3.7
Quality4.3
Difficulty76%
Would Retake98
Reviews76%
Would Retake
98
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
54
4
8
3
13
2
7
1
16
What Students Say
“Pay close attention to the directions in the assignments”
ENG342 - 5.0 rating“Shea provided a great learning environment, one of the few classes I felt challenged in”
HON150 - 5.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
96%
Textbook Required
89%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Improving
+0.49 avg changeRatings by Course
100
5.0
(1)HON253
5.0
(1)ENG100
5.0
(2)ENG211
5.0
(1)HONVAR
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
ENGLISH
5.0
HONVAR
5.0
ENG112
5.0
ENG346
5.0
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5.0
Reviews (98)
no english major is complete without him.
very tough grader, assignments were unclear throughout entire semester, heavy work and reading load
One of the best teachers I've ever had.
One of the most fair and objective professors I've ever had, he is a really cool guy too. His class is hard, but your hard work makes you better if you put in the effort. Meeting with him outside of class is easy and worthwhile, I recommend him highly.
Professor Shea is a very difficult grader, but possibly the only professor you'll learn anything from. He is personalable and EXTREMELY helpful; he is always there if you are having trouble. He wants you to succeed. He is the best prof. i've ever had.
awesome
Shea's class isn't easy, but he's always there to provide help and guidance. Don't be afraid to ask him questions and meet with him about assignments. He wants you to do well, but he also expects you to learn. Very fair.
HE IS AN AWSOME TEACHER BUT GIVES A LOT OF WORK. HE IS ALWAYS THERE WHEN YOU NEED HE NO MATTER WHEN YOU WANT TO MEET. VERY UNDERSTANDING AND WILL HELP YOU THROUGH. VERY GOOD TEACHER BUT AGAIN A LOT OF WORK YOU MUST KEEP UP WITH IT.
Excellent teacher! He is clear in what he expects from you in this class. Follow his instructions and you will get a decent grade and learn to write well too!
Awesome professor, wonderful class!
Gave too much work! The topics (mostly politics) were difficult to understand and the assigned reading was tough/boring. I withdrew and even my advisor described him as "intense". Not good for a 101 level class. Definately a challenge.
he is a wonderful teacher, very helpful, goes beyond just being an english teacher, i would definately recommed him, by far my favorite teacher here.
I was definitely not prepared for the amount of work Mike gave, but it was worth all the effort. I strongly recommend him to any student, he is very helpful and there for any student going beyond the assignments. Be sure to FOLLOW DIRECTIONS PRECISELY and youll be golden.
I strongly believe Dr. Shea to be one of the best professors Southern has to offer. On a personal level, he is an incredibly supportive and understanding person. Professionally, he is an incredible professor.Do what he asks and you can't go wrong. Be prepared to read and understand.
He's nice and knows his stuff, but the workload makes me want to kill myself.
Totally changed the way I think, read, write, and speak. Amazing and truly the best professor I can ever expect to have. Highly recommended for any student. Though workload is tough, it's well worth it to have your entire mind reformed. TEACH ON!
Mike is the best professor I have ever had. really challenged me but in a good way. great guy & teacher. I highly recommend him to any1, but be ready for a huge workload-it really pays off though. I felt more educated & full of knowledge after his class than ever before!!! double thumbs up to him!!
shea is the best
what a waste of time. he is so unclear in the way he teaches and cant handle when others prove him wrong. if u miss a comma u automatically get a 0 on the paper. cause of him i have to take the class over and so does half of my class.
Mike Shea will kick your ass, he's tough. He makes you think and challenges the way you think. He was my favorite professor, and constantly challenged me to work as hard as I can and stop coasting. His classes made my brain hurt but they were worth it.
u should only take this class if u have NO life! he gives soo much work! and tells the class to neglect other classes to do his work. he is crazy! he seriously gives SOOO much stupid assignemnts and never hands them back! DO NOT TAKE HIM!
