Gelvin was great! The only work in this class was one reading per week which we'd discuss the next week in our seminar. I feel like I actually learned a lot about the new Middle East and Gelvin was really great at facilitating conversation. He was also pretty funny. Take this fiat lux!

Dr. Gelvin is such a great professor, and this seminar was honestly one of the best classes I took this quarter. The only homework we had were supplementary readings, which we would then discuss during lecture. Discussions were very engaging and interesting, and I found myself learning more about and becoming even more interested in the New Middle East. The book we read was titled "The New Middle East: What Everyone Needs to Know" and it was written by Dr. Gelvin himself. Overall, great class! Definitely recommend taking him!

One of my favorite classes at UCLA. It is a fiat lux, so it is only offered to freshmen, but he does make exceptions. One of the most blunt and funny professors at UCLA. The textbook is the book he wrote and it is such an easy read. Only homework is an article review of the chapter that was due that week (30 or so pages), and you only have to do this 5/8 classes. In class all you do is talk about what you read and people state their opinions. Super interesting class and gives an overview of the New Middle East.

Gelvin is the dopest professor you'll find at UCLA. He is insanely knowledgable about the Middle East and all the conflicts which have occurred in the history up to the present day. I had him for a fiat lux called "ISIS, Syria and the Middle East" and it was honestly such a valuable class, definitely the best one I've ever taken, if you have the chance definitely take it! Also, Gelvin will always make time to answer everyone's question (so much love for that guy :D)