Professor Sexton's class is one that is fundamentally fascinating and is one that is appealing for not only sociology majors or adherents, but of anyone one whom desires the history and realities that surround religion and its impacts throughout time.

I was very satisfied with the course and my favourite part was the research paper of which was an ethnographic paper of a religion of our choice in relation to sustainability. That in itself was an interesting correlation of topics and made one choose something they may have already had knowledge of or allowed one to gain knowledge of.

In overall class structure, it was a very broad and this was shown with the differing topics of every week, differing three books throughout the quarter, and with the numerous guest speakers that came to class on significant bases.

Nevertheless, this course was one that is fascinating and should be good for a person that indeed enjoys theology in its many vast forms. But, it is a course that does require individual motive towards reading and its topics, however with the professor and the TA's; such should be of no problem as they were all very accommodating and involved in my personal experience throughout the whole quarter and that in itself makes the professor a rare as well as exceptional character whom really is striving for his students academic, professional , and even personal successes.

Please take Dr. Sexton!! He is not only an amazing Professor, but he is extremely empathetic. Last quarter was the hardest quarter of my life due to personal circumstances. Dr. Sexton was incredibly supportive and understanding. He truly cares about the success of his students! This course is also very engaging. You will read three short novels and engage in a discussion via canvas. There is a research project, but it is very manageable. The final exam consists of an essay question which is dependent upon the class lectures.

Professor Sexton is a really good professor and he really cares about his students. Especially with everything going on during this quarter he was very accommodating and showed support towards his students. This class requires you to read three books, all of which I found interesting and I'm not much of a reader myself, you then have to write an 800-900 word analysis about those books, and you are also required to submit two rounds of field notes which support your research paper or presentation you have to submit by the end of the quarter. The final was taken in a blue book and he displayed three questions on the board for you to answer in an essay format. His lectures could be more engaging, clearer, and straight to the point, I attended all of them and I really had to study hard for the final because I didn't catch some of the main points because I would often zone out. However, if you put your full concentration into lecture you should be fine. His lectures are not recorded but he posts sides. You should still attend lecture though because the slides are not helpful on their own. This class seems like a lot of work but it is graded reasonably and I believe it makes you a better sociologist.

Out of the three classes I have taken from Professor Sexton, this one was my favorite. Lectures posited well-supported arguments on the forefront of the field of religion. I believe that these arguments are especially relevant to anyone who practices or is even considering practicing. Even for agnostic people this class offers value via important historical information and the ways in which religion affects the secular world. The core of this course is the research project, this is the closest experience to grad school research in the soc field that I have seen thus far at UCLA. Sourcing data from your own research and exclusively peer-reviewed sources gives the effect of progressing the field of sociology using your own faculties.

This class consisted of a quarter-long ethnographic research project (short 5 page paper OR 8-10 presentation), 3 2-page book reports, and a bluebook final on lecture content. The grading was extremely reasonable and the professor was extremely understanding with extension requests.

Highly recommend to anyone interested!

I took prison religion with Sexton in Winter 24'. The class isn't listed, honestly, the class was a major waste of time. The topic isn't nuanced enough for 10 weeks and attendance is mandatory. He also will take it very personally if you miss class or don't remember the material. He grades very harshly and is often rude. If you disagree with a grade he gave he simply does not care. If you want to struggle and be unhappy for a whole quarter take this class otherwise don't there are many kinder professors here at UCLA.

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!

Dr. Sexton is one of the best professors I've ever had. He is very clear and explains materials in a very easy-to-understand manner. He is very kind and is always looking to help, offering office hours beyond his normal scheduled ones. I remember at one point in the quarter I needed some help with my final paper and Dr. Sexton did not hesitate to create a time that worked for both of us to meet. He truly looks for the best in his students and only wants to see them succeed and understand the world we are living in today through the lens of Sociology.
The class is not that rigorous with 3 quizzes and a final ethnographic paper which was fun and a great overall experience. The topics in the course are both interesting and fascinating to contemplate. Overall, the course makes you question why religion exists and what reasons individuals adhere to certain religions and their differing values. The course also covers the history of religions in various parts of the world.
Overall, I highly recommend this course both because it is interesting and more importantly because Dr. Sexton is a great professor and an even greater person to get to know.

Professor Sexton is one of the best professors I’ve ever had! He cares about all his students and wants them to succeed. He makes his class really interesting and the workload is manageable. He provides quizzes that are extremely manageable and an ethnographic paper that is actually fun and enjoyable to write! I really enjoyed taking Professor's Sextons class and would recommend anyone to take it as well. I learned so many interesting things in this class about religion that I didn’t know before and I always looked forward to class. We need more professors like Professor Sexton!

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.

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!