Honestly, he is both a great professor and a great individual. He's not so much about "memorize this, do this, know this for the test" type of professor. He honestly just wants you to learn the material in a way so that you actually enjoy it. Many do not like his extensive readings that he assigns but you honestly don't have to read them. I read them after I took the class in fall 2013 because I didn't have time to read them while I was actually taking the class. I read maybe two readings from the course reader, one chapter from the textbook, and all of the Bhagavad Gita (because I actually enjoyed it and was putting off other work lol).

The class is based on one midterm (two essays- you get prompts beforehand and some IDs- which you also get a list of), one essay (due week 8 for which you have the prompts), and one final (take home, which is just an essay if I remember correctly). Your weekly homework will depend on what TA you get. My TA had us write 2-3 paragraphs on the readings we did that week and you can do the homework without doing the actual reading. But, we did discuss readings in discussion so if you are one of those people who likes to engage in discussion or doesn't like to not know the answer, read (or at least skim). But, other TAs didn't even assign work.

He also gives SUPER easy pop quizzes so make sure you attend lecture even if you feel like you're going to fall asleep.

All in all, if I ever have a chance to take a class with Professor Ruiz again, I would.

Professor Ruiz is the best professor I have taken at UCLA. Get to know him and he will help you out. History 20 was a great and easy class.

If anyone is looking to buy the History 20 Course Reader and textbook. I will sell them together for $40. Send me a text at ********** for details.

Not only is he:
(1) Awesome
(2) Amazing
(3) God
(4) Jesus
(5) Did I mention he's God? Seriously.

His Spanish accent makes me quiver like a schoolgirl. Meh, I'd take him.

A "nuts and bolts" education can be obtained by reviewing a textbooks and a few primary sources. And as humans, we will gradually forget much of the information conveyed to us in class, and the "ID's" and concepts we struggle to cram into our brains before exams. Professor Ruiz, however, weaves the nuts and bolts of history into themes of life which (if you let it) can spark a "higher level" of learning--one which allows thinking outside of the box. What a credit for UCLA and its History Department.
The amount of effort which this professor puts into each and every lecture is apparent. His passion for teaching is contagious and ignites a desire to go beyond merely cramming in all of the "nuts and bolts". In reflection, I spent more time reviewing assigned readings in this class than on most others--not because it was required but because Professor Ruiz assisted me in learning how to think critically and enjoy the beauty of history in an effort to understand mankind and the soul within myself.

Teo is the best professor that I have had so far at UCLA! History 20 is probably the easiest class that anyone can take. Usually the day before his lecture, he will send out a mass email outlining EXACTLY what he will be discussing that day, so all you have to do is print out the outline, bring it to class, and annotate it. Honestly, you don't even really need to go to lectures, but I went because he would give out extra credit just for showing up and taking his pop quiz.

Sample Quiz:
Where were the pyramids built?
A. Los Angeles
B. UCLA
C. Egypt

Also, he literally gives you both the midterm and the final ahead of time and they are not even that difficult to study for. If you can't get at least an A+ in this class there has to be something wrong with you.

P.S. Don't buy the textbook, it's a waste of money and you will never touch it.

Prof. Ruiz is arguably one of UCLA's best all around professor.

Unlike many professors in the history department, Prof. Ruiz is genuinely concerned about your well-being as a student but as a human. He is available to assist with the course material if your ever lost, helps you prepare answers for the mid-term/final if you attend his office hours, and gives tons of life advice.

His classes are enjoyable if you love history. And even if your don't, the class is still enjoyable. Keep up with the reading, attend lecture, and the grade you are wanting will come to you.

PROFESSOR RUIZ WAS AWESOME!!

And, I wasn't one of those students who spends every free moment in his office hours, talking to him and schmoozing my way into an A (not that you even had to schmooze..)- I never even spoke to him! But, he truly cares. And you can tell that... He constantly tells you, "do not postpone joy!" and uplifts you. He makes you think differently. I don't understand the person who hated him below. And, I think that anyone can tell from all the other reviews that this person was sorely mistaken. He sends out his whole lecture structure via email before the lecture, and all you have to do is copy and paste it into your notes and type up what he has to say about the material under it... People were always asking how to spell stuff- why? He sends out the shit. Just get your act together for this super easy class and Step (1) Copy, Step (2) Paste, Step (3) Attend class and take notes. Hell, I was asleep a lot too and I just went back and watched the Bruincasts for the midterm/final essays. And although the lecture slides weren't exactly, "copy everything down", that was niceee... Hey, less to do...

