Prof. Sexton and his sociology class on crime is one of the most influential classes I have ever taken at UCLA. He not only taught on the subject matter, but also how to critically think on how this subject may relate to other sociological matters. His lecturing skills and ability to connect to an individual student are a welcoming surprise; especially in a class of 300 students. The material he gave the class is knowledge I still use today and has shaped how I perceive the world. I think everyone, despite their major, should attend this class as it opens your perception of the world around you.

Sociology of Crime with Professor Sexton was a fantastic course. The lectures and reading were very interesting and engaging. Professor Sexton is clearly very knowledgable on the topic and cares deeply about his students' learning and engagement with the content. Some of the readings were lengthy (very typical of most Sociology courses at UCLA I'd say) but I found that if I did the reading and showed up to lecture I was very prepared for the tests/other course assignments. Would absolutely take this class (and really any class!) with Professor Sexton again. Easily one of the best Sociology courses I took during my time at UCLA.

Long overdue review but Professor Sexton's SOC147A class is one of my favorite and most memorable classes! I have never been more intrigued by the material required from a class than this one. Professor Sexton is very approachable, open, and willing to answer your questions. He engages the class in a respectful and passionate manner. I actually looked forward to reading the books and materials that were assigned in this class because they were so insightful and brought new perspectives that I found enlightening. The class atmosphere was open and receptive, and every discussion in class was filled with diverse opinions and ideas.

As someone who is NOT a sociology major, I stumbled upon this class by accident as a late add... what a blessing it turned out to be... This class was probably one of the most important classes I have taken at UCLA, and I am about to graduate. Organized, thoughtful lectures, reading materials and willingness to communicate throughout this course make it unique from all other college courses I have taken. The workload is not much, it is super doable if you stay on top of it. I was added 3 weeks late in the class and was able to pull of getting a good grade in the class, that should tell you alot. Professor Sexton is very accommodating and actually LISTENS to his students and takes time to sit and talk with every student about concerns or any other matters (I know, you dont see this alot at a school this big). The class consists of participation, 3 quizzes, a final, and a final project where you study a religion. It seems a lot at first, but trust me, you will have so much fun doing it and it is really hard to not get a good grade because everything you have to do is listed, along with the help from him and TA's every week throughout the quarter. Quizzes are multiple choice, straight up and not meant to deceive you. Overall, a really fun, informative, educational and super interesting and fairly easy class... Take this class, you wont regret it!!

I really enjoyed this class and I think I learned a lot about the sociology of religion from Professor Sexton! I never would have though I would take a religion course as a Sociology major, but I'm glad I did. The readings he provided were also very engaging, however, be warned you will be quizzed on the readings but because they are pretty good reads you should be fine.
This class also featured guest lectures from the authors from some of the readings which really helped give me an insight on what I read and its always nice to interact with an author whose work you've read before.
This class also featured an ethnographic paper on a religion of your choice, which I found to be very fun to do. Although it is a bit of work to schedule and conduct interviews, it was a fun way to conduct your own research.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this class to any Soc major because Professor Sexton is a good professor and if you follow all of the required materials and assignments you should do well!

The highlight of my undergraduate sociology experience! Dr. Sexton is an outstandingly knowledgeable and supportive professor who masterfully guides his students through the course material. His instruction enthuses curiosity and insight as he supports his students in their discovery of what religion is, what it means to be religious, and how complex societal issues can be evaluated through a religious lens. The course provides opportunities for students to engage interactively with course content. Throughout the quarter, students conduct an ethnography project on a religious organization in the Los Angeles area. The project provides hands on sociological research experience beyond the classroom, as well as meaningful community engagement. Along with the ethnographic project there is a final exam and a handful of quizzes on the readings. I found the workload to be comparable to other upper division sociology classes and I used audiobooks to stay on top of the heavier readings. Manageable and rewarding!

This class is very interesting and Sexton is a great professor. There is a research based paper due at the end of the quarter but it is easy to complete with a few visits to a local religious institution. Overall great class

Overall this class was a decent class but the workload is pretty heavy. There is an ethnographic project where you need to go to churches and interview people, take fieldnotes and stuff. Then, there is a final paper on your project due at the end of the quarter. There are also some books you need to buy and read throughout the quarter with a quiz for each one. Also there is a survey due for every lecture and discussion due by the end of the day. In saying all of this, Sexton is a great professor and lecturer. There is a lot of work but as long as you keep up with it, you should be fine.

This was my second time taking a class with Dr. Sexton, and I have to say, I genuinely think he’s my favorite professor I’ve had at UCLA. This is a big statement considering I’m not the biggest fan of school as a whole. While his courses may not be the easiest, he makes the learning experience genuinely enjoyable and meaningful. Even though I couldn’t attend every lecture, the ones I did go to were always engaging—he really knows how to engage with students. He is very personable and understanding. This may not mean much to others, but for him to recognize and remember me just goes to show how genuine he is.

What sets Dr. Sexton apart is how much he truly cares about his students and their growth. There were no exams besides the final, which reflects his belief that education should be more than just testing. He emphasized that the real value of the course lies in the research and hands-on experience we gain. One highlight was our quarter-long research project at a religious institution—a much more enriching experience than taking midterms, in my opinion.

It’s worth noting that there are several books to read throughout the course. Some of them can be a bit challenging, but they’re still genuinely interesting and thought-provoking reads that add a lot of depth to the material. And it’s worth nothing that all courses shouldn’t be super easy if you genuinely value learning.

He also offered extra credit opportunities that were tied to real learning experiences, rather than just busy work. Overall, I’d highly recommend Dr. Sexton to anyone who is looking to actually learn and grow.

I really enjoyed this class. I find the lectures to be not super structured but very engaging. The final isn't too bad if you attend lectures. The reading workload is pretty heavy but I found the readings to be so impactful and relevant. The research project is a lot of work but there's a lot of freedom with it. I recommend picking a topic you're interested in because that makes it more enjoyable. I also recommend going to office hours. He is a very supportive and understanding professor. Overall, I'm very grateful for his classes. It has was pretty difficult for me on a spiritual and emotional level (I have a very negative experience with religion) but it provided me the opportunity to work through a lot and that meant a lot to me. I also took his soc of crime class in the fall and I am taking environmental soc in the spring. His classes haven't been easy but they've definitely been worth it. They get me thinking and I feel like I have learned a lot. The more you put in, the more you'll get out. If you're here to learn and are spiritually tapped in, I highly recommend his classes.