Thomas O'Brien - University of Houston

Professor: Thomas O'Brien

Department: TBD

College: University of Houston

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST101
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Obrien lectures were pretty interesting, just did not like how we also had another professor. I wish he was the only one who taught the class. His test are easy you just have to study . There is only three test and one museum paper. I would take him again

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST3380
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I took him for a minimster. It was the worst decision I have ever made. I am an all A's student and I ended up with a falling grade. He is so rude when you email him. There is a lot of reading and he grades very hard. DO NOT TAKE HIM! You never know how he is going to grade you. I did very good on my first essay then the last 3 I got horrible grade

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST3375
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The class has so much information and lectures, you really have to stay on top of it. The book is so expensive and the more you read it, the more you realize entire paragraphs are basically copied and pasted into different chapters. Only 4 assignments, 12 lectures and 300 pages of reading. Professor is ok, but class is an absolute sham.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST3375
• Grade Received: D+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The textbook for this class was online and did not work most of the time. You could not print or make notes - the videos did not follow the class reading material. The reading material was oddly ordered and usually the videos (terrible) were not organized with reading. I wont take another online video class by this professor or textbook.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST3335
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I've taken all the classes offered by O'Brien, in fact I'm rather sad that I won't be taking any more. True, his book is expensive, but I used the same book for 5 classes. True, you never know the exam questions until you open, but I've submitted work that was hundreds of wrds short and still got a B. He was hard, but man this was fun.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST3380
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is awesome! He gives you all the information you need for the 2 tests. If you watch the lectures you wont have any problem passing this class!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST3380
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took this class to forfill my diversity credit. There were only 6 papers the entire semester. The papers were easy as long as you include all the points wanted from the syllabus and summarize the reading. There is a lot to read so stay on top of it. Extra credit papers are 2 out of the 6 papers. I didn't even need the last extra credit paper.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST3375
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Prior knowledge of history may be require. Expensive book never use it. Keep crashing a lot, instructor knows, but is going to tell you to take it with the publishers people. A lot of information on the videos, and lecture so yeah is up to you if you want to attend class. Personally I didn't because traffic was a nightmare. He cool people.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST3380
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Favorite history prof at UH. I am taking a third class from him now, and I think he is halarious. At first i was intimidated by the amount of reading, BUT the book was written by him so if you listen to the lectures while you read its SO EASY to follow!! He is an excellent professor, knows what he is talking about, and you learn alot

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST3363
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Took him for pirates and smugglers online course. If you love history, its a great class. Yes, your grade is based off of 4 total essays, but theyre graded fairly easily. You absolutely have to watch the lectures and take notes. Just use the facts from your notes, no outside source, and youll be fine. It seems intimidating, but its not.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST3380
• Grade Received: D+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The only assignments are papers in which you have 60-75 minutes to write 1,000 words without having known the question ahead of time. The book is expensive and can only be purchased through 1 source. On over a dozen occasions, I had difficulty opening the text book because the web version kept crashing, and the program wouldn't open.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST3380
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I took this class during the summer. There was a lot to read and plenty of lecture videos, but if you take good notes, youll be fine.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST3380
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took his class twice and he is a fair grader. There are two weekends that assignments are due. 2 essays, final, midterm, 2 extra credits! I made A- in both classes. Not bad and you don't have a bunch of work all semester! This is a grate filler class!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST3380
• 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:

Information overload, hours of lecture videos to watch, too many chapters to read. Take notes while reading and watching his online lectures. Only take him if this is your only option.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST3383
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

currently im halfway thru course w/ a 98% overall- there r 26 1 hour lectures -be sure to take A LOT of notes esp. when hes comparing the diff. revolutions- this whole course is very interesting- u dont rly HAVE to read but just familiarize urself w the material and type really fast & concisely when u open the essays- BEWARE: online book is 180$!!!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST3383
• 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:

Textbook - online & expensive. 2 minor exams - summary of articles in the textbook (15% each). 2 major exams - from lectures (35% each). Exams are timed. PRO TIP: watch lectures/take notes for major exams. For article summaries, use search option on textbook to find the correct article. You will get an F for the wrong one. summarize/type quickly.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIS3383
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

You'll take a mid-term and a final, both of which are essays where you have to answer a prompt with 1000 words in 75 minutes, then you also have two 50 minute 1000 word essays summarizing an article from the book. Book is e-book and expensive. Extremely tough grader. 2 opportunities for extra credit, a total of 5 points.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST3380
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

No... Just no. Don't do it! Absolutely no consistency on grading. One essay you'll get a great grade, the next could be the same quality, and you'll get an F. Unclear about expectations, no feedback. Interesting lectures, and great material presented, but there is definitely an issue with grading.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST3380
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Good professor, everything was accesible online so you can go at your own pace except of course the exams. Essay based and he gives you a review that helps a lot to prepare you. Lectures are boring but take good notes because thats what you use for the exams. Textbook is a must for the essay questions which is part of your exam. Pretty easy class

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST3380
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

You'll write a total of 4 papers for his online class. Although the material isn't too difficult, I hate how he makes you purchase his book. Two exams are based off documents from the book but I've only ever used the book on the day of the exam and never read it. Still passed with an A. I recommend sharing the book with other students.