Unhelpful. Dislikes students. Doesn't return papers.

Sorry to see this prof is still teaching at BSU. Had her for 204 and she was by far the worst porfessor I have ever had. Do yourself a favor and don't take courses taught by her. I didn't learn anything and she treats most of her students poorly.

Worst class I have ever had. Severly hard and I learned absolutely nothing from here...the biggest waste of $500 ever!!!

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Horrible professor! I can't believe she hasn't been fired yet. She is very unclear about what she wants from her students and makes up imaginary grades when she feels students may take diciplinary action against her for her teaching methods (if you can call it that). Stay away at all costs!

Taking her class was definitely a mistake. I got a decent grade, but the stress totally wasn't worth it. Outside of class and outside of her office, she's a nice lady, but that doesn't make up for anything else.

This class was so much stress, and usually pointlessly so. Our big conference that we had to organize for her was ridiculously unorganized. When she said any of us procrastinated it was just hypocritical on her part. The sad thing was, she seemed really interested in the well-being of her students at first but that changed a lot by the end.

worst most one sided rascist teacher ever. Worse than hell taking her class.

She's very unclear, unorganized, and unfair. I had to withdrawal from her class with like a month to go because she wouldn't grade my paper cause it was too long she said...how lazy can you be!!!don't ever take her class...EVER

Worst teacher ever. Nice outside of class, but can't teach at all. She expects you to know what she wants when she doesn't even know. Doesn't explain things well at all. If you get her get out of her class ASAP!!

Nice person outside of class. Talented in the subject she teaches. Awful teacher. Tells you to ask questions, then belittles you when you do. Doesn't teach material class is supposed to be about. Very unclear of what is expected. Adds all kinds of random stuff on short notice. Even if no one remembers her saying something, still insists she did.

by far the worst prof ever. put entire class 3 weeks behind sched. for a major project and refused to accept any responsibility, instead blaming us. gave entire class incomplete as a result. AVOID AT ALL COSTS!

She is unclear, unorganized, condescending, vague with instructions, has TOO high of standards for busy pointless work. The four huge projects are just worthless. Never hands back papers, doesn't return emails. I got a hold of her once by calling. She insulted me and didn't give me a straight answer anyway. A worthless Ph.D. AVOID AVOID AVOID

This is one of the worst teachers I have ever had at Ball State. She is horrible at explaining what is expected. She handed out a handbook that was completely unorganized and did not cover everything we needed to know for tests. I would never recommend this teacher to anyone. She belittles those who ask questions in her classroom. Avoid teacher!

Had to miss 6/15 classes due to surgery, and she just kept saying, "Don't worry about it - we'll get you caught up when you're back." It's a FIVE WEEK CLASS. The least she could do is e-mail me what we're doing. When I got back, I felt belittled and insulted by her. She expects production in a INTRODUCTORY WRITING COURSE. Awful, awful teacher.

ABSOLUTELY AWFUL!!! Unclear, not organized, rude, mean and odd. Doesn't let you know what is going on expects perfection in a five week class. Just terrible. Stay AWAY AWAY AWAY!

Do yourself a favor and not take this class.

She's a nice person outside of class, but very unhelpful professor. Not clear as to what will be on her exams, misses meetings you organize with her, belittles students for asking questions and then wonders why students don't ask her any questions. Avoid if at all possible.

AWFUL! This class had so much potential but she spends the whole time either reading off a cluttered powerpoint or showing a movie/tv show from the 50s. No indication of what will be on the exams, which are extremely hard already. The class finishes with a make or break project that she grades extremely hard. DO NOT TAKE IF POSSIBLE!

No. Just don't take her. Awful teacher. Great person outside of class, but bad teacher. All I have to say is no.

One of the worst professors I've ever had, hands down. Unclear, unorganized, belittling, insulting, rude, generally unpleasant person. If you were to read her syllabus it ran in logical circles with itself. A metaphor for how she teaches. If you try to clarify her illogical instructions in class she'll just insult you and not answer your question.

Never have I met someone more infuriating. I can't tell you how many times I heard "It's in your syllabus," which was 27 pages. You are expected to memorize every aspect of it and will be quizzed on it. Twice. She refuses to tell you anything (because it's in the syllabus), is unnecessarily difficult, and unclear about everything. Horrible.

This class is unnecessarily difficult on the students. The quizzes and midterm and outrageously cluttered and tough to follow. Her classroom manner is condescending and unhelpful. Take this from another professor and you might learn something. The workload and demands of the course are not at all worth what it's purpose serves. AVOID IF POSSIBLE.

