Professor
Lamia Balafrej
1 of 2
Most Helpful Review
Spring 2025 - This class was a pretty easy GE. I did take AP Art History, and I did think the content of this class was pretty interesting, but I will definitely admit there was a lot of details put in the slides/lecture and she doesn't post them. You don't actually need to know ALL of the details, but you will need to know general big ideas and the only place you can get that is the lecture OR doing the readings (I'd recommend going to class just because the readings are long and dense). Exams were pretty fair and she tells you the format before hand. There's some map identifications, matching of quotes from reading (you don't need to have done the reading to match the quotes - the quote will just describe the main idea of the reading), and then free response questions where you respond in a paragraph. Discussion section participation was a part of the grade, and my TA was pretty nice, but I wouldn't say they were super helpful to understanding what would be on the exam. TLDR: you just need to go to class and understand main ideas to do well in this class
Spring 2025 - This class was a pretty easy GE. I did take AP Art History, and I did think the content of this class was pretty interesting, but I will definitely admit there was a lot of details put in the slides/lecture and she doesn't post them. You don't actually need to know ALL of the details, but you will need to know general big ideas and the only place you can get that is the lecture OR doing the readings (I'd recommend going to class just because the readings are long and dense). Exams were pretty fair and she tells you the format before hand. There's some map identifications, matching of quotes from reading (you don't need to have done the reading to match the quotes - the quote will just describe the main idea of the reading), and then free response questions where you respond in a paragraph. Discussion section participation was a part of the grade, and my TA was pretty nice, but I wouldn't say they were super helpful to understanding what would be on the exam. TLDR: you just need to go to class and understand main ideas to do well in this class
Most Helpful Review
Spring 2025 - This class was pretty interesting to me. I'm writing about Mediterranean Art History because it isn't listed (Art History 32). The grade breakdown is as follows: 20% Section Attendance & Participation 20% Four Reading Responses (specifics discussed in sections) 30% In-Class Midterm Exam 30% Final Exam You get one unexcused absence for discussion without your grade being penalized and you don't have to go to lecture but she doesn't post anything or record the class so its pretty helpful to go. The 4 reading responses were graded on participation so they were easy and the midterm and final were both very very fair and easy to do well on. I thought it was interesting to learn about the mediterranean and its complex history while also learning about a lot of important architecture and art
Spring 2025 - This class was pretty interesting to me. I'm writing about Mediterranean Art History because it isn't listed (Art History 32). The grade breakdown is as follows: 20% Section Attendance & Participation 20% Four Reading Responses (specifics discussed in sections) 30% In-Class Midterm Exam 30% Final Exam You get one unexcused absence for discussion without your grade being penalized and you don't have to go to lecture but she doesn't post anything or record the class so its pretty helpful to go. The 4 reading responses were graded on participation so they were easy and the midterm and final were both very very fair and easy to do well on. I thought it was interesting to learn about the mediterranean and its complex history while also learning about a lot of important architecture and art
AD
AD
Most Helpful Review
Winter 2022 - Seminars will always be mostly reading based so you really have to do the readings and take good notes. If you do so there is no reason this class will be hard. Professor Balafrej leads discussion well and our grade was 50% reading responses each week (a slack post for each reading) and 50% presentation and final paper (15 minute presentation on your research topic and 10 page paper). I was very unsure about taking this class because the topic was so broad but it's essentially an interdisciplinary look at deserts. Going from ancient religious ideas to modern military and artistic uses of the desert. Really interesting readings and as long as you engage with the material you will take a lot away from this class and get a good grade.
Winter 2022 - Seminars will always be mostly reading based so you really have to do the readings and take good notes. If you do so there is no reason this class will be hard. Professor Balafrej leads discussion well and our grade was 50% reading responses each week (a slack post for each reading) and 50% presentation and final paper (15 minute presentation on your research topic and 10 page paper). I was very unsure about taking this class because the topic was so broad but it's essentially an interdisciplinary look at deserts. Going from ancient religious ideas to modern military and artistic uses of the desert. Really interesting readings and as long as you engage with the material you will take a lot away from this class and get a good grade.
1 of 2
