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

I loved this class and found it really interesting. Balafrej focused on the interrelationships between cultures around the Mediterranean and the way art and art motifs/styles flowed and changed between them. The readings and lectures were interesting and clear.

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.