Richard Hecht - University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA

Professor: Richard Hecht

Department: Religious Studies

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

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: RGST131D
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Hecht is an amazing person! Ive taken a couple classes with him and he loves teaching the material. Class had one midterm and one final. Both are written exams that come right from lecture material. A few extra credit events. Lectures are mot poated online so take good notes. On exams just write down as much as you know and youll do well

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: RGST113
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

LOVED this class!! The theme was Disney films, which made every lecture really fun and interesting. Made points about the connection between dif religions and Disney that I never would have thought of. Weekly reading responses, but they give you the page numbers that the answers are on (super easy). 2 short, straightforward papers, and no exams.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: COMPLIT188
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Hecht is one of the worst professors I've ever had. He is legitimately stupid, gives us false information all time. He takes weeks to give essays back. He is late for office hours. He does not allow for any dissenting opinion and only likes to hear his own words and ideas. Class is only summary. There are 2 short 5 pg essays and 1 final 10 pg essay

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: RGST130
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Hecht is an amazing professor. He cares about his students and about what he teaches. He will always help you, if you ask him for it. Going to class matters, he tests you on readings and on what he talks about in class. This isn't an issue because his lectures are very interesting.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: RGST130
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took RGST 130 with Hecht but it was 80% taught by his TA and the subject for the quarter was Disney animation... pretty boring class and you won't actually learn much about religion if you don't do the reading. Both prof Hecht and the TA were really nice and helpful with questions.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: RGST155
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

in past years, this class was only listening to the veteran's stories with one final project at the end. Now there's a rediculous amount of required reading (2000 pages throughout the quarter) as well as three 5-page essays and a long essay format final. Interesting class, but don't take unless you have a light quarter.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: 131F
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I am a soc major, and I've taken every class that I can with Dr. Hecht (4 after this quarter) he's an amazing professor. I took him for judaism, history of anti-Semitism, religion and politics in the city, and impact of vietnam. all amazing classes, all of them are 2 outside events, 1 midterm and a final except judaism had an essay. TAKE HIM.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: RGST113
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

As a religious studies major I went through this class constantly wondering what it had to do with religion. Hecht loves to ramble on and on. Some lectures you just sit there with no notes to take. Be warned the midterm and final are in class essays. It's an easy class but some effort is needed

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: RG130
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Hecht is a great and hilarious person but not a great teacher. His lectures are long and slides are verbose. He does a lot of telling in a class that requires a lot of showing. Expects you to just know certain things without fully explaining. There's a 10-12 page essay. An essay midterm and final in class that takes the entire period.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: RG130
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

One of the best professors I've ever had. His lectures are fantastic! He is very friendly and engaging with students and his exams reflect the theme of the class accurately. I 100% recommend him, take him if you can! I will definitely take him in again!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: RGST130
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took RG ST 131D and 131H with Hecht as well. He's a great professor, very engaging lecturer. The readings aren't necessarily mandatory but I can't imagine how one would receive anything higher than a B on the midterms without citing them. Usually offers significant extra credit. Super nice and funny. Knows a lot about the topics he teaches.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: RGST113
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

You just watch movies, take notes, read various excerpts, and pass the class. Pretty easy. Although content-wise, don't rely on his information being truth. Make sure to fact check him. He shows different interpretations of how religious historical events MIGHT have happened, and once claimed something to be "accurate" with zero evidence? Sketch.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: RG113
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I took this class to fulfill a requirement for my major and I loved this class. I took it in summer session but the speed of the course didn't affect Prof. Hecht's capacity to teach or his passion on the subject matter. Truly the most motivating and enthusiastic professor I've had while at UCSB. Highly recommended.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: RGST131D
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

really good guy. very funny. doesn't take attendance, but if you don't come to class i don't know how you would pass. haha. very specific! loves to do long powerpoint slides. like paragraphs. but he is so nice. and sometimes his yarmulke falls off when he gets excited.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: RGST155
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This class was probably the best I've taken at UCSB so far. Prof. Hecht himself doesn't lecture, as the class brings in multiple lecturers to talk about their experiences at war. It's not hard to get a good grade, although it is a little open ended regarding the midterm and journal assignment. Everyone at UCSB should take this class.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: RS130
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great class! Professor Hecht is a very good professor who delivers a wealth of information on Jewish tradition and history. As long as you hit the main points he asks to cover on his midterm and final (which he basically provides the prompt for a week in advance), you'll be fine. Two outside events are mandatory to attend, but very interesting.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: RGST113
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

weekly movie viewing, and a question sheet to fill out about movie. never went to movie viewings, just watched over the weekend on my own time. some film tidbits he just goes over in lecture, which are crucial for midterm, final. you gan google information on them to know the main gyst. themes were sin and salvation, super interesting. fave class

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: RGST113
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He's very knowledgeable and very kind! You watch films and talk about them. Participate in class, do all the assignments, and you'll do well!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: RGST113
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

If you can take the class. You watch a bunch of weird (Blue Velvet) movies but his in class discussions are interesting because he uses students' responses to engage the class about the movie. Also he's really sweet and easy to talk to.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: RGST113
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Make him happy and participate! Hes such a nice guy and enthusiastic about film and teaching. Hes a pretty easy grader. You watch movies (religious and non-religious) and dig deeper into the content. Really cool class. You could pass without buying the books.