Thomas Holden

46 reviews
Hilarious Amazing lectures Graded by few things Tough grader Get ready to read Skip class? You won't pass. Caring Accessible outside class Clear grading criteria Gives good feedback Inspirational So many papers Respected
Past quarters
ESM 401C
5 / 5 Full
Group Project in Environmental Science and Management
Thomas Holden 4.5
97.7% A
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PHIL20C . 5 Months Ago

Don't take this class as a GE. I'm a phil major, and even I had a hard time fully getting what Holden was saying sometimes. Graded on 2 papers, and a final. TA grading is harsh if you get a bad one. Lots of reading. If you can keep up, it's manageable. Prof is super passionate/funny, but sometimes unclear. Fine class, difficult for a lower div tho

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PHIL20C . 6 Months Ago

If you're not into PHIL- I wouldn't take this class. I think he is funny to PHIL majors, but I found his lectures bizarre. It's really hard to adjust to a PHIL class and learn how to write those papers if you are from basically any other major.

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PHIL176 . 1 Year, 5 Months Ago

Take him. You won't regret!

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PHIL176 . 1 Year, 8 Months Ago

Class was not too difficult, he posts all of the lecture notes online. I found him to be really unpleasant, so I stopped attending and still did fine. If you're not interested in philosophy you might find the content more challenging.

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PHIL20C . 2 Years Ago

Just want to say y'all are WEIRD calling him hot get a life. A lot harder than expected. Prob will have to actually do the readings & pay attention to get a A/B. No iclicker when I took it. Not an easy A unless u alr know philosophy. Need to do more than follow rubric. Charismatic prof, gave out prizes in lecture. Also gave final Qs in advance.

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PHIL20C . 2 Years Ago

Prof. Holden is the best philosophy professor I have ever had at UCSB! He is a super funny guy, and his lectures are easy to follow even if you do not have any philosophy background. I would definitely recommend taking Phil 20c with him.

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PHIL20C . 2 Years Ago

Very average class. Lectures were "mandatory" but 1/4 of the class showed up by the end because he posted very comprehensive notes and there was no need to go to class. A few papers and a short answer final. Pretty easy to only do the readings for the papers and get by. Holden was entertaining to say the least.

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PHIL176 . 3 Years Ago

His lectures were easy to understand and apply to the required paper and exams. Would you take him again

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PHIL20C . 4 Years Ago

One of the best lecturers and professors I've had the privilege of having at UCSB. Took this class when UCSB first turned to remote instruction and the teaching staff for this course were extremely understanding and flexible. Course consisted of like 2 essays (2-4 pages) and a final short answer exam, bought the book but it isn't necessary to pass.

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PHIL20C . 4 Years Ago

Excellent professor. His lecture is interesting and he explains philosophy with vivid examples; notes provided are helpful as well. Course work is not heavy perhaps because it is online this quarter. I would consider a minor in philosophy because of him.

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PHIL20C . 4 Years Ago

Love Holden. Especially during this whole quarantine, his lectures were interesting and very clear. I was able to understand almost all of the topics he introduced from his lectures. For every lecture, he provides high quality notes 2 essays, 1 final.

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PHIL176 . 4 Years Ago

Holden can be a hard to follower lecture, but he is very knowledgable and very easy to talk to. Pay attention in lectures or go to office hours. He is a tough grader if you do not know what he grades by, talk to him in office hours. midterm, term paper, and final. Def gotta put in work

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