He's hard as hell, but he makes the classes worth it. The discussions are intellectually stimulating and he makes you want to learn more. Sometimes the workload is insane, and I wish he would ditch the LIE thing. Seriously. But for what it's worth, he does all he can to get students to think, and he's always willing to lend a hand.
gives soo many stupid assignments that the class does not even understand..if you ask questions you end up being more confused then when u started..he tells you that his class is more important then any other class..dont take him!
truly a great guy
the kindest person I have ever met. He def. cares about his students
One of the BEST at Southern. His classes are demanding but, because of that, you learn a great deal. To all of you who complain he is tough and marks papers inetensely should stop your crying - why did you go to college? To do nothing and get easy grades? Please. Grow up, live up to Shea's expectations and you will be a better person as a result. T
I don't consider myself a crybaby. However, I do consider myself a pissed off student. This class is academic and social suicide. His workload is unrealistic and he is so neurotic that it is impossible to please him. And on top of that, he doesn't grade anything. It's well past midterms and we have no idea what our grades our!
Not gonna lie, Mike is out there. Work load is simply insane. He expects a lot out of you and is really big on following directions. Very tough grader but a real nice guy. Talk to him out of class and you'll see he's very understanding and really cares about his students. Put in the effort and you'll learn a great deal..I know I did!
Mike is the best professor I've had. If you get on his good side & show that you like to learn [assuming you do], you'll do perfect fine. It's a lot of work, obviously, but he's an understanding man & will listen to anything you have to say. Mike Shea for President!
Never take an intersession course with Shea. Way too much work in too short a time. Could have structured this class much better. Knew we would drop out so he only gave us the syllabus late Sunday evening. Too much acting crap and not enough Shakespeare. Taught very little, showed many videos, expectations way too high. Unreasonable but personable.
Not a wellstructured class. I had to work inbetween the intersession weekends and got little sleep trying to fulfill all the requirements. Crazy. Not a fun experience, not enough time to really get into Hamlet. The acting could be fun but it belongs in the Drama Dept. Wouldnt take him again. I have a life.
Nice man, tough grader. Papers were graded on a format-basis. Adapt to his standards and you'll be fine.
Didn't learn squat about Hamlet but had to view 7 Hamlet videos plus act out a scene and do presentations. Not an English class at all, just a disguised acting class. Worst English class ever. Never take Shea, he's a fraud. disorganized and lazy. Lots of handouts, little feedback, waste of time. Never again. Never.
Absolutely no feedback whatsoever during the course. First paper was not returned, no comments during presentations except "good job". This is not an English class, should be "Acting Shakespeare 101." Too many videos not enough discussion about Hamlet. Wast of an English majors time. Shea loved it though, he wants to be a Hollywood director. Loser.
Stay away from Shea. He doesnt teach English. If you want to act, take his class, especially Shakespeare. If you want to learn the plays, take someone else. He's arrogant, full of himself and unorganized. You never know where you stand, no papers are returned with grades. Nothing is returned at all. He is the poster boy for bad tenure decisions. Ug
Well, intersession grades are posted, the first and only indication of how I did/was doing in Shea's Hamlet course. Not a good experience, not really an Eng course at all, learned little or nothing about Hamlet but i can recite 30 lines from the play. He got a check for being there, I got 3 credits. I also know never to take Shea again. Never.
Didn't teach what the class was supposed to be about. A nice guyprobably, but poor professor. I didn't leanr anything all semester.
A living breathing ad for doing away with tenure. Shea teaches what he wants despite the course title or description. English??? Lots of work but no feedback. He's disroganized and changes his mind about assignments at the last minute. stay away from his courses and maybe he'll go away or go to Hollywood where he belongs, in a comedy starring him.
These posters got the number wrong but nailed Shea. It's Eng 487. But he is a fraud. This is not English, it's drama 101. The drama dept and Hollywood must have rejected so he's doing his thing at SCSU and calling it English. He brags that his tests are hard but he doesn't cover the material. Also doesn't teach the catalog description.
You get out of this class what you put into it. If you don't do the work you aren't going to do well. Most classes at SCSU you buy the textbook and never use it and you can pull off atleast a B and usually A. This class you need to do the reading, and do the work. If you aren't interested in working don't take it. If you are, you will learn.
Lotta reading and maybe too much work for three credits, but not unrealistic. But I do want clear directions, some timely feedback, clarity in expectations and a sense that he's not making it all up as he goes along. I wish someone else taught Shakespeare because Shea is killing my love for the bard from Stratford.
Mike Shea does not deserve most of the comments posted here. His class is not easy and a lot of work is expected of the students. Shakespeare is a play, so it is valuable to include a drama component. I found his class engaging and refreshing, two words I never would have used to describe Shakespeare before.
Beware. He doesn't teach English. It's an acting class. He hides his expectations and syllabus so you don't know that. He brags that his tests are hard. They're impossible. Kiss his ring, tell him what he wants to hear and you'll do well. He belongs in the theater department, not the english dept. Stay away if you value your GPA.
Mike is great. He cares about his students, he's extremely smart and makes a great resource for all things academic. Please give him a chance.
Mike Shea's had his chance and he's shown himself to be less than honest,not worth the effort. Look around, there are others who are much better in the dept. Say what he wants to hear or else. Your grade will not be based on your work but whether you buy into his ego trip. Not really anice person and a fraud.
DO NOT TAKE HIM! he has got to be one of the WORST professors at southern. he is mean, gives you SO much work, tells you to neglect other classes to do his work, and his class is stressful and boring. save yourself DONT TAKE HIM!
I hate Shea. I like worked really hard and still didn't do well. His tests and papers are too hard and he grades like a crazyman. This department sucks.
Worst english class ever. not much shakespeare but a lot of projects, presentations and notmuch discussion of the plays. glad its over.
Mike is a fun and engaging person, but those who want to goof off should stay away. If you are serious about learning the material, Shea is a great resource and I highly recommend him.
all these other posters have to understand that if you want a good grade in shea's class, kiss his butt, smile, do all the silly busywork that everyone complains about and count the days. He doesnt know much about shakespeare but he's all we got so smile and suck it up.
Got my grade, did OK but didn't learn much Shakespeare. Some students loved him I didn't. Seems disorganized and doesn't lecture much about the subject. Grade seems based on whether he likes you or not or if you rub him the right way. Very friendly but I'm not sure I really trust him. He seems like hes a bit shallow and egotistical.
He actually cares if you learn! Weird, huh.
A busywork extraordinnaire, and nothing else. His work is not hard or stimulating so much as it is pointless and downright idiotic. Although he says all the busywork is for your own good, he's just anal and doesn't know how to teach--so it's all he can assign (anal, nitpicky busywork with no content). He's terrible. Take Heidmann's classes.
Judging by the number of ratings, students either hate shea or love him. I just think he's full of himself and has lost either his love for teaching or has forgotten how to teach. Too much busywork is a sign of laziness. I wouldn't recommend shea or take him again. I want some substance.
You love Shea or you don't, and if you don't it's because he works you. Some busywork, but there's a method to Shea's madness. He's here to make you learn not watch you breeze by.You get what you pay for with Shea.If you're here for an education, take him.If you're not,take someone else. This class was intense, but well worth it!
I could see why students have a problem with Mike. But I am not one of those complainers. Yes, the class is hard. Yes, you will have to work your butt off. But, you will learn. Take him if you want to expand your mind. If you're looking to slide by, don't take him because he has no time for whiners.
Tough class material, tough teacher, and tough class environment makes for an all around hard class. Some classwork can be classified as "busywork". Class has too much structure and rules. Shea is strict about everything. Do not take a class with this teacher.
Dr. Shea is the best professor that I have encountered at SCSU. He is difficult to please, but if you work hard, he acknowledges your progress. I began the semester with very low grades, but with his help I steadily improved through the semester. Anyone who says that he is a bad teacher just didn't try in his class. I would highly recommend him.
Anyone who says he is a bad teacher knows what a good teacher should be like, and knows that Mike Shea falls way short of that requirement. He regards you highly if you kiss his butt and become his pet.
