This professor is fine, but definetly overrated. I've taken two of his classes. He is a cool guy with direct experience with the prison system, but I found the lecture to sometimes feel disorganized. There is so much wasted potential in the class that I feel could have been amazing if structured differently. I found that I often did not learn anything useful or relevent attending lecture. The weekly assignments were creating 10 questions and answers on 1/3 of a book (3 books per quarter). That assignment was kind of odd, but the TAs graded it extremely harshly. If you went over a page they would take away points. If you did not reference a page number for every question, they would take away points. These were the most time consuming homework assignments of all of my classes this quarter. I am a really slow reader, and we have to read a whole lot in this class - about 50-100 pages a week. The books he assigned I found to be hard to get through and not that interesting. He also wanted us to interview and attend meetings at a local church to ask about their relationship to the prison. Most students struggled to find someone to talk to, and this assignment was a little too ambitious to give to students just looking for major credits. That assignment felt like dissertation research for a masters degree. Every class requires attendance for credit - which is great to get points just for showing up. Although, if you are sick or miss class under any circumstance, you will lose points for not attending lecture, even if you message the professor beforehand. He will mention that there is opportunity for extra credit if you miss lecture. I took his Sociology of Crime class the prior quarter, and he used a lot of the same slides from that class. It felt like it repeated a lot of the same ideas from that class. I am disappointed considering all of the incredible reviews for this professor. I think people like how casual and nonchalant he is, which makes it feel less intimidating. But, this class is not a walk in the park. You have to attend every class and do a ton of work every week. There is a final paper and a final exam which is online at home which makes up about half of your grade combined. There are no sections for this class, so the TAs are only there to grade your work - which they did harshly to the whole class. I personally did not really enjoy this class and its assignments.

Professor Sexton is a leading academic in his respective fields of study. It's a unique opportunity to be able to learn from someone with so much contemporary knowledge of the advancements being made on a local and national level. The class is comprised of: reading three books, conducting an ethnographic research project, and a final based off of lecture content. I enjoyed the curriculum because it helped me to develop skills that are useful to a sociologist -- which not many other classes do. Additionally, Professor Sexton is a wonderful professor who is deeply committed to the success of his students, he responds to emails very quickly and is super approachable.

Professor Sexton was my favorite professor of this quarter. He is really funny/engaging with the material and makes the 8 am much more tolerable. There are three book reviews, a final research paper, and final exam for this class which is a relatively manageable work load. Definitely take this prof if you’re a sociology major!

>>Skip to end for books list/recs<<

Dr. Sexton is a cool guy who’s approachable and *offered to write letters of rec for students who asked good questions in class*. He dresses like an old-timey professor, complete with bowtie, and brings a sense of humor to some of the lectures. He writes out each of his lectures beforehand, and delivers them like speeches, though allows for questions and discussion. It’s pleasant to hear good oratory. Each lecture was full of content, and it’s important to notice any topics he mentions repeatedly and write down the way he phrases them. The final exam was a timed essay, and the prompts were based directly on some of the topics he doted on in lecture. Being able to follow his train of thought was highly useful.

He responds rapidly over email (if you put the class number in the subject line) and can direct you to further reading about many subjects involving sociology, especially in the context of California and the Indigenous peoples here, and the works of big-time decolonial theorizers. Laudably, Dr. Sexton is unafraid of challenging student assumptions and making cultural and systematic critiques that scholars in the natural and environmental sciences may shy away from. He also got me out and about in the LA environmental scene, via an individual research project on LA’s municipalities and enviro orgs, which was part of the class for everyone. I got to see how nonprofits can factor into enforcement of environmental regulations, via a boat patrol of the Marine Protected Areas off the Palos Verdes Peninsula with LA Waterkeeper, which was super super cool! That project showed me a way to take agency on an issue I care about.

The readings were hefty, though I’m glad I read them all and took my time with them. I’d never taken sociology before, and the readings both introduced me to the field/its theories and expertly applied them to environmental and social justice issues. Here’s the list:

Hartmut Rosa, The Uncontrollability of the World (Polity 2020). ISBN: **********168.
Kenneth A. Gould and Tammy L. Lewis, Twenty Lessons in Environmental Sociology, 3rd Edition (OUP 2020). ISBN: **********514. *e-copy is most affordable.
Kari Marie Norgaard, Salmon and Acorns Feed Our People: Colonialism, Nature, and Social Action (Rutgers 2019). ISBN 13: **********195. *Available free as an e-book through UCLA Library.
Ashley T. Rubin, Rocking Qualitative Social Science: An Irreverent Guide to Rigorous Research
(Stanford 2021). ISBN: **********243. *Available free as an e-book through UCLA Library.

