Recommended classes
Students want to know, “What’s a good class?” So those of us at New Student Services did what we could—we asked more than 2500 undergraduates for their opinions, and the following is what they said.

You also might want to check out these student hosted web sites:
reshall.berkeley.edu/academics/resources/recommendedclasses/
ratemyprofessors.com

Note: A dagger (†) by the professor’s name (in parentheses) means that he or she has received a Distinguished Teaching Award (up to five people from the entire faculty are selected each year, so this is a big deal).

A bullet (•) in front of a class description means that this class, taught by the particular professor mentioned, is being offered in fall 2008.

Another note: Because we don’t bite the hand that feeds us, we do not list classes that students don’t like.

History of Art
•History of Art R1B (4 units), Reading and Writing about Visual Experience (various GSIs): “This class is amazing! It exposes you to a wide spectrum of painting, sculpture, and photography styles, while also teaching you how to look, think, and write critically about art. A good way to get some culture.” “To fulfill my R1B requirement I blindly took any class I could get and wound up in my favorite class at Berkeley so far. The class was very stimulating—small and intimate class, in which I felt like my opinions and thoughts were actually valued, unlike many of the other large freshman classes I took.” “Lisa Regan is one of the most amazing professors in the department. Every word that comes out of her is gold and significant. I have never taken a History of Art class, but this class has taught me so much and not only made me a better writer, but made me consider a different major.”

History of Art 10 (4 units), Introduction to Western Art: Ancient to Medieval (Stewart): “The class is co-taught by Professor Stewart and the Medieval Specialist at Cal. The class is a great introductory course to art for both History of Art majors and those taking it as an elective.”

History of Art 11 (4 units), Introduction to Western Art: Renaissance to the Present (Grigsby): “I took it through extension and found this class to be the enlightening experience you need to understand the complexities of fine art.” “Professor Grigsby’s incredible teaching skills and persona made this class unforgettable.” “Sometimes lectures can be painfully long, but in History of Art 11 with Professor Grigsby, the time flew by! Each time I went to class, I was enthralled by her charismatic personality and lively lectures. I felt like listening to her each week was a privilege, not an obligation and looked forward to each lecture. Whether you like art or not, I guarantee you will enjoy and learn from this class!” “The one class where I never look at my watch.” “A great way to impress your date when you’re at an art museum with the things you learn from this class.” “She is an exciting teacher to have in class and springs interest in all kinds of art over a wide time period. Plus, she is crazy and somehow was able to keep me awake on warm summer days in the afternoons (a hard accomplishment).” “An absolutely wonderful course. She manages to teach you a ton of information and still keep things entertaining. It also surprised me to learn about so many artworks that are referenced in books, movies, and advertisements, and see what the originals were actually like.”

History of Art 30 (4 units), Art of India and Southeast Asia (Williams): “This is perhaps the most enjoyable class I’ve ever taken in Art History. For those who enjoy art, architecture, or Indian and Southeast Asian culture, this class would definitely be a real treat. Most of the slides used in class are personal snapshots taken by Professor Williams during her extensive travels, which adds a unique and intimate touch to the course.”

History of Art 41 (4 units), Introduction to Greek and Roman Art (Stewart): “This is the most rewarding class I’ve taken here. It is demanding, but the knowledge and abilities I gained are well worth it.” “Excellent lectures, very engaging, not too intimidating, and interesting subject matter.”

Industrial Engineering and Operations Research
•Industrial Engineering and Operations Research 24 (1 unit), Freshmen Seminars (Adler): “This class is great for learning just exactly what this major entails. The department is small enough so you get to see virtually all the professors, what they specialize in, and how it all relates to the major.”

Industrial Engineering and Operations Research 39B (2 units), Freshman/Sophomore Seminar (Kaminsky): “Professor Kaminsky made this seminar very enjoyable. It’s the perfect course to take if you are curious about what Industrial Engineering and Operations Research is all about because he gives an excellent overview of the discipline.”

Industrial Engineering and Operations Research 190A (1-3 units), Engineering Entrepreneurship (Burgstone): “A very enlightening class about how to start a business that presents all of the important factors to take into account.”

