Michael Dow is a Communication Studies professor at Northeastern University rated 4.6/5 by 14 students, with 3.0/5 difficulty (TRACE + RateMyProfessors + Reddit, updated July 2026).
Michael Dow professor reviews and ratings: 4.6/5 from 14 student reviews at Northeastern. TRACE + RateMyProfessor + Reddit.
Funny, enthusiastic, and knowledgable. Had him last semester and he's easily one of my favorite professors. Wish I could take a course with him again, he's a great person. Lectures can derail a bit as he likes to go off on tangents often, but he'll get across the information you need to know and then some. Fantastic professor!MSCR1220 2016-03-05 00:45:41 +0000 UTC
Very enthusiastic about film, which is awesome, but can go on tangents forever. Exams are pretty straightforward and his assignments are graded decently hard but he is a good teacher. I recommend him but be prepared for long classes (3 hours)CINE1895 2015-04-21 22:17:19 +0000 UTC
Professor Dow is definitely a great teacher. Even though he goes off on tangents it's very obvious that he is passionate about what he teaches. His analytical skills are superb and I certainly learned a lot during the course.MSCR2302 2014-08-24 16:23:09 +0000 UTC
I had to take this class for humanities and was completely blown away. Dow knows his stuff, inside and out, to the point where he'll run off on topics cause he gets so excited about aspects of cinema...his passion is evident. Really helpful and accommodating outside problems. Great movies, great class.CIN150 2009-08-13 16:24:33 +0000 UTC
He is the best cinema professor at the school. He knows a ton and is never boring. That being said, you better like taking notes... lots of notes :)ENGU395 2009-05-05 12:09:02 +0000 UTC
Prof Dow definitely knows his stuff. He teaches a lot of theory relative to film that is occasionally difficult to comprehend, but he is an excellent teacher for Majors and Electives. Definitely keep watch for his classes, they're well worth taking.CIN392 2009-01-05 12:50:44 +0000 UTC
Great professor who definitely knows his stuff about film. Two days a week, watch a movie one, lecture on the other. His lectures are not boring at all. He basically analyzes sections of a film and applies readings he assigns to them. Two quizzes and two papers. Great and easy class.CINU395 2008-05-02 15:34:47 +0000 UTC
Great guy, very inspiring. He gives readings but the most important thing is to attend the classes, listen to his lectures and write notes down which will be essential for the papers and exams.CINE1895 2015-01-11 20:57:26 +0000 UTC
Michael Dow is, quite simply, one of the best professors I've had in any subject. I took this class as an elective because of my growing interest in film and I've emerged with so much knowledge on the subject. As long as you go to class and take notes, you can't go wrong. You watch plenty of great films and he grades very fairly. And he's funny!CIN150 2009-08-11 09:25:05 +0000 UTC
Film Analysis class: The guy was extremely passionate about his subject, he could talk for hours which sometimes made him run short of time. We didn't have many discussions either. He likes to chat with students before or after class so go ahead and start a conversation about an awesome movie you've watched recently. He prepares study guides too.CINE1895 2015-01-11 20:54:03 +0000 UTC
Definitely take a course with Dow. He screens really cool movies, even if you haven't even heard of them. His lectures are interesting and there is two tests and two papers. No final.CIN150 2009-04-09 02:41:07 +0000 UTC
You should definitely take a class with Dow, for your major or for an elective. As a cinema studies major, there isn't a professor more excited and analytical. As an elective, he grades fairly, screens interesting movies, and keeps his lectures energetic. If he sees excitement about movies in a student, he can talk for hours. Definitely worth it.CINE1895 2014-03-19 10:44:09 +0000 UTC
Michael is my favorite professor throughout my three semesters in Northeastern. For students taking for elective, You will get a new insight of watching film throughout rest of your life, and it's worth it. For ones taking it for understanding basic cinema, you will know all the basic concept of language of cinema by his way, and remember it.CINE1895 2013-11-19 22:02:29 +0000 UTC
I'm a physics major who only took film analysis to fill my art req. I actually got a lot more out of this class than I expected. Prof Dow is pretty much the man. He gets really excited about film and goes on tangents all the time. Really knows what he's talking about and a really nice dude.CINE1895 2011-12-11 23:18:00 +0000 UTC
Michael Dow has an average rating of 4.6/5 from 14 student reviews.
Michael Dow's classes have a difficulty rating of 3.0/5 based on student reviews.
Michael Dow has taught MSCR2302, CINE3920, MSCR1220, MSCR1100, MSCR1150 at Northeastern.
Data updated July 2026.