Professor
Seana Shiffrin
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Most Helpful Review
Definitely the worst professor I've ever had. It's as if she tries to make her lectures circular and nonsensical. She was not friendly and definitely had favorites in the class. Her class is a lot of work and I definitely don't recommend it! She also tends to have a condescending tone when speaking to students. Even though she was a horrible professor and lecturer, her TAs made up for her slack and graded very fairly on the final.
Definitely the worst professor I've ever had. It's as if she tries to make her lectures circular and nonsensical. She was not friendly and definitely had favorites in the class. Her class is a lot of work and I definitely don't recommend it! She also tends to have a condescending tone when speaking to students. Even though she was a horrible professor and lecturer, her TAs made up for her slack and graded very fairly on the final.
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Most Helpful Review
Spring 2022 - This review is written for those who just want a quick assessment of if they want to take the class. Class: The class is not easy, but it is not any more difficult than the average upper-division philosophy classes. An average amount of reading, about 40 pages, will be assigned weekly. (Note: To cover the basics, in the earlier weeks, the reading amount is on the heavier side for the course). Lectures: They are clear and organized. At the beginning, she will write out the agenda for the day. At the end, she will tell you what she plans to talk about next class. She does a great job at explaining complicated concepts. Plus, you can ask her for clarification about a concept if you don't understand something. She will patiently explain it to you, and she will also appreciate that you asked the question. Personality: She will encourage you to participate, but she will not call on you if you don't want to talk. (This may make some people uncomfortable, but if you get anxious talking or something in class like me, just try your best and do not feel pressured. If you talk to her during Office Hours about this, she will actually take the time to help you through it). She may appear intimidating initially, but she is actually incredibly kind. She values honesty, so if you are having trouble finishing an assignment or keeping up with the reading, just communicate it to her; she will understand and will not make you feel bad. Overall, I would recommend you take this class if you are interested in the class material and are not looking for an easy class to cruise by. The class is not hard, but there are easier classes if you have a heavy workload or something. The class was a rewarding experience for me where I was able to push myself and learn a lot, growing both as a philosophy student and as a person. 10/10 for me; hope it's the same for you!
Spring 2022 - This review is written for those who just want a quick assessment of if they want to take the class. Class: The class is not easy, but it is not any more difficult than the average upper-division philosophy classes. An average amount of reading, about 40 pages, will be assigned weekly. (Note: To cover the basics, in the earlier weeks, the reading amount is on the heavier side for the course). Lectures: They are clear and organized. At the beginning, she will write out the agenda for the day. At the end, she will tell you what she plans to talk about next class. She does a great job at explaining complicated concepts. Plus, you can ask her for clarification about a concept if you don't understand something. She will patiently explain it to you, and she will also appreciate that you asked the question. Personality: She will encourage you to participate, but she will not call on you if you don't want to talk. (This may make some people uncomfortable, but if you get anxious talking or something in class like me, just try your best and do not feel pressured. If you talk to her during Office Hours about this, she will actually take the time to help you through it). She may appear intimidating initially, but she is actually incredibly kind. She values honesty, so if you are having trouble finishing an assignment or keeping up with the reading, just communicate it to her; she will understand and will not make you feel bad. Overall, I would recommend you take this class if you are interested in the class material and are not looking for an easy class to cruise by. The class is not hard, but there are easier classes if you have a heavy workload or something. The class was a rewarding experience for me where I was able to push myself and learn a lot, growing both as a philosophy student and as a person. 10/10 for me; hope it's the same for you!
Most Helpful Review
Winter 2026 - Extremely difficult, unwelcoming, and by far the worst experience I’ve had at UCLA. I was waitlisted for two weeks for multiple classes and, like many students without priority registration, had no choice but to enroll late. This class was my only remaining option, and I joined during Week 3. Instead of any understanding, I was immediately met with hostility. The professor openly expressed her frustration, saying, “I am very unhappy with this situation,” as if my enrollment were a personal inconvenience to her. She went on to say that if I had contacted her earlier, she would have told me not to join the class at all, and when I explained that I needed the course, her response was, “If you manage to stay in the class, I guess I’ll have to cope.” That is an unbelievably dismissive and inappropriate thing to say to a student—especially one who is clearly trying to navigate an already stressful academic system. I also made it known that I have an active IEP, yet that seemed to make no difference. I was questioned, spoken down to, and made to feel unwelcome from the start. Rather than offering guidance or support, I felt belittled and discouraged. The overall atmosphere of the class was tense and uncomfortable, and it showed—no one seemed engaged, and the lectures were painfully dry and uninviting. I would not recommend this course to anyone, unless you are a clear favorite of the professor or someone who thrives in a cold, unsupportive environment. For students who are simply trying to fulfill requirements and succeed, this class is unnecessarily stressful and disheartening.
Winter 2026 - Extremely difficult, unwelcoming, and by far the worst experience I’ve had at UCLA. I was waitlisted for two weeks for multiple classes and, like many students without priority registration, had no choice but to enroll late. This class was my only remaining option, and I joined during Week 3. Instead of any understanding, I was immediately met with hostility. The professor openly expressed her frustration, saying, “I am very unhappy with this situation,” as if my enrollment were a personal inconvenience to her. She went on to say that if I had contacted her earlier, she would have told me not to join the class at all, and when I explained that I needed the course, her response was, “If you manage to stay in the class, I guess I’ll have to cope.” That is an unbelievably dismissive and inappropriate thing to say to a student—especially one who is clearly trying to navigate an already stressful academic system. I also made it known that I have an active IEP, yet that seemed to make no difference. I was questioned, spoken down to, and made to feel unwelcome from the start. Rather than offering guidance or support, I felt belittled and discouraged. The overall atmosphere of the class was tense and uncomfortable, and it showed—no one seemed engaged, and the lectures were painfully dry and uninviting. I would not recommend this course to anyone, unless you are a clear favorite of the professor or someone who thrives in a cold, unsupportive environment. For students who are simply trying to fulfill requirements and succeed, this class is unnecessarily stressful and disheartening.
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