Jack Thacker - Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY

Professor: Jack Thacker

Department: History

College: Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIS120
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Rest in peace Dr. Thacker. Your booming voice, your encyclopedic knowledge, your endless insight, and your flowing wisdom are all missed on campus. Cherry Hall isn't the same place without you.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST425
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Thacker is the best professor I've taken in my college career. He lectures without a powerpoint or book. All from his own knowledge. He truly knows his stuff, as a history major I loved his lectures. The 3 hour night class would breeze by due to how engaged I would be in his lectures.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Jack Thacker is the best professor you will ever have!! I had him as prof - 10 years ago!! - I am now finishing my PhD at a respected university. He taught me how to read, write, contextualize, and do solid historical research. In short, he laid the foundation for my future academic career. Glad to see he is still teaching.!!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY102
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Thacker is very knowledgeable and passionate about what he teaches. The class is straight up oral lecture, no power point or any visual aid so that can make it tricky to take notes sometimes because he speaks pretty fast. There is no attendance policy, but if you don't make it to class its impossible to do well on test. Overall nice man.

Rating # 5

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

He's an older man and he DEFINITELY knows his stuff and he's very passionate about history... and why the west dominates (if you take his class you'll understand.) Personally I do not enjoy history so this is my worst (and most boring) class. But if you're a history nut go for it and take him.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIS102
• 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:

Very intelligent. Must go to class in order to pass. Take good notes. Take notes from the book, then take notes from his lecture. I got an A in the class.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST426
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Easily the best professor on Western's Campus. For people that love history and want to walk away from the class and know you actually learned something then Dr. Thacker is for you. If you do not like to think, write, read, or are looking for the typical spoon feeding you got in High school then do us studious individuals a favor and bow out.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: 102
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Jack Thacker has been in the history department for over 50 years. He's beyond brilliant and I loved his course. He isn't easy but it's so worth it. As a student who cares little about history I was intrigued and engulfed with fascination for this professor. He has such an ability to break down large topics into simpler ideas. Brilliant man.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: 102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He only gives a couple tests and grades them very hard. He has interesting lectures, but it is a hard class.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIS120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Thacker is by far one of the few old school professors left, I took his summer condensed class. It was a great learning experience, and I enjoyed every minute of listening to him. His level of knowledge is by far more than any professor on campus. BE WARNED!!! To pass you must attend class, tests are incredibly tough, but fair.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIS120
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Thacker is easily one of the smartest professors on Western's campus. HIs level of knowledge and understanding is amazing. His lectures are somewhat entertaining, BUT YOU HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION AND TAKE VIGOROUS NOTES. THIS IS NOT A CLASS YOU CAN CRUISE THROUGH! Also, be aware that he is often politically incorrect.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY120
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class was terrible. Dudes old school and doesn't write anything on the board. He simply sits there talks and expects you to catch all the information. He's all over the place and if you have to take this course I suggest staying out of this class. I wish I had dropped it, I will be taking it again next fall on south campus to easily pass.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: NUMEROUSCLASS
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I received my M.A. in History from WKU. Dr.Thacker is BY FAR, the best college professor I ever had. Incredible knowledge of the various courses I had with him. Always willing in stop the lecture to answer questions or to discuss a particular point. Anyone who enjoys history would do well to take some of his courses. You won't regret it.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST299
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Easily one of the most intelligent professors in the History Department. He taught at West Point, for crying out loud! He is definitely old school (he doesn't even use email), so you have to be involved to pass the class. If you are, it is the most interesting class I took so far. Recommend for serious students that attend class.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIS299
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

You cannot expect to pass this class if you skip a lot. Dr. Thacker is very old school. He doesn't use blackboard, powerpoint, or any modern technology. His lectures are all over the place. You must attend class and ask questions if you expect to pass.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

he teaches everything good, but the study guides and tests are extremely hard! avoid this class if you're horrible at history.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIS429G
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Anyone who mentions this man as hard or too mean is a freshman in college who is just starting to get their feet wet. Perhaps if our secondary education system didn't cater to your every need you wouldn't come to college thinking that treatment was normal. Thacker is the best Prof @ WKU, period. He is one of the smartest men I know. Take the class.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST606
• 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:

Dr. Thacker was the best professor I ever took at WKU. His intelligence and preparation for his classes are without equal. As a lecturer, he mesmerizes, enthralls, captivating the students to listen. As others have commented, his classes do not rely much on texts. However, if you pay close attention you will not need it ; you learn from a master.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST606
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

TOP NOTCH!!! One of the very best professors in the History department at WKU...the man knows his stuff and has for a very long time. I had him for two undergraduate Military History classes during the 91-92 school year and then two or three graduate level classes. If you love history, you will learn TONS from his lectures! If you don't....