Very unorganized. We weren't given a syllabus until mid-way through the semester. She allowed us to choose assignments, but due to lateness of decision, we were forced to rush 5 papers in a short amount of time. Generally the night before the papers were due, she would change requirements. Try not to ask questions, she'll make you feel incompetent.

One of the worst professors I have ever had. The class was about creating media critics, and none of the assignments or tests had anything to do with that. The syllabus quizzes are absolutely ridiculous and she provides no help for the final project. And god forbid you do ask her help, because all she will say is, "Have you read the syllabus?"

Very rude towards students. If she doesn't like you she makes it known. Her 'jokes' are cruel and unnecessary. Even though I found the class interesting, she as a teacher was unbearable. Trying to talk to her was just an anxiety attack waiting to happen.

Dr. Maria makes it tough to learn. She makes you feel dumb when you answer something wrong, sometimes even laughing at wrong answers. Her lectures are irrelevant to the course. I am very interested in media criticism and she pretty much ruined it for me. Its almost like a hostile learning environment.

Literally the worst professor on campus. Needs to be fired. Her class makes no sense and she makes fun of students who give incorrect answers. does not help her students at all. Worst professor in the world. AVOID HER CLASS AT ALL COST!!!!!

Terrible professor, she is very rude and condescending. Does not explain things clearly. She will get mad if no one answers a question, and will make you feel stupid if you do answer and it isn't right. If you do have to take the class, know the syllabus because she will not update you on upcoming projects or papers.

Dr. Maria is by far the worst professor I have ever had. From the beginning of the semester she has lacked to respond to emails and put ANY grades in Blackboard. The class has yet to know any of their grades because she never tells us. She belittles students and is very rude if you do not know answers. Be prepared to memorize everything she says.

Be prepared to memorize the syllabus. Nothing is clear in this class. One of the worst proffs ive ever had. Get out now.

Stay away from Dr. Maria IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. Grades were not shown until being due at the end of the semester. Tests are written poorly, so you often don't know answers even if you study. She turned the class of Criticism and Analysis into Minority Studies. You will not learn to critically analyze but you will learn every trope of minorities.

This teacher is so strict about following the syllabus to a tee, then at the last minute is prone to change the dates on you. She has two separate quizzes over the syllabus and two separate midterms. She does not explain any projects. Overall, this class has made me reconsider if TCOM is the right field for me.

Ms. Hawkins is a professor who expects the best out of her students, but does not teach them how to get there. She makes inappropriate comments everyday and makes students feel belittled. She has too many quizzes and unnecessary tests over things that she does not mention in class, including a mail list that will give you about 50 emails a day.

Although this professor may have a doctoral degree, she presents anything but that with her teaching. Her tests are extremely difficult. It's futile to study because she adds so many things on there that aren't discussed. She also explains nothing, but instead uses the Syllabus as her sacred scripture to govern everything. You will not enjoy class.

She is a great person but a poor teacher. She is too inconstant and extremely strict. Do not plan on asking her for help or you will be redirected to her 60 page syllabus. Avoid her if you can.

Maria is a good teacher if you like extremely complicated directions with zero guidance. She's great if you love to be reprimanded for asking for help. She is wonderful for humiliating students by name and making inappropriate comments. If you love to work harder than you've ever worked with little guidance, then Maria is right for you!

Get ready for unfunny and offensive jokes. Be prepared to not know what to study for your tests at all. Participation is required but if she doesnt like your answer she will humiliate you. Take this class if you enjoy having panic attacks and crying while youre studying because youre going to fail the tests no matter how hard you study.

When I read all of the negative reviews on here, I believed that they were left by underachievers who didn't try hard enough. I was wrong. To the students who think that you're smart enough to get by, take my advice: drop this class while you still can. Genuinely, this class put me on the verge of a psychotic break from stress.

Reading these reviews, I thought that people were being harsh, but no. Dr. Maria is the single worst professor I have ever had. She makes rude and inappropriate comments in class. She also will belittle you for answering any question of hers incorrectly. Don't bother asking questions, you will just get redirected to her 40-page syllabus. 0/10

Most of the Reviews on here are mostly true from 2018. Nothing changed by 2020. Dr maria still redirects all of your questions to her somewhat confusing syllabus. If you have a question in class, don't bother asking because she will answer you like you're a stupid individual. I wish I could send screenshots of how "helpful" her "feedback" is.

NEVER TAKE HER!!! Awful professor you will not learn anything about media criticism.

