Michael Birkner - Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA

Professor: Michael Birkner

Department: History

College: Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: FYS170
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The best teacher I had during my first semester at Gettysburg College. He pushes his students to do their best work and has an incredible grasp of the material he is teaching. I always found class to be very engaging and came out of that class feeling like I had learned a substantial amount. Definitely take a class with him if you get the chance.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST421
• 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. Birkner is quite honestly one of the best professors at Gettysburg College. He is extraordinarily engaging and always pushes his students to be their absolute best. He's also very knowledgeable on course topics and always well prepared to run efficient class sessions. What more could you want? Take his Senior Seminar (U.S. in WWII) if you can!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIS300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I really enjoyed this course, and got a lot out of it. Wouldn't want to take HIS300 with any other professor. He makes you put in the time and effort to get an A, and pushes you to reach your potential. Participating in class is really important and taking the time to read the course material is also important as well.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIS300
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Awesome professor. If you pay attention in class and do all the assigned readings, you can do well in this course. More importantly, you will get so much out of it. I wouldn't try to take this class with any other professor despite what you might hear about Birkner being a tough grader.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIS300
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He's one of those very knowledgeable, passionate professors who would be great to hear lecture or even have a conversation with outside of his class. But as far as taking methods goes, do yourself a favor and try to get someone else. Birkner's papers are over the top, and he grades exams and quizzes harshly. Readings are pretty easy though.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST228
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Birkner is very passionate about this course and his Australian History, even spent much of his professional career in Australia. Can relate to many college kids, considering he has college kids of his own. Demands on lot out of his assigned readings, and is a hard grader on both his pop quiz responses and on essays.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: 300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I enjoyed the class very much. You have to read and know what you're reading but other than that, if you try, then you'll do fine!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: 300
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Birkner is the greatest professor at the college, just ask him. He's very sure of himself, and will look for excuses to give you bad grades if you disagree with him. His tests are on parts of the material upon which you do not focus, and he talks about himself a lot. Do yourself a favor and take methods with anyone else available.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: 300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Worst class I've ever taken! Methods is required for a history major, but I would suggest taking it with another professor. Birkner knows his stuff, to be sure, but it's pretty much his way or the highway. I want to cry every Tuesday and Thursday when I get up to go to his class.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST300
• 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: Mandatory

Comment:

Incredibly difficult class, very demanding. But his lectures are compelling, he truly loves teaching history. If you are looking for an easy A in the 300 course, dont take his class, Take sanchez

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST349
• 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:

If you're a history major you have to take Birkner. Passionate, fair, loves class discussions, office hours. There's a decent amount of reading, you watch some great videos/documentaries too. He expects a lot from his students but you owe it to yourself and to him - he's one of those professors. Birkner is the man!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIS300
• 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:

great teacher

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Birkner is a very particular grader. I did not find him to be extremely difficult, but he looks for specific things in the quizzes, papers, etc. Personally, I really liked the class, the books for the most part were interesting. Word of the wise, read them, his class is a discussion based class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

DO THE READINGS! He's hard, but you learn a lot in the end. He's picky about what he wants, so even if you think you know, ask him to be sure. This class will have all history majors wondering why they decided this route, but at least you get to miss 5 classes...

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST349
• 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:

Prof. Birker is a wonderful professor! sure, his classes are difficult and he expects a lot from you as a student, but he's also very interesting and engaged with his classes. Easily one of my favorite professors at Gettysburg.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST300
• 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:

I want to cry every Tuesday and Thursday morning... The class is miserable, no lie. But it's part of the history major. We've got no choice. It's challenging and difficult... he expects a lot. You do learn though. You learn how to do history. I just wish he were a bit more understanding and lenient. He doesn't seem to get that we're not pros.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST228
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took Prof. Birkner's Modern Australia class and was very impressed with his passion for the subject and his wide range of knowledge. His quizzes are tough but his exams are not bad. Do the reading and you'll do fine.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST300
• 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:

Birkner is an extremely hard grader and has little sympathy for his students - he seems to think you have a lot more time on your hands than you actually have. Comes across as arrogant, and makes history majors wonder why they got into history. You learn a lot, but the prof makes the class a real hair-puller.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr Birkner is an irritable morning person who will have you hating life at 8:30 AM. His favorite textbooks are obscenely boring, the assignments difficult, and nightly 200 page readings are typical. Dr Birkner treats those who disagree with him mercilessly. Arguing against the party line is discouraged! I learned nothing from this miserable class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST300
• 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:

Although Birkner is a little intimidating (I always felt like I was going to throw up before class), Methods is one of the best classes I have taken at Gettysburg. You do not get the "Methods experience" if you do not take it from Michael Birkner.