Cares alot about student progress and understanding. Best history prof at MWC

Not very easy, but extremely good.

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Absolutely brilliant. And he knows it, which can be irritating at times.

good professor unless you're the world's biggest heathen

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Taught cool aspects of ancient society- but not what we were supposed to learn

Funny and interesting. Puts history into perspective, too bad I got a D.

Sarcastically hilarious, and the class is interesting too. There is a good bit of reading, but it is manageable.

Very cute but you can tell he went to Yale. Nice guy all around and I didn't find the lectures too hard. Very funny and outgoing I recommend him for intro classes.

Dr. O'Brien is damn sexy. Although he is very cocky, he's also incredibly smart. I didn't like the 25 page paper, but the content of the class was interesting and the books were appropriate. He's hot so you'll never want to miss one of his classes!

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Oh jesus...this man is HOT!!! I love him to death! He is hilarious and he makes lectures on a boring topic very fun! I thought his tests were really hard and I got a C in his class but it was all worth it just to get to look at him day after day!

great professor. tests are easy if you go to class and take good notes. test are ALL notes for the most part. great class to take for gen ed

Hard as balls tests, paper, and reading. Fun lectures, but must take goods notes. Funny and cocky.

gorgeous, gorgeous man. awesome class, only class that i never missed!! hard class, test wise, but really great lectures and sometimes it would be off-topic (which was great). trying to get into another one of his classes!

This man is extremely sexy! Read the text and go to class everyday and you'll do well. It is so worth it to see him 3 times a week!

absolutely brilliant, and yes - hot. entertaining and genuine.

Great teacher. Before I took his class I had no idea what i wanted to major in. Before half way through the semester I decided to be a history major because I loved his class so much

I just want to bang him!

Yeah me too, definitely wanted to bang him.

O'Brien is by far one of the most knowledgeable professors at MWC. He is a tough grader and expects a lot out of his students, however his classes are always fun and worth the hard work.

Loved Dr. O'Brien! He's got a great sense of humor and makes the class and subject matter so interesting! He's very fair - I highly recommend him.

Great teacher, lecture are always fun and exciting. I found his tests easy, but many thought they were hard, he is very helpful, and loves his job.

O'Brien is a great teacher. I've learned more in this class than any other. He's got a great sense of humor and is extremely knowledgable on the subjects he teaches

obrien totally rules! he is so funny in lectures and he makes them interesting my giving info you wouldn't find in the book. I thought he was very easy to read, for what was going to be on exams. if you take him you wont regret it!

Professor O'Brien is a great lecturer. The time flies and he keeps the topic interesting and funny. His tests are pretty hard. He expects a lot from his students but is very fair.

Oh for goodness sake. He's a nice guy who loves what he teaches. This comes through and you enjoy it too -- but stop with this "wanting to bang him business." He's married and 40 something. Word of advice, never take a multiple choice test with

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I loved O'Brien's class. He is so damn funny and keeps the class interesting. I wished that he taught every subject cause I would be the first to sign up!

This man is by far the best prof at MWC. His lectures are brilliant in their detail and his ability to tie every anecdote and fact into his overall point makes for an enjoyable experience. Grade is apx. 70% based on a major paper...fun!

Ahhhh Bruce...what can I say? He's so sexy intelligent...one of the most inspiring professors I've ever had- he makes you want to be as brilliant as he is. Oxford, Cambridge, Yale...his classes are delightful.

the hot rating is a big mistake, he's just not, most lectures are really interesting...except for the ones in which he sets out to disprove the Bible and all of Christianity...lay off man...he twists Biblical facts and not many people realize that

This man is AWESOME! He made me want to be a hist major! Only 2 tests, and 35% of grade on one big paper. If you're superreligious, you might not like him, but if you have any interest at all in hist, you HAVE to take his class!

He's a cool guy and he know what he's talking about. Keep up with the material and you will be straight.

awesome professor, very witty and intelligent. the class is average work and he's very helpful about what's on the test. takes email questions and is approachable. a little crazy about religious topics, but it didn't annoy me. cool guy : )

obrien is not only extremely knowledgable but extremely available. he gives the student the benefit of the doubt about everything, grades fairly, and gives really interesting lectures. i never want to miss his class. also has a great sense of humor. take something with him before you graduate!!

difficult exams but great teacher. it's not good to miss a class-you can miss an entire civilization that day! pay attention in class and keep up with the reading. it's a good class and he's a good teacher-very flexible with makeup work and very understanding!

Okay class. Midterm, Final and paper make up grade + some participation in discussions. Tests are hard, but willing to answer questions in class or out of class. Loves what he teaches, which makes it a bit more interesting, but can trail off the subject at times. You will be fine if you just STUDY!!

Wow, he's a great professor. Fantastic sense of humor that I guess only history majors understand. His classes are hard, but they are so informative that the difficulty is forgiven.

Dr. O'Brien is REALLY smart and he has a great since of humor but his class is tough! The two exams are tricky and a paper is worth 35% of your grade. Be sure to participate, do well on discussion questions, and keep up with the lectures and reading!

