This field studies course is hands down the best course I have taken at UCLA. Our class did not meet regularly, instead we went on weekend trips to various locations in Southern California (Idyllwild, Mojave Desert, Santa Cruz Mountains, Point Mugu to name a few) in which Walter and our TA, Lilia Illes, taught us invaluable field research methods. We would go out in teams and collect data, come back to camp and present our findings to the class with powerpoint slides. What I think made the class so enjoyable was that Walter's informativeness and very unique sense of humor meshed well with Lilia's great management and organizational skills along with her personable attitude. Unfortunately this class is rarely offered and since Walter has since retired, another professor needs to assume the reigns. It really is a shame because this class basically helped me decide that I do want a career in research.

I loved Porfessor Walter's geography 163 class!! It was the best class I have ever taken at UCLA. The small size, field trips, and project make it the type of class I had hoped to find at a school where one quickly becomes no more than a nine-digit ID number. Professor Walter made himself readily available for questions and took time to get to know all of us. I got to see places I would have never thought to visit. TAKE THIS CLASS!!