Integrative Biology
Integrative Biology 32 (3 units), Biomotion (Full†): “Professor Full finds a way to fit something in this class for every major. For the final project he requires you to put together a NASA robot prototype with ZOOB toys.”

•Integrative Biology 35AC (3 units), Human Biological Variation (Hlusko): “This class is good if you want to learn a lot about humans, from behavior to anatomy. You also get a good look at archeology. The class really makes you think about how people are different from one another.” “Not only does this class satisfy the American Culture requirement, it also leads you into a whole new knowledge area where archeology, sociology, and biology combine together to explain the world in which we live. Professor Hlusko is an energetic lecturer, so you won’t fall asleep in her class—guaranteed!”

Integrative Biology 39C (2 units), Topics in Integrative Biology (Diggs and Timmel): “This course is an introduction to Veterinary Medicine. The professors are awesome and the field trips are refreshing. Also, who doesn’t like furry things?”

•Integrative Biology 41 (2 units), Marine Mammals (Lindberg): “The lectures are interesting and there is no homework or discussion. It also satisfies the Biological Sciences requirement for the College of L&S.” “This has been the most worthwhile and fun class I’ve ever taken. Besides exploring the physiological and social characteristics of this variety of ocean animals, the last part of the course integrates the human role in the lives of these animals. This portion makes you think, challenges any established beliefs you’ve ever had about marine animals and zoological parks, but most of all, you find out for yourself from these resources what it means to be human and to be a citizen in terms of how your actions, your dollars, your values affect the existence of these marine mammals.” “Professor Lindberg is an engaging lecturer, and although I am not much of a science person, I loved this class.”

Integrative Biology C82 (2 units), Introduction to the Oceans (Powell): “This class fulfills the Biological Science breadth requirement and would be interesting for anyone who would like to learn more about marine biology.”

•Integrative Biology 117 (2 units), Medical Ethnobotany (Carlson): “If you’re a Biology major, you should definitely check out Integrative Biology 117. The class has super interesting lectures about how different plants can have natural qualities that help with different medical conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.” “This is an excellent class—even without a science background. Professor Carlson is an unbelievably energetic, interesting, and engaging teacher. He is truly passionate about the material and shares his own fascinating experience with the class.”

•Integrative Biology 131 (3 units), General Human Anatomy (Diamond†): “Professor Diamond is great! Despite her age, she has a wonderful knowledge of the human body and a great passion of teaching. No one has ever regretted taking her class thus far.” “Dr. Diamond does a wonderful job teaching this course. She encourages students to participate in class—even though there were some 700 students! I would encourage students (especially those interested in a pre-health pathway) to take this class!” “Fantastic class to take because, of all the classes at Cal, hers has the most colorful notes.” “Dr. Diamond presents human anatomy in a dynamic and practical manner that makes the lecture fun to attend and the material easy to understand.” “What makes this class so great is that she really wants you to learn and understand the material. Even in a 500-plus student class, Dr. Diamond really tries to reach out and connect with her students and really cares about them.” “Above any course, take this one no matter what major you are. Dr. Diamond is a world famous professor and the healthiest person you’ll ever meet.”

•Integrative Biology 133 (2 units), Anatomy Enrichment Program (Diamond†): “If you enjoy teaching kids, take this class after Integrative Biology 131.”

•Integrative Biology 137 (4 units), General Endocrinology (Hayes†): “This class was taught better than any other biology course here at Cal, and with a professor who cares about undergraduates more than any other that I’ve met.”

•Integrative Biology 140 (4 units), Biology and Sociobiology of Human Reproduction (Carlson): “A great subject, taught by a great instructor with great stories—all of which equals a great time.”

Integrative Biology 167 (3 units), Astrobiology (Lipps): “Astrobiology is a fun way to fill either science breadth requirement. Professor Lipps provides a challenging mix of current events, scientific methods, and UFOs!” “This is a great general science class with a twist that makes it very interesting. Professor Lipps is fun and presents the material in a very comprehensive way.”

