I LOVE Eric and this class. I would take it again in a heartbeat. He is hands down one of the coolest, most down-to-earth, knowledgeable professors I've ever had. He is passionate about the content and though it is pretty emotionally heavy, he is very mindful of it and puts the needs of students and their mental health in high regard. He makes the course enjoyable and engaging. We had a hybrid structure and often used break out groups. Zoom attendance was mandatory and you were supposed to have your camera on, and you could skip one with no penalty. Assignments for each class are to annotate readings on a shared doc style website where you can respond to your classmates. Two assignments outside of this, a reading review and the final which are both papers that are very flexible. Overall, I feel like I have honestly learned a lot and the class was far from dreadful. I hope to take another one of his courses in the future (even though this isn't even my major), take him if you get the chance.

Professor Martin is hands down one of the best at UCLA. Initially, I took this class because it was open. As a person with zero interest in anything religion-related, I walked away from this class with a deep appreciation for things I used to brush off. If you ever have the pleasure of taking a class with him, do not let the opportunity slip by. The class is graded on many things which gives you the chance to earn an "A" still even if you mess up in one area. The pace is manageable and the class discussions are truly amazing. I would take any class Professor Martin teaches.

I study science, but this had to be my favorite class at UCLA. As mentioned by others we use this website called Perusall where all students get to annotate on the same paper. So reading the comments gives you a pretty good idea of what's going on in the reading even if you're skimming. Usually, half of the time is spent on lecture/group presentation and the other half is discussion among the class. No need to take notes in this class because you'll learn a lot regardless. Eric also gives you a very through feedback on the papers.

Professor Martin is amazing! Considering that I was a first-year transfer when I was enrolled in his course, I was hesitant and unsure how to approach professors, but he made me feel welcomed and understood. When I had a family emergency, he was understanding and was willing to work with me. Now, as for the course, as a religion major myself, I thought it was great. The material was interesting, and the class discussions were enriching. Still, I would say that if you're not interested in the topic, maybe don't take the class unless you are willing to take the time to understand the material thoroughly. Participation is important, but this doesn't mean you have to speak to the class constantly. For me, this meant showing up on time, having the class readings ready, participating in the small groups, and sometimes raising my hand to give my opinion to the whole class.

Overall, I would say that Professor Martin will work with you if you are honest and communicate with him. He is a great professor and an even better person.

I can easily say he is the best professor I have ever had! Trust me do not miss out on taking his classes. He is brilliant and such a kind person. You learn so much during his lectures. Professor Martin doesn't force you to learn he makes you want to learn.

One of the best professors I have had at UCLA. He was engaging and empathetic. He valued everyone's opinions and feeling when addressing the curriculum. Created a collaborative and pluralistic environment in which everyone could voice their interpretations of the readings openly and critically.

This was one of the best classes I've taken at UCLA. Professor Martin is so knowledgeable and clearly cares about his students a lot! The course consisted of participation through commenting on readings, a presentation, a take-home midterm paper, and a take-home final paper. He offers a ton of extra credit as well. Overall, I genuinely think this is a class that everyone at UCLA should take before they graduate - It is just eye-opening in so many ways. Furthermore, the structure of the class itself (discussions, small group discussions, some presentations, guest speakers) allows for such a unique and great environment to want to do well and engage, that it almost comes naturally. Highly recommend!!

Professor Martin is fantastic. I took the fascism class, so this may or may not pertain to you. The class uses a website called Perusall, where you can comment on readings and reply to other student's comments. It's really engaging and productive because everyone has different opinions, and it makes for some really good discussions. We discuss a lot of big topics, so I won't spoil it for you, but you read articles that are comprehensive and informative. There's one textbook for the class, but he posts it. If you want to rent it, you can definitely do that too. The midterm is an essay about the readings, and the final is the same essay but a bit longer. Overall, I would highly highly recommend this class. You'll learn a lot about fascism and how it plays a role in our present day society.