I love Mike as a person, but maybe not my favorite lecturer/exam creator ever. I skipped about half of the lectures and still did great on exams. Make sure you read EVERYTHING. Take notes, put them into chatgpt to refresh your memory closer to the exams, and GO TO DISCUSSION. Overall Mike is super knowledgeable and I learned a lot from him.

His tests are so complex and very hard.

Prof Massoglia was the best professor I've ever had. I looked forward to each lecture - he is smart, engaging, witty, and truly cares about his students. I took his course Juvenile Delinquency course 6 years ago and still think about the life lessons he shared during the last lecture of the course. Take his classes and make sure to attend lecture!

Lowkey never went to lecture it really wasn't helpful for me. There was very little to go off of for studying for any exam, and a lot of that was unclear in general.

Mike is really nice and funny but his class is very hard and the hardest class ive taken within the Soc/Legal st classes. You dont get a review sheet on the tests and they are super specific and reading heavy.

Mike is a great professor and wants his students to learn, I've taken three of his classes and exams are tough every time. Lecture is a key component of the exams but there are always a few questions about the readings. 100+ pages assigned per week, uses a curve, may take a while to get exams back, won't know your grade till after final.

Mike is my favorite professor I've ever had at UW. If you have the opportunity to take his classes, DO IT. The lectures are amazing, readings are HEAVY but interesting. Mike is so kind and funny, I would be so sad when I missed my 8 am class because I felt like I missed out. Tests are hard, but he's not trying to trick anyone. TAKE HIS CLASSES.

He's a good lecturer because he will go off on interesting tangents a ton but we still get to the material. We once had to watch an online lecture because we didn't get to everything. He's so understanding and easy to talk to, but his email etiquette isn't the best so go in person.TA (Avery) was also excellent so hopefully she's around again!!

Mike is easily my fav in the Soc department. There are lots of readings each week but the novels he assigns are super interesting. He's super funny and his lectures are engaging, however his exams are impossible. I felt like I knew everything but the short answer essay questions are so specific and my grade was not very reflective of my knowledge.

Mike is the most caring professor I've ever met. He makes it very clear to his students that they are important to him and the university. Is definitely a professor you can confide in. Attendance is not mandatory but can earn you points. Your grade is made up of three exams and discussion participation, no homework but lots of reading.

Best teacher that I have had in Madison. Super funny, approachable, he wants to teach you and make you better students.

Professor Massoglia is truly the best professor I have ever had to privilege of taking a class with. His lectures were extremely engaging and he never failed to make me laugh. He is the only professor I can wholeheartedly say cared about us as students. I took a lot away from his lectures, both about Criminology and also just about life

Mike is truly the most caring and generous professor I have ever had. You really get to know him throughout the course, and if you try, he would love to get to know you. Knows that you can be going through something and still be a good student. I urge you to take one of his class. Beyond all he's hilarious and brings donuts.

This course was a lot of work for a summer class but would be great to take during the school year. Do the readings, ask questions, and let Mike know that you're working for your grade. He's willing to help, is relatively funny, and seems like a genuinely good guy.

Most interesting class I have ever taken at UW. Mike is a great person & cares about his students. However, this class is so material heavy w/ over 150 pages to read a week from multiple sources. At the very last week of class, I didn't have my grade posted and my final grade is a surprise. he said he will count more things for credit and doesn't.

This class was a challenge and required a lot of reading outside of class. The exams were rigorous, but graded on a nice curve. You can tell that Mike does this bc he genuinely cares about students' learning. Definitely one of the most down to earth and caring professors I have ever encountered. Tough class but definitely worth it.

This class was definitely a challenge and rigorous studying is necessary for the exams, but the material and the professor made it all worth it.

Mike is hands down the best professor I've ever had at UW Madison. I have taken all three of his classes: soc 446, soc 441, and soc 421. I truly don't think I'll ever have another professor as thoughtful, hilarious, and just downright amazing as Mike is. If you have the opportunity to take one of his classes, you better. I wish I could take more!

Professor Mike was one of the best professors I ever had at Madison. He cares so much about his students and if you don't understand a concept in class he will go out of his way to make sure you get the help you need. Seriously, take his class if you're interested in criminology or legal studies, he's the best.

Mike is a professor who truly cares about challenging students, while also leaving room for academic success. Essay exams are straightforward. He doesn't push his political opinions, which is rare for sociology professors. His lecture style is unique; he utilizes a discussion with applicable examples that work to engage the class. HIGHLY recommend!

If there's anyone qualified in the SOC department to teach a semester class in 12 days over 3 weeks, it's Mike. He effortlessly engages his students in both the class and course material. The curriculum was incredibly packed but I wouldn't hesitate to take this again. His classes will be challenging but show up, put in the work and you'll be fine.

Mike is a very intelligent and insightful professor. I absolutely loved this class and the material taught throughout the semester. However, there was a bit of a gap between what Mike expected of students and what we thought he wanted (project/study wise). Tests can be tricky, probably a better class when there is a TA for grading.

He is a very laid back guy who cares more about the class learning than their grades, which is why he uses a curve system.

