How much you invest into this class is what you get out of it. The professor is nice and shares the outlines of her notes with the class before the lecture, so it's easier to follow along when she speaks. That being said, that also makes the lectures a little boring and hard to stay focused. She also takes attendance by calling on students and quizzing them on materials last lecture, so attendance is basically mandatory. The things she asks us are sometimes really detailed and she gets frustrated when students can't answer and can be a little bit harsh in her comments. Overall though, she still really cares about her students' learning and tells really interesting stories of her time in Romania.
Sasha (our TA) was really helpful and wanted to make sure that we do well in the class, so our discussions have a lot of review powerpoints, and the quizzes are really easy as long as you attend discussion and get the points.
There are weekly readings, which are a hit or miss. Sometimes her outlines are basically a simplified version of the reading , but other times, you really have to read the articles to know what she's even talking about.
Before her exams, she shares a document with all the topics she would select test questions from, and you basically just have to go through her lecture notes, fill out the document, and memorize it. The tests are short answer responses, about 6-8 questions, and she requires that you give a certain number of distinct points in your response. They're doable, but the memorizing part can be stressful.

This class was hands down one of the best classes that I have taken at UCLA. You will not find a sweeter, kinder, humbler, and more caring professor than Prof. Galateanu.

As seen from the grade distribution, she definitely does not deserve the negative reviews which have been posted by some people on here. You don't even BOTHER to open the course reader, and thus can't participate in discussion section, probably failing the weekly quizzes (which are incredibly easy and usually a simple 10/10 if you as much as SKIM the readings), then cram for the midterm, the paper, and the final, and then complain that you walked away with a B-? Seriously? I don't even think high school was this generous.

This class covers the history and development of communism in Europe's central and eastern bloc, starting with the 1950s, following through with the cold war and the struggles of the Soviet puppet states, and finally concluding with the 2000s and the wars in Kosovo. It gives you a taste of everything, ranging from geo-politics and history, to the cultural and religious struggles of those who lived in such grueling times. Think how cool it would be to take a history class on Caesar's reign taught by someone who actually lived during that time! With Prof. Galateanu, you get the raw, uncut, passionate stories and experiences of someone who literally lived and breathed under the umbrella of the communist system. It doesn't get any better than that.

The class website has the LECTURE AND READING OUTLINES. Seriously, you don't even have to do the reading, because everything is already done for you. Where you do have to put in work is the term paper, which is worth only 8% of the total grade, but the professor is there to assist you with it every step of the way. If you need more time, she'll give you more time; if she doesn't like your paper (because you crammed it the night before), she'll let (help) you re-write it. The midterm and the final are verbatim questions taken from the study guide, so as long as you put SOME effort into looking at the questions and coming up with answers beforehand, you'll pass both tests with flying colors. When I took this class she offered an extra credit opportunity which involved travelling to the Getty museum (admission is free) and looking at some exhibits.

All in all, this professor wants you to succeed and wants to give you an A (pretty much everyone in my class got one). Put in SOME effort and you'll have the easiest A of your life.

The professor is really sweet, but was inconsistent in her teaching methods. She barely used lecture slides, and when she did they would literally just be pictures. A lot of the times she would jump around between topic and time period which made it very confusing. I didn't open the course reader, as a result did terribly on all the reading quizzes and ended up with a B- because I aced the midterm, final, and paper with some effective cramming. If you can handle dry subject material, take this class. Otherwise, strongly caution against it.

I loved the class and the topics! If you enjoy history you will love the class. If you are looking for an easy A, this isnt the class you want to take. But it isnt difficult if you do the readings and pay attention in class. The midterm was fairly easy and all the questions came from the list she sends before the test.

If you're looking for an Easy GE , this is not the class. The grade distribution is a sham. If you're looking for an easy A, DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS. I think the TA changed and the current one, Ani, has unrealistic expectations of what she wants. Avoid at all costs.

CEES 91 Culture and Society in Central and Eastern Europe Course Reader. Text me at **********

Professor Galateanu really brought this class to life with her personal stories about living in Communist Romania. This class had a good balance of lecture, class discussion, group presentations, and slide shows. I thought the movies that we watched for class were a good complement to the reading...but what drew me most to the class was Galateanu's genuine interest in the subject matter - as well as her students. She always welcomes questions and encourages students to email her/ see her after class for help. If this weren't my last quarter at UCLA, I would take more of her classes!