot more history than production. If you are into film theory then you should definitely take her class. Attendance is part of the grade, as are weekly screenings and in-depth notes about what was watched. 3 projects make up the rest of the grade.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MART371
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She was nice, but tended to ramble a bit about stuff the class really did not care about. No final. One midterm, one quiz and two projects. On the Projects she grades pretty easily, but on Midterm and quiz not so much. If you do not know how to operate a camera be sure to take a lot of notes, she goes fast and doesn't post notes.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MART371
• 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:

Great Class...Take her Class