Mike is an excellent professor in the sociology dept. While he does care for his students, he makes the students work for their grades. Don't expect to get an A with half-ass studying because he'll see through it on your exams. The exams are all short/long responses so don't plan to BS them. Read the material critically and you'll be fine.

Professor Massoglia clearly cares about his students and is very good at engaging with them during class. He brought humor to his lectures as well and explained things in ways students could relate to. Highly recommend. His class criminology 441 had a lot of reading that were the basis for the tests so if you at least skim those you should be fine.

I've taken every class Mike offers if that tells you anything. By far, he is the best professor I've had at UW. He challenges you, but he's not unrealistic. I retain A LOT of the information after the semester is over. (E.g. I used information from his classes during the writing portion of the GRE - scored a 5.0). Great guy & great prof!

I didn't care for Mike. He's more interested in getting students to like him than actually teaching the content. I perform better when professors make me work for it, and Mike's blas? attitude made me apathetic. He wants to see students do well, but instead of giving us the tools to succeed at something challenging, he just drops his expectations.

He's a really great guy with a lot to say, and if you listen you may learn more than just what you'll be graded on.

Lecture material was well-explained and he always tried to engage the class with question and discussion. Tests were hard, but not too bad if you did the readings and they're curved. He really like lists, so study those.

I absolutely loved this course. Michael is extremely intelligent and made class enjoyable. There is a lot of reading but the class is worth. Pay attention in class and take extremely good notes. Pay close attention to the lecture slides because they give big clues to what will be on the exam! TAKE THIS CLASS!

He's a cool guy, and he's helpful in office hours. I don't think the tests are that hard. Just do the reading and most importantly, read the lecture notes. If you do struggle, everything's curved generously.

Read. It helps

Excellent professor! While he frequently mentions his PhD, it is reflected in his teaching and knowledge of the material. He focuses heavily on lecture, although readings are also incorporated into the exams. Exams are challenging, but fair given the amount of material and time for preparation. Overall, great guy with a chill approach.

Good professor, cares about students, tries hard to be fair. Big curve.

An interesting class, and fairly easy A. The exam questions are almost entirely taken from lecture slides, so make sure you're good at memorization. He likes to ask for lists on exams. He does care about his students, and he'll tell you that in almost every lecture. Kind of self-absorbed.

Classes are more discussion based in order to make the readings clearer. He is a great lecturer otherwise, and he wants everyone to do well. Graded on a curve as well, DO the readings and ask questions (of your TA or him, whatever) to make sure you understand CONCEPTS. I would take another class with him as the professor!

Seriously loved this guy. Lectures were interesting even though I didn't care too much about the subject. Wants all of his students to do well. He bought our whole class pizza once after someone proved it was legal to possess marijuana in Madison. Discussion is mandatory, and make sure to do the readings.

Mike is the best professor I ever had! He really cares about his students and wants them to do well. Lecture is more of a discussion but it helps make the info clear. Exams are a little difficult but if you do the reading and listen in lecture you should do fine and he curves the class at the end. I would take a class with him again for fun!

By far the best professor I have ever had. He genuinely cares about his students and wants them to succeed. His classes aren't super easy but he does have a generous curve. Makes class fun and gave the best lecture I've ever heard on the last day of class. 100% would recommend

Really good professor, treats students well.

He sincerely cared about the student experience in the class and tried hard to remember/understand what life is like for students. One of the better teachers I have had. I would take another class from him.

I didn't do any reading for this class past the first exam and still got a B. His exams are fair and the curve is generous. His lectures are entertaining and interesting.

2 midterms, 1 cumulative final all blue book. Do the readings and you'll be fine. He thinks very highly of himself. Great class though, and the exams arent that bad.

Mike is a cool dude. But his lectures are pointless, he literally takes everything from wikipedia which is frustrating. You learn more from the readings than from him. And his exams are way too hard considering the little you get out of his teaching.

Professor Massoglia is a great teacher, just not the type for me. His classes are really just giant discussions,and if it weren't for the fact that attendance in lecture counts towards your grade, I would not have gone to a single class. Exams are completely textbook based as well. Genuinely cares about students as well

You cannot go a week without Mike saying he has a PhD. That being said, he's entertaining, goofy and livens the classroom with his charisma and level headed approach to criminology

Very entertaining professor. Loved coming to class and extremely interesting topic. Sometimes a little annoying how funny and "clear" he thought he was but over all great professor

Good class, cares about the student experience and is fair. All in all, among the better classes I have had. Tests weren't super easy, but I got an A.

The class is really entertaining, Mike makes lecture a lot of fun. He does brag himself up a lot, and does say there will be a generous curve but never posts one. Essay exams aren't too bad. Take notes on the readings, study those and you'll be fine.

Mike is awesome!! One of the best professors I've had here. Definitely take this class. He's an interesting lecturer and has a fair approach to his classes. Discussions are very helpful. Tests are moderately difficult - make sure to do all the readings thoroughly. If you study, you'll do well.

Great guy, really nice and friendly. Makes jokes related to the lecture to keep it interesting. Cares more about his students doing well than any other professor I've ever met. He's extremely helpful at office hours and wants to make sure you can perform the best you can. Fair tests, and liberal curves.