The standout here for me was Rosa’s book on uncontrollability (and how the urge to control every aspect of life is an extension of a capital/colonial mindset). I had a super validating experience with this book: it gave me a probable external reason for my anxiety, going beyond the limited scope of my therapy experience on the self/internal world. Not what I was expecting from this class, but a welcome benefit.

All said, the class was a big time commitment, though a very worthwhile one, and Dr. Sexton led it well.

I was quite shocked going into this class after reading the reviews. This is my first sociology class but I am amazed at how biased and opinionated the material is in this class. If you are not a radical liberal, I do not recommend taking this class. As you will constantly hear about how you should feel white guilt, and all of the opinions of someone who is left-wing radical in their views. This class is based on the opinions of the professor, who seems like a very nice guy, but I am not attending UCLA to be persuaded into specific political views. Listening to the very first lecture and hearing the professor say how murderers and rapists should not be referred to as such because it dehumanizes them, I knew I was in for a ride. Writing papers on the assigned books merely consists of catering to radical left-wing viewpoints in order to get an A, in fear of disagreeing with the opinions being presented for the sake of my grade.

When it comes to registering for classes, the first thing I do without hesitation is search for the professor name (Jason sexton). If it's his class, I sign up immediately because of the immense trust I have in his teaching abilities and style. Without a doubt, he is the best professor in the world, and I hold the utmost respect for him.
Throughout his class, I have consistently found it to be incredibly interesting and enriching. I have gleaned valuable knowledge and insights, and it is a class I would happily continue taking indefinitely. From what I've observed, it's not just me who feels this way; many students hold his class in high regard and consider him one of the best professors in the world.

Among all the professors at UCLA, Professor Sexton is my favorite professor. As a student who often grapples with fear and anxiety, I found great solace in his warm and kind demeanor. His innate ability to create a relaxing and welcoming environment reassured many students, including myself.
The professor's class was not only helpful but also incredibly interesting. I gained invaluable knowledge and insights that have had a significant impact on me. Taking his class has ignited a strong desire within me to experience it again. I miss Professor Sexton!

Professor Sexton's class at UCLA was truly exceptional and stands out as the best. The content of the class was incredibly interesting, and Professor Sexton's teaching style captivated my attention every time. Not only did he possess a wealth of academic knowledge, but he also exuded kindness and warmth towards his students. Despite my natural propensity towards laziness, I eagerly anticipated each class session and reveled in the opportunity to engage with the professor during office hours.
What struck me the most about Professor Sexton was his ability to connect with and understand students from diverse backgrounds. He fostered an inclusive and supportive environment that allowed for open discussion and learning. As such, I hold him in the highest regard among the professors at UCLA.
Taking Professor Sexton's class is an experience I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have had. It has undoubtedly been one of the highlights of my academic journey, and I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from such an exceptional educator.

Environmental Sociology is a cross-listed course, M133 and M115 in the Environmental Science and Sociology departments, respectively. As an Environmental Science major, this course can fulfill requirements in either the social sciences/humanities category or the Environmental Systems and Society minor concentration.

General Overview

This class is amazing. I would recommend taking it before you start your senior practicum if you are an Environmental Science major; the experience of following through on a preliminary qualitative research project is very helpful in approaching future research projects. If you really want to prepare for the practicum, you can take on the research project in a team. There are several graded components to keep track of as the quarter progresses: weekly TA-graded discussion summaries, attendance per-lecture basis, regular ancillary research project deliverables, extra credit, and a final.

Discussion Summaries and the Reading Schedule

There are several books assigned with weekly deadlines, most taking 2-4 weeks to complete. They are synced up with lecture materials and in the case of "Rocking Qualitative Social Science", they often provide critical skills in achieving a good grade on the final qualitative research project. I would advise you to stay on top of these reading deadlines and do more than skim, however, you are allowed the freedom of addressing the portions of the assigned reading excerpt however you like in your discussion summary. As long as you address the core of the assigned segment, you will be fine. Your TA addresses your summaries in-depth and provides you with feedback on how to engage the readings more critically if needed. Regardless, expect to be able to write however you like (as long as it is thoughtful and backed by a firm grasp of the assigned text).

