If you need an easy GE steer away from this class. Although I learned a lot in the class, Professor Spickard assigns an extremely unmanageable and impractical amount of mandatory readings that gave me so much stress (almost a novel a week). Tbh ur grade depends on ur TA but most don't grade too hard, just an unnecessarily hard and stressful class.

lectures lacked structure w slides that barely had any info to take notes off, prof often mumbled and went on tangents despite preaching the need to be clear and concise. lectures and readings were crucial for exams which consisted of ID questions and long answer questions. class had tons of required readings but getting a good TA helps out a ton!

Professor is clearly esteemed and very knowledgeable in the field of history. However, he is rather entitled. He never posts lecture notes on Canvas, he doesn't allow technology of any kind during lecture, and his grading policy is more based on feel than objectivity. If you are taking history as a GE, steer clear of this guy.

not a good public speaker, very hard to pay attention yet he expects you to turn in lecture notes. There was no structure to the slides or the teaching. He has days when he is in a bad mood and impacts the class. Openly shares his own political views of the material. READ everything & hope you get one of the good TA's.

Expectations are haphazard, lectures are completely off topic and nonsensical, I didn't learn anything new about world history all quarter. Relied solely on TA instruction and readings to prepare for exams and assignments. It's inappropriate how much he speaks on his personal religious beliefs in class; at times feels like we are being preached at

Professor Spickard is by far one of the best professors on this campus. He assigns in-class written exams which are difficult to adapt to, yet his collaborative style and genuinely life-changing tips on speed-reading gave me by far the best learning and class experience I had in college. Cannot recommend him enough.