<p>Hello! So, I am possibly transferring to UCSC in the fall (I've given my SIR but I'm on the waitlist for Irvine and waiting on appeals from UCLA and Cal, but, anyway), and I'm planning on being a Literature/History double major. (Specifically, Creative Writing and Asian/Islamic History.) I was wondering what both of these departments are like at UCSC? I can't find any reviews online (I've been trying! Blah), but yes, any feedback would be awesome :)</p>
<p>Hm, I can’t speak to Lit, but I’m a History major. Is there anything specific about the department you want to know? I’ll give my impressions, but keep in mind my concentration is the Americas/Africa, not Asia and the Islamic World.</p>
<p>First, if you’re curious about classes and haven’t looked, the History department is <em>excellent</em> about providing a yearly synoptic. The 2012-2013 course list is available on the department’s site. (Go to history.ucsc.edu, click “Courses”, and there should be a banner stating “2012-13 Undergrad Synoptic”.)</p>
<p>Second, the thing with the History department is that it can be very narrow with its courses. (There was a class last year titled “The Jewish Experience in the 16th Century Mediterranean.”) On the one hand, this means you can get a thorough understanding, but sometimes there isn’t a class covering a topic you’re intrigued by. To specifically discuss the Asia/Islamic concentration, they tend to have a good blend of courses available each quarter. The bulk of the classes offered are on China, Korea, or Japan, and a few on the history of religion in the Middle East. If you’re interested in Southeast Asia, I have yet to see a course devoted to it. It’s mostly the East Asian nations. So watch out for that if your interests lie outside of those.</p>
<p>All that being said, the History department has consistently good profs, and a few great ones. In Asia/Islamic, the ones I frequently hear good things about are: Hamel (Middle East, Religions); Hwang (Korea); Hershatter (China); and Christy (Japan). The professors tend to be very focused in lecture, readily available outside class, and willing to help. I haven’t had an all-out <em>bad</em> professor/class.</p>
<p>The TA’s are a bit hit-or-miss, though. Sometimes you get a TA who effortlessly facilitates discussion and gives helpful feedback, sometimes you get a TA who takes half the quarter to warm up to doing that.</p>
<p>I also want to give a shout-out to the History advising. The undergrad adviser, Stephanie Sawyer, is really, really amazing.</p>