David D Phillips
Department of History
AD
4.2
Overall Rating
Based on 13 Users
Easiness 2.1 / 5 How easy the class is, 1 being extremely difficult and 5 being easy peasy.
Clarity 4.6 / 5 How clear the class is, 1 being extremely unclear and 5 being very clear.
Workload 2.8 / 5 How much workload the class is, 1 being extremely heavy and 5 being extremely light.
Helpfulness 3.1 / 5 How helpful the class is, 1 being not helpful at all and 5 being extremely helpful.

TOP TAGS

  • Would Take Again
  • Engaging Lectures
GRADE DISTRIBUTIONS
25.7%
21.4%
17.1%
12.9%
8.6%
4.3%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

22.2%
18.5%
14.8%
11.1%
7.4%
3.7%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

17.8%
14.8%
11.9%
8.9%
5.9%
3.0%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

26.0%
21.7%
17.3%
13.0%
8.7%
4.3%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

16.7%
13.9%
11.1%
8.3%
5.6%
2.8%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

19.4%
16.2%
13.0%
9.7%
6.5%
3.2%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

23.3%
19.4%
15.6%
11.7%
7.8%
3.9%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

26.8%
22.4%
17.9%
13.4%
8.9%
4.5%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

19.1%
16.0%
12.8%
9.6%
6.4%
3.2%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

ENROLLMENT DISTRIBUTIONS
Clear marks

Sorry, no enrollment data is available.

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Reviews (6)

1 of 1
1 of 1
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Quarter: Winter 2020
Grade: A
Feb. 24, 2020

If you don't want to be treated like an idiot, Phillips is your man. He won't baby you or give you free points. He expects excellence, though it seems he has become accustomed to mediocrity, which in his eyes, is still a massive achievement considering how academically rigorous he can be. Expect to be simultaneously entertained and blown away at how much information can reside inside one plump and unassuming Doc Marten-wearing professor's brain.

A probable candidate for smartest, most rigorous professor as well as best orator.

Helpful?

1 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Winter 2025
Grade: A
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
March 21, 2025

Professor Phillips is an amazing professor and orator. If you are an idiot, or if you like to ask questions in lecture, his class may not be for you. The class has 1 map quiz, 1 midterm, 1 (non-cumulative) final. That's it. If you attend lecture and take good notes, you will be fine. He releases a study guide 1 week before the exam. Compile your relevant notes and study those.

Lecture goes like this:
- Professor walks in the room and says nothing, everyone goes quiet.
- He spends 2-3 minutes writing various names, events, & places on the blackboard.
- He says "Okay. Last time we ended with ..." and begins lecture.
- Spends the next 47 minutes spewing out a ton of information.

Write down literally every date that you hear. In lecture there are no breaks, pauses, questions, and no slowing down.

Professor Phillips is definitely pompous and stern, so self-important that I don't think he knows you exist. He's not mean or unfair, he just frankly doesn't care about you. If you say thank you he'll just say "Mm." I've never seen him smile or elect to speak unless it is strictly relevant to the story he is telling. You grow to respect it to be honest. Like wow you are lowkey the worst but in an obnoxiously charming kind of way. I've had too many professors that waste time with frivolities. A professor in the Classics department took time to warn the class that the lecture on Pompeii could potentially be triggering to some because of the recent LA fires. Prof. Phillips is a much needed reprieve from all that. You go to class, you learn a ton of information, and you leave. He doesn't assign homework, he doesn't take attendance, there is no discussion, that's it. Show up, take notes, take your exams, and you're done.

Overall my favorite class so far at UCLA and my favorite professor.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Winter 2023
Grade: A+
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
Jan. 31, 2024

This is the best class I have taken at UCLA. Professor Phillips is a genius. And his lectures are captivating. He has no slides. Barely writes on the chalkboard. But somehow I was never bored for a single second. The coursework is very straightforward. If you go to lecture and write down everything he says, I don't think you could possibly do poorly on the exams. The readings are really helpful, and I think they are a perfect supplement to the lectures. Honestly I don't think there is a single negative thing I could say about this class. If he is teaching it you should take it.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Winter 2023
Grade: A
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
May 19, 2023

HIST 113B is my favorite class I've taken at UCLA. The content is super interesting and I found him to be a super engaging lecturer. This is not an easy class by any means though, there's a lot of reading and he expects you to know the class inside and out for both the midterm and final. If you're into ancient history, totally take this class!

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Winter 2020
Grade: C+
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
March 31, 2020

Phillips' lectures are fantastic; he would teach the class by essentially telling a story with in-depth commentary explaining the concepts. The only book I used was the one with all the speeches, which you need for the term paper. The ID portion of his midterm asked about someone that he only briefly mentioned in lecture, so make sure to pay thorough attention. He grades the term paper and final far easier than the midterm, and the longer essay questions (those on the midterm and final as well as the term paper prompts) were explained throughout lecture, so taking notes would set you up for success on those. His grading scale is also dramatically easier than those of other classes (I think an 85% is an A, down to like 50% for a D), but don't be fooled; his class is pretty easy to pass but difficult to do well in.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
March 25, 2009

He is a brilliant orator, one of the best in the History department. This makes it very easy to listen during lectures and not fall asleep. However, the class itself is a little wack. The textbook is awful; if you take it, MAKE SURE YOU GO TO CLASS! You will regret it if you don't. As other people have mentioned, for some odd reason he grades the midterm much stricter than he does the final.

