If you are thinking about taking Sociol M176 with Professor Yeritsian, I cannot recommend it enough. It was one of the most meaningful and intellectually rewarding classes I have taken in college.

First off, everyone learns differently and meshes with different teaching styles–so the only real way to know if a class is right for you is to take it yourself. That said, I can speak from personal experience when I say that Professor Yeritsian is one of the most impactful professors I have ever had. His classes are challenging, yes, but in the way that college should be: they ask you to think deeper, study differently, and really engage with the material.

Some students have left negative reviews saying he “does not help” or “is not engaging”–but I have to strongly disagree. He absolutely lays out a clear and structured path through the course. The difference is that he expects you to meet him there. He provides detailed slides, study outlines, and frames the content in a way that makes everything build on itself. It is up to you to take that framework and do something with it–to sit with the material, make connections, and ask questions. And if you do? He is always available to talk, clarify, or help you think through ideas. His office hours are some of the most stimulating conversations I have had, and I always leave them feeling more grounded in the material.

I had taken his Sociol 101 class before this one, so I knew what I was getting into. That class changed how I study, how I think, and honestly, how I see the world. It was the first time in college that I found myself excited to study–genuinely motivated by the content, not by the grade. I found myself constantly talking about what I was learning with friends and family, wanting to share ideas that had stuck with me long after class ended. His teaching made me fall in love with sociology and shifted the course of my academic path.

When I saw he was teaching M176, I enrolled immediately–and it was just as engaging and thought-provoking. The material was complex and layered, but so interesting. I walked away from the class not only having learned a lot, but also having felt that familiar sense of intellectual curiosity and excitement that his teaching brings out. If you are someone who wants to be pushed, who values depth and structure, and who is willing to do the work–this class will not disappoint. Professor Yeritsian’s classes are not just about passing a test; they are about expanding how you think. And that kind of learning stays with you.

i really dont know why people antagonize prof. yeritsian. ive had him for 3 courses now and can confidently say he’s one of my favorite professors. ive passed all his classes because i took the time to understand the content. this class in particular was super interesting and intriguing in regards to the material. doesnt assign homework in ANY course (aside from reading). tests can be difficult if you dont study or understand the material but thats why professors have office hours….. he wants his students to do well, makes sure to ask if students had questions throughout the lecture. and usually one or two people raise their hands. if you got the grade you wanted why are you complaining? yall gotta remember we’re in college. not every professor’s the same and they won’t always hold your hand (ur an adult). he’s not an “easy A”, you have to work for it. that is to say, if youre willing to put in the work by doing what you can to understand the course material, everything will be straightforward! id take him had i not finished my soc major requirements.

Overall, the class lacked the necessary support and engagement, and the professor’s teaching style came across as needlessly complicated and overly harsh. I would recommend avoiding Professor Yeritsian unless there is no other option.

Insufferable professor and class. So boring, so dry, very tough to do well. Lots of very dense, boring, very long reading (around two 50-page readings a week sometimes). Not a lot of care put into the slides.

Classes were remote because he said he needed a break, but he still held the tests in person because he wanted to make sure the class was still "rigorous". He gave the lectures back to back on Mondays so he could just get it done for himself it seemed, making for one long, dense lecture video a week. Even two separate recordings would have helped.

Doesn't know how to engage a class, constantly asked for questions but never asked the class questions. When he was asked a question, he used the word "surely" in his answer like it was obvious, not encouraging more.

3 tests, each a third of the way through the class. Half multiple choice, half blue book essay (2 1.5 page essays, your hand will hurt). Watch out, on the first test he will unexpectedly ask about what methods were used in each reading, not just about the content. He said this was to make sure everyone was doing the readings and not just reading a summary. I did the readings, but I still didn't really remember because you expect to be tested on the content, not the methods. He'll have you pass your blue book away at the beginning so everyone gets a random one. Pretty paranoid about cheating or students not doing their work.

Likes to hear himself talk, good at saying simple things in a very complicated way. Seemed to be one of those professors who take out their unhappiness in life by being too tough on their class. Don't take unless you have to.

Interesting subject matter from a dry instructor. He likes to hear himself talk, and does not appreciate audience participation. No, not student, audience. He wants to make sure everyone knows how smart he is; very academic in his lectures and needlessly complicates subject matter with a lot of theory. Tests are hard, he does not give a study guide, and when asked, he told the class to be responsible for everything he taught. Essay questions were overly broad and graded very specifically.