Cecilia Mendez - University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA

Professor: Cecilia Mendez

Department: History

College: University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST8
• Grade Received: Audit/No Grade
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: No
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Too much reading that isn't really required. Lectures aren't organized and will not cover everything needed so I had to research things myself. I personally wouldn't read everything she gave us weekly and would research the topic myself because it was too much and I would still get a good score. I did pass/no pass and ended up Passing.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST8
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

When I look back at this class, I can't help but feel so disappointed. I came in eager to learn about LA History and willing to read, but this class was too much. Readings were overwhelmingly long to a point that I would regard as inconsiderate to the well being of the student. Lectures were often very messy. I like prof Mendez but hated the class

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST8
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Worst class I've taken at UCSB and I've taken some pretty bad classes. She is very unorganized and has even showed up to class 20 minutes late. Her lectures are weak and she assumes people understand her point when they really don't. If you don't need the class don't bother, I wouldn't even recommend it for those who need it, there are other ways.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIS08
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Alright so this class is probably the worst Ive taken. The material itself is interesting, but she really is all over the place when it comes to lectures. For a GE, there is so much readings to get through. I thought Interest alone in the subject material would be enough to do good, I was wrong. Dont recommend this class with this professor lol

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HIST8
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

The course material is so interesting but she does not know how to teach the class in a comprehensive way. There is so much unnecessary reading. If you need a GE class take this class with a different professor. I put in the work, but Im lucky I had a nice TA to save my grade.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST8
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

There is an immense amount of reading required. The lecture slides are not made available. No laptops are allowed in lecture so take very good notes. The weekly responses to the reading can be easy points so don't forget to do them. Professor has a thick accent which may be hard to understand, recommend recording lectures but hide your phone!!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIS08
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

She is not a good lecturer. I learned next to nothing in her class. She did have any sense of humor and yelled at students for doing nothing wrong. She is very strict.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIS08
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

The assigned readings and homework really shocked me. Who else gives so many works to students in a GE class???????? you are absolutely required to attend lectures and sections. sections take attendances and ppt in lecture will not be uploaded. there are pop quiz asking you to memorize map(how crazy). one essay every week .

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIST8
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Interesting class, professor Mendez is passionate but there is a lot of reading due each week, don't take this class if you hate reading. If latin american history interests you, not a bad class to take.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST8
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Bad teacher. Bad TAs. If you enroll in this class, PLEASE find a way to drop out before its too late. She may be nice, but she is very unorganized and expects you to know all of the History like its the back of your hand. Lots of readings, mandatory section and lectures, and an 1800 word paper. Not even a Latino/a could pass a class this ridiculous

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HST8
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

She makes you purchase four different books and an e-reader. (So if you're on a tight budget consider this). She does not teach in chronological order of history, such a hard lecture to follow, slides aren't helpful, she speaks very fast. We have to read hundreds of pages each week. Mandatory sections and lectures. Very nice lady, but HARD class.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIS08
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Mendez is passionate and well-educated about the history of Latin America. This class was one of the most difficult I've ever taken, but also very rewarding and I feel like I learned a lot. Would not recommend as a GE, unless you are passionate about the subject and aren't taking a heavy course-load otherwise!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIS08
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Mendez is very unclear and unorganized. She assigns a ridiculous amount of reading which she rarely follows up on or explains. She expects students to memorize specific dates, names, and events and doesn't allow computers in lecture. DONT TAKE THIS CLASS AS A GE

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST8
• Grade Received: INC
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

She is incredibly difficult to understand, she is not engaging at all. Difficult to be interested when she is so dry and boring. She gives an immense amount of readings and then doesn't follow up on them. The final is extremely extensive. You have to memorize ALL names, dates, major wars and poilitical activity of every Latin American nation ect...

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIS08
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

worst GE I have taken. doesn't allow the use of electronics in her class. assigned reading every week is on average 200 pages. weekly written homework, and 2- 1000 word essays. wish i would have read her reviews before i signed up for this terrible class. signed up for it because i was actually interested in learning about LA history but regret it

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIS08
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Spring 16: Our final review she gave us (unnecessarily long/hard) didn't have info in which she ended up telling us seconds before the final so you can imagine how upset we were. She's always late and never prepared for class. Lots of reading. She spent more time on specific topics (bias) instead of equal time for all. Don't take this class w/ her.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST8
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS unless you absolutely need it. Her lectures are terribly unorganized and she expects WAY too much considering it's an introductory course. She's somehow under the illusion that students will remember everything that she says during lecture

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST8
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS WITH CECILIA MENDEZ!! Too much reading and stress for a lower-division course. She requires students to read 2 novels (essays are based off these so you must read them), a textbook, AND a 250 page reader. Her lectures are unorganized and there is no structure to the material. Participation in section is mandatory. DONT DO IT!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HISTORY8
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Boring lecture, very repetitive, and gets off topic. Tries to be funny, only makes class worse. The first half of the quarter was basically the history of Peru, not Latin America. Assigns much more reading than necessary for a lower-division class. If given the chance, would have switched class.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST8
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I wouldn't wish this class on my worst enemy. There's way too much reading that's repetitive and boring, especially if you are not Latina and can't relate to the culture. If you need a history course to get into the sociology major, I suggest trying to take another history course. Having discussion section makes this class even more miserable.