If you're looking for a way to learn about media criticism, don't take Dr. Maria. She won't teach you anything and claims questions on the tests that everyone failed were taught, even though none of us could find them in our notes or lecture slides. During this semester, she was going through a tough situation and made her problems ours. AVOID her!

I took Dr. Maria Spring 2020. My roommate and I both thought the rate my professor reviews were wrong. They were not. Do not take this class no matter what. If you have a therapist on speed dial I might recommend it but thats only if every TCOM204 seat except hers is taken. Great lady but oh my youre not passing this class. Take someone else!

Dr. Maria is just mean. She will berate you for asking a question and mock you openly in front of the class. After all that she won't even answer you just redirect you to her 40 page syllabus which won't have the answer either. Don't get me wrong she's very smart but the WORST prof. I've ever had

Sometimes I'll remember Dr Maria, how terrible she was, and I rush to BSU's site to see if she's still employed. I'm horrified this woman is still at BSU. I'll put it to you like this: She is a troll and you deserve a better Professor. It's not worth it. Don't do it. She would rather find news ways to humiliate students than teach them.

Drop while you're ahead.

From belittling students for asking questions to being extremely strict on tests, she is by far the worst professor I have ever had. Directions for projects are also very unclear and led to several headaches in and outside of the classroom. DO NOT TAKE HER CLASS for it is a miserable experience.

Never have I had a professor this bad. First week she seemed okay but got worse though the year. Maria Williams-Hawking has 0 respect for her students and will call you out in the middle of class for small mistakes. Dont take her class, its more a punishment to yourself rather than a learning experience

Teaches by 140+ pg. PowerPoints and states that you should know everything for the test, then when asked for a study guide or what material will be covered, she barks back, I dont know cause I havent written it yet. She then shows up on exam day saying, disregard 58 points, and you just spent HOURS studying good-for-nothing material.

The worst class I've ever taken. She does not care about you. she will make fun of you and give tests over things never taught. she sets you up for failure. I was hospitalized and she did little to accommodate me. my test taking accommodations due to my OCD were ignored. she was the cause of so many emotional breakdowns I almost wanted to drop out.

The summer session I spent in her class was a defining negative experience of my life. Her disregard for me as a struggling student only makes me more angry as I have gotten older and become a teacher myself. She was cold and unhelpful, seeming to disdain my need for assistance. It took me years to see that she had failed as much as I did.

The cruelest and worst professor. She publicly humiliates you if you ask questions. You will have breakdowns over this class. The tests are written the night before and it shows, you never know what is going to be on them. I've done well in her class but at what cost. Find someone who has taken it before to help you with your rhetorical statement

I had to withdrawal from this class right before the withdrawal period ended. She is unnecessarily rude to her students and will make you feel dumb for not knowing anything. The grades is made up mostly of 3 tests and a project all 200+ points each and the test are memorization heavy, a lot on non important details. Take a different professor.

If you see Dr. Maria on your schedule, run to your advisor. She will make you feel worthless. If you think she may be nice one-on-one, think again. She will use that time to break your spirits even more. Her material is super outdated. I have never struggled more to get a 75% and I still may not. Save yourself. Take it with someone else or drop.

This is the reason why I started using Rate My Professor. She doesn't teach. She stands up in front of the class and reads off slides. If you ask a question, either A, ask you if this is jeopardy for whatever reason, B, look at you like you just asked the dumbest question ever, or C, ridicule you so you never want to speak in the class again. RUN.

She is a horrible teacher if you have her drop while you can it does not get easier. She can't keep her canvas page organized all the information that you "need" is compiled into one massive section that she calls her syllabus but it is not helpful for any assignment that you will do.

She says all this ethnic stereotype stuff will be on the test then puts none of it on the test. The school does nothing about it and it is unfair that she is doing this because it makes it impossible to pass her class which she then goes around priding herself on her "teaching" when she does nothing of the sort.

Okay person, terrible professor. Not convinced I learned anything in her class. Failed 204 with her and took it with someone else and passed, easily. Choose a different teacher.

I believe Professor Hawkins needs to re evaluate her teaching format. She relies solely on presentations. A lot of content on those slides with either not be on the exams or only a couple questions. The biggest problem for me was her use of inappropriate comments. If you're seeing this switch professors you will not have a good time in this class.

Dr. Maria will NOT cover subject material in class. She will take forever to say anything. Any positive reviews are damage control. Do NOT listen to them, it's likely a TA trying to change her overall score. Unless you're willing to meet after class and spend excessive time seeking clarity, you'll struggle to understand what to do. Drop the class.