This class was amazing. As an Econ major, I thought I’d take this class for fun and it surely satisfied. Professor Herrera is a great professor, very kind and is always student-first. He is very accommodating and understanding of our mental health while taking his class. His lectures were entertaining and very useful and applicable to the real world. This is one of those classes where the material you learn will stick with you. Weekly discussions and two papers were the only assignments and the grading is very fair.

Urban Geography has been my favorite topic in the geography discipline and Prof. Herrera delivered it in such an interesting way. The class started with the fundamental urban planning topics. Then, it dived more into specifics of unhoused populations, gender, and technology, which are more abstract than you would expect when learning about city planning. Thus, I sometimes found myself lost in the class since it was different than expected. The readings were interesting, and the lectures were going through the readings. This class had a lighter workload with weekly discussion posts, two (easy) quizzes, two reflection papers, and one final. He is pretty lenient and understanding with students, so you all should be fine. Overall, it is a good class for upper-division geography, but I hope he can cover more topics that would cater to the practicality of urban studies.

Professor Herrera is funny, relatable, and passionate about what he teaches. He is also incredibly friendly; so much so that he is the only professor whose office hours I felt comfortable going to (on multiple occasions too). Super understanding and accommodating with everything; posted lectures online after the TA strike started and made the final optional. He will also provide PTEs for you if you need one! As for the material, it's a great mix of urban theory and real-life society. Readings are covered in lecture, but would recommend at least skimming them. Attendance isn't required but would recommend going bc it's not recorded. Two response papers, participation discussion posts, and two super simple quizzes. 10/10 recommend!!!!

Professor Herrera was such an engaging lecturer. There was not a day in class where I ever felt bored or uninspired by his insightful thoughts. The topics covered in the course were very interesting and also allowed you to reflect upon its implications in the real world. The course had two required quizzes and reflection papers. The quizzes are 10 questions each and are extremely manageable if you attend lectures or read the slides. Reflection papers are based on two or more readings of your choice, that you compare and use to assist the themes of one another. Being that this quarter we had a lot of our grading upended by the strike, the final became optional. Overall I would take Professor Herrera again, he is such a phenomenal professor and person.