William Mierse - University of Vermont, Burlington, VT

Professor: William Mierse

Department: Fine Arts

College: University of Vermont, Burlington, VT

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ARTH005
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Mierse is a nice guy. However, the grading of is class is just so unclear. The tests are based on any 2 random lectures. The rest of the lectures are completely irrelevant, but you don't know which 2 are important. A strong portion of your grade comes from weekly quizzes on the book, but he constantly says the book is incorrect.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ART096
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Love him as a professor, great guy and you will learn a lot. However Arth096 was the most work I've ever put into a class and I still didn't come out with a good grade. Mierse is a very hard grader, but it is a fun class, overall would recommend.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ART005
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Professor Mierse knows exactly what he is talking about but has a very hard way of actually telling you/ teaching you. This class is absolutely horrible for an intro class. There are in class essays which drag your grade down and group projects that are unnecessary. This would be a better course if it had a traditional syllabus.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ARTH149
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Any class with Mierse is going to require a lot of work. I hated him at the beginning of the semester, but he forced me to learn a ton. If he sees a lot of hard work and improvement then your grade will reflect that. I ended up with an 88 in the class, but he put it on my transcript as an A-. Great guy, super intelligent, but high expectations.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ARTH13618
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class was tough. He was there if you needed help, but you have to write exactly what he wants to do well on the assignments. There is a lot of reading and the class itself is not for someone who will not work hard.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ARTH005
• 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:

Professor is extremely knowledgeable in his field and integrates art history seamlessly with contextual information. Besides giving me an in-depth intro to art history, this course was also a great overview of western history in general. The textbook, Art Through the Ages is used heavily, but this is because it is a great textbook.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ARTH005
• 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:

Uses his own ideas as proven theories, quickly shoots down students' ideas, constantly goes over the end of class and assigns homework when nearly everyone has left the room. Absolutely horrible teaching style. Do not recommend this professor for an intro ARTH course.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ARTH189
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

nice guy, tough analyzation of subject material

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ARTH146
• 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:

Brilliant Professor. He knows everything about everything, and it's fascinating. Teaches art history like it should be taught-with context to the historical, geographical, and environmental influences on the pieces. Unfortunately very high standards for papers & exams, while only providing vague outlines for work. Otherwise awesome.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ARTH005
• 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:

Avoid this class. Cocky professor and exams kicked my butt. Very tough. A lot of memorization of millions of photos.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ARTHA
• 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:

Professor Mierse is an incredible educator. He didn't sugar coat college, and had high expectations, but not unreasonable ones. He is clear and concise. If you want to be a dumb ass the rest of your life, don't take the course. But if you want to actually be engaged and challenged, you'll enjoy it. classesaren'tsupposetobe"better"becausetheyareeasy

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ARTH5
• 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:

Mierse is awesome! The class is challenging but if you study the pieces and pay attention in class you'll be fine. I was afraid it was going to be a lot harder than it was after reading reviews on here but after taking Art History 5 with Mierse I'd jump at the opportunity to take another class with him.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ARTH005
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Don't take this class!!! IT'S VERY HARD. Studying for final takes the whole day!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ARTH005
• 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:

If you are looking to get a good grade make sure you study the time period, the actual date, the name of the piece and the location of it. This was my hardest class. I am currently studying for the final and I have 230 flashcards. Professor is strict and at the beginning he mentioned that this will be a tough class. Save yourself and don't take it!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ARTH005
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great professor, very eccentric and funny. Refreshingly blunt expectations and opinions. Easy class to skim the readings in. If you attend class take notes and study for a few hours before tests, you'll get a B+A- with minimal to average work. If you need to skip a class, it is really easy to catch up, doesn't take attendance. Easy fine art credit.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ARTH005
• 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:

Awesome professor! Nice story-teller. Even though there should be a lot to read, materials are not really compulsory because his exams are MC-based which mostly requires you to know the name and period of the art. Not as challenging as other ppl say. P.S. Go to his classes, and the exams will be easy, even if you don't read the textbook.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ARTH096
• 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: N/A

Comment:

William Mierse is perhaps the best teachers I have had at any academic institution in my life. He demands excellent work from you at all times and if you do not provide it, he will clearly tell you what was wrong. He has enlightened me to the world of art, as well as how to analyze the world around me. I am very grateful to have taken this class.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ARTH001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I am so glad to have had Mierse as a professor. If you are looking for an easy class that you can skate through then this is most certainly not it. However, if you are looking to really feel like you are getting your money's worth at UVM then this class is for you. Mierse is an invaluable asset to UVM and his passion for the subject is evident,

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ARTH155
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Meanest Professor I have ever taken. I asked for extra help and none was given to me. Must go to class and the test are hard but papers are harder. Really dislike this man, he is not a nice guy. He is an Old Mean Man.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ARTH296
• 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: N/A

Comment:

A terrific professor that will push you to think, form cohesive arguements, and to write. I am forever grateful for having had the chance to learn from such a superlative professor, even 20 years after graduating.