Laura Kalman - University of California Santa Barbara

Professor: Laura Kalman

Department: TBD

College: University of California Santa Barbara

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST166LB
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This was a HARD class, but Kalman is so sweet and wants you to succeed. The class is only graded on the midterm and final so you need to work really hard to make sure your essays are up to par. She gives out the final questions in advance and allows a page of notes during the final, which helped, but you still need to prepare a lot.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST166C
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I've had her twice now and she's really charismatic and know's what she's talking about, while she doesn't take attendance I strongly recommend showing up! She assigns readings and documentaries to watch, and your only graded on the midterm and final which are an essay responses, the midterm's take home and the final in class

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST166
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Awesome. That go to history professor you take at least once. Classes are just lecture. One midterm, one final. All papers. The amount of info she goes through is insane so take notes, but she's just so woke and sweet. A LOT of people skip near the end but it's fine, because nobody will share their notes with you leading up to the final :)

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST166D
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

One of the best professors I have had the pleasure of taking at UCSB. She is hilarious and super approachable. Go to office hours to get to know her better, you will not be disappointed!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: 166CAND166D
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Kalman is really caring and is like a cool grandma. You don't need to go to class at all, just read the book and/or watch the videos she posts. However her lectures are really fun and exciting. I'm almost sad that I didn't go at all to lecture the second quarter I took her class. I would 100 percent recommend taking her class.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST166D
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Her midterm is 40 % and final 60 %, which is okay. She is an amazing lecturer, you barely need to read because she's so good. Uses YouTube documentaries and not alot form the actual textbook.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: HIST166C
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Super sweet, and kind teacher. She gave out the final questions 1 week before the final. For the midterm, I got a B and really thought I wouldn't get an A because of how much the final was worth. However, for the final, I wrote a lot (1 1/2 blue books) and ended up getting an A. So if you work really hard on the final you can get an A.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST166
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Laura is the best, ive taken her 3 times while at SB. Approachable, her class is also straight forward, midterm/final. I love US history and shes extremely knowledgable on the subject. Her information always amazed me and she never failed to make me smile. AMAZING

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: 166C
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She was the best history teacher I have ever had in my college experience. Knowledgable on the subject, always willing to help. She is so sweet, hands out full packs of candy for the final paper! She is awesome, if you ever get the chance to take her classes DO IT. You WILL learn something. :)

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: 166C
• 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:

Literally the best you can get in the whole history department in UCSB. Very Approachable and inspire insightful conversation on different topics. Do go to her office hour, you'll nor regret. Just talk to her about random or even personal stuff. She handled her biases very well and is willing to engage with disagreement in a very respectful way

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST166B
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Awesome professor, super sweet lady. You dont need to attend lecture if you understand the curriculum. Class is two papers and a final, papers were super easy only like 5-6 pages and the final was in class but you could bring a page of notes. I went to her office hours once and she was super easy to talk to. Easiest A I've ever got but dont be lazy

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST166B
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

She makes lecture worth going to but you dont need to bc she posts the slides and all the info.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST166A
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Tests will be essay based, but she will give you the question before and allow a page of notes! I would recommend reading and attending lecture. Kalman is hilarious and adorable!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST166AB
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Kalman is the sweetest little lady around. She is so fired up about history it is hard not to get excited too. She is my favorite professor at UCSB. Watch out for the essays though, make sure to answer the prompt fully and then some. Reading and watching the documentaries are a must too.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HIST166AAND166B
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Transfered to UCSB as econ/acct, but with history as my passion. Kalman convinced me to change my major. By far one of the best professors I have ever had. Lectures always fascinate me, even when they at first seem dry. High expectations for essays, but if you answer the prompt fully, it's an easy A. Taking her for my research seminar next year

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST166A
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She's very kind and eccentric, which makes lecture interesting, but she reads off the slides far too strictly. It's also difficult to discuss essays with her because her feedback is very vague. HOWEVER, the readers give great feedback on midterms. Flexible grading scale and straightforward prompts. One midterm, one final, both essays.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST166A
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Kalman is a very funny and eccentric person; polka-dot socks, mild lisp, and always wearing a jean jacket. She kind of reads off the slides in class a little too heavily, but she's very engaging and into what she does. Cool lady, go to office hours! Super lenient about rescheduling the final/midterm with a good reason. Essays are info heavy.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST166A
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Expect split grades (C-/D+) until the end of the course. Its confusing and sad.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST17C
• 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:

Interesting lectures. A lot of reading. Tests are all essays, graded fairly easily. Lectures optional but fun to listen to.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST17C
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Laura Kalman is a very great professor, and is honestly one of the funniest professors I've ever had. Lectures are a lot of notes and really scattered, but she cracks jokes the entire time and had me crying. Tests are honestly pretty intense, and you have to put a lot of time and insight into the material in order to do well on the tests.