International and Area Studies
International and Area Studies 45 (4 units), Survey of World History (Karras): “A basic and intellectually stimulating overview of world history with a spicy kick.” “A very good and comprehensive world history class with a fantastic professor. He will challenge the way you think.” “Ever wanted to learn the history of the world since 10,000 BCE? International and Area Studies 45 is a dynamic class where you learn the history, politics, economics, and cultures of the world!” “Four thousand years of history in one semester. Great lectures and novels for reading.” “Best class I’ve taken at Berkeley.” “This course was everything I hoped Berkeley would be—difficult and fast-paced, but with a professor so passionate about the subject that you couldn’t help but get caught up in it, too.” “Karras is as intelligent as he is witty—he fills his lectures with interesting stories that make his lectures fly by. Plus, he never fails to find a new spin on World History. After taking this course, my viewpoint on everything—from current events, to religion, to the sugar I use for my coffee—was changed!”

•International and Area Studies 115 (4 units), Global Poverty: Hopes and Challenges in the New Millennium (Roy): “This course educates students about timely, pressing issues concerning global poverty and globalization. It opened my eyes to all the problems going on in our world that we don’t realize is occurring. Professor Ananya Roy is an excellent speaker who presents this information in a captivating manner that draws you into the subject.” “Best class you will ever take. Professor Roy is the most inspiring lecturer you will ever hear at Berkeley, and learning about global poverty is an important issue.” “Ananya Roy’s class on Global Poverty will change how you view the world and yourself within it. Not only that, but the class consists of amazing lectures, engaging readings, and great GSIs. It’s also a great course to prepare you for the rest of your academic time at Berkeley.” “This class, taught by the very eloquent Ananya Roy, opens your eyes to global inequalities all over the world and proposes reasonable solutions to boot. Also, the prestigious guest speakers are definitely a plus!” “The class is eye-opening and inspiring, and the professor is just amazing. She can really hold your attention for hours and you will walk out of class each day with new perspectives on global poverty.”

International Area Studies 180 (2-3 units), Current Issues in International and Area Studies (Roy): “This class is great because it can add to one’s knowledge about what’s going on with the world.”

Italian Studies
•Italian Studies 1 (5 units), Elementary Italian (various instructors): “A great class for learning a new language.”

Italian Studies R5A (4 units), Reading and Composition (Otey): “This was a very enriching course, a great introduction to college writing, and was both interesting and challenging.”

Italian Studies 40 (4 units), Italian Culture [In English] (Botterill): “You study the history of Italy while focusing on different aspects of the culture. It also offers variety due to the fact that guest speakers come to the lecture almost three-quarters of the time.”

Italian Studies 40 (4 units), Italian Culture [in English] (Fuller): “An easy and interesting class to take.” “This class was a great way to learn about the history of a nation totally enriched with art and culture. It doesn’t just present cold hard facts. It incorporates music, literature, and other more personal aspects of society to make the past come alive.”

Japanese
•Japanese 1A (5 units), Elementary Japanese (various professors): “If you are thinking about learning a new language, I highly recommend Japanese 1A. It’s taught by a team of fun and energetic Japanese teachers. The class can be a lot of work at times, but it’s a lot of fun and very rewarding at the end of the semester when you realize how much you have learned.” “I guarantee that this is the only eight o’clock class that you will enjoy going to every morning.” “The class moves at a fast and steady pace, but since it’s small, the instructors take a lot of personal interest in the students.” “Elementary Japanese is a great way to acquire a new language, make new friends, and meet nice teachers! You will be surprised how much you can learn in a semester.” “This class was extremely interesting and fun, especially if you enjoy learning new languages and about different cultures.” “Although it’s a difficult language, I thought that it was extremely interesting. It’s such a great class because all the teachers are nice, and the classes are small so the teachers get to know your name and actually talk to you.”

Japanese 7A (4 units), Introduction to Pre-modern Japanese Culture and Literature (various professors): “It doesn’t matter whether or not you know the Japanese language in order to take this class; even in translation, the ideals and beauty of the literature shine true. Besides, everybody knows that the teachers in the East Asian Languages department are amongst the nicest on campus. This class also counts for the Philosophy and Values breadth requirement.”