He's really nice
Mike Shea is good at something, but it's not teaching; it's shovelling crap. This man will have you doing so much busywork your head will be spinning, and no, you will never "learn" why he had you do any of it. The point of it? To keep you busy to think straight, and to hide the fact that he is unintelligent, smallminded, and childish.
great class
i loved this shakespeare class.
Agreed.
tough class but if you do all the writing and don't miss class you do well in the end. shea is one of these profs that has a lot of work but gives good grades.
I liked the class. Lot of work, but I did well in the end.
This class had tons of writing and assignments, plus an exam. There were times when it seemed hard bt he gave me a good grade. Lots of reading.
Lot of reading for this class and lots of assignments. Shea is a nice teacher and fi you like to work its a good time.
Everyone says, don't take shea, don't take shea. But guess what, if you're in school to learn something you've never known before, take shea. Yeah, he might be a tough cookie, but he's humorous and smart. He's also compassionate, but if you take advantage of him or disrespect him or his class or come late, he'll do the same to you.
Work hard and any of Mike's classes will be rewarding. Plus, what's wrong with you people, not assigning a hot or not?
Dr. Shea provided a great learning environment, one of the few classes I felt challenged in. He was my favorite professor because he expected you to do well at all times and I believe my writing has improved as a result of his guidance. I hope to have him again as a professor sometime in the future.
I had Mike Shea twenty years ago and while I knew he was an excellent professor then, I am even more grateful to him now.His instruction, one on one conferences, and challenging reading list pushed my limits to the breaking point! I am a college professor now and am forever grateful for the way he helped me transition from student to scholar.
Pay close attention to the directions in the assignments. I took two courses with him and his are the only two that prepared for Praxis writing. Listen to his instructions; he is incredibly specific and will improve your ability to read into work, people's spoken communication, and how to give instructions yourself modeling non stop in these areas
Mike Shea has been my FAVORITE SCSU professor thus far. He genuinely cares about his students. His work isn't necessarily difficult, but he's a tough grader; he has high expectations because he wants to see you succeed. Super laid back, super friendly, and a great resource!
Shea is one of the best professors at SCSU. HON 150 is a tough course, but you will see tremendous growth in just one semester by doing all of the work. Taking this class at the height of the '16 election was so interesting, as you are required to read the NYT. If you see Shea during his office hours, you will improve so much more.
LOVE! The class will kick you in the tushy but it is totally worth it. You will have to work hard but it will all be worth it in the end. A lovely man who really wants to see you succeed and cares about you as a person.
Mike Shea was so helpful and considerate. Amazing class. Daunting at first, but completely manageable after the shock factor wore off. Love!!
He is someone who truly cares about his students, if the student makes an effort too. I thought he was intimidating at first, but when I went to his office during his office hours, I learned he's actually really laid and a funny guy. The class is a lot of work, but I felt that it was very beneficial in the end.
I took Shea's summer ENG487/587 mix. It was EXTREMELY difficult yet the most rewarding class I've ever taken. I was forced to study, apply myself, get out of my comfort zone, and talk with everyone in my class for these 5 weeks. Things to note: you will have lots of homework, you will have to read a lot, but Shea really cares about his students.
There are 3 essays (its a W course), in class writing everyday (make sure you read everything he tells you to), and he even takes the class to see a play which really helps to picture the text on stage. You will have to read a lot, but Shea really cares about his students and the class will be super beneficial if you put the work into it.
Shea's English are classes difficult? Yes 100 percent, but it's not that bad as you think it is. There is a lot of work you need to do and he is a very tough grader, no doubt, but you will feel like you've learned a lot when the semester ends and he is always willing to help you. If you are not ready to put in work, do not take his class.
I freaking love this guy. Don't get me wrong, his classes have lots of reading and writing, but I could not wait to do it, because I learned from him. I've been out of school for a bit, but his classes stay with me. He makes you think, and if you're a slacker, you won't like it, but he is way above average as a teacher. Wish I'd kept in touch.
He is a nice guy and is willing to help, but gives an unnecessary amount of work. Especially as an education major who has no interest in English. In his class, you will have no choice but to do the work and do it the way he wants it. He really does want students to learn but while taking the class feels very overwhelming.
In the midst of my first-year semester during a pandemic, Mike Shea was definitely my favorite professor. He is so caring, and genuinely wants everyone in his class to succeed. He is such a great guy in general and it shows through his teachings. I struggled a lot mentally and fell behind in classes. He met with me and helped me out. Loved this guy
Professor Shea is probably one of my favorite professors that I have taken thus far. His class was a little difficult in the sense that you had to read a new play every two weeks but that is what the class is. He is really great with communication and super understanding with everyones situations. If you can take a class with him I highly recommend
Prof Shea is awesome, but you absolutely do need to work for your grade. He is super understanding and gives you a limited amount of freebies, definitely the most compassionate prof I've had. He does ensure that you complete the reading every class, so be diligent and you'll receive the grade you deserve.
Mike truly cares about his students both in and beyond the classroom. HON 150 is grueling and he asked really tough questions. However, it prepared me for the rest of college especially Honors courses. He is a great resource and wants to help students in any way to succeed. I highly recommend him. He is challenging but very kind and dedicated.
We had really good discussions in this class. Mike is very knowledgable in British Lit. My favorite reading was Paradise Lost. He facilitated great discussions. We helped translate Middle English that could at times be confusing. He is very encouraging and loves watching us learn and help each other appreciate British Literature. I highly recommend
HON 150 with Professor Shea is not for everyone. You will spend hours upon hours a week completing draining and extensive assignments, such as 5-6 papers, LIE assignments, précis assignments, and readings from the NYT. You will come out of this class a better student, scholar, writer, and reader; however, dont this class if you want an easy class.
Great professor! Genuinely cares about students. Lot of work but definitely rewarding
Shea is really encouraging and a great support system. He really does care about his students and their well-being. His classes are challenging but are really worth-while. You will feel like you learned so much by the end. I really appreciated his ENG321 class. Daily writing "quizzes" that are low stakes about HW reading. Be ready!
Can't say I've ever met a more disrespectful professor than Mike Shea. He constantly interrupts you, has a bad attitude, raises his voice, and constantly speaks to his students. His class has an unseemly amount of reading and his syllabus isn't clear at all. While 307 is a requirement for all English majors I recommend not taking it with him
Mike Shea has a summer Shakespeare seminar that focuses on one play over five weeks. If you have a Shakespeare requirement, consider this course. It's fun, and you will walk away with a new-found appreciation for the Bard. Shea is deeply passionate about the subject. Word of caution: you will have a lot of reading and you will do a lot of writing.
The class is demanding and difficult with many assignments and readings, but you'll learn so much. Shea is easy to reach and gives great feedback to make you a better writer. Everything he does is strategic in making you better. He truly cares! It will seem very overwhelming at first, but you'll be okay and it will end up being your favorite class.
I learned a lot in this class and am a much stronger writer than before. There was a lot of work, but it became manageable once I organized myself. I do highly recommend this class for those wishing to be a stronger student. However, I must say I was disappointed in the way Mr. Shea treated some of the students in the class.
ENG-217W: I lost 40 points on a daily writing assignment because my opening sentence wasn't "amazing". However, I made very good points and wrote well? The course load is so heavy, so much reading, a lot of HW. Also, expect to pay for plays, books, movies, and all other materials required for the class. No, there aren't any free options!
At first you may be overwhelmed by the amount of work. DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED! Mike is the best professor I have had at Southern. If it was not for the courses I have taken with him I would not be the student that I am proud to be today. He is more than willing to meet with students in person or online to help however you need and is very helpful!
Tough grader really doesn't describe his method. I got 40 points off an assignment because I didn't include the word count. After emailing him asking to discuss why he said the only time he could meet was after 8PM. No feedback on my response either, he just told me to refer to the syllabus. terrible professor in my opinion
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
96%
Textbook Required
89%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Improving
+0.49 avg changeRatings by Course
100
5.0
(1)HON253
5.0
(1)ENG100
5.0
(2)ENG211
5.0
(1)HONVAR
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
ENGLISH
5.0
HONVAR
5.0
ENG112
5.0
ENG346
5.0
ENG501
5.0