University of Nebraska-Lincoln Top Questions

What are the academics like at University of Nebraska-Lincoln?

Joshua

Large lectures classes are common. When you start getting into higher level classes you can start to develop relationships with your professors and other students. Many students did not seem interested or motivated, they were not very personable. There is not a very competitive environment here. Finding students who are passionate were few. Based on what class you take it may be overly easy, or unnecessarily difficult.

Emma

Some of them do but others don't but that is probably due to which classes I'm most involved with. My favorite class right now my English class because I enjoy the reading and the different approach my teacher takes on reading and writing. My least favorite is probably my microbiology lecture because I have a hard time focusing in that class. I believe that most successful students study a little bit every night. In my classes participation is a required part of the course so for the most part yes, the students participate. I know from my experience many students have intellectual conversations outside of class. The most unique class that I have taken isn't very unique in the style it was taught in or the subject but the way that the information was presented. It was my philosophy ethics class and I really enjoyed it because all of the different points of views you got see and I realized how complex certain issues in today's society could become and all the different ways they could be interpreted. I am currently in the pre-nursing program which means I will actually get my major through UNMC but right now I am taking all of the prerequisites to get into the nursing program there. I spend a little of time with my professors outside of class but not crazy amount. I usually communicate with them through email because of schedules. I believe the school's academic requirements are adequate. I believe that at UNL it is a combination of schooling geared toward getting a job and a little bit of learning for its own sake. I have classes that will relate to my future job and others that are just courses I have to take to get the credits, so it is a little bit of both.

Travis

Top academics! Both the College of Architecture and the Johnny Carson School of fine and performing arts art great departments as I have been part of both and prepare you for the future in a pretty great way!

Ethan

The standard classes are not too hard but the advance classes are difficult.

Sara

At UNL, like at many other big schools, your academic experience really depends on your major. As a History/International Studies/Spanish major, most of my classes are smaller and involve a lot of class participation. I usually get to know my professors well enough to feel comfortable asking them for extra help, advise, and even reference letters. On the other hand, many business and sciences majors complain about large classes and impersonal relationships with professors so they have to do a little extra to get involved in their departments. They do that through undergrad research, being teacher's assistants, or trying to enroll in smaller, less popular classes. For example, I had to take a science class for my general requirements but I didn't want to go to a huge lecture. Instead, I found a small (I mean really small) Plant Pathology class called Molds and Man that taught about things like the Irish Potato Famine and killer fungi. It was awesome and I got a lot out of it.

Rachel

The academics at UNL are amazing. As a Pre-Med student, I have taken many science classes and have been very impressed with the facilities and the quality of the teachers. The Chemistry Department is amazing here at UNL. The laboratories have been recently renovated and are filled with state-of-the-art equipment worth visiting. As a current participant in Undergraduate research in Molecular Biology and Genetics, I also speak very highly of these departments as well. Not only are the classes offered diverse and impressive, but the advisors that help students plan their college careers are amazing! I know my advisors have saved my life many times already in my undergraduate career.

Megan

Yes there have been plenty of professor that have known my name. It makes attending class because so much more personal and makes me feel more welcoming. There has also been professor's that have a lecture hall as big as 150 students where it may be almost impossible to remember everyone's names. Regardless if you reach out to a professor they will help to their best ability possible. My least favorite class has been the ones that are electives that don't interest me because they aren't in relation to my major. I love all my English classes because I enjoy reading and also writing It's nice because within my major I feel that each class community shows that we have all studied and complete the homework for that day in class. The students will participate with each other in a variety of class discussions that always bring up excellent debits to further expand my knowledge in the class. Such as one class to which I wasn't familiar with as much background, that class being African American Literature. I enjoyed this class especially because it was unique in that I got to read from a variety of different authors outside of my own race and culture. This is why I love my English major because it allows me to take a variety of different classes to expand my education to it's fullest potential. The other good thing about my English degree is it's very versatile in the future for a career. All my English professors have made me feel comfortable with speaking with them during their office hours or even just for a brief moment after class.

Haley

At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, classes are more than just some teaching assistant doing the professor's dirty work. Coming out of high school, I'd always heard that my first year at a large university was going to be full of large lectures that weren't actually taught by the professor. I mainly heard this from small universities looking to gain another student. However, after just having finished my first semester as a student here, I can say that my classes were exactly the opposite. Littered with intellectual discussions, my classes were interesting and compelled many to participate. As a member of the College of Journalism and Mass Communication, it was required to take Into to Mass Media. This class ended up being my largest course at 120 students as well as my most interesting and unique course. The class was filled with my future peers, all of whom would contribute in different and unique ways to whatever was being discussed in class. The course consisted of a series of lectures and Q&A sessions with notable alumni and guest speakers who were all very successful in journalism and advertising, class discussions on big questions and current events, as well as a few class lectures from the professor, Scott Winter. This course also encouraged visiting Scott during his office hours to check in with him. Going to see a professor outside of normal class time was a new concept for myself, as well as other first-year students, so this encouragement helped to teach us to go visit our professors during their office hours no matter what the course. The education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, especially in the College of Journalism and Mass Communication, is very much geared towards getting a job. While it is crucial to earn your degree, professors are sure to point out the practicality of what is being taught, as well as provide you with internship and job opportunities relating to your interests and major.

Haley

At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, classes are more than just some teaching assistant doing the professor's dirty work. Coming out of high school, I'd always heard that my first year at a large university was going to be full of large lectures that weren't actually taught by the professor. I mainly heard this from small universities looking to gain another student. However, after just having finished my first semester as a student here, I can say that my classes were exactly the opposite. Littered with intellectual discussions, my classes were interesting and compelled many to participate. As a member of the College of Journalism and Mass Communication, it was required to take Into to Mass Media. This class ended up being my largest course at 120 students as well as my most interesting and unique course. The class was filled with my future peers, all of whom would contribute in different and unique ways to whatever was being discussed in class. The course consisted of a series of lectures and Q&A sessions with notable alumni and guest speakers who were all very successful in journalism and advertising, class discussions on big questions and current events, as well as a few class lectures from the professor, Scott Winter. This course also encouraged visiting Scott during his office hours to check in with him. Going to see a professor outside of normal class time was a new concept for myself, as well as other first-year students, so this encouragement helped to teach us to go visit our professors during their office hours no matter what the course. The education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, especially in the College of Journalism and Mass Communication, is very much geared towards getting a job. While it is crucial to earn your degree, professors are sure to point out the practicality of what is being taught, as well as provide you with internship and job opportunities relating to your interests and major.

Chelsey

The professors at UNL are great, and especially in your own department they know you're name. I am in the college of Journalism and Mass Communcations in the Adertising and Public Relations department and the classes were really nice because they taught us a little bit about everything that we could do in our field. I was worried that the college would just be focused on one thing, like graphic design, but I was able to learn about that, writing, research, media planning and we were even allowed to be in a campaigns class were we worked for a client. I my case it was the Public Health Services. In COJMC it is a requirement to talk and discuss in class, and this is also common in many other classes. The teachers there find it important to learn from what other people have to say about the topic. My least favorite class while at UNL was probably economics. I had a teacher that was not native to the United States and was a TA. I had a lot of trouble understanding what he was saying and just never caught on to the material. One of my favorite classes was History of Rock and Roll music which counted towards my fine art requirement. This college is geared towards getting a job. COJMC is very good about sending out daily emails about different jobs that are available to journalism students, along with internships.