Professor
Teofilo Ruiz
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Most Helpful Review
I took this class online during the Summer, because I wanted to see what all the fuss about Ruiz was about. I must say, taking his class in 6 weeks was one of the most challenging experiences I've ever had. It was a painstaking amount of reading. They assigned 6 books that had to be read in 6 weeks, plus extra online readings; I don't know how, but I got an A- without reading a single book, other than a few chapters from two of the textbooks, and a summarized version of another. Every Friday, there were two mini essay reports due based on lectures and readings, a 5-page midterm, and an 8-page final. I wish I would've taken this class during the normal school year in 10 weeks, as I know I would've been able to enjoy it much more. About the class itself: I normally don't care much for history, but I must say that the reviews about Teo are very accurate... Yes, he teaches you about life itself, he will change your outlook on things, he teaches with an incomparable passion (Remember, I'm writing all this having only seen him on a video lecture; imagine what he's like in real life). I HIGHLY recommend taking him during the 10-week quarter.
I took this class online during the Summer, because I wanted to see what all the fuss about Ruiz was about. I must say, taking his class in 6 weeks was one of the most challenging experiences I've ever had. It was a painstaking amount of reading. They assigned 6 books that had to be read in 6 weeks, plus extra online readings; I don't know how, but I got an A- without reading a single book, other than a few chapters from two of the textbooks, and a summarized version of another. Every Friday, there were two mini essay reports due based on lectures and readings, a 5-page midterm, and an 8-page final. I wish I would've taken this class during the normal school year in 10 weeks, as I know I would've been able to enjoy it much more. About the class itself: I normally don't care much for history, but I must say that the reviews about Teo are very accurate... Yes, he teaches you about life itself, he will change your outlook on things, he teaches with an incomparable passion (Remember, I'm writing all this having only seen him on a video lecture; imagine what he's like in real life). I HIGHLY recommend taking him during the 10-week quarter.
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Most Helpful Review
Spring 2017 - I mistakenly submitted a class evaluation of this professor thinking it was a different professor and class. So I thought I'd make up for it by giving a better and more deserved evaluation of him here. Initially when I signed up for this class I was expecting our lecture on the Occult t involve spooky things like ghosts and ghouls; you know something straight out of Scooby Doo. However this class from the beginning till the end involved conversation and critiques on religion and it's roots in the Occult and witchcraft. For me being a student who has had a past of religion and is now attempting to drop it in exchange for other philosophies of life I thoroughly enjoyed hearing Teo give unbiased explanations of religious history. He managed to make every lecture engaging with his innuendos and good sense of humour. Though the class was made up of 400+ students he still somehow managed to make every student feel as if he was talking directly to them and cared for each and every one of us. If you get lucky and get an enrollment time good enough to get this class please do! I didn't need to take it but I'm so glad that I did. Also this class is only as fun as you are willing to make it. If you don't do the cool readings you won't understand Teo's passionate lectures and honestly the readings are so different that you actually might find yourself looking forward to them.
Spring 2017 - I mistakenly submitted a class evaluation of this professor thinking it was a different professor and class. So I thought I'd make up for it by giving a better and more deserved evaluation of him here. Initially when I signed up for this class I was expecting our lecture on the Occult t involve spooky things like ghosts and ghouls; you know something straight out of Scooby Doo. However this class from the beginning till the end involved conversation and critiques on religion and it's roots in the Occult and witchcraft. For me being a student who has had a past of religion and is now attempting to drop it in exchange for other philosophies of life I thoroughly enjoyed hearing Teo give unbiased explanations of religious history. He managed to make every lecture engaging with his innuendos and good sense of humour. Though the class was made up of 400+ students he still somehow managed to make every student feel as if he was talking directly to them and cared for each and every one of us. If you get lucky and get an enrollment time good enough to get this class please do! I didn't need to take it but I'm so glad that I did. Also this class is only as fun as you are willing to make it. If you don't do the cool readings you won't understand Teo's passionate lectures and honestly the readings are so different that you actually might find yourself looking forward to them.
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Most Helpful Review
Fall 2021 - This is a good time no matter which way you spin it. Teo is just so engaging and bright when he speaks. I hung onto his every word. However, I thought the title of this course was a bit misleading. There are no readings and there's not enough scholarship as the course title would indicate. Teo simply shares some oral history on what he knows about a select few buildings in Downtown Los Angeles. Also, there's A LOT of walking, so come prepared!
Fall 2021 - This is a good time no matter which way you spin it. Teo is just so engaging and bright when he speaks. I hung onto his every word. However, I thought the title of this course was a bit misleading. There are no readings and there's not enough scholarship as the course title would indicate. Teo simply shares some oral history on what he knows about a select few buildings in Downtown Los Angeles. Also, there's A LOT of walking, so come prepared!
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