Japanese 7B (4 units), Introduction to Modern Japanese Literature and Culture (Tansman): “If you’re looking for a class to fulfill your Reading and Composition requirement, then this would be a good course to take. There are short, weekly assignments where you write a response to the reading done during the week. Also, there are several papers but no final exam (only a final paper).”

Japanese 7B (4 units), Introduction to Modern Japanese Literature and Culture (Wallace): “Professor Wallace is amazing! He knows his stuff backwards and forwards and makes an effort to connect with the class. The reading selection is also really interesting and accessible. This class is great for anyone who is interested in modern Japanese society and popular culture.”

Japanese 7B (4 units), Survey of Japanese Literature in Translation (various professors): “The class is a survey of Modern Japanese literature in translation. It really opened my eyes to an entirely different genre of literature.”

Journalism
Journalism 141 (3 units), The Mass Media and Society (Goldstein): “This class is a great way to fill one upper-division Mass Communications requirement. Goldstein is the kind of professor I pay out-of-state tuition to be taught by. He is informative and highly experienced, and the class provides a contemporary, extensive overview of the field of journalism.”

Landscape Architecture
•Landscape Architecture 170 (3 units), History and Literature of Landscape Architecture (Mozingo): “If you want to learn about urban space and the landscapes of the world, then take this wonderful class taught by someone who has been to nearly all the places she teaches about.”

Latin
•Latin 1 (4 units), Elementary Latin (various professors): “You learn lots about grammar, and after this class, English makes more sense.”

Latin 101 (4 units), Virgil (Murphy): “Translating the Aeneid was probably one of the most rewarding and fascinating experiences that any scholar can direct their efforts towards. Professor Murphy also happens to be the best Latin professor I have ever had. The combination of the course material and the excellent professor made this class the best that I have taken at Cal.”

Latin American Studies
•Latin American Studies 10 (4 units), Introduction to Latin American Studies (Segal): “I personally loved my LAS 10 class. Professor Segal is vastly passionate and entertaining. Moreover, he is accessible and willing to sacrifice his own time to help students out. The class covers an enormous amount of information; however, every one of the assigned books is worth reading and every lecture provides a lively, and unique way of approaching history. So, if you are interested in Latin American Studies and were looking for classes to satisfy the International Studies breadth requirement, then this is the class for you. Take in consideration that the class is only offered during the Fall.” “It is a great introduction to the history of Latin America, a history we generally don’t learn about. The professor begins every class with different music from the region.” “Anything you wanted to know about Latin American condensed into one action-packed course, with the best readings around.”

Legal Studies
Legal Studies 145 (4 units), Law and Economics I (Cooter): “Professor Cooter captivates the classroom to make this cross-listed class a must for both Legal Studies and Economics majors.”

Legal Studies 145 (4 units), Law and Economics I (Ingberman): “A great course for students to take—perhaps not in their first year, but definitely their second and third years.

Legal Studies 147 (4 units), Law and Economics II (Cooter): “The class offers a very different perspective on many of the institutions that we are accustomed to, such as voting, contracts or the justice system. However, you should consider taking least Economics 1 before enrolling in this class.”

•Legal Studies 155 (4 units), Government and the Family (Hollinger): “The class is a history of the important court cases that have affected every single one of our lives—from interracial marriage, to surrogate gestation, to foster care. It is one of the most applicable courses I have taken here at Cal, and I encourage you to take it if you are at all interested in law or public policy.”

Legal Studies 161 (4 units), Law in Chinese Society (Berring): “Berring teaches with style and cracks the whole class up the entire lecture. He makes ancient Chinese society so interesting!”

Legal Studies 182 (4 units), Law, Politics, and Society (Feeley): “This class is so great because it demystifies the perceived truths about your legal and political system and its impact on society.”

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies C147B/Anthropology C147B (4 units), Sexuality, Culture, and Colonialism (Alfonso): “This class is a great course to take for anyone interested in the studies of race, gender, and sexuality. It completely redefined my views of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer, Questioning and Ally (LGBTIQQA) acronym.”

