Overall the class is an easy history GE. The professor's lectures themselves can be confusing and most people stopped attending them. Teo has only 3 papers assigned and posts the questions to each paper 2 weeks before they're due. If you just read the book required for the question you chose you should be fine and won't have to due the weekly readings.

If you want an easy A, take this class. I hate writing essays, but the topics to write about are not terrible some are actually interesting. I didn't do a single reading just went to discussion, took a few notes down and started the essays a week in advance

I mistakenly submitted a class evaluation of this professor thinking it was a different professor and class. So I thought I'd make up for it by giving a better and more deserved evaluation of him here.
Initially when I signed up for this class I was expecting our lecture on the Occult t involve spooky things like ghosts and ghouls; you know something straight out of Scooby Doo. However this class from the beginning till the end involved conversation and critiques on religion and it's roots in the Occult and witchcraft. For me being a student who has had a past of religion and is now attempting to drop it in exchange for other philosophies of life I thoroughly enjoyed hearing Teo give unbiased explanations of religious history. He managed to make every lecture engaging with his innuendos and good sense of humour. Though the class was made up of 400+ students he still somehow managed to make every student feel as if he was talking directly to them and cared for each and every one of us. If you get lucky and get an enrollment time good enough to get this class please do! I didn't need to take it but I'm so glad that I did. Also this class is only as fun as you are willing to make it. If you don't do the cool readings you won't understand Teo's passionate lectures and honestly the readings are so different that you actually might find yourself looking forward to them.

Love Teo so much!!! He's definitely one of the best professors at UCLA - and I haven't had many of them, so I don't place my bets on him lightly. The class is super interesting and outside of any of the topics of history that I've studied before, which is really the goal of the class. He loves teaching so much, and it really shows through his knowledge and passion. He cares about what he does and about the topics he teaches, so much so that he's willing to come back even after technically retiring. The workload is very manageable, and the class in general was so interesting that what work I did have rarely felt like work at all. It's really easy to get an A. I also took his honors seminar for the class, which was incredibly engaging and helped me to build a closer connection to Teo than I would have by just being in the lecture, so I highly recommend that you take it if he's offering it. Genuinely, this class was incredibly enlightening and really made me love learning. If you're thinking about it, TAKE THIS CLASS!

Teo was like "this is going to be the last time I teach this class!!!" but nearing the end he said actually, he's going to teach it for one more quarter and that's why I'm writing this review. If you have any interest in mystics, heretics, and witches, PLEASE take it.
Teo himself is wonderful, sometimes it's a little difficult to understand him (especially when he was wearing his mask) but his lectures are incredible, packed with historical information in a way that's engaging. He sprinkles in personal anecdotes and jokes. Unfortunately his slides don't really contain much information, just bullet points of the topics he's covering, but lectures are recorded and ngl not suuuuuper necessary in order to get a good grade in the class, although it's worth it to go if you're interested. You don't have to take notes on everything he says, but if you write down tidbits that you think are cool, you might be able to include them in your essay.
The grade for this class is based on three papers, but the second one can be replaced with a performance. You get a long list of prompts for the first and last paper, and get to choose which one to write about, which I was thankful for (the final paper even had the option for creative writing.) They are maximum of seven pages each. I don't know if this is true for other TAs, but mine graded pretty easily. I didn't write the second paper because I made art instead (highly recommend for other artists out there) but you write about teo's book. His book is super readable and interesting, so I think the paper was probably doable.
Overall, the class was really great. I already had an interest in the subject, so maybe I'm biased, but there was something insanely captivating about the behavior of people from the past and how we still see similar things today. I like writing and coming up with stories, and I definitely found inspiration from this class. So take it!

This class is so fun and interesting. The class consists of 3 papers, one midterm, one random one (due two weeks after the midterm paper), and one final paper. The grading is based on your T.A, I personally had Teo as my TA and he was a fair grader. You can simply show up to class to listen, take some notes, but at the end of the day your grade in the course comes down to the essays, all of which are based on concepts and books he assigns. The essays are not that bad because he gives you options to pick from. Overall he's an excellent professor 10/10 would recommend.

Teo is hands-down the BEST professor at UCLA. The midterm and final were both 4-5 page papers. This class was a breeze but also very fun and entertaining. Teo is amazing and I can't stress that enough. Try and get a good TA, or take his own discussion section. Find the time in your schedule to take this class it's so worth it!!!

The best professor I have had so far at UCLA! Ps: I have 4 of the textbooks needed in Teo's class, used and for a good price!
Email me: *************

I absolutely loved this class with Ruiz. This is my second class with him and each has been great. He loves his students so much and the TAs are great too. We had 1 midterm with 2 essays, a "middle" assignment, the final with 2 essays, and discussion. Participation in discussion is crucial and on the day that you have to turn in the essays, show up to class. If you try to walk in late, he locks the doors. Also, he hates when people leave early or come in late to class and he will follow you out the door or wait till you find a seat. There is also sometimes where he takes random attendance when he can tell it is low. However, the class is pretty easy all around and very interesting. I really liked the material! He is super easy to talk to. The middle assignment also I got a partner in my discussion and we cooked a Medieval recipe and did a powerpoint on it in section and got an A+. An A is very doable.

The class was pretty easy itself. I didn't really pay attention in lecture, and I was still able to get an A. But you should definitely go to lecture because he gives random quizzes that are really easy to check for your attendance. You really need to focus on doing well on the essay assignments which is graded by the TAs, keeping up with the reading assignments for discussion section where you have to participate to get points, and you'll do just fine.

Also, I'll selling some of the required text for the class for really cheap:
1. History 2C Course Reader
2. The Life of Saint Teresa of Avila by Herself
2. The Terror of History by Teofilo Ruiz

Contact me at **********, if you are interested!