(I actually took 174C with Huehls, not 174A, but Bruin Walk didn't list it as an option.

Huehls may have been the best professor I've had at UCLA. His lectures were the most fascinating of any class I've taken here. I got excited by the prospect of going to class, as if I was going to voluntarily hear someone talk about a book I read, not to a class to hear a lecture. His analyses were incredibly insightful and interesting. He himself is incredibly intelligent, hilarious, and relatable. It was fortunate that the class material was also interesting within itself, but even when it wasn't, he made it compelling. I would recommend taking any class with him if you get the chance, I think he is one of the best the English department has to offer.

Also with that being said, during the unfortunate incident this June with the murder-suicide, he was one of the professors who responded with efficiency and compassion to the situation. He didn't hesitate to stop his lecture to make sure we were safe, and walked around the class multiple times to make sure if we were all doing ok. Afterwords, he made the final optional and take home because he understood that people were having a difficult time processing the situation and didn't want to return to that room. People talk about how professors at UCLA can be frustrating when they care more about their jobs or subject than actual people, but Huehls is a reminder that there are just as many professors who care about students first and foremost. I just think he should be recognized for that.

Huehls is a really great guy. He's funny, witty, enthusiastic and makes outrageously awesome comments (if you take this class, you'll hear about Jonathan Safran Foer's sex dreams about Margaret Thatcher. OMG AWESOME).
He makes a point of not bashing one political party or the other, and I really appreciate that. His teaching style is great. HOWEVER, his content is a huge issue. He is INCREDIBLY abstract and theoretical, which I know really works for some people, but if you are like me and require something more concrete, this is not the professor for you. I felt like some of the topics he lectured on were so far removed from the book itself that I couldn't see the connections. At the end, that was what did me in. I didn't understand what he was talking about. His book selection also leaves much to be desired, he picks some pretty obscure books to read.

I'm graduating this year & I've NEVER written an evaluation before, but I love Professor Huehls so much that I had to. He is such a great professor! He's knowledgeable and teaches at a very fair pace. I took his History of Aesthetics during the summer and enjoyed every minute of lecture. I'm not going to lie, it's a lot of work. However, if you pay attention in class and take good, precise notes, you'll be fine. I think the main advice I have to give is know the concepts. He's definitely approachable and is so willing to help you. I think he's my favorite English professor at UCLA. His tests are definitely fair. I don't think I studied that much for his midterm or final and got an A in his class. I did, however, take intense notes in class.

The comment below is dead on. He is completely full of himself. He reminds me of professors who would rather not be teaching, but do it because it's required of them. That or he simply doesn't think highly of UCLA undergrads-which I don't blame him for.
I regret taking into consideration the positive comments in my course and professor selection for this class.
The only positive thing I can say about him is that he explains the material well. Unless you like being lectured to, and don't mind hearing the occasional negative, subjective, or personal opinion remarks that he adds throughout lectures, avoid taking him.

I had professor huehls this quarter, Fall 13 for two classes. English 174B and English 120. I agree completely with what everyone has said beforehand.

theory: he's amazing. it's awesome. do it. very fair.

fiction: his arguments are extremely convoluted and roundabout and just odd sometimes. but he's fair.

Overall: theory yes, fiction maybe. he's definitely not the worst in fiction. but he is the best for theory, i feel.

Professor Huehls was amazing. We learned some very complex and rather ethereal ideas and he was a master at making the concrete as possible. His lectures were interesting, and he threw in relevant anecdotes about his young son that were hilarious. He always made me laugh several times in a lecture, mostly with nerdy English or philosophy jokes. He was great at letting us know what to expect on the midterm and final, going so far as to give sample answers to free-response questions on the study sheets, and his instructions for the paper were ridiculously clear. I also found him to be an understanding and fair grader. The course material is very challenging, but he makes it a delight and interesting. I even enjoyed learning about Marxism, which I've always found boring and tedious, and he was able to apply it to literature very nicely. I stressed a few times in that class but kept up on reading and got an A+.

I had Professor Huehls for the History of Theory and Criticism (English 120) and I'll start by giving the grade breakdown of the class.

Attendance (10%)- (YES PEOPLE, you will get an automatic 10% of your grade given to you if you simply SHOW UP TO CLASS!! So don't be lazy).

Presentation (5%)- It's a very brief presentation and as long as you do it you'll get full credit. He makes that very clear to the class.

Paper (20%)

and 3 exams, the first two worth 20% of your grade and the last one, or the "final" is worth 25%.

And as for Professor Huehls... absolutely AMAZING. His lectures were all great and he has never failed to make the course material easy to understand. He takes really obscure, philosophical, dense pieces and explains them in ways that are easy to follow and comprehend. Not to mention he posts all his lectures online, which if you ask me is so generous and thoughtful.

I have to say, as amazing as his class is, it's still really difficult. BUT I think Professor Huehls makes it possible for every single person to get an A in the class... He's a pretty fair grader, fully explains what he's looking for on exams, and he literally posts the lectures online, so what else could you possibly ask for? The rest just depends on you as a student.. Don't be lazy, take advantage of the lecture podcasts, do the reading, and you will get an A.

Overall, I would recommend his class to anyone and everyone. It will teach you to think differently about literature and honestly if you're an English major, I think this class is absolutely crucial to your education in the field. TAKE THIS CLASS!

I took Huehls for a literary theory course, and yes, that means that you read A TON of theory. I happen to love theoretical perspectives and philosophy, and understanding those ideas in the context of literary discourses is going to prove invaluable in my future English education.

Obviously, if you "don't get philosophy" or refuse to "think abstractly," this class is not for you. Why would you want to sign up for a theory class in that case, anyway?

Huehls makes in-depth material clear and relevant, always leaving space for questions and always replying with respect for students' opinions and observations. I really loved the course and I think it made me a better writer, if not thinker.

Two papers, one explaining how theory works within a piece of criticism and one critical essay of your own. A straightforward midterm and final that he attempts to prepare you very well for. Attendance counts for part of your grade, but class is podcasted.

Overall, I thought this was an awesome class with an awesome professor! I would most definitely take Huehls again.

Professor Huehls is an incredibly engaging, knowledgeable and compelling individual. Because I took his class in the Summer, what would normally have been a 40+ person lecture, became a roughly twelve person seminar with Professor Huehls at the helm. I admit that I had NO CLUE what I was in store for when I enrolled in this class. The end of each reading assignment typically ended with my brain in a knot. Which is why I consistently found myself unable to skip class, despite my best slacker intuitions. No matter how complicated the reading, or confusing the material, I completely believed in Professor Huehls' ability to relate the material in a way that demonstrated not only his depth of knowledge, but an enviable amount of patience.

At the end of one discussion concerning Derrida, he said, "I feel like you are all infinitely smarter for having understood this.' When's the last time you heard that in class? And when's the last time that was true? Seriously, if you get the chance, and are up for the challenge, you should take his class. Just prepare your brain ahead of time and brace yourself because you will be infinitely more cerebral after all is said and done.

I took 140A this past summer (09) on a recommendation that Huehls was a good teacher. While I found the material to be difficult at some time, Huehl's teaching style made it much easier to comprehend the material. He won't try to impress you, but he is fair and can be funny and works hard to make sure everyone understands the concepts. It was often hard to capture my analysis in a one-page response (we had to turn in 4 for the 6 weeks), but I liked getting to discuss nearly every author, instead of only a few in one or two large papers. The final was very comprehensive, but quite fair. He will help you review and is very approachable in office hours. I highly recommend Mitchum Huehls as a professor. One of my favorites