Professor Madley is a gem. You have to work to get that A, but if you do, it's incredibly rewarding. I highly recommend.

This class offers a subaltern perspective of the west that will transform your outlook. We often think of the west as a frontier of cowboys, bandits, and lawmen, when in reality it is a profoundly diverse landscape.

The reading load in this class is intense but rewarding, and the assignments are thought provoking. Professor Madley is great. He is always willing to help and is among the brightest professors at UCLA. Your vocabulary and writing skills will be tremendously improved by his classes.

I'm not a history major, nor I did not take Part A of this class but did not feel that this impacted my learning in any significant way. Professor Madley always had excellently prepared and articulated lectures and whenever I left class I felt that I had learned something new or come to a better understanding of a concept or idea that was only briefly touched on in my previous education. A real strength of Madley's was how he so delicately and respectfully gave voice to the histories of American Indian peoples. We covered some horrendous and horrific events but I never felt uncomfortable, just saddened or sorrowful. The material was also presented in a neutral and educational way. I appreciated how we as students were respected enough to not need to be "convinced" to believe a certain viewpoint.

In terms of the course materials, the readings were as expected for an upper division history course and the essays assignments were clear and doable. This made it possible to really be present in lectures instead of worrying about little assignments or due dates.

Madley is so obviously well educated and passionate about his teachings and everyone in the room could feel it! I have nothing but positive reviews for this instructor and course.