Ken Olenik - Montclair State University

Professor: Ken Olenik

Department: TBD

College: Montclair State University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST300
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I had Prof. Olenik my first semester and I have him again this semester and you honestly cannot go wrong with his classes. He is always willing to help you with your papers and clarify his feedback on it. His classes are very lecture heavy but I don't mind since it is a topic I'm interested in. It's very easy to earn an A in his class, just listen.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST132
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Not bad, but his lectures are very boring. With a short attention span like mine, it is very easy to zone out and very hard to pay attention in his class. He does not use Canvas, which makes it difficult to know what's going on in class. He gave us two papers (the second is the final), a midterm, and a group project. Good grade, but still boring.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST123
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Does not give feedback. Tells you you do not have to attend classes. You never know your grades until you get your semester final. Been around a longtime. Obviously thinks he is top notch. May have his doctorate but skipped education classes where the bottom line is to give students immediate feedback on grades and not wait until their final grade.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST132
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Olenik was very old-school with his projector, and his lecture style. He only assigned like 4 assignments the whole year, but make sure you read the necessary books. He was very boring, but knew what he was talking about. Highly recommend you do not take him in the early morning because you will fall asleep. Go to his office hours too.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST330
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Don't let his humility and unassuming manner fool you, the man's a respected figure in his field. That said, he's a classic absent-minded scholar. Be organized in your notes and take a lot of them. He's not the best for rigorous historical analysis, but he IS among the best for understanding culture and social perspectives of Asian cultures.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST432
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Me and my friends call him O.G Lenik. He is super cool and his class is basically read the books (before the midterm importantly) then do research for the final two papers, and presentation. I've taken him 3 times and I will for a fourth this fall. He told me it was his last year so take him before he goes.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST132
• 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:

I LOVE Professor Olenik. He had to be one of my favorite professors during my first semester on campus. He is so sweet and is almost always in his office so you can pop by whenever. I recommend talking to him about your papers and ask him to read them before handing it in because he does take off for grammar. Textbooks not necessary unless midterm

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST132
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He really is a sweetheart, but the class can be unbelievably boring at times. He doesn't use a syllabus so he kind of just lectures about whatever he finds interesting and expects you to learn from the readings outside of class. If you show up and turn in the assignments (only 3 or 4), you will do fine.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST223
• 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:

His lectures could definitely get boring at times but he loves what he does. Dr. Olenik is very caring and wants his students to succeed. It's a really easy class so make sure you take him!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST132
• 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:

Dr. Olenik is so sweet and wants to see you succeed. Although his lectures did get a little boring at times, it was obvious that he is very passionate about the subject. Make sure you buy all of the books. It's a really easy class. Take him!!!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST132
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Here is the class, he tells you to purchase some books and read it before and after the midterm and final. You do a map, 2 essaysn and a presentation. He lectures on random topics he finds important or interesting. It is a class based on reading, you do not read you do not do well simple as that. He helps you with your essays as well.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST132
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

While Olenik is very passionate about his subject matter with very straight forward assignments, he is extremely prone to going off on tangents for minutes at a time. Though the worst part about his lectures are his low, slow, monotone voice. If you need a good orator to succeed, this professor is not for you.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST223
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Honestly, Mr Olenik is one of Montclairs Best. He is passionate about his subject and is an amazing teacher. You get two essays, Presentations and a midterm. You have to read four books. The class is mostly lectures with some movie days. I am taking him again this fall.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HONP102
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took his honors 20th Century Civ class. Class is basically all lecture. His class is on East Asia. Mainly talks of ancient China. Lecture can get boring, but he's so passionate. He shows movies like every two weeks. Doesn't take attendance. Really easy grader, and doesn't ask for much. Huge paper due at the end of sem, he gave everyone an A.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST223
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Olenik is incredibly kind, very caring, and very passionate about his subject area. That being said he cares so much that he goes off on tangents and on stories far more than he talks about the actual lesson material- so you have to read the texts keep up, which is not my taste. Otherwise he's very accommodating, and not too hard to please.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST132
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great guy. Always there to help or talk, and truly passionate about what he does. One of the nicest professors at MSU.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HONP102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Extremely boring, & didn't learn anything. Only one paper for the semester though, so write it well and you'll be fine

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST432
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's such a great guy and an amazing professor. This is my second time taking him and I'm taking him again in the spring. If you're a history major and you need a non-western class or any class. He's super easy and really doesn't ask for much. There's a midterm, a 8-10 page paper, and a small final paper. Super easy, but sometimes boring.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST132
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Olenik is very passionate about Chinese history, and the way his courses are laid out make it easy for you to pass. You'd have to go out of your way not to do well in his course. He's somewhat boring at times and it can be wearisome to follow along in lectures but if you do the readings you'll be fine. Qualified and kind, he's a good teacher.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST499
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Olenik is extremely gentle and nice and professional history professor. Understand students, care his student, extremely respect his students. Must take his course if you are a history major student!! You will learn what real historian is and what is real passion of history which historian must have