Michael Orwicz - University of Connecticut

Professor: Michael Orwicz

Department: Art History

College: University of Connecticut

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ARTH1138
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

There are two-part journal assignments, discussion board posts and responses, quizzes, and essays. It's a lot of work and writing and he typically will throw in two or three assignments due every night. He gives all the materials ahead of time along with videos. The textbook is useful for journals, quizzes and essays. I learned a lot about art.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HRTS3575
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I have absolutely no idea what we learned. the class was all over the place. nothing was structured. after telling us we had no midterm, he randomly threw a midterm at us with no real explanation of what he wanted. if you like being confused not knowing what you're doing, take this class.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ARTH138
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

It's an 1000-level art history class and it is in GenEd. But He teaches like every student is an art history major. You have to answer every piece of his question, or you get points off, a lot. He says he will reply emails within 24 hrs but failed to deliver, which makes it more difficult considering this is an online course. Not recommendated.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ARTH1128
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor repeatedly said and showed that he did not respect students-- both in words and in work. Showed up late to class consistently, didn't know what he was teaching, unsure of his own material and then created confusing tests due to all of that. Edited and updated study guides the day of the exam, never sure what to do.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: ARTH1138
• 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:

Took this as an online summer class and I'm so glad I did. I was never a big art person but decided to take this class. Professor Orwicz presented the online material clearly and set clear guidelines for grading. I learned so much and now have a newfound appreciation for art. Would definitely recommend!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: UNIV1784
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

My favorite human being to ever exist. Im a bio major who wanted to learn more about humanities, and he was the person I could go to to talk about anything with. Love him to pieces.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ARTH1128
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took ARTH 1128 with him and it was literally the best class I've ever taken. He is a brilliant, funny guy, but can be forgetful and hard to get a hold of so just have perseverance in contacting him. Attendance is beneficial as he covers a lot of the material in class. Get to know your TA also as they do the grading. One of my favorite professors!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: 1128
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Orwicz is awesome. I enjoyed his class so much! He does talk fast and he does expect a lot but he is not unfair. He lead my discussion section and was very compassionate about deadlines, always brought us little treats, and was interesting. More than that, he seemed to genuinely care about each of us and that is priceless in a college professor.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ARTH1128
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Loved his class. He's got a slightly bizarre sense of humor, but I thought he was hilarious. Lectures are fast-paced and very detailed; if you take good notes, you won't need the textbook at all. You receive a study guide with 25-30 artworks prior to the exams, so there are no surprises. Highly recommended.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ARTH1128
• 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:

Not a bad guy, kinda funny but he thinks that everyone is an art history major. I can see how TAs are considered nice but the one for my section grades as if it was a 300-level course and wasn't a great teacher. It's usually an art gen Ed for most students so I would stay away from it bc of the grade scale. Less the mediocre but not abysmal.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ARTH1128
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is a super nice, super funny guy. He definitely knows what he is talking about, but he just doesn't know how to structure his lectures. He is kind of all over the place, but he DID improve his clarity throughout the semester! I did not use the textbook once. Don't buy it. TAs are great. Test structure is essays. I DID like this class though!!!!!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: AH100
• 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:

Brilliant!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ARTH1128
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

All the exams are essays on the paintings he goes over in class. He talks very fast and can be unclear but if you write exactly what he says you will do well. Exams can be tough cause you have to memorize 30 possible paintings and enough to write an essay on them when only 5 are on the exam. TAs do all the grading so make sure you suck up.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ART1128
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Go to class. If you want a good grade go to the class everything on the exam is what he says about the slides. I would recommend this class to someone who doesn't have a heavy load that semester. There's still work involved and a lot of notes. Hes pretty funny but sometimes the lectures get really boring.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ARTH1128
• 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: N/A

Comment:

Proff Orwicz was one of the most hilarious teachers i have ever had. He kept the content light and interesting. He was a hard to follow and was all over the place in his lectures at first. but got much better as semester went on. Sections are really important most of the images reviewed then are in the exams.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ARTH1128
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This guy is awesome. He's really funny, passionate, and he knows his stuff. He does jump around a bit and can be hard to follow, but you sort of learn how to take notes effectively. Going to section is really helpful if you have trouble there. Study and take notes and you'll do well.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ARTH3430
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Orwicz is a great professor. He is funny and interesting and does care about his students. If you see make an effort in class, he will recognize you and will let you know what you have to do to improve. No research paper required for non-W students. Truly a wonderful guy and a great prof! (ps. the reading is challenging)

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ARTH123
• 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:

I love art history, and I am an extremely fast, thorough note taker. Orwicz definitely knows his sh*t, but he talks a mile a minute for the entire 50 minute class and jumps around a lot! You MUST go to class and be a good note taker. Arrogance aside, he seems like an alright guy. (See: Jean Givens if you're interested in ARTH for a gen ed!)

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ARTH123
• 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: N/A

Comment:

Great profesor, he knows what he's talking about, and he's funny. A little hard to follow sometimes, and he jumps around alot. MUST go to lecture/discussion sections!! And be prepared to take alot of notes. If you go to class and review your notes though, you'll do fine. Pop quizzes are given in discussion section.Don't even bother buying the book.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ARTH138
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

seems arrogant in class.. just go talk to him in office hours and it is a different story. class is pretty boring, lots of notes. readings are boring. *Going to office hours for a decent chat can help your paper grades* Always do xtra credit.