TA-led Discussion Sections

These sections provide analysis and open-table discussion on the week's assigned readings. There are structured questions, lectured portions, and open discussions. These usually end with a Q&A on the upcoming ancillary research component deadline, with helpful tips on getting the best grade. Sections were always pleasant and supplemented the rest of the course. Make sure you go! The final two sections offer breakdowns of the final exam structure and help you hone in on critical lecture concepts that will be tested.

Extra Credit

You have a choice of analyzing a book from a curated selection or submitting a book for approval. You then are tasked with writing a 5-paged, single-spaced critical review of the book. This is VERY engaged and will be a step up in diligence from the weekly summaries. Make sure to pace yourself, as the deadline is right behind the final exam. Make sure to prepare for this early in the quarter. Worth taking on if you enjoy the book you chose. Tread with caution!

Lectures

Dr. Sexton's lectures are a blast. They range from discussions of the evolution of societal attitudes (pre-industrial to post-modern) through reflections on socioeconomic development and even portrayals of Batman in film and television!? There is the occasional guest lecture that supplements course concepts and provides useful insights into environmental science careers and grassroots efforts. Dr. Sexton will alternate between distinct styles depending on the lecture, either through a theological/community science/hermeneutics lense or a methodological/empirical lens. Sometimes they even intersect! Every lecture is distinctly different but lends itself to cohesion with the assigned reading materials. The last two weeks or so are instead hosted by the students, who present 60-second overviews of their completed qualitative research projects. Students stand up on the lecture stage and navigate to the coordinates of their target location, which have all been mapped on a GIS layer by a specialist. The GIS map is a fun culmination of the students' efforts. Always make sure to attend lectures, attendance is required.

Qualitative Research Project

This is easily the most unique and impactful component of the course by far, even for a STEM major. The QRP is a great opportunity for building time management skills, improving at working with/communicating with TAs, communicating with professionals in the labor sphere outside of campus, and sharpening critical reading and writing skills that often go underdeveloped for STEM majors. The QRP offers you the choice between approaching a city organization or an individual institution, both of which offer compelling research experiences. When you are taking this class, it really feels like everyone is working at a giant environmental consulting firm. "Who are you studying?" "How's the research coming along?" "Have you done your fieldwork yet? What was it like?" "How do I write thick description?" Beyond the classroom, you have to consider how you will meet professionals, what kinds of questions will you ask them, what sort of data is important to addressing your research question, what buildings and offices should I visit, and so many other responsibilities. This represents a much larger commitment than the usual course but offers a particularly valuable reward for both STEM and humanities students who will be taking on a research-based capstone or internship that will be looking for seasoned skills in this area. You can honestly consider taking this class for this alone if you are an Environmental Science/Sustainability Studies major of any kind that needs practice in engaging critical interpretation of policy and its transformation into prose. I highly, highly recommend this course for the QRP experience. It can be daunting, but make sure of two things: your topic genuinely interests you and you can maintain a quick and flexible line of communication with professionals at your organization of choice. You want to be able to rely on them when it comes down to the wire, you can't have an unresponsive connection with deadlines hanging over your head. You also don't want to be indecisive and need to be switching up your target organization in the middle of the quarter, this could go badly. Prepare early, ground yourself and stick to something, and relax!

Closing Thoughts

Take this class if the QRP strikes you the right way. Take this class if you liked the course description. Take this class if you love reading good books. Take this class if you have a good taste of music every Monday and Wednesday. That is all.

Professor Sexton is great, and this was one of my favorite classes at UCLA! This class provided opportunities for me to develop and strengthen important critical reading and writing skills, oral communication and listening skills, and research and data collection skills. I believe it has had a significant positive impact on my academic growth. The research project is a large portion of the grade. It was done throughout the course of the quarter, and involved conducting interviews, attending observational visits, collecting field notes, presenting an in-class presentation, and writing a research paper. This class, and especially this project, challenged me to apply my knowledge in a real-world context, to think critically, and it expanded my opportunities to establish connections both inside and outside of UCLA, all due to Professor Sexton. He provides ample guidance and support throughout the research process, and is overall an engaging and inspiring professor. Beyond the classroom, Professor Sexton is continually committed to supporting students in pursuit of their higher education. Definitely take this class if you are looking for ways to increase your academic experiences, and develop valuable skills.