Don Starr - George Mason University

Professor: Don Starr

Department: Fine Arts

College: George Mason University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: AVT410
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Don is ok. He's simply not a good professor or lecturer. His slides any lack text which makes it difficult to take notes. During his lectures he reads straight out of the book(the book he also requires that you purchase). 1/10 recommend.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: AVT416
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This is a senior class, but we are still students and need guidance with our work. He gave little help during the many progress critiques, and waited until handing the projects back to give decent feedback. I got a C on one project, which I've never gotten in another class. Also, I learned little about advertising. More like branding part 2.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: AVT215
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

At first I really didn't like this class, I thought his standards were impossible and he was very vague with his feedback. After having taken the class I realized how much better I am now because of that class. He really makes you push yourself. He's not an "easy" teacher but if you work for it, you will get so much from taking him.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: AVT318
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This is not your standard history class, abandon your expectations of a standard lecture-driven environment. In Professor Starr's course (which he designed) you literally experience history--heavily enhanced with classroom experiments and hands-on activities (and in doing so, truly grasp the content). I would take this class again, purely for fun.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: AVT215
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I will point out that most of the positive reviews of this professor (toward the bottom) are from years ago. I don't know what happened to this man between 2006 & 2009 but a decline happened. Depressed or bored, he doesn't care anymore. It shows. He is disorganized and neglects what he doesn't find interesting or fun. He checked out, don't bother.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: AVT215
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I never want to take a class with this professor teaching it again.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: AVT215
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I will say he knows what he's talking about, but he's unclear on assignments, unhelpful and rude, before this class I was excited but now I regret even taking it.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: AVT215
• 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:

Take it from someone who typically seeks a class that's a little more "laid back" - Don doesn't offer anything close to that but he is simply the best. You'll get past the assignments and trust me, you'll learn a lot. Some of these reviews are discouraging but I'm tellin ya, if you have the chance to take a class with Don, do it!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: AVT215
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Lots of small assignments & quizzes mixed in with the big projects. He really knows his stuff and you'll end up learning a good bit of design history from him. Make sure you take notes during his lectures, because that's where the quiz information will come from. Don is a great professor and very fair, impartial grader.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: AVT215
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He gives a lot of assignments, some of them are useless, some are interesting. Overall it's a fun class and he has a good sense of humour.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: AVT215
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Don is a mixed bag. He clearly knows what he's talking about, but doesn't necessarily convey that in the clearest way to his students. A lot of individual direction and initiative is needed to get a good grade in his class. He also assigns about 4-5 assignments each class and doesn't remember to check half of them. Tough class, but worth it.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: AVT318
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Don Starr is a horrible professor. He reads from the textbook during lectures, and will cancel class if the publisher's server is down because he doesn't make his own slideshow. Don't expect to get anything out of his lectures. Honestly, he should retire from teaching.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: AVT215
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is good at what he does but just not that great at teaching it. He is difficult to comprehend at times and he encourages q's but then gets annoyed when there are too many. He gives little to no feedback on how to improve. Lectures are not well thought out. A lot of your own research is required. Minimal direction is given. Grading is not clear.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: AVT414
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Don knows what he is talking about. He offers alot of good information that you might now get from other Graphic Design teachers. The only thing you have to watch out for is his mood swings...sometimes he can throw some horrible temper tantrums.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: AVT313
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Don will prepare you, as best as anyone can, for the working world!Way to go, Don!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: AVT414
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Donny’s Awesome!!! I wish he could teach all AVT classes.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: AVT414
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

DON HAS A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR, AND CAN TELL YOU WHEN YOU'RE MESSING UP WITHOUT HURTING YOUR SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT... PRETTY HARD TO COME BY PROFESSORS LIKE HIM

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: AVT311
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Don rocks my face off! He's fair, helpful, and genuinely cares about your education.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: AVT414
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Any class you take with Don Starr will benefit you immensely. He is a great person, very talented and you can learn a lot from him. If you have a choice of Don over Nora or Jandos, please take Don! His class isn't really easy, but that helps you in the ed

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: AVT414
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Don really brings out the best in his students. I like the way he does classes critiques. It is very helpful to not only get his reaction to your designs, but the whole class. He definitely gets your portfolio ready to take to an employer.