It was so easy. After awhile I just rewatched the lectures and took notes. Wrote my essays- that's it.

He does add humor to the class by interjecting jokes, or even calling out a sleeping student. Note to self: Just don't sleep TOO obviously. I mean like keeling over your seat, tongue out, funny shit. I was asleep all of the time, head wilted right into the palm of my hand, and I never had any trouble.

As for the whole, starting a sentence then waiting until the next lecture to continue with it- it was a great way to end the class. At the end of class, he would start a story. Say, of Buddha.. On the first day, he saw sickness, on the second, old age, on the third, a CORPSE..then he went home and... we will continue this the next lecture! It just made you want to come back and hear the rest...

I don't even know what he believes in religiously... PS that student under me is an idiot... just sayin.

Took History 20 with the fool in fall of 2010 and the class was fucking easy. Im a south campus major and i took ls2 and 14d in the same quarter so this class was perfect: no work. Go to lectures, if u want extra credit. Warning though is that do not let it overlap with another class, or he wont let you leave class early. this class is a joke. no work required whatsoever. he gives u the midterm questions and final was take-home. grade is somewhat dependent on ta. Avoid Melis Hafez, she is the hardest. Caroline Bunnell is the best, easiest, and most charming ta (doesnt give u quizzes or anything. just show up and talk a little)

easy ass GE, a little more work than poli sci 40, but very easy. perfect for south campus majors.

he also likes indian religion/culture a lot so for u indian kids out there its perfect. maybe he likes it cause hinduism is the worlds only sensible religion. thank u teo for indirectly acknowledging that. im tired of this christianity bullshit being spit out to me every class and im tired of south campus douche profs thinking that the god did not have anything to due with human development and shit. ruiz is the only one who provides a good balance.

oh by the way, ucla suks.

Addressing the reviewer below:

Firstly, he doesn't think he is god. He is an atheist. He said that on the first day. If you were just meaning to criticize his opinions and the way he presents them, don't insult him in a way that is totally contradictory to his beliefs.

Second, political jokes are not inappropriate. That's why we have the first Amendment. Also, everyone laughed. Sorry you felt left out :'(.

Thirdly, what do you mean by one-sided causes? They were to help kids who do not have an education and things of that nature. He even said he would teach for free for the program after he retires. The only one was even remotely lengthy at the beginning of one of the lectures and for less than 3 minutes. Don't make stuff up about this "all sorts of people" crap.

Also, he doesn't stop for 5 minutes. He says one or two comments which take up about 20 seconds of time. And it's entertaining. Cry less.

I'll even concede to you a fair critique on the lecture slides. However, if you can't follow and take notes on his lectures, you have the attention span of a chipmunk. And he even caters to that by typing up giant summaries the week beforehand. He's thought of you too, little chipmunk ;)

And what a horrible professor! Rewarding you for coming to class but not punishing you if you don't!!

The thing that strikes me most is how you can actually "hate" him. His passion for teaching certainly shows. He gives you his freaking home phone number and invites you to call him anytime. Even if you are completely opposed to his views, he still invites you to talk and will respond politely. He responds thoroughly to every single e-mail even though he is technologically handicapped. And he teaches 5 classes when he only has to teach 1.

Congratulations, your soul has found somehow to not only disagree with, but somehow hate the most caring professor at UCLA.

I've never hated a professor as much as I hate this guy.
First, he actually thinks he is God and his purpose in life is to indoctrinate you into his idiotic socialist mindset. He says he doesn't like to influence your political opinions, but he adds political jokes and comments into his lecture which are totally inappropriate. He also invites all sorts of people into the class to talk about their "causes" which are always extremely one sided politically. He stops in the middle of a 400 person lecture to talk for like 5 minutes to a single student who is sleeping or who walks in late which I find very annoying and pretentious. He has an annoying habit of stopping his lecture for the day in the middle of a sentence and saying he'll get back to it next week, which breaks up the lectures and makes it hard to take notes. Additionally, his lecture slides have nothing to do with what he's talking about during lecture. The TA in charge has to flip through 20 slides to find one remotely related to the topic on hand. And then he jumps around too much. It's impossible to take notes. However, you don't have to because the class is really easy. He also has these stupid extra credit quizes in lecture to make sure you come but he also podcasts his class. totally ridiculous. And he hates America.
Long story short, this guy is a slimeball. A have no idea why all these people like him so much. I can't stand him and I hate his guts. no joke. Even if his class is easy, I'd never, ever take a class with him again because just his voice makes me want to rip my hair out. Every class I leave quivering with anger at some comment he's made. hate him, HATE HIM, hate him