Michael Messmer - Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

Professor: Michael Messmer

Department: History

College: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

Rating # 1

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

The class was graded on 3 essays and a final exam (which was an essay with a prompt he told us beforehand). This class was pretty challenging but I left feeling like I learned a lot. I missed some class because of illness - which was sad because his lectures are great - but my grade didn't suffer for it. He seems like a great guy too!

Rating # 2

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Class was 3 papers, 7 pages each. Messmer has such a depth of knowledge that if you have any interest in the subject he is teaching you will come away satisfied.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

There were 3 tests and 1 final that made up the grade, no homework/quizzes. Attendance was never taken, his lectures were always interesting (even for a non-history major) if you had a question he was always willing to help you understand material better. Study guides given beforehand, and they pretty much mirror what you need to know for tests

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST201
• 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:

I love Dr. Messmer. HIST 201 is the 2nd class I've taken with him & I'd definitely take more. It is so easy to pass his class, just pay attention to his organized lectures. He's monotone, but has a sense of humor and is so nice. If you don't like monotone lectures and reading, don't take his class. Otherwise he's very intelligent and a fast grader.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST102
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are kind of boring but not the worst. Read every chapter, random attendance, only does exams (includes essays and fill in the blanks), study guides (with the essay questions!), doesn't really post the lectures outlines online, drops the lowest test score. Not the best if you really want the most out of a lecture but he's not too bad.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST201
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Don't take HIST 201 as an elective, because you'll be bored out of your mind. Class isn't engaging and it is hard trying to determine his main points. Occasionally he'll pass around an extra credit sheet for attendance, but other than that you'll only have 3 tests (based on boring af books) and a book report you gotta do at the end.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST201
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This class was probably one of the most boring classes I've ever taken, and I think it's because of Professor Messmer. You are only graded on four things all year; 3 tests, and a book review. Fail one and you'll fail the class. Make sure to read both novels assigned to you during the semester or you won't pass the tests. Good luck

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST404
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Messmer's Modern European Intellectual History course was absolutely fascinating, although he is very monotone, which can make class a little boring. Three papers on the books and a research paper (or final exam) make up the grades, although the papers are pretty straight forward. Read the books and pay attention in class, you'll get an A.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST102
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Tests you on things that are not gone over in lectures or in the textbook like random authors during World War II. Has good lectures but sometimes they can be really boring but most of the time they are not.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST404
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This is the second or third class I've taken with Professor Messmer. He's by far one of the best professors I've taken at this school. His lectures are well-structured and very organized. He doesn't make you do any nonsense assignments, just three tests which are in the form of essays. He's very easygoing and straightforward. Love this guy!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST404
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Dr. Messmer's lectures are full of information, but he's extremely monotone, which make the lectures boring. He's incredibly smart, but is terrible at teaching. More than likely would not take another course with him.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST102
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Messmer is a great teacher. His lectures are long , but if you pay attention he makes history so much fun. I have had him twice and I would take him again. The tests are very doable. He is definitely the smartest and nicest professor I know and you learn so much just by listening in class.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

He is a great guy but boring. His lectures were irrelevant to the actual tests most of the times.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST201
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Messmer is one of the most intelligent individuals I've ever met, in a three hour lecture class he is able to continually spew out information without a refresher. I had historical detection with him and he taught in such a way that its like you're learning a completely different history. If you love history, I highly recommend.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST201
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The lectures are so absolutely dry you will want to kill yourself. You basically have to read 3 long books and memorize every detail, because the tests consist of really random specific stuff from the book. I would not recommend, there has to be a better class to fulfill your requisite.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST201
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The professor would just talk forever about a million random subjects and you'd have no idea what you actually need to know? There are no e-mail reminders /announcements or anything posted online, no reviews or study guides for the test, I honestly have no idea what this class was even about

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Probably one of the most boring professors I've ever had. He's a very nice guy and all but his lectures drag on forever and are all over the place. The only way you can actually pass a test is if you read everything in the text and study key terms and dates. You should also study the essay questions on tests.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST201
• 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:

Professor Messmer is highly intelligent and knows about a LOT of things. That being said, his lectures diverge from the material into more advanced topics. He gave us a quiz every week on each book chapter. As long as you do the readings and quizzes, you don't have to stay for the lectures. He's a really kind teacher and will help when you need it.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST201
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The class was painfully boring, especially since it ran 3 hours long on Monday afternoons. He gives a quiz every day, but if you read the one textbook you'll be okay. Gave enough extra credit to give you a letter grade boost. Very helpful if you talk to him and he's very willing to work with you with issues.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This is my third class with Messmer. He is very smart and knows a lot about history, but his lectures are all over the place. Attendance isn't mandatory, but he uses the book a lot for test material!