Professor
Roman Koropeckyj
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Most Helpful Review
Spring 2021 - This class is taught by multiple professors, not just Roman Koropeckyj. It meets once every two weeks for 2 hours and you do some readings (sometimes long, sometime a couple pages) and watch some documentaries and listen to some music. If you're interested in the region, I'd suggest this class because you do learn about the history of some countries in a relatively low stress, low stakes class. It is based on participation and attendance. Some of the professors are frankly kind of boring, but Dr. Koropeckyj himself was really great. The content is interesting if you have an interest in the region.
Spring 2021 - This class is taught by multiple professors, not just Roman Koropeckyj. It meets once every two weeks for 2 hours and you do some readings (sometimes long, sometime a couple pages) and watch some documentaries and listen to some music. If you're interested in the region, I'd suggest this class because you do learn about the history of some countries in a relatively low stress, low stakes class. It is based on participation and attendance. Some of the professors are frankly kind of boring, but Dr. Koropeckyj himself was really great. The content is interesting if you have an interest in the region.
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Most Helpful Review
Fall 2023 - If you're looking at reviews for this class, you're probably interested in Ukrainian history, so just take this class. Professor Koropeckyj is fantastic. I can see why he'd be a tough professor in a class where you have graded exams, but for a p/np fiat lux, his meticulous attention to detail and expansive knowledge only add to the experience. I came into the class decently knowledgeable on the region, and I still learned a lot and got a new perspective on the things I did know. Highly, highly recommend.
Fall 2023 - If you're looking at reviews for this class, you're probably interested in Ukrainian history, so just take this class. Professor Koropeckyj is fantastic. I can see why he'd be a tough professor in a class where you have graded exams, but for a p/np fiat lux, his meticulous attention to detail and expansive knowledge only add to the experience. I came into the class decently knowledgeable on the region, and I still learned a lot and got a new perspective on the things I did know. Highly, highly recommend.
Most Helpful Review
Winter 2024 - I want to preface this with the fact that I took this class as a GE with no prior interest in Slavic Civilizations (which I don't recommend). Koropeckyