Sean Theriault - University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX

Professor: Sean Theriault

Department: Political Science

College: University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: GOV370L
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

One of the best government professors at UT! Very respected in his field. However, one of the books assigned is written by him. The T.A's committed a lot of mistakes regarding grading, test logistics, and very picky about open ended questions. However, you learn a great deal about Congress, definitely recommend!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: GOV310L
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took GOV310L online with Prof. Theriault and Prof. Albertson and it wasn't too bad. Theriault can be a little nit picky when it comes to things but overall, not a bad professor. Theriault and Albertson also love to give pop quizzes.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: GOV370L
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I liked Sean's Congressional Elections class. The 2018 semester was a bit unorganized (during our second test, there weren't enough tests for the whole class at the beginning), but besides that and the TA's not being the greatest, it was good. Just make sure you take good notes when he teaches this course again because his tests are VERY detailed.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: GOV312L
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Readings are short. He is respected and hilarious which makes the class enjoyable. You will definitely want to go to his class every time. He is energetic and makes sure you have many opportunities to have a good grade. His TA's are amazing and there are many extra credit opportunities. You will learn to love government by the end of the semester

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: GOV370L
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Theriault is a good professor, but sometimes things aren't as clear when he is lecturing. The tests are okay, not that hard, but it really depends on your TA and how they grade it. For instance, the current TAs definitely grade hard and pay close attention to the wording of your answers. with that said it isn't the hardest gov class at UT

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: GOV370L
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This is literally the easiest upper division GOV class at this university. Professor Theriault is EXTREMELY knowledgeable about congressional elections and is VERY straightforward about the material. He gives great lectures, is super caring, and is truly passionate about the topic. As long as you show up and listen, you're fine(:

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: GOV370L
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I feel like it wasn't too tough to make a B+ or A-, but he definitely makes you work for that A. Tests are graded with high attention to detail.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: GOV310L
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Sean wasn't my favorite professor because of the way this class is structured. He's really passionate about government and knows what he's talking about. 310L with Theriault and Albertson is structured more like a talk show than class so the lectures are pretty useless when it comes to the pop quizzes

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: GOV310L
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I am NOT a government person but I didn't mind his online lectures - they were sometimes fun to watch! Also, do every CE/ICA/quiz if possible. He's very helpful if you have any issues with the quizzes and go to this office hours. You can also tell he genuinely wants his students to do well and learn about government for their own well-being.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: GOV310L
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Professor Theriault was very passionate about politics (and running)! Make sure to do all of the CEs, ICAs, homework, and pop quizzes. Some of them get dropped. However, the extra credit only helps at the end, if you are right on the edge of raising to the next +/- letter grade. Pop quizzes weren't the worst!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: GOV310L
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I learned so much from him & Dr. Albertson. Take detailed notes from the lectures; if you miss something as he sometimes speaks fast, you can always rewatch the lecture. Detailed notes help you on pop quizzes, which are usually done after a unit, so read the syllabus to see which unit you are on. Everything else besides pop quizzes is easy 100s.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: GOV370L
• 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:

He does give pop quizes but if you read they are easy. He is super nice and always comes ready for class and is fun to listen to. You have to study for the exams but they are fair. He gives opporunity to do well in his class

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: GOV370L
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great professor. The exams were medium difficulty but he allowed the final paper to become a fun video project that was kinda easy. He is a funny guy, lectures were enjoyable.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: GOV370L
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Theriault is by far one of the best professors I've had at UT. His lectures are really funny, the workload isn't too heavy, and its relatively easy to get an A if you attend lecture and do most of the readings. The tests pull mostly from the lecture material, but the readings are helpful and he does have pop quizzes so you can't fully omit them.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: GOV370L
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Have had him for both 310 and 370. Both classes were enjoyable since he's nice and funny. 310 was ridiculously easy. 370 wasn't necessarily hard, but in order to do well on exams you must listen to every second of his lecture. His exams cover anything and everything from class. Just reading the material isn't enough to do well.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: GOV310L
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Theriault and Albertson have great chemistry together for their online class. They made government just about as fun as you could make it. The only thing you have to worry about is pop quizzes, but if you listen to the lecture and do the modules from the online textbook, you'll be fine. Excellent professors, and even better people.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: GOV310L
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Super organized online class, not difficult at all. If you just glance over the readings and the power points before class you'll do fine on the quizzes.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: GOV370L
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's all right, but a lot of times the tests don't fully match what's been covered throughout the unit.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: GOV310L
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I love Sean! He has been one of my favorite college professors so far. Him and Bethany together are awesome and I actually enjoy getting to watch their lectures. The class itself isn't an easy A. The pop quizzes are tough. Aside from that, both Sean and Bethany are great people and passionate about government.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: GOV310L
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The pop quizzes are hard even if you are paying attention to the lectures. No test only quizzes, in class activities, and community engagements.