If you don't like history, do not take this class. I did not enjoy this class at all and I really wish I took another history class. The professor himself is very knowledgeable, but his slides are not helpful at all. In lecture, you end up typing out everything he says because the class is not bruincast and he does not let you record his lectures, so you have to be a very fast typist/writer. I felt like the grading was harsh. There are three hour examinations. The first part of the exam includes identification. I never knew what to put for these. I kept asking my TA, but he never gave me a clear answer of what he expects. The second part of the exam was an essay and honestly if you clearly explain your argument and provide examples, you will be fine. The professor does give you a study guide which is helpful. Overall, if you are not into history and hate GEs like I do, don't take this class.

Phillips is one of the best History teachers I've had at UCLA. I took him for two quarters in both 113A and 113B.

Coming in to the class I thought I would hate it. I had absolutely no interest in ancient Greece, but now, thanks to Phillips, I really want to learn more and visit Greece.

His lecturing style is my favorite so far of any professor I've ever taken. He speaks in an admittedly monotone, but powerful and engaging voice. Every word he says rings and resonates. He speaks very clearly and at a steady pace and does not mince words. Almost everything he says is relevant to the course, but once in a while he'll throw in a hilarious tangent before returning to the lecture. Overall though, everything he says is important to write down, which is unfortunate for some seeing as no recordings are allowed. This may be a problem for some really slow typers. I don't believe you can write quick enough by hand in his class. I write at only 45 wpm though so it is possible to keep up, but he does move at a very rapid pace. On average I wrote 4 single spaced pages of notes every 50 minute class. Luckily, his lectures are easily outline-able and are very clear and precise. His lectures, to me, sound more like great stories than history and thus always captivated me. Never once got tired in his class.

As far as grading, he is one of the fairest professors I know. Absolutely no tricks or games with him. I don't remember the grading percentages exactly, but here's what's required. First, there is a map quiz of Greece which is very straightforward. He gives you the names and a map and you just match the two. Easy A. Second, there is a midterm, which is the hardest part of the entire class. It usually consists of around 5 IDs and a couple essays. Because you only get 50 minutes, this is by far the hardest part of the class and the assignment he grades hardest. Fortunately, if you get a better grade on the final than on the midterm, he will boost your final grade. The final itself is basically the same as the midterm with maybe 2 more IDs. He grades this easier than the midterm and you have the full three hours to do it. Best of all though, for both the midterm and the final, he gives a very clear study guide which outlines all possible IDs (usually around 35 and you do 5 out around 6-7 choices) and gives the subject areas of the essays. There is nothing unexpected on the test except for the prompts, which stem from he subjects on the study guide and you get to pick out of a few options. Finally, there is a paper which is around 9 pages on a subject of his choice. This is just a standard history paper. Cite your sources and write a good analysis and you'll be fine.

Overall, with great lectures and a great grading system, Phillips is one of my favorite professors at UCLA. He is NOT easy, but he is very fair and the class is very straightforward and doable as long as you pay attention in class. The readings basically are only backups to what he says in class. Second time I took him, I did no readings and focused only on lecture and got an A. Use the readings to confirm your notes, but you really don't have to read them every week. Thus I highly recommend Professor Phillips!

Pros: Excellent Lectures, Fair Grading (Got A's both classes!), Specific study guides, Final exam grade boost, Readings supplemental

Cons: Fast speaker, Lot of information, Tough Midterm

I had professor Phillips for the History of Rome till the death of Caesar. The class has isn't that hard except for three crunch times. I never really did any of the reading and still got at B+. You must Ace the map quiz in the beginning of the class that gives you a crucial 10% boast. The Midterm and Final if you do the 40 IDs he gives you and memorize the essays you will get probably a B.
The paper we did on Caesars Gallic War. I bought the cliffnotes online and read the book. It only took me about 10-12 hours of work to complete the essay and get an A.
Go to every class session. It is the only way to absorb the material. Bring a computer if you can cause you will be writing the entire time. Most of the times you will spell the names wrong of the people and places he gives you, cause they are all in latin, which is a bummer when you are trying to find the IDs to study.
Overall Phillips class doesn't require much of you most of the time. When you get down to the crunch times you have got to be prepared to work.

