Professor
Michael Salman
1 of 2
Most Helpful Review
Do not take this professor. I just took him and he is utter hell. I hate most bruinwalk postings, but this guy is literally the worst professor I've taken at UCLA. There is no paper topic yet, which, in most classes is a good thing because it gives students the possibility to make the paper more free ranging, analytical and easier to write. However, this is Michael Salman. He already has in his own head a pre-conceived notion of what the paper is supposed to look like, without telling any of the students and marks down papers which do not fulfill his requirements, even though he gives no clear cut requirements in the first place. He is also extremely pompous and loves to hear the sound of his own voice despite the fact that it was a seminar and despite the fact that on the first day of class he said he will let the students do most if not all of the talking. He is also very hostile towards opinions which deviate from his. Do not take him unless you are willing to kiss an extreme amount of ass and lose self dignity and even then earn only a B.
Do not take this professor. I just took him and he is utter hell. I hate most bruinwalk postings, but this guy is literally the worst professor I've taken at UCLA. There is no paper topic yet, which, in most classes is a good thing because it gives students the possibility to make the paper more free ranging, analytical and easier to write. However, this is Michael Salman. He already has in his own head a pre-conceived notion of what the paper is supposed to look like, without telling any of the students and marks down papers which do not fulfill his requirements, even though he gives no clear cut requirements in the first place. He is also extremely pompous and loves to hear the sound of his own voice despite the fact that it was a seminar and despite the fact that on the first day of class he said he will let the students do most if not all of the talking. He is also very hostile towards opinions which deviate from his. Do not take him unless you are willing to kiss an extreme amount of ass and lose self dignity and even then earn only a B.
Most Helpful Review
Professor Salman is a great professor. I took him for the lower division history seminar, we had three papers and a lot of readings, it was about American involvement in European colonies. He is very approachable and understanding. He is a hard grader and that's because he knows you can do better so he pushes you to doing better on the next paper. I enjoyed the class very much and learned a lot! Also, if you're shy don't take this class because it consists of the students engaging in discussion, he doesn't lecture, but he does push students into thinking critically, which can be awkward sometimes but there's no malice behind it.
Professor Salman is a great professor. I took him for the lower division history seminar, we had three papers and a lot of readings, it was about American involvement in European colonies. He is very approachable and understanding. He is a hard grader and that's because he knows you can do better so he pushes you to doing better on the next paper. I enjoyed the class very much and learned a lot! Also, if you're shy don't take this class because it consists of the students engaging in discussion, he doesn't lecture, but he does push students into thinking critically, which can be awkward sometimes but there's no malice behind it.
AD
Most Helpful Review
I actually took him for Hist 144 C and Asia Am 171D which are same classes about Philippine History. Not only are the amount of reading absurd, but not impossible, his grading is atrocious. Just like previous posts, he has a fixed opinion of what should be the main point of the essay midterms/finals and if they aren't in line with his view, he will give u a C. Please not I've taken 6 other history classes with A's in all of them, but this class is just bad. I understand he wants to exert power and seem important, but honestly all he is is a power freak with no care about under grad students' grades.
I actually took him for Hist 144 C and Asia Am 171D which are same classes about Philippine History. Not only are the amount of reading absurd, but not impossible, his grading is atrocious. Just like previous posts, he has a fixed opinion of what should be the main point of the essay midterms/finals and if they aren't in line with his view, he will give u a C. Please not I've taken 6 other history classes with A's in all of them, but this class is just bad. I understand he wants to exert power and seem important, but honestly all he is is a power freak with no care about under grad students' grades.
Most Helpful Review
Meh. He's a stereotypical history professor in a lot of respects. He's really into his research and its applications, he's awkward as hell with undergraduates, and he'd very much rather you be a Ph.D student so he can make it rain with information on you. His papers are actually less frustrating than most people have said here - but most people that have posted here are used to the five-paragraph or one of its variations taught in CA high schools. He's brusque, frustrating, and infuriating if you're not a history major or if you want to pull a gentleman's C. That said, don't take him for a GE. Take him because you don't know anything about Filipino history or how the US used to rule it - he's good for that.
Meh. He's a stereotypical history professor in a lot of respects. He's really into his research and its applications, he's awkward as hell with undergraduates, and he'd very much rather you be a Ph.D student so he can make it rain with information on you. His papers are actually less frustrating than most people have said here - but most people that have posted here are used to the five-paragraph or one of its variations taught in CA high schools. He's brusque, frustrating, and infuriating if you're not a history major or if you want to pull a gentleman's C. That said, don't take him for a GE. Take him because you don't know anything about Filipino history or how the US used to rule it - he's good for that.
Most Helpful Review
dr. salman knew so much about phillipine history. i didn't even take notes, i just listened to him talk and i learned so much. the material is dense but i found it very interesting and relevant, even though i am not a history major. if you do the readings (not even that thorough) and pay attention to main points he brings up in class, you will do just fine.
dr. salman knew so much about phillipine history. i didn't even take notes, i just listened to him talk and i learned so much. the material is dense but i found it very interesting and relevant, even though i am not a history major. if you do the readings (not even that thorough) and pay attention to main points he brings up in class, you will do just fine.
AD
Most Helpful Review
Worst class ever. He grades like you're a Ph. D. student, his questions are so complicated that they are nearly impossible to understand and address in 3-4 pages and the reading is massive. If you want a C, take him. If you value your grades and don't want to work hard for a B-, stay away.
Worst class ever. He grades like you're a Ph. D. student, his questions are so complicated that they are nearly impossible to understand and address in 3-4 pages and the reading is massive. If you want a C, take him. If you value your grades and don't want to work hard for a B-, stay away.
Most Helpful Review
I really enjoyed this course. Prof. Salman really pushed me to think critically. However, I love Philippine history and writing intense papers (very challenging, not as simple as the ones you wrote in lower division history courses!), so if you also like these things, I recommend the course. Oh, and I always found it amusing of when he would read aloud in character. It woke me up!
I really enjoyed this course. Prof. Salman really pushed me to think critically. However, I love Philippine history and writing intense papers (very challenging, not as simple as the ones you wrote in lower division history courses!), so if you also like these things, I recommend the course. Oh, and I always found it amusing of when he would read aloud in character. It woke me up!
AD
1 of 2