Letters and Science
•L&S 1 (2 units), Exploring the Liberal Arts (Botterill): “This course is intended to help incoming freshmen find a major; it doesn’t necessarily provide a major that suits you perfectly, but it definitely helps you figure out what you don’t want to study.” “During the fall 2007 semester, I took the L&S class for undecided majors. This course helps students narrow down their choices on majors while having guest speakers explain the different types of career choices provided at UC Berkeley.” “My freshman year, I took advantage of this department-sampling course where a number of professors representing various departments come and lecture for various parts of the class. These instructors share their excitement about their particular department with new students. The workload was light, the staff was friendly, and it was a great way to get an idea of what L&S departments were like!”

L&S 17 (4 units), Literature and Culture of the Nordic World (Sanders): “The material covers a wide range of topics from sagas to philosophy to the history of Scandinavia.”

L&S 20A (3-4 units), The Value of Poetry (Booth): “This course (an L&S discovery course offered only fall semester) is my favorite that I have taken thus far. Booth’s class expanded my mind to a new way of thinking and examining poetry. He made the material easy to understand, free of jargon, and absolutely enlightening. This class changed the way I approach literature in general and in particular, poetry.”

•L&S C30U/Environmental Science, Policy, and Management C11 (4 units), Americans and the Global Forest (Huntsinger): “Many people admire the variety of trees we have here on campus, but how many can name them? In this course you learn about trees on campus as well as a great selection of topics on forestry. There are plenty of interesting guest speakers to keep things exciting and new.” “This class teaches a lot about conservation of resources and global warming and updates us on many current environmental issues.”

L&S 40B (3 units), History of Popular Culture (Moran): “The professor is very enthusiastic about the material and gets you thinking about the media.” “There’s a lot of reading, but overall this is a great class.”

•L&S R44 (5 units), Western Civilization (various professors): “It takes care of either half of the Reading and Composition requirement. If you aren’t sure if you will pass out of the first half with APs, then you can still use it for the second half of the requirement. In the event that you don’t pass out of it, you can use it for the first half. There is a lot of reading, but they are all classic books. After you finish the course, you feel very cultured because you will be able to at least recognize and hold coherent conversations on many classic novels (even if you don’t finish the reading)!” “It’s got a lot of reading, but it’s an incredible course!”

L&S 70A (2 units), Physics and Music (Perlmutter): “This is a greatway for non-science people (like me) to take their Physical Science requirement. It allowed my passion for music to gain some deeper, physics-driven understanding.” “Not only is the professor energetic about the subject, but he wants us to learn, and he designed the course so that we will have some fun, too!” “If you are looking to fulfill the Physical Science requirement in the College of L&S, the perfect course to take (especially for non-science majors) is Physics and Music. In addition to his passion for physics and for his research, his energy keeps students’ interests peaked about the basics of sound and how it affects musical interpretation.”

L&S 160B (3 units), Philosophy and Values: “Effective Personal Ethics for the 21st Century: Awakening at the Center of an Evolving Universe” (Phillips): “The professor is very enthusiastic and the things you learn will change your mind.” “This course is terrific because he is so unorthodox, yet very riveting in his teachings. The class literally expands your mind.” “An awesome elective. Professor Jack Phillips is a certified yoga instructor, so you get to “meditate” at the beginning of each lecture. You really get to learn a lot about yourself.”

L&S 180C (4 units), Politics of Music (Zook): “ “You won’t be able to find any other lecture where you can listen to music everyday! “This was the perfect first upper-division class to take my first semester. It is really interesting to think about what a large role music has played in history. Plus, it’s presented in a way so that it doesn’t feel too intense - you’re hanging out, listening to music, and still learning a ton!” “‘Tell me what you listen to, and I’ll tell you who you are.’ This is an amazing class that tackles the underlining relationship between politics and music in every manner possible. From the beats of reggae, the minds of the punk culture, to the influence of pop on exiles and other countries, this is the class to take for those who want to get the combination of entertainment and knowledge. As all of the students and the professor himself have said, ‘Get ready for a wild ride!’”

