A nice teacher but teaches 100 level courses as an honor course. He grades VERY hard.

I loved this class! Professor O'Conner knows what he is talking about and his lectures are done very well. His grading scale is pretty tough but its not THAT hard. His test outlines are extremely helpful and it makes the tests much easier. I would recommend him for anyone who enjoys history.

loved the class, loved the teacher, want to do nasty things to him

I have not had any trouble with his grading or style of teaching. He gives you exactly what will be on the test and gives you the prompts for all the essays for the course in the beginning of the year. I found his lectures interesting and he has always been happy to help out or give you feedback. Very knowledgeable, especially in upper courses.

this professor is a pretty good teacher. the classes are solid lecture and there is not much work. He teachers the material well, however, he grades pretty hard. no matter how much u know about the material he will find something wrong with your answer. Getting an A is very hard. A "B" can be gotten with reasonable effort.

His lectures are interesting, and his test reviews take into consideration everything that's going to be on the test. He's a nice guy, but sometimes it seems like he'd prefer you not to give your opinion on certain topics. As long as you don't act like an ass, he's a nice guy.

i really really really liked K. OC...the guy is nice and if you dont do all that well on the tests he is willing to help you during his office hours so that you understand how he wants em...he is a nice guy but you do have to pay attention...

I don't know why this man doesn't have a higher rating because I enjoyed his class. He mixes up lectures with movies, and he puts pictures in the powerpoints. He's a sweet man. I got an A without working too hard.

I took 102&349 Knows his sh*t but if you don't like 75 min lectures from a powerpoint in a dark room & windows/blinds closed every day (5-10 kids were asleep EVERY class) then maybe this isn't the prof for you. He was great for his 102 class, very hard grader on papers. His 300 classes are night and day, I loved his class though. Very hard A to get

Extremely knowledgable about the topic and a really interesting class. You need to take good notes and know the why and how and not just when. There was one large paper and two tests, so study hard! Take this class if you're not lazy, good prof over all.

A very intelligent professor, but talks the entire class time. My class was in the morning; it was a dark classroom, and the powerpoint presentations lasted the whole time. Beware. Hard grader on essays. Final is difficult but he gives you a great study guide sheet to work from. Hard to get an A, but if you do your work, a good grade is possible.

Very straight-forward class; clear teaching style, power point and lecture; doing the reading before hand helps, b/c he gives out a participation grade; knows his stuff, passionate about history, but a little condescending; If you put some effort into the class you should be fine.

Excellent professor. He knows his stuff and has a passion for teaching the material. Carefully prepared lectures and more than willing to clarify material at the end of lecture or in office hours. I'm not quite sure why others have been rating him as being very difficult. Its a good class, take it!

This has to be the hardest 100 level class that I have ever taken at Gonzaga. He is a very smart guy and expects you to be on his level. His tests are VERY hard and he does not give out A's or B's unless you "impress him." He also loves to use big words in an attempt to look smart and confuse the class. OVERALL ARROGANT PROF. I WOULD AVOID HIM.

This teacher definitely has high expectations. You only have three tests and three papers in his class, so there's not much to base your grade on and you have to kill yourself for every one. He puts out "study guides" for each test that's basically like "know everything." But he definitely has a passion for what he teaches and knows his stuff!

I found KOC very refreshing. He has high expectations for his students and also for himself.

He's pretty good looking, I used to see him at the gym all the time. His class isn't that difficult, you guys are a bunch of whiners.

He's tough but not impossible. If you take notes everyday in class and keep up with the reading somewhat you should be okay. His study guides are kind of daunting but if you prepare for the essays it is usually an easy A.

Study well for tests, his tests are a combo of identification clusters and an essay, so if you don't know your stuff it's nearly impossible to do well in 50 minutes. There were 3 essays, The main thing is to read and then back up your points with evidence from the readings. For me, I got A's on all the essays, but not as well on the tests...

Study well for tests, his tests are a combo of identification clusters and an essay, so if you don't know your stuff it's nearly impossible to do well in 50 minutes. There were 3 essays, The main thing is to read and then back up your points with evidence from the readings. For me, I got A's on all the essays, but not as well on the tests...

KOC is probably one of the more intelligent professors I have had at Gonzaga. He knows his stuff, and he expects you to know it as well. He is a tough essay grader but I found his tests pretty easy. After a few weeks you know what he is looking for so just do your work and you'll be fine.

This class made me LOVE history! The professor did a great job of balancing powerpoint and lectures. You'll do fine if you actually read what he puts on the schedule and listen in class. I found his approach to history through major ideas to be extremely effective. I'm glad I took the course.

There's a lot of material to cover seeing as it's a survey course, but O'Connor does a good job of making sure you know the important stuff. Tests are hard but not impossible. He's a fair grader and always willing to talk about anything to do with history. Really knows his stuff.

He was a fabulous teacher. Pretty difficult assignments, but he was a fairly easy grader and was willing to help. It can be hard to focus in his classes, but it's worth it. Admire his powerpoints or his feeling will get hurt. He's also the only teacher who let us have class outside

really intelligent guy that was very enthusiasitc about his class. not for non history majors looking for easy elective. i enjoyed the class overall despite working hard for a c+

Awesome professor! Passionate about history, young, witty. I learned SO MUCH. You have to read everything though, or he'll call you out. The three tests are pretty hard. To get an A you pretty much have to know the text verbatim, but to get a B all you have to do is study. Goes over the essays before the tests.

Fantastic professor. Really interesting and funny, down to earth and young. Be ready to read for the lecture each day to keep up with the pace of the class. The readings are short. Take notes. Between reading and taking notes each day and grasping major concepts, you will be set for the tests. Definitely recommend.

Excellent, informative, and highly intelligent. He knows his stuff and teaches it well. As long as you enjoy history you will take a lot out of his class.

One of the best professors I've had. He is really passionate about history and is very clear in his lectures.

Had for Survey of Western Civilization and really enjoyed the class. You have know your stuff for the tests, he expects you to pay attention and know how to answer questions well, but he was not too focused on exact dates (but it was only a survey course). Very enthusiastic about material.

O'Connor is very intimidating when you receive his syllabus, but when you enter the class on the first day, he is a fun guy. He is a tough grader on your work. Three tests, three response papers, and an essay from a book the class reads. Need to be on his level so you can get through this class. You definitely will get something out of his class.

Good professor, really knows what he is teaching and especially is an expert on Eastern European history. Class lectures are detailed and interesting. Grades consist of 3 papers, 4 map quizzes and 3 tests (including the final). What you get out of the class is what u put in, take ur time writing the essays and do the readings if u want good grades.

AWESOME TEACHER!!! Completely focused on the students and their progress and is always willing to help outside of class. Encourages class participation but will give a quiz if no one participates. Tests are almost all essay but if you just pay attention in class and take notes you only have to study for an hour to do well. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

i know how the saying " you get what you put into it" works, but it doesnt apply here. you can pour your free time into his essays and studying for exams and still come out with at most a C+ on them. his map quizzes are simple but thats it about the class that is. Decent person but he makes for a hard teacher

When it comes to this stuff, well he wrote the book. If you want to take a class on Tsarist Russia or Hitler's Germany, he's your man. He is super knowledgable and you feel like you actually getting the education that you are paying out the whooha for!

Professor O'Connor is an extremely knowledgeable teacher. He is very interesting to listen to and I enjoyed his class. His assignments and readings are not difficult if you just do them. If you are lazy this class is not for you. If you enjoy history take this class.

If you are seeking a true academic challenge, I would highly suggest this professor. I took his thesis course, which required a lot of effort. I think he would be a better fit at a graduate level. KO is not the professor you would want to do the bare minimum for, just to receive a C, you have to earn even that.

His 6-week online course is demanding, but he gives feedback quickly and it's meaningful. Even made himself available for a face-to-face meeting when I was feeling disoriented in the class. Very engaging!

Professor O'Connor provides a really challenging yet interesting class for all of his students. He is very intelligent, and does have high expectations, but his class is definitely worth it. He definitely is not bad looking either.

O'Connor is probably my favorite professor. He is a tough grader, but if you read and participate in the lectures you will get as passionate about the subject as he is! I really enjoy this class. Most of the book notes are what he goes, but make sure you read the focus documents and speak up in class. He also makes so many movie references! Fun guy

He's a pretty tough grader but just because he knows what he wants. If you do exactly what he tells you to do you should have no problem.

