Bertell Ollman - New York University

Professor: Bertell Ollman

Department: TBD

College: New York University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: POLUA140
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This course needs no homework, no tests. All you need to do to receive an easy A is to write a good 30-page journal about your experience during the semester. I need to say, a lot of students dislike Ollman just because they do not understand the lecture. Believe me, listen to his lectures carefully and read some of his books, you'll love him.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: SOCTH01
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great intro to socialism if it's something ur interested in. Ppl get offended when he doesn't take their very tired criticisms seriously but don't get that he's studied the stuff for 60 years n ur a college freshman. Don't worry about missing lectures too much just make up with readings. Work on your journal weekly and you'll ace. Great funny guy

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: POL140
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His lecturers are unorganized, the class had no syllabus. You have to get 10 books but he doesnt give clear directions on when to read them. The whole class is based on a journal where you basically have to pretend to be a Marxist in order to get an A. If you show you put effort into your journal you'll probably get an A. He's all about ur opinions

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: SOCTH01
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I honestly don't think Ollman grades based on political belief. At all. My Journal was probably more leaning on the conservative side than most, but I still ended up with an A. You just have to be clear with your arguments and not procrastinate until the very last few days to do this 20-30 page journal. Really interesting guy.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: SOC101
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The negative review on here sort of make me sad. I mean I definitely get the criticisms people have of him but personally I really enjoyed his class. He's this delightful socialist dude who's really accommodating to student issues. His lectures are definitely hard to follow though, but they are still very interesting.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: DIAL102
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Ollman is one of the most interesting professors that I've had at NYU. I believe his books are rather well read in the world of Marxist or dialectical works. The main coursework are from his books, which really analyzes Marx's concepts and connects them to current events in class. Do the readings and work on the journal weekly :)

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: DIALC101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Absolutely horrible professor. Just do not take him if you want a meaningful experience.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: POL5100
• 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:

Worst professor I have ever had. Repeated the same vague statements every class; would forget what readings he assigned; doesn't engage students or learn students' names. Avoid even if you are incredibly interested in Marxism (as I am) since most of the reading is just Ollman's theory--a quack elliptical pseudo-philosophy. A disgrace to the dept.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: SOC101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This was an amazing class. If you do the readings he puts on his syllabus, you can write a great journal to get an A. Dont be shy to reach out for help if you are confused about your grade. He'll be happy to meet with you and discuss and potentially amend it. Life changing. Opened my eyes to the horrors of capitalist society. Who is John Galt.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: SOCTH01
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I'm very interested in Marxist theory and I was having trouble staying awake during lectures. I don't think he plans class at all, just walks in and talks for an hour. Don't bother asking him a question or attempting to disagree with him, he'll flat out ignore you. Very disappointed.

Rating # 11

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

as a poly student, course was convenient in satisfying humanities requirement. not writing intensive, only a 30-50 pg journal about your thoughts, reactions, and summaries of lectures due at the end of the semester. gives you the freedom to choose to either begin writing journal at the beginning of semester or later on. Easy A course. alright prof

Rating # 12

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

People are too harsh on him. Good course; the only assignment is a journal which everybody puts off until the last minute. Come in with an open mind, show up to every lecture, do the readings, and you'll learn a lot. It also would have been nice if he would tie the material to current events and real life - it would have been more cool like that.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: SOCTHEORY
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

this guy man. He was an awful teacher, easy class if you don't want to do anything and procrastinate till the very end

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: SC1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I'm very interested in socialist Marxist theory but I wish he took a more modern approach on it. He did not encourage discussion at all and whenever someone would ask a question about what he was saying he often dismissed them. I can tell he's knowledgeable, but some of what he says seems very 60s, and his lectures are hard to pay attention to.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: SOCTHEORY
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are repetitive and I find myself not going to class often because he often says the same things. No tests or essays whatsoever, just a 40 pg journal due at the end of the semester and he wants you to read 4 books on socialism. Doesn't believe in grades. Hard-core Marxist. Take this course. Super easy A and the material is interesting.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: A
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took him for Socialist Theory. I'm interested in the subject but didn't find him to be a great lecturer. The books he published were clearer than his lectures, which helped with the 40 page journal due at the end of the course (the only assignment).

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: POL140
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Ollman is 1 of a kind. If you do not get distracted easily and can focus 100% without drifting for 75min, you will be fine. If you listen to lecture from start to finish, you will learn more than from most other professors. Grade is based off a 40 page journal. You can disagree with him and still get an A. I did, but had to be thorough.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: SOCIALISTTHEORY
• 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:

I would not recommend this class, because the entire grade is a 40 page journal that details your journey through socialism. The problem is that there is no rubric and no way to check your progress so you don't have any clue what your grade will be. He hates grades and it shows.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: POLUA
• 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:

Terrible

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: SOCIALISTTHEOR
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

One of the biggest morons I had in college. He basically blackmailed the class into engaging in extra-curricular activities that were important to him and his socialist buddies by threatening to not give everyone an "A". Frequently late and never prepared. Lectured(if you can call it that) by the seat of his pants. A real jackass.