<p>i'm a first year history major. would signing up for upper-div history classes make me a complete idiot? too early? what are the main differences between upper and lower-div history classes? </p>
<p>ive already completed writing I if that makes a difference and i'm dead set on my major so its not an issue of me wasting my time if i end up switching majors</p>
<p>Not at all. Just choose your professors wisely. If anything, it's just about more specialization, more primary sources, and, of course, more essay-based exams (as opposed to multiple-choice 1A-1B-1C).</p>
<p>Lower divs are a pain. they usually cover a ton of material and require inane memorization. also you have to deal with TA politics, which is good and bad. some TAs you can sweet talk into "bumping" you up, but others are difficult to say the least. so yes go take some upper divs.</p>
<p>A lot of times, the lower division sections are a waste of time for people who have read the material. In upper-division classes, if you keep up with all the reading and study diligently and pay attention in class, you'll do fine. If you already do that in lower division classes, upper division shouldn't be much harder, aside from more essays.</p>
<p>upper div history is cake....unless you get a visit professor from Israel, you feel me namaste? The outlook on the midterms doesn't look too good.</p>
<p>Perhaps you just need to man-it-up. Face it. You're just not good enough. </p>
<p>Take that, dirty B+. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>The one and only B I got at UCLA was in a lower-div history class. Never figured that one out.</p>
<p>Most of my upper div history classes, however, were great. Not always easy, but usually fun and interesting.</p>
<p>Calling all history majors! Advice please!</p>
<p>I'm a history (pre) major, trying to graduate in 3 years with a minor and college honors... To stay on track, I need to take two history classes this quarter, and amazingly ALL of the lower divsion classes have time/final conflicts with the two classes that I really need/want to take this quarter (GE cluster seminar and a class for my minor that isn't offered much). Soooo I need to take two upper div history courses, but so far I've only taken lower divs, so I was wondering which two of the three you guys thought would be the best "introduction" to upper div history:</p>
<p>Hist 100 (History and Historians) w/ Hunt
Hist 116B (Byzantine) w/Langdon
Hist 176E (Vietnam) w/ Woods</p>
<p>Any input would be really appreciated!</p>
<p>i had hunt for my cluster and she was an amazing lecturer</p>
<p>Langdon is by far the most caring professor I've ever had. He speaks at a mile a minute, but he was always willing to help a student and on the midterm and final he gave us chocolate, blue books, and about 10% extra credit on each test. If you can take his summer class, 114A, you definitely should. He's great.</p>
<p>
unless you get a visit professor from Israel, you feel me namaste? The outlook on the midterms doesn't look too good.
</p>
<p>I thought the visiting professor from Israel was alright... her reader on the other hand...</p>
<p>The visiting professor from Israel isn't that bad. she gave me lower on my midterm than i would have liked, but she made it clear that if you do well on the final, the midterm is pretty much out of the picture.</p>
<p>Did the reader give out grades in black or red ink? Also I thought she said there'd be comments on it, all I had was my grade lol...</p>
<p>reader was red, professor was black. and yeah i got no comments either.</p>
<p>compared to my roommate, the professor didn't make a lot of comments but mine (read by the reader) gave a lot of comments.</p>
<p>Langdon's Byzantine History class is pretty rough. There is no denying that Langdon is a nice and caring guy but a lot of people (including myself) hated his class. If you're looking to maintain your sanity, I would avoid Langdon at all costs!</p>
<p>Langdon? Robert Langdon?</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. What about Woods, does anyone know anything about him? (I've heard his 9E class is pretty easy, but I haven't heard anything about his upper division classes...)</p>