He has a very interesting lecture style, it sounds like he's preaching or something. This course is very interesting though and he'll give great lectures on them, but you do have to listen through them and take good notes. He'll give warnings to when the pop quizzes are going to be. Also, you will have to keep up with the readings.
Professor Walker was one of my favorite UCSB professors. His teaching methods are a bit unconventional but so long as you go to lecture and section, it will all connect and is super fascinating. He chooses amazing things to lecture about and really cares about the students and their feedback.
I really enjoyed this class, and although his teaching methods may seem a bit unconventional, if you go to lectures, it's easy to follow along. He's clearly very passionate about what he teaches, and his lectures were super interesting. Sections allowed us to dive deeper into concepts from class and were super helpful. Would highly recommend.
Really great class. Even if you're not super interested in the subject, David Walker's lectures were just amazing. Fairly difficult and requires a lot of reading and quite a bit of writing.
One of my fav classes I have taken. Prof Walker does a great job of brining humor into lectures and they are actually really interesting. He doesn't post slides or gave much info on them, instead he uses a script for lectures so if you don't go you will prob fail. 2 pop quizzes in lecture, and midterm and final are open note.
Genuinely one of the most eye-opening and engaging courses I have ever taken. Lectures are designed so you are forced to pay attention as most notes are taken from what he says rather than a set of slides. Sections are extremely helpful in breaking down material, and there are lots of broader concepts that can be applied beyond the course.
Get ready to be confused but in a good way! I'm a STEM major and had a hard time following this class at first but as I got used to it, the class was very interesting. Professor Walker does care and listen to his students. Both he and my TA were very chill, though you really gotta do your work to earn a good grade. Totally recommend!
Amazing professor. Great lectures. Class is much more interesting than you would expect. He can be difficult to understand at times but I think his lecture style was really captivating and engaging.
Prof Walker was a really great professor! I took RGST 7 over the summer and loved it. There can be a lot of reading, but it's interesting and definitely manageable. Prof was also very accessible outside class. Midterm and final were open note, they're super easy if you pay attention in lecture and do the readings. Take this class!
During lectures, he talks like he is giving a ted talk and it can be hard to follow/take notes especially since the content can be confusing. As a bio major, I was def not used to this style of teaching. BUT trust me it comes together at the end. Make sure to watch the lectures & go to sections. It's a VERY INTERESTING class.
One of the best professors at UCSB. Lectures were fast paced and his rhetorical skills were addictive, rich material and worth going to class. Each week had one topic with different case studies to analyze. Two short essays, short answer midterm and final, few easy pop quizzes. Course reader but not necessary to read if you went to lecture.
He is a great professor, makes lectures interesting and will make you think about religion in a new way. Lectures can be confusing and it can be hard to know what to take notes on but section really helps with that. Tests aren't too bad, more about understanding concepts and having ideas than memorizing facts but be prepared to be on a time crunch.
The professor was amazing. Definitely, an analytical class that requires a deeper understanding of heavy topics but overall incredibly rewarding at the end when you take away everything Walker teaches. He is really funny and makes you think about how religion plays into bigger topics. TAKE HIM
He isn't a bad professor. I just really hated his style of teaching. He sounds very preachy (he's not tho) and his lectures are confusing, on purpose, until the end. You will NOT pass if you don't go to lecture and actually listen, material can't be studied in a textbook the way he explains it. It's an easy class if you just attend. Just not for me
Graded on 2 papers, midterm, and final. Midterm and final are written exams but also open book, and the final could be taken outside of the exam room and on your laptop. Introduces heavy ideas quickly but a very easy class as long as you pay attention to lecture and have your own ideas about the material. I'll miss this man and his lectures!
Complete genius. He talks like he's out of a Shakespearian play - very articulate and well spoken. Knows his stuff like the back of his hand. Open book everything but you need the material from lecture to do well on tests. So attendance basically mandatory. Pop quizzes. Really great to talk to and funny during lecture. Huge fan now.
He speaks really fast and is against laptops so you must be a good note-taker. Doesn't upload lectures online, and goes through slides quickly. You won't get bored in this class. Midterms/Final is open book but be prepared to be on a serious time crunch because he expects a lot of material to be covered in a short amount of time.
Best class I've taken. It was pretty confusing at first, but everything came together beautifully by the end. You need to pay close attention in lectures, but that's easy to do because they're really interesting and Walker is super dynamic. Not an easy class, but worth the work.
Walker is by far my favorite prof I've had at UCSB! His lectures are so interesting and engaging that I never wanted to miss a class. The reader is a must have for discussions in section, the midterm, & the final. The midterm and final were both open note and he gave the option of taking the final at home. Overall very chill prof & would recommend!
Professor Walker is the most interesting and by far, the best professor I have had at UCSB so far. He talks fast but his lectures are extremely fascinating.
At first you'll want to attend class because Prof Walker is so hot, but you'll keep coming back because his lectures are fascinating AND entertaining. Seriously though, plan to put the work in (attending class and lecture, doing the reading) so that you don't waste his time or your classmates'.
Walker may talk a bit fast but you should go to sections to help clarify what you didn't get. He's super chill and lets you take an at home final if you want to. Essays were pretty easy to write. He gives 2 pop quizzes during 1st half of quarter so don't miss lecture. Just take good notes and you'll do fine. Midterm and final are open notes & text.
Awesome class and awesome professor. Attendance at lectures isn't mandatory, but it helps a lot with the exams -- and I always wanted to go anyway, because they were always entertaining and interesting. Great speaker. Meetings with TAs (which ARE required) help you connect the dots between lecture content and readings. Highly recommended!
One of the best classes yet. I definitely recommend it. TA and Prof. are extremely helpful and want you to succeed. The class is meant to challenge you and the way you think and can be confusing, but going to section really helps. textbook wasn't necessary, but the course reader was a must have. midterm and final is really easy if you go to lecture