Read, read, read. Professor O'Connor makes you work for your grade in every one of his classes. The man is passionate about history, and expects you to show enthusiasm and participate. If you're having trouble, he'll bring it to your attention, but then the ball is in your court. Recommended for history majors, as he's a tough grader.

Just rude in general. Was thinking about minoring in History and his teaching changed my mind. If you can avoid having him I would.

Professor O'Connor is by far the best history professor I have ever had. Don't be discouraged by his seemingly low ratings! He is inspirational, engaging, and really cares about his students. Yes, he is an extremely tough grader and his class is a challenge, but it is completely worth it. Recommended for history majorsminors.

Enjoyable and clear lectures. Grades extremely hard. Most of the things for the tests do not come from his lectures so read all assigned readings. His paper should be done early to have him review first because he marks down for things most wouldn't.

O'Connor loves Russian History and that of the Soviet Union. Very interesting perspectives on his lectures. Lots of review and book makes things clear. Strict on attendance and can be repetitive. Interesting class though and shows passion for the subject.

I had this professor for an online class, and while it was very challenging and time consuming, he was always very on it when it came to giving feedback.

I was scared going into Prof O'Connor's class but he actually wasn't that hard of a prof at all. There was a lot of reading but I stopped doing the readings and I still did really well. 6 small 1-page papers, 1 larger paper, and 3 tests. Not as hard as I thought. He is a great guy, really funny. I enjoyed his class

Dr. O'Connor is an excellent lecturer. His class is formatted around readings (that you do not have to do) that proceed each days lecture. His presentations are very well structured, and he is engaging, and always comes full circle at the end of class. Other than 2 papers, the work load is minimal. He is a clear grader (not a super easy grader).

O'Connor is an amazing teacher. He really knows what he is talking about and is funny and organized as well. His class is a lot of reading, but he is very specific about what he wants on exams and papers. He is always willing to go over first drafts in office hours. If you work hard and follow his instructions, you'll get an A and learn a lot too.

I think Professor O'Connor has gotten a bad rep! He's really knowledgeable, his lectures are interesting and substantive, and he really does try to help his students-outlining how to take tests, offering extra credit, allowing students to revise and resubmit essays. Advice-this is a college class so you will be expected to study and take good notes

O'Connor is my favorite history prof at GU. If you're taking an entry level class you don't care about, there are definitely easier choices. If your actually interested in the history of Russia and recognize that upper division courses will require some work, he's great. Write your essays with a clear thesis and purpose and you'll be fine.

He's funny and you can tell he is really into History. It's important to be at class every day because he talks about a specific time period each day. You do not need to read, he talks about all the content discussed each day after the reading. I don't know why people say test material is random. The questions all come from his syllabus questions.

Professor O'Connor is very intelligent, very dedicated, and very passionate. That being said, I wouldn't recommend taking his class unless you have an interest in the subject. It's very lecture-heavy, but he is a very good teacher. There's daily reading homework, and this class is a challenge, but it's doable. Just be prepared to put in the work.

Dr. O'Connor's HIST102 is perfect for you off of interest or if you want to dive deeper into Western Civilization because he is very passionate and upbeat about what he teaches. However, if you are solely trying to fill a requirement or just get a good grade, his work demands 100% effort and can dock points if you don't show a good understanding

Kevin is very smart when it comes to lectures but doesn't give very good feedback. Brought in cookies one time, and is a genuinely nice guy.

O'Connor really cares about history and that is clear through the class. However, he has a very interesting grading style that takes a long time to get used to. It is very difficult to get 100% on any assignment, and there are very few assignments in the first place. This class caused more stress than my STEM courses. Choose another prof if you can

Dr. O'Connor really cares about history and he expects you to know everything that he does. He is a tough grader but if you go to class and study for the exams you will pass

Dr. O'Connor was very passionate Russian history and included art, documentaries, and short stories in the class that kept it interesting and engaging. He tells you exactly what you need to know to do well on exams, but he does grade very meticulously. I would definitely take again though, he was a cool professor and his class was fun.

Professor O'Connor was easily one of the best professors I've had. He is passionate about what he teaches and extremely intelligent. He teaches history as if it is a narrative, which makes passing the class that much easier. He provides the exact questions which will be on the test on there are only a few essays required throughout the semester.

His lectures were amazing, and although heavy on content, always interesting and easy to follow. He gives the questions to tests prior to the exam, making it easy to prepare for a test. Not much homework, just a lot of note taking. He is really passionate about what he teaches, which makes you passionate about the content. Great professor!

I LOVED HIM HE IS MY FAVORITE PROFESSOR I HAD. The idea of russian history was odd to me at first, but it's actually pretty interesting. powerpoints have a lot of info. There was 1 or 2 essays, 4 tests including final. he gives essay questions ahead of time, and u get index card. easy to get along with, and easy to find outside of class. BEST PROF

Dr. O'connor was really fun in class and I enjoyed the content. There is quite a bit of reading, but not too bad. However, the tests are very challenging so study, study, study! The best grade I got on a test was an 88% but you do get a notecard.

I took HIST 195 and professor O'Connor cares a lot about the topic he teaches and is super passionate. As long as you pay attention in class and study your notes before tests you will be fine. Plus he gives a notecard for each test which is nice.

Super chill, funny and really good teaching methods.

Super energetic guy, and fun environment to be in. He can get a little off topic sometimes and he tends to repeat himself a lot. The tests are the only thing to really worry about, but they're pretty easy as long as you pay attention and put a little effort into studying. The notecard is clutch as well. Definitely would take again.

Kevin is the best history teacher I've ever had. He's extremely funny and his lectures are super interesting. 3 tests and a final along with weekly reflections. He tears your writing apart but it helps you. Tests are kinda hard but never unreasonable. If you're passionate about history and don't mind a B take this class.

Dr. O'Connor is the best professor I have had at Gonzaga. He clearly cares for you and will go out of his way to help you do well in his class. He is a little bit of a tough grader but you get a fairly large note card for exams which helps a lot. If you enjoy lectures with relevant, interesting, and funny details, consider Dr. O'Connor.

10/10 Professor, highly recommend taking HIST 195: Russia: Nation, State, History

Professor O'Connor was great to take during the summer session. You can tell he really cares about his students and what he is teaching/lecturing. He also gives great help and feedback! His homework is dense and long, but it is easy to understand. There were no quizzes- just homework and an essay, but the format may be different in person.

I took HIST 102 over the summer with Dr. O'Connor and I highly recommend. He makes assignments fun by having you think from a different perspective (an alien for example). For a summer course, there isn't a whole lot of reading or assignments, I was easily able to get all my work done on Monday while taking 2 other courses during the summer!

I took my First Year Seminar with O'Connor and I really loved the course. It was Soviet Culture through Film and in this class, we went through the entire history of the USSR through the context of film. This was a super fun class because a lot of the homework revolved around watching films and the assignments were quite short and straight-forward.

Kevin O'Connor loves Russia and is very passionate about his love for Russia. It is clear what you need to know for the exams but he wants a lot of detail in as few words as possible. It is not an impossible course, but a lot of work for being a core class.

Loved Professor O'Conner. He made his lectures super clear and is one of the smartest people in regard to History at GU. I took his Russian History and Soviet Culture through Film classes and they were my two favorite courses I've taken here. Highly recommend for a History/FYS course.

A very difficult class and a tough grader, Professor O'Connor packs a lot of material into his lectures. The exams make up the majority of the grade and are difficult but he lets you use a notecard for them. He's a really great lecturer and was very passionate about Russian History. You will definitely learn in his class.

O'Connor always presented amazing lectures on Russian History. He is super passionate about what he teaches, but the course is extremely lecture and test heavy. Pay attention in class, take good notes, and study like crazy for the exams and you will be fine. He allows a notecard on the exams and no cumulative final. He cares about his students.

This class and lectures were so engaging and relevant that it became my favorite even as a stem major. Do all the prep work he assigns before class and actually read the textbook; he doesn't try to trick you on tests, so if you do the work it's easy. The textbook is actually kinda fun to read, and he gave multiple extra credit opportunites.

Professor O'Connor makes his lectures engaging and interesting. The tests are challenging but manageable with the provided note cards and regular study prep using resources like unstuckstudy.

Incredible lecturer, probably the best I've had since I got here - took this class for core but his passion and enthusiasm made me genuinely interested. Tests are somewhat challenging but you get a notecard and he's very straightforward about what's going to be on there. No out-of-class work, one billion percent would take again