Michael O'Hara - Ball State University

Professor: Michael O'Hara

Department: TBD

College: Ball State University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: THEA103
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I truly enjoyed being in Dr. O'Hara's class. A lot of people find him difficult to work with and have a hard time seeing his good side. I disagree. He's very intelligent, sometimes it's hard to look past his brash personality but he truly wants us to understand the material. I owe so much to this class, wish I could take it again!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: THEA104
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

When I went to him for help in the class he refused to. He would not exept my disability letter. When I went to meet with him in person I got two 45 minute long meetings were he made ableist and racist side comments. He did not help with any if the confusion I had and just ripped my personal problems apart. Still dont understand anything.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: THEA103
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

You need to WORK for this class. This class is "Group Projects: the musical", and finding times can be difficult. He isn't always super clear on things, and you will fail your first group projects, but he makes iclicker questions and quizzes (which are open note!) help to make up for it. Not an easy pass class, but O'Hara is super cool out of class

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: THEA100
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He purposefully fails you on your first few projects, even though you literally follow the template he gives you and fill in the blanks. I tried to turn in my disability letter to him in person like he told me and he told me to email it to him, I did that and he has not responded. Every time I try to give it to him he won't talk or look at it. rude

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: THEA103
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Michael O'Hara will make you want to rip your hair out on several occasions, but in the end he will probably end up teaching you more about Theatre and about life than any other professor you have. He's a tough one, but if you push through and make it to the end you will be so proud of how much you have grown.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: THEA103
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Even though it was rough and there were several late nights with my group, this was one of my favorite classes. Dr. O'Hara's lectures alone make it worthwhile. Yes, it's hard work. Yes, it's mostly all group work. But if you DO the work it's not as bad as people make it out to be. We also got to meet Sutton Foster, so...

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: THEA103
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. O'Hara made his lectures entertaining to his students. I didn't like that the class relied so heavily on group projects. My group was pretty good, but if you get stuck with a bad group, there goes your grade. The work is extremely tedious and time consuming. Though, I will say I don't know what the course objective was and that's sad to me.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: THEA103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Love this man. Grading is a challenge.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: THEA104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Okay so basically O'Hara says there are no wrong answers, just better choices... BUT GIVES OUT MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST, LIKE WHAT?!?! He speeds through lectures and then barely ever returns to that topic again, then later quizes you on it.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: THEA103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

O'Hara isn't great about grading quickly and often makes you feel stupid. I understand why we need this class but it adds unnecessary stress. Things aren't always explained well and I found myself aiming for what O'Hara wants us to say instead of what I think. Hope and pray for group members that do their work.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: THEA103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

O'Hara is a great teacher, and you learn a lot. The class is tough, but if you work hard, there is no reason that you shouldn't get at least a B. Don't skip class. It will be detrimental to your grade. There are plenty of group projects, and it takes a lot of time and effort. Don't slack off.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: THEAT317
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Make friends and do the quizzes together.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: THEA104
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He expects a lot of you 100% of the time, but he expects a lot out of himself. He cares about his students during and after the class. Debate is welcomed and valued. Sometimes he will frustrate you and overwhelm you. He will ask the hard questions, but you will be a better theatre artist because of him. P.S Friend him on Facebook. It's worth it.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: THEA103
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Don't try to impress him. You could write a beautiful essay but he will find some way to tear it apart. Just work hard and you will pass. Group projects are huge in this class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: THEA319
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. O'Hara is a gem. Quite a bit of theatre majors really dislike him because of the way he teaches 104 and how apparently mysogynistic he is. He is absolutely not and his lecture on Feminism in Theatre in 319 will destroy the patriarchy brick by brick. He's had so many experiences and frankly, you'd be stupid to not try and get on his good side.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: THEA104
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. O'Hara is the toughest professor I've had to date. He definitely makes you work hard to achieve the grades you want. This class is difficult and if you don't like the group you are assigned early on in the semester, you will be in for a rough ride. That being said, Dr. O'Hara is always ready to offer advice and feedback. Work hard.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: THEA104
• 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:

This class is hard but worth it. You WILL be in the library until 3am A LOT, but the things you learn are incredible. Go to class, pay attention, and ask questions. Don't be intimidated. There's a lot of reading and work, but if you really want to be a theatre major, the things you learn are things you'll use forever.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: THEA104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This is our major's "weed-out" class and, as such, is really, really hard. He's a good professor, though, and has really engaging lectures. The projects are extremely difficult, but you learn a ton and the requirements of the class are clearly outlined from day 1.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: THEA100
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great teacher. Extremely intelligent and full of useful information. The main thing I hated about this course was the weekly quizzes. They required that you take them at least 3 or 4 times if you expected to get anything over a C. The lectures don't even tie into the quiz material much. The only reason for showing up is to get participation points.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: THEAT104
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class is hard. You can't just show up and get an A. He will make you think in ways you NEVER thought possible. You'll see how absolutely everything can tie back to theatre. Definitely a weed out class for a reason. A LOT of group work. It's no joke when they say you live in the library. But in the end, everything you learn is totally worth it.