I can't imagine why people are saying this class is difficult or that Prof. Phillips assigns too much work. In my opinion, he is an excellent professor. He speaks very clearly and makes the subject material very easy to follow. The grading system in this class is outlined much more clearly than in other history classes and most of the material is available in the books. With a little bit of work, it is very easy to get an A in this class, as he basically spells out EXACTLY what he is going to ask on the midterm and the final. The only tricky part in the class is memorizing the various dates, but that is hardly an impossible task.

I took History 114A with Phillips and it was a horrible experience. I am completely confused at what I'm reading beneath me. His lecture style is completely boring, and the thought of taking notes like a MAD-MAN for Roman history is ridiculous. Equally as difficult as coming to class is his midterm and final. He gives you 50 terms, expects you to know EVERYTHING about them (date, significance, examples, definitions), and then he chooses 5 for the actual test - what a waste of time/effort. Whoever gets an A in this class is on crack. I wish someone would have told me how much memorization is required for this class instead of actual critical thinking, or that I needed to be on crack to get a passing grade. What a waste of time. Unless you're OBSESSED with Roman history and being bored out of your mind, you WILL REGRET TAKING THIS CLASS!!

I just have to say that having officially completed Roman History with Phillips, I have walked away with a tremendous wealth of knowledge on the subject. Phillips is an excellent professor who combined straight forward and concise lectures with various politically incorrect jokes to lighten the mood. Phillips seemed rather intimidating at first, but it was only because he wanted to underscore to the class the amount of effort that was needed in order to achieve a high grade. While he does come across as unapproachable, he is far better at answering lengthy questions in his office hours rather than in class. I would definitely recommend taking Phillips for any class he teaches. You have to really put forth the effort to earn a high grade in his class, but trust me, it is well worth it. The class consisted of a map quiz, midterm, paper, and a final. Phillips grades the hardest on the midterm and paper, but not as much on the final. Your grade is definitely reflected on how much effort you put into learning the substantive details of Roman History. I studied long and hard and was able to attain an A+, so a high grade with Phillips is possible with ambition on your part. Take Phillips for any class he teaches, and be prepared to write fast, study hard, and learn a lot. One of my favorite professors at UCLA so far!

The person below me put it very elegantly and is right on EVERY point. Phillips was an excellent professor, and I would recommend him to anyone. It's imperative that you bring a laptop to class because he speaks quickly with every sentence being loaded with fact. You need to study for his tests (and I mean study...as in learn every date, event, etc. he talked about). But in the end, it's all worth it. No doubt, Phillips is amongst the best of professors at UCLA.

TAKE PHILLIPS FOR ANY HISTORY. I took 114A and, while I was definitely challenged and worked hard, I was more interested in this class than any other class at UCLA because of Phillips. He is my favorite professor I have ever had. While you literally take notes from the beginning of class to the end of class, Phillips is a fabulous lecturer, often tying in witty and political incorrect jokes to Roman History. He puts on a facade of a very intellectual and condescending persona, you can tell how much he enjoys teaching, and will be more than happy to help you if you approach him. He truly cares about student learning. If you take him, do not get discouraged by your midterm or paper grade. He grades hard on these two things and eases up a little bit on the final. He also has a system in place that increases your grade if you improved from the midterm. So, while you may feel like you aren't doing too well during the class, don't worry because your grade will go up with the final.

Roman History with Phillips is awesome! Like others have said, he is strict, lectures very fast, and is not going to be your best friend. However, if you take down exactly what he says, you're golden for the exams. Don't let anyone fool you, if you don't do well, it's because you didn't take enough initiative towards your grade. Phillips is not Mr. gregarious, but he is much more friendly and willing to help you during his office hours than in class. The only students who complained about the way he treated them were the one's who wanted him to hold their hands through everything. Phillips is very knowledgeable and I highly recommend taking him for any class he teaches. Great learning experience, and a nice guy if you can adapt to his personality. Also study groups for the midterm and final are a must! Prof. Phillips rocks!