O'Brien is great. His lectures are very interesting, and he has a true passion for history. Tests are kinda hard, but he curved the midterm for my class, and the other class assignments are really easy. Overall, I woud definitely recommend his Western Civ Class! I guarentee you will never be bored.

Awesome class, just plain WOW! Best class ever! The one hundred level classes can whine all they want but 451 was amazing.

O'Brien is the best Western Civ professor at UMW, no contest. His anecdotes are amusing, not boring at all. And a couple hundred pages of reading on each test for a class that covers from the dawn of human history through the seventeenth century is more than reasonable. Don't let the whiners fool you.

Interesting lectures. Tests are not easy, but not super difficult (from one who never read the text). Use the online study guide, do the summaries, and attend class (esp on Fridays). He's really passionate about history and it shows.

Smart guy, not too bad looking. Knows his stuff. Not sure why he teaches at MAry Wash, but i guess the job market is tight. Plan on studying for his class though!

Amazingly insightful, thought-provoking, and entertaining lectures. One of the toughest A's I earned at MWC, but significantly less effort required for those who just wanted to pass.

Bruce's classes were always insightful and entertaining. Be prepared to write "often and well," particularly in seminars, if you expect a decent grade. Encourages you to develop opinions, and a well-argued and documented point will receive consideration, even if a little crackpot (trust me on this one.)

O'Brien is a great professor. Lively, interesting, with a snarky sense of humor. So technologically challenged, it's endearing. Class is extremely laid-back and easy, no exams. Very little reading, only a page or two at a time. Very interesting and relaxing class with a good professor. If you need a low-work high-interest class, take this one.

I love O'Brien's class. It's probably the highlight of my week. He's very relaxed, funny and interesting. I liked him so much, I made sure to get into another class of his next semester. :)

I studied under Dr. O'Brien in the early 1990s and found him to be a great professor. Sounds like he hasn't changed. He may take a certain approach on religion, but I found that despite being a pet issue for him, (sorry Dr. O') it only strengthened my beliefs. Great classes, very engaging. Worth taking for the serious truth-seekers out there.

I liked O'Brien before this class, but I have to say this was not his best. The class was dry and impersonal. He'd often get hung up on evaluation of sources rather than content. When asked a question, he had a way of making me feel stupid for asking. He's such a nice guy, I know he wasn't doing it on purpose, but it was still off-putting.

This class was so much fun. he has a great sense of humor(if a little nerdy) and really knows his stuff. He reminds me of what Robert Langdon from Dan Brown's books would look like in real life. the class is pretty easy, i studied for the two exams the night before and got A's. study from the book and his lectures though

O'Brien is a wonderfully intelligent teacher, just do your reading and be prepared to be mentally engaged in his classroom. He's very snarky, but willing to help and has a great sense of humor.

Seems like a nice enough guy but the class is hard. Lots of reading (30-50 pages per night) and the tests require that you know every page. Attendance is required but its a nice boost to your grade.

Friendly, approachable, helpful guy. Usually takes attendance. Lectures can get a little dry, but he knows it and frequently jokes around during them. Homework is not extremely difficult but still requires effort. Midterm is very hard if you don't read the ($100) textbook. Take for gen ed only if you also find history interesting.

Ok all of UMW's Western Civ classes are unrealistically hard for gen eds but O'brien is probably your best bet. Easy to pass, but hard to get anything better than B

Awesome class!!Lectures are a little boring, but take good notes.No tests, just a mid term and final. When you read the chapters, there are questions at the beginning and end.Highlight the answers, and study those for the exams.I can guarantee a passing grade.For the responses,use citations from the source and don't over think the questions.

He is very knowledgable, very passionate about the material, and really wants you to get a good grade. Honestly, the only way you can complain is if you don't like learning, which is kind of the point of going to any University. I hope you would want an educated professor who has seen things, that's what you pay for. Its history, lots of reading.

Awesome professor. Passionate about his study and likes people that are interested. Spoon feeds you final and midterm hints. Discussion questions are a breeze. Just take notes! And laugh at his jokes. He likes that. And yes, if you think you just heard a sex joke from him, you did.

He's a bit of a loon but really funny. And you'll learn a lot from him. He is difficult but he is always available for help and his jovial demeanor makes the atmosphere in the room much more relaxed....but you will have work to do ;)

I LOVE O'Brien. He is incredibly smart and knows a lot history. This was my first class with him, but I hope to take more. The class can appear a bit scary because our paper was 50% of the grade. However he was very helpful with ideas, providing sources, and feedback. In this class we focused a lot on primary sources and did not use the book often.

Welcomes questions. Lets too many students waste class time with irrelevant talk/play time. VERY helpful one on one. Personable, realistic, good at explaining things.

Taken Brucie for multiple classes since my freshman year. Amazing Professor, can be a tad lecture heavy but one of the most interesting and intelligent people I have ever met. Work for him and he will give you the results!

Very well versed in his field and very interesting! Some would say he is a harsh grader but his essays really improved my quality of writing. He gives GREAT feedback on your essays, and has given the most detailed feedback I have ever received on an essay in school. If you're interested in history I highly recommend him as a professor.