Sean Stilwell - University of Vermont, Burlington, VT

Professor: Sean Stilwell

Department: History

College: University of Vermont, Burlington, VT

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HST142
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Worst history class I've taken as a history major at UVM. Avoid this class at all costs.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST041
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Honestly, just a great professor. Sean knows his material inside and out and makes class fun to go to. I am not a history major/minor but I will definitely be taking some of his upper level courses. A great professor and an even better person.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST200
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Absolutely abysmal as a seminar professor. He's so well-versed in his field that he spends half the class shutting down conversation. Nothing encourages students to engage with the material like using phrases such as "well, you're frankly wrong." Avoid his classes unless you love smug, condescending professors.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST140
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Stilwell is an engaging, intelligent and passionate teacher, who's enthusiasm for the subject clearly shows throughout the lectures, helping maintain the attention of students. The class was no harder than should be expected at university level and I did not find the grading any harsher than other professors.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HST140
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This is my second class with Prof. Stilwell, I took HST140 after taking HST40 because I enjoyed him so much the first time. It's a tough class but as long as you know how to take notes and show up to class, you'll be fine. He's a bit of a tough grader too, but my writing has improved so much because of him! Take his class because you WANT to.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST140
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Not a good prof at all. Dry, interpersonally inept, dogmatic, with an attitude problem.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HST041
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Speaking as a history major, I found this class to be very dry. Professor Stilwell is a very intelligent and well-spoken instructor, but his teaching style is unfortunately not very effective. Lectures consisted of a printed out Word document with a list of terms placed on the projector; no visual aids or slides were used.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HST040
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This was one of the hardest classes to follow along in if you are not a history major. Readings/books are hard to follow

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST041
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I loved professor Stilwel he is very knowledgeable and fast paced. We write three essays throughout the semester but we have plenty of time to do them. If you have a firm grasp on writing history papers and don't mind reading a book every couple weeks, I recommend this D2

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HST41
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Class seems easy in the beginning but gets harder, topics get better towards end but by then you will already have a bad grade bc he's a tough grader. I thought it was going to be interesting but it wasn't what it seemed. I don't recommend if you're taking this class for D2 credit choose another D2!!!!!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST041
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very smart man, sometimes he moves too quickly during lectures and can be hard to follow. Very knowledgeable about his material though.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HST40
• 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:

Sean Stilwell is an interesting and fun teacher who is obviously interested in his work. I began having issues taking notes because of his teaching style. Sean is a very hard grader, and even when I truly understood the material, I received horrible grades. I still don't know exactly what he expects in the class, but oviously I wasn't good enough.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST040
• 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:

I really dislike his teaching style. his "lecture notes" were all over the place and were terms he failed to go over. Went off on several tangents making it hard to pay attention and understand the importance of what was important. I would not reccommend him

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HST240
• 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:

Stilwell is an amazing Professor for seminars. i have only had him for a seminar so I can not speak for his intro or 100 level courses. The material is interesting, he is passionate about the topic (Slavery) and is pretty much the man. Class is fun, interesting, and you really learn something. You read a book a week and write a 20 page paper.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HST141
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

A powerpoint/film professor. Use of powerpoint and films drives Stilwell's teaching process. His teaching style is more akin to that of the least helpful adjunct faculty, and most definitely does not befit that of an associate professor directing UVM's African Studies. In all objective reality, probably the worst professor in the department.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST140
• 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 professor! He is an energetic lecturer who obviously cares about his subject. You need to do the work because he is not an easy grader, but why is a challenge a bad thing?

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HST040
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Nice person, tends to run around and yell in people's ears unfortunately. Very interesting class and the grading was very fair, and he seemed very willing to talk (although he is very slow to respond by email). I recommend it.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HST141
• 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: N/A

Comment:

Stilwell is a really good professor. He is the most interesting lecturer I've had. He is a tough grader on essays and expects a lot out of students. If you don't read the required books you're screwed. He's helpful though.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HST141
• 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:

Best prof. I have had at UVM.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HST140
• 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:

Wasn't looking forward to this class but it ended up being great! Stilwell is a great professor, excited and extremely knowledgeable, fair grader, and gave us a lot of freedom with the research project. Sometimes gets too excited and talks fast but is always willing to stop and clarify things-- overall great professor, great guy.