Karen Nissen - California State University Chico, Chico, CA

Professor: Karen Nissen

Department: History

College: California State University Chico, Chico, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Avoid taking Karen if possible! Lots of reading, online quizzes every week that are tough, a lot of material to memorize for exams, and she goes off on tangents during lecture. We were always let out late and you cant leave on time because she has an iclicker quiz at the end of each lecture.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Literally one of the worst teachers I have ever had in my academic career. And that is coming from someone who attended 2 four year universities. Lots of pointless fluff to the class. I attended class every day and did not enjoy nor benefit from the songs played at the beginning of the class. Exams are too small print. Would never recommend.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Karen is a great teacher if you enjoy history. She is very passionate about what she teaches and tries her hardest to work with you to pass. Going to class is a very good idea because she is both lecture heavy as well as through the textbook. I highly suggest getting to know her more and going to her office hours for help.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

You don't necessarily get a lot of homework, but the reading quizzes are tough. Big chunks of reading, but her lectures are very easy to follow!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Rambles on and off during lectures, always goes off topic about her personal life, but at the same time you have to note everything she says because it will be on the test. The tests are based 1/3 lecture 1/3 journals 1/3 assignments. Hard class, not impossible to poass but the professor makes it way more difficult and painful to experience.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The class wasn't an easy A but the homework isn't bad and she offers extra credit for tests and lots of office hours. I didn't do well in the beginning but I got the hang of it. Always show up to class.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

There are a lot of bad reviews on Professor Nissen, but I took her course and it was not as difficult as others are saying. You get a reading quiz every 2-3 weeks, and it will take you about an hour to read and an hour to take the quiz. The exams are short, and she offers extra credit to those who want it. Show up and do the work, and you'll pass.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

You need to show up to pass the class as most of the tests are on what was covered in the lectures. Reading assignments are time consuming but get easier as the class goes on, the first two are the hardest but after that its smooth sailing. She relates the topics to current day making some of the units enjoyable to learn about and shes nice.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Awful teacher. Would not take her course again. Talked about herself half of the class.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Karen isn't a bad professor at all. She does have a specific way of teaching, but it's because it really does help you learn. She isn't rude, but straightforward. She gives lots of extra credit opportunities & even gives study guides so you can do good on the tests. She wants the student to pass, but you do have to put in the work to get there.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She is a condescending professor who would spend half the time in class lecturing you on how you should be taking notes her way and doing you homework her way because it is the right way and wouldn't help students at all. Her exams have a lot of questions based on which of these are not ____. It was my last GE class and it was harder than my major

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Although it was better than my last hist130 class, Karen teaches in a way that I really didn't like. She tries to make students comform to how she learns, rather than the other way around. She constantly uses the whiteboard, drawing clustered timelines and boasting about how great timelines are all the damn time. Exams are multiple choice, not bad.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Business major with straight A's, recieved a C in this class and history has been my strongest subject growing up. This class brought down my overall GPA. This teacher tells you to buy a textbook that you will never use once, homework is very difficult and irrelevant to tests. Tests are made to trick you. This isn't learning karen. Very sad.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: D+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

She is the worst teacher I have ever had. Her teaching style is all over the place. She is mean and rude toward students. If a student asked a question, she would make them feel stupid. Tests were difficult. Nothing like the study guide. DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Karen is not as bad as the reviews make her out to be. There is a lot of reading assigned for journals, but they are pretty straight forward. She changed her course format so there was only 1 writing assignment aside from journals. Attendance is taken through iClickers. If you get used to the routine (lecture, journal, test), you'll pass.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I had to retake this class and unfortunately got stuck with Nissen again. Even with the University asking her to reformat the course, it's still difficult. Her exams did not change a bit they're still in "Which of these are not" formats making it difficult to memorize every detail. Do yourself a favor and look for another professor.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Let me just start of by saying i probably worked harder for this class than Anatmomy and physicology combined. Her Journal assignment she assigns are super specific and grades tuff. Her test are which of the following are not format. It wasn't till the final when i realized i had to memorize all her notes and i made flashcards. So be ready to work.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

GE class feels like a 600 level class. her tests are very hard and she is trying to confuse you. she gives you 4 answers which are all right but which is the MOST right. doesnt care if you fail that is actually her goal, because it makes her feel so smart for knowing the stuff none of us understand because

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

10/10 do not recommend. shes very rude and teaches like your grad students and then complains about how majority of her students are failing. like if everyone is failing that should be a reflection of YOU as a prof. assigns one thing after the other and the complains how she has soooo much stuff to grade and how its such a burden on her busy life.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST130
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

worst teacher. she gives you an assignment and makes you turn it in completed BEFORE teaching it in class because is teaches you how to "critically think".. if i wanted to learn critical thinking i would take a CT class.. makes you "learn" read and take notes HER way bc its the "right" way. 100 level class is harder than any 400 level ive been in.