It is an interesting subject, but Gelvin doesn't really care about the students and is very cocky. His essay prompts are straight forward and he doesn't care about grammar that much, as long as you have the info. His graders, however, are some of the most incompetent imbeciles. In 111c class he literally bombed every paper to the point that 69% was a B. A, on the other hand, was at 75%. These graders would also argue with your points, even though you answered the prompt correctly.

Overall it is an easy class, but be aware of the things I mentioned above. I ended up having a B (first ever B).

Extremely knowledgeable guy, you will definitely learn a lot. Problem is he doesn't really care about the teaching aspect of being a professor, so he isn't very helpful. Also, his lectures can be all over the place at times.

Definitely one of the best professors at UCLA, and my personal favorite. The first class I took with him was HIST 109B. Even though I received a B (has only happened to me one other time at UCLA, the rest have all been As) I learned more than any other class so I had to come back for more - I took 111C. Having been more familiar with his expectations and the way he formats his class, I was able to pull off an A. After you take him, you'll wish he taught all of your other courses. He is clear and concise. If he says it, it's something you need to know. How to do well in the course: read before hand, obviously. Take good notes (everything he says is important), and when it comes time to vote for your final: vote for the take home. It's so much better than the in class. I've experienced both, and you'll receive a far better grade if you get a take home.

I took his class on the Arab uprisings. Lectures are great - exceptionally well-organized, with just enough humorous asides sprinkled in to keep you awake. Grading can be difficult, but the class is worth taking regardless.