Linguistics
Linguistics 5 (4 units), Language and Linguistics (Mchombo): “Linguistics 5 was an entertaining class on an interesting subject with a professor who teaches very clearly and has a great time in the process. His Elvis impersonation is the best thing since peanut butter.” “Professor Mchombo makes Linguistics 5 an educational but enjoyable experience, since it involves interactive learning and not a great amount of book work.” “Mchombo is knowledgeable, hilarious, and a genuinely nice guy.” “This class is great and pretty easy, with a super funny professor. He brings in real life examples of how differences and discrepancies in language create ‘interesting’ situations.” “Sam Mchombo is an amazing professor with an equally amazing accent and sense of humor. His jokes actually help to teach the subject and his Elvis impression is priceless. The topics are interesting even for non-majors, or so I’ve heard.”

Linguistics 16 (3 units), The English Vocabulary (Rhodes): “This class was a fun look at the roots of the English language, including Latin, Greek, and French. You learn things that you can apply to many fields, from medicine to anthropology.”

Linguistics 21 (3 units), Languages and Peoples of the World (Nichols): “We learned about the origins of languages and peoples from all around the world and only had occasional quizzes and assignments.”

Linguistics 52 (3 units), Languages and You (Lakoff): “You don’t need any background in the study of language, but you get to learn about really interesting things and study the way people use and abuse and conceive of words in the contemporary world. She’s very intelligent and interesting at every lecture. I took it as a freshman, and had no problem with it. I decided to minor in Linguistics after taking this class.”

Linguistics 55AC (4 units), The American Languages (Lakoff): “It gives an interesting perspective on the immigrant experience and bilingualism, for those interested in language and language acquisition.”

Linguistics 55AC (4 units), The American Languages (Leonard): “You should totally enroll in this class if Leonard is teaching. This was the most interactive class I was in last semester—definitely not a bore!” “This class includes the study of endangered languages, as well as an important topic of debate concerning the push for English as an official language of the United States. You also study different dialects of English used within the United States. The lecture is great because Professor Leonard is funny and because the course material sparks debate.” “This class is very inspiring, and Professor Leonard is amazing and entertaining. Also, it fulfills the American Cultures requirement and I personally believe that everybody (despite their background or major) would find it enjoyable.” “Professor Lenoard is very knowledgeable in his own field; he is also an interesting, approachable and energetic person! This class gives an interesting perspective on the immigrant experience and bilingualism. Though there are quite a lot of readings for this class, they are easy-read. I strongly recommend people to take this class with Professor Leonard!”

Linguistics 100 (4 units, 2 units), Introduction to Linguistic Science (Garrett): “These courses apply a science to your everyday communication in a very intriguing way and, when taken together, fulfill both the Social and Behavioral Science breadth and the R1B requirements.” “These are amazing courses with intriguing material and entertaining professors. We break down everyday human communication, find patterns, make hypotheses, and argue until we prove our point.” “Learning about other languages means learning other ways of looking at the world. Plus, Professor Garrett is clear as crystal - perfect for a potentially confusing topic—and each lecture leaves you with something to think about. I only missed class once (when I overslept) and I can honestly say I was sad about it.”

Linguistics 105 (4 units), The Mind and Language (Lakoff): “Lakoff‘s books and ideas are pretty ingenious and interesting to study.”

Mass Communications
•Mass Communications 10 (4 units), Mass Communications in America: An Introduction (Levina): “This class gives students a whole different outlook on the society we live in today! The main focus of the class is the media, how we use it, how we receive it, and who makes it.” “You talk about TV, Facebook, and magazines—all during class! It’s a great class for any major.”

Mass Communications 104 (3 units), The First Amendment and the Press (Turner): “It’s a very interesting course that makes you feel as though you are actually learning something. The course work is reasonable and thought provoking, and the tests are fair.”

Materials Science and Engineering
Materials Science and Engineering 112 (3 units), Corrosion (Chemical Properties) (Devine): “This is an awesome class to learn about the theoretical and applied aspects of corrosion (a ubiquitous mechanism of materials degradation) and ways to ameliorate its effects. Professor Devine has tons of real-world experience about being an engineer and often shares stories with students.”