Brian McNeil - Emerson College

Professor: Brian McNeil

Department: TBD

College: Emerson College

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: VM203
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great professor but not for everybody. He's passionate about what he's talking but not always presents it in the best way. I really like him tho he's hilarious.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: VM101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Brian's an easy teacher to work with. He doesn't believe in finals and provides only four big assignments for the semester (2 7-10 page essays & 2 tests). Study a lot for the tests since he doesn't provide study guides. Occasionally he says insensitive things to students but he means no harm. He builds a positive and social class environment.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: VM203
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Brian is one of the best professors I've had at Emerson. His lectures are incredibly engaging and interesting, and I always looked forward to going to History of Photography. He clearly knows what he's talking about. This is a fantastic class.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: VM101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Lectures can be a bit tough sometimes because he talks insanely fast and does not use slides of any kind. His content is of questionable value at some points, but he covers an interesting spectrum of history. No outside work other than 2 papers with a fair variety of prompts to choose from. He's a great guy and cares about what he does.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: VM203
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

McNeil is a great guy. He really knows his material and he's a great photographer himself. His lectures can be a little boring but he shows a lot of example photography and critiques it. Only 2 papers which were a little tedious and 2 quizzes which are super easy if you even a little bit pay attention in class. He's really funny, would take again.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: VM203
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Brian has been my favorite teacher so far at Emerson. He is a wonderfully funny and nice guy, he really cares about his students and although his lectures may seem a little boring, he really tries to make class enjoyable. There are only two quizzes and two essays throughout the semester and no final. I can't say enough how much I admire this man.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: VM101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

McNeil's class was the biggest waste of my time. I learned nothing from him. He's an ignorant man who probably has tenure and unknowingly makes fun of and mocks his students. He's not insensitive, he's just oblivious to the world around him. I'd feel bad for the man if I hadn't paid thousands of dollars for a class with him.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: FILMHISTORY2
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Gives a good amount of feedback on your papers, which I appreciate. That said, he is a tough grader. Also his class focuses REALLY heavily on abstract/experimental film. He also tries to teach on subjects he knows nothing about, like video games and YouTube. Overall he's a decent prof, but a lot of people had trouble sitting through his classes.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: VM203
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great class! I learned a lot and enjoyed McNeil's sense of humor. You'll always leave class in a good mood. He is a tough grader, but gives you great feedback and sometimes lets you rewrite papers.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: VM203
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Brian is very chill but you also get a lot of information from his lectures. There isn't any final and only 2 quizzes and 2 papers during the semester. His lectures can get pretty dry at times but he has a nice sense of humour which comes through and he treats you like an adult

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: VM203
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

There is a lot of information in this class. Keep up with the readings - it's a lot, but the book has some stuff Brian doesn't cover. One of my favorite parts about this class was Brian's Canadian accent. He understood that the material could be dry but he was a blast to listen to and learn from and tried to get us engaged with the material.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: VM203
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

THE BEST!. He made a 4pm to 6pm class awesome.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: VM101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I don't know how anyone could have a problem with Brian. He is my favorite professor by far. Even at 8AM he was funny, laid back, and very informative. Only two papers, two quizzes and no final. who could possibly complain? Take his class, no matter the time.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: VM203
• 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:

He is a really awesome teacher. Yes, his class can be dull at times, but he is very funny and knows what he is talking about. Only two essays, which you are given plenty of time to do. Only two quizes, which are pretty easy, and no final exam!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HISTPHTO
• 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:

Literally the most boring course I have ever taken in my life. I had to smoke before showing up because I couldn't handle it otherwise. Good thing is that if you do well on the essays, you can bomb the quizzes and still get away with a B! So dry...so, so dry...but if you like boring lectures...PLEASE take him. He's a nice guy though, at least.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: VM101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Brian McNeil is a fun professor. Pretty funny, and very understanding. The papers are awesome (fun, non-painful topics). The quizzes though have really random questions and are impossible to study for. Overall though, Brian is awesome. Super nice, pretty knowledgable, and funny. Best part of this course: no final exam!!!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HISPHOT
• 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:

Just the Worst!....Changes assignment requirements by stating what he wants to be changed one time in class and expects you to remember it. Funny guy to be around but his class is the real joke!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: VM203
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Solid class made funny and interesting by the professor. Notes are easy, and the amount of slides and films he shows make you feel like you are getting a lot out of the class. Only bad thing: easy to get tired or bored after a while. Manageable papers/quizzes and no final!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: VM203
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Amazing teacher. Before his class, I knew nothing of photography. But he made everything so interesting, I *wanted* to keep learning! Always helpful with reading drafts of papers before they're due.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: VM203
• 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's really funny and clever. As long as you can handle him picking on you, you'll love the class. He's unclear sometimes about what he want, and he's a pretty tough grader on essays, but as long as you put a little effort into double checking your grammar and all that you'll do fine.