Advice- Take this class if you enjoy Greek/Roman history. If you don't, you're probably not going to do well here.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Winter 2020
Grade: A
Feb. 24, 2020

If you don't want to be treated like an idiot, Phillips is your man. He won't baby you or give you free points. He expects excellence, though it seems he has become accustomed to mediocrity, which in his eyes, is still a massive achievement considering how academically rigorous he can be. Expect to be simultaneously entertained and blown away at how much information can reside inside one plump and unassuming Doc Marten-wearing professor's brain.

A probable candidate for smartest, most rigorous professor as well as best orator.

Helpful?

1 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
Quarter: Winter 2025
Grade: A
March 21, 2025

Professor Phillips is an amazing professor and orator. If you are an idiot, or if you like to ask questions in lecture, his class may not be for you. The class has 1 map quiz, 1 midterm, 1 (non-cumulative) final. That's it. If you attend lecture and take good notes, you will be fine. He releases a study guide 1 week before the exam. Compile your relevant notes and study those.

Lecture goes like this:
- Professor walks in the room and says nothing, everyone goes quiet.
- He spends 2-3 minutes writing various names, events, & places on the blackboard.
- He says "Okay. Last time we ended with ..." and begins lecture.
- Spends the next 47 minutes spewing out a ton of information.

Write down literally every date that you hear. In lecture there are no breaks, pauses, questions, and no slowing down.

Professor Phillips is definitely pompous and stern, so self-important that I don't think he knows you exist. He's not mean or unfair, he just frankly doesn't care about you. If you say thank you he'll just say "Mm." I've never seen him smile or elect to speak unless it is strictly relevant to the story he is telling. You grow to respect it to be honest. Like wow you are lowkey the worst but in an obnoxiously charming kind of way. I've had too many professors that waste time with frivolities. A professor in the Classics department took time to warn the class that the lecture on Pompeii could potentially be triggering to some because of the recent LA fires. Prof. Phillips is a much needed reprieve from all that. You go to class, you learn a ton of information, and you leave. He doesn't assign homework, he doesn't take attendance, there is no discussion, that's it. Show up, take notes, take your exams, and you're done.

Overall my favorite class so far at UCLA and my favorite professor.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
Quarter: Winter 2023
Grade: A+
Jan. 31, 2024

This is the best class I have taken at UCLA. Professor Phillips is a genius. And his lectures are captivating. He has no slides. Barely writes on the chalkboard. But somehow I was never bored for a single second. The coursework is very straightforward. If you go to lecture and write down everything he says, I don't think you could possibly do poorly on the exams. The readings are really helpful, and I think they are a perfect supplement to the lectures. Honestly I don't think there is a single negative thing I could say about this class. If he is teaching it you should take it.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
Quarter: Winter 2023
Grade: A
May 19, 2023

HIST 113B is my favorite class I've taken at UCLA. The content is super interesting and I found him to be a super engaging lecturer. This is not an easy class by any means though, there's a lot of reading and he expects you to know the class inside and out for both the midterm and final. If you're into ancient history, totally take this class!

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
Quarter: Winter 2020
Grade: C+
March 31, 2020

Phillips' lectures are fantastic; he would teach the class by essentially telling a story with in-depth commentary explaining the concepts. The only book I used was the one with all the speeches, which you need for the term paper. The ID portion of his midterm asked about someone that he only briefly mentioned in lecture, so make sure to pay thorough attention. He grades the term paper and final far easier than the midterm, and the longer essay questions (those on the midterm and final as well as the term paper prompts) were explained throughout lecture, so taking notes would set you up for success on those. His grading scale is also dramatically easier than those of other classes (I think an 85% is an A, down to like 50% for a D), but don't be fooled; his class is pretty easy to pass but difficult to do well in.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: N/A
Grade: N/A
March 25, 2009

He is a brilliant orator, one of the best in the History department. This makes it very easy to listen during lectures and not fall asleep. However, the class itself is a little wack. The textbook is awful; if you take it, MAKE SURE YOU GO TO CLASS! You will regret it if you don't. As other people have mentioned, for some odd reason he grades the midterm much stricter than he does the final.

Advice- Take this class if you enjoy Greek/Roman history. If you don't, you're probably not going to do well here.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
1 of 1
4.2
Overall Rating
Based on 13 Users
Easiness 2.1 / 5 How easy the class is, 1 being extremely difficult and 5 being easy peasy.
Clarity 4.6 / 5 How clear the class is, 1 being extremely unclear and 5 being very clear.
Workload 2.8 / 5 How much workload the class is, 1 being extremely heavy and 5 being extremely light.
Helpfulness 3.1 / 5 How helpful the class is, 1 being not helpful at all and 5 being extremely helpful.

TOP TAGS

  • Would Take Again
    (3)
  • Engaging Lectures
    (2)
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