Professor
Richard Anderson
AD
Most Helpful Review
Fall 2023 - This class is one of the most boring lectures I have ever sat in. Anderson is knowledgeable and constantly discusses his background with Russia/Ukraine but his lecture is just SO boring! Your whole grade is two essays - and his requirements for citations and references are insane. Students have been reported for plagiarism after using quotation marks... He is also very clear that he has a bias and is pro-Ukraine which I think the majority of the institution is but his approach makes this class not very educational. The course is basically a 10-week-long Vladimir Putin diss and while it is easy to compute I just have a hard time tolerating Professors like that. Anderson makes bold claims like calling for US troops to fight for Ukraine and just overall seems out of touch with what is going on politically due to his bias. I think it might be time to throw in the hat and retire...
Fall 2023 - This class is one of the most boring lectures I have ever sat in. Anderson is knowledgeable and constantly discusses his background with Russia/Ukraine but his lecture is just SO boring! Your whole grade is two essays - and his requirements for citations and references are insane. Students have been reported for plagiarism after using quotation marks... He is also very clear that he has a bias and is pro-Ukraine which I think the majority of the institution is but his approach makes this class not very educational. The course is basically a 10-week-long Vladimir Putin diss and while it is easy to compute I just have a hard time tolerating Professors like that. Anderson makes bold claims like calling for US troops to fight for Ukraine and just overall seems out of touch with what is going on politically due to his bias. I think it might be time to throw in the hat and retire...
Most Helpful Review
Spring 2016 - 163B. Absolutely terrible professor. His lectures consist of rambling nonsense which goes off topic most of the time. The class was 3 essays that doens't seem too bad except that he didn't grade two of them until the end of the class and there is zero feedback. The final paper was on his book which is actual gibberish. It may as well be written in another language. Unless you plan on going and getting to know the professor on a personal level to get a good grade this class is a waste of time, money and brain power. Also textbooks for this class cost upwards of 200.00 most of that for the professors own book, are you kidding
Spring 2016 - 163B. Absolutely terrible professor. His lectures consist of rambling nonsense which goes off topic most of the time. The class was 3 essays that doens't seem too bad except that he didn't grade two of them until the end of the class and there is zero feedback. The final paper was on his book which is actual gibberish. It may as well be written in another language. Unless you plan on going and getting to know the professor on a personal level to get a good grade this class is a waste of time, money and brain power. Also textbooks for this class cost upwards of 200.00 most of that for the professors own book, are you kidding
Most Helpful Review
Winter 2025 - I'll be forward and say Professor Anderson is one of the greatest professor I've taken here at UCLA. He's part time and only teaches every so often, so take his courses when he teaches! The material was cool, but the lectures made it more engaging. He has a great way of lecturing that makes it easy to follow along, even though he is on the older side. He also has a lot of cool stories, having worked in a wide array of fields in the past. The class itself had only one paper that counted for all your grade that you should begin working no later than week 7. You need to use only in course sources, which are around twenty readings total. Readings aren't hard whatsoever, most are short and interesting reads. Once the fires happened, he made attendance optional by putting his lectures up on Bruincast. I'd still go in person since sometimes the mic cuts off and the likes.
Winter 2025 - I'll be forward and say Professor Anderson is one of the greatest professor I've taken here at UCLA. He's part time and only teaches every so often, so take his courses when he teaches! The material was cool, but the lectures made it more engaging. He has a great way of lecturing that makes it easy to follow along, even though he is on the older side. He also has a lot of cool stories, having worked in a wide array of fields in the past. The class itself had only one paper that counted for all your grade that you should begin working no later than week 7. You need to use only in course sources, which are around twenty readings total. Readings aren't hard whatsoever, most are short and interesting reads. Once the fires happened, he made attendance optional by putting his lectures up on Bruincast. I'd still go in person since sometimes the mic cuts off and the likes.
AD
Most Helpful Review
TAKE A CLASS WITH THIS PROFESSOR. He could probably beat out the most interesting man in the world for his title. I took him for two upper divs, and I loved his classes. The material is really interesting; he makes you think in ways that other professors can't (or don't care enough to). There is no midterm, and the final is a 20 page paper. Honestly I was really scared by that too, but as long as you have a pulse and go to class there's no way you won't pick up his argument along the way. Once you get the point down the rest of the paper isn't too time-consuming. Do the readings and speak up in class when you can cause it'll be to your benefit. He tells you exactly what he wants and expects from you, so listen when he talks! You won't regret it
TAKE A CLASS WITH THIS PROFESSOR. He could probably beat out the most interesting man in the world for his title. I took him for two upper divs, and I loved his classes. The material is really interesting; he makes you think in ways that other professors can't (or don't care enough to). There is no midterm, and the final is a 20 page paper. Honestly I was really scared by that too, but as long as you have a pulse and go to class there's no way you won't pick up his argument along the way. Once you get the point down the rest of the paper isn't too time-consuming. Do the readings and speak up in class when you can cause it'll be to your benefit. He tells you exactly what he wants and expects from you, so listen when he talks! You won't regret it