Columbia College Core · Columbia University
Dr. Sheehan is a pretty good professor. I am definitely not an art person, yet she managed to make some of the topics fairly interesting. Our class was very interpretive; unlike most other Art Hum classes, we didnt have to memorize pictures and names and dates; we had to analyze the pieces (it sounds hard but it's really not). There were 3 papers, each 3-4 pages, dealing with an analysis of 1 or 2 works. Also a final; before the final we were given a list of 16 possible essay questions (which the class prepared and she edited) and the final consisted of 2 of them (no choice of the questions on the exam). For the final, you do have to think of some works from memory-you wont have the pictures in front of you-but it is really not too bad. A good teacher who cares about her students and the subject, though a bit flaky at times.
Ok she's really not that bad. She will make you work extremely hard for your grade and yes it is very beneficial to talk to her about your papers in advance so she knows what she wants. While she has some irritating quriks, she's still definitely a nice person, really cares about art and her students learning and tries to connect with them. She is still very new at teaching and you can tell she is learning a bit as she goes along but she is quite smart and constantly trying to improve. This might not be your first choice for art hum, but certaintly shouldn't be your last either. It is possible to do very very well in this class if you are willing to put some effort into it.
If you are reading this review, its probably because you have been assigned to Dr. Sheehan by the core office and you're trying to decide whether or not to stay in the class. DROP THIS CLASS. In my opinion, the work you put into the class and your own knowledge of art are almost entirely irrelevant in determining the grade you will receive. Instead, to me, the best way to get a good grade is to pander to the professor's own views on each subject. As another reviewer noted, the paper topics she assigned would require 20 pages to respond in a manner she would find satisfactory, but of course she will not allow any paper length extensions. In order to get anywhere near an appropriate grade on a paper, you have to bring it to her and argue your point in her office hours. However, she is extremely inaccessible in office hours, because all the other students will have figured out that they have argue their points to her in person as well. Therefore despite the fact that she gives her time generously, you will find it very difficult to do well on the papers because the open questions have behind them a very specific and hidden agenda, deviation from which will only yield a mediocre grade. In office hours it often seemed that she had not even read the paper students needed help with. She worked very hard to prepare for lectures, which were enlightening, but had virtually no knowledge…
First of all I would like to start by clearing up something which the previous reviewer had stated - Dr. Sheehan is NOT a "bad person", infact she is a Good person. I will clarify as well that her class is not an easy "A" and that you will have to work hard and do some real thinking about the subject. She was always available for each student who needed to speak with her about papers or anything regarding the class, and even sometimes things not regarding the class. She is a very dedicated person and even put her students first when she was very ill in the hospital. Her lectures are highly interactive and she encourages everyone to say whatever it is they think about a subject. She guides the class discussions and then allows the students to roam free in their interpretations and ideas about the art or atists the class is looking at. This format is highly conducive to learning as she encourages the students to use their recently aquired knowledge in challenging and interesting ways. Her class is far from boring and really ended up being the one class I was actually looking forward to every week. So, yes, the class is tough and if you take the time to try hard you will do well. And you will find that Dr. S is really an amazing person when you get to know her. You will come out of her class at the end of the semester happy to have had the class and you will be packed with tons o…
After taking this class which could have been quite interesting, I am left with a bad taste in my mouth. Dr. Sheehan was a decent lecturer and once she started to come down off her power trip and became less domineering in class, discussions picked up. This was supposed to be a core class and not a difficult one at that. Her assignments, which seem very innocent at only 2pgs each, ask questions which need 20 pages to answer. Then after spending hours trimming my essay back, I get notes on it asking to elaborate in several spots. Good luck getting a decent grade in this potential GPA nukebomb.
Not too much reading (20-30 pages a week); 3 3-4 pages papers; Final with 2 essays.
3 3-page papers, Final (with 16 essay topics written by class handed out in advance and two on the final with no choice given). Very little reading, not more than 15-20 pages per class and sometimes just a couple fo pages.
Three Papers, Midterm, Final. Papers are quick, but hit-or-miss, you must argue her into agreement before you submit them. Exams were absurd; she admitted that the midterm was the first test she had ever assigned, and it showed. Final was slightly better. This would be a nice class to take pass/fail, but of course that's not an option.
Three 2pg papers which you may want to pull some hair out while trying to write - but upon completion will certainly have become a much better writer and greatly informed about said topic. A midterm and a final - not easy, but if you do the readings and participate in class you will do fine. Readings are easy, sometimes just 5 -10 pages per class, very doable.
3 x 2pg papers asking questions that could never be answered in that limit. Not too much reading, ~15-20pgs for every class, occasionally interesting, usually not. Midterm consisting of 2/3 in class essays, final was the same pretty much but with a lot more reading and studying required. Also, say goodbye to your GPA.