Professor
Stephanie Pincetl
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Most Helpful Review
Fall 2026 - This is quite a difficult class, and it definitely requires a big time commitment. There is about 1 book of reading required every week. And the entire class is just a discussion of the book. It requires close reading as well, with 5 pages of reading notes that need to be submitted the night before each class. The entire class is graded on 1 final paper (20 pages). I took it as an undergrad (junior), while everyone around me was a 2nd or 3rd year PhD student. I personally found the class incredibly difficult and the reading very intense and cumbersome. I enjoyed the discussions, because it meant I could learn and engage with so many new concepts, but I wasn't the most participative in class, because it seemed very daunting. Stephanie is wonderful! She really cares about her students, but she's very no nonsense and expects everyone to do the readings and contribute perceptively. I wouldn't take this class again, but I would recommend it to anyone who is willing to the work. Also don't be fooled, this is very much an epistemology class and not one that is environment or STEM orientated, hence it requires strong reading and writing skills.
Fall 2026 - This is quite a difficult class, and it definitely requires a big time commitment. There is about 1 book of reading required every week. And the entire class is just a discussion of the book. It requires close reading as well, with 5 pages of reading notes that need to be submitted the night before each class. The entire class is graded on 1 final paper (20 pages). I took it as an undergrad (junior), while everyone around me was a 2nd or 3rd year PhD student. I personally found the class incredibly difficult and the reading very intense and cumbersome. I enjoyed the discussions, because it meant I could learn and engage with so many new concepts, but I wasn't the most participative in class, because it seemed very daunting. Stephanie is wonderful! She really cares about her students, but she's very no nonsense and expects everyone to do the readings and contribute perceptively. I wouldn't take this class again, but I would recommend it to anyone who is willing to the work. Also don't be fooled, this is very much an epistemology class and not one that is environment or STEM orientated, hence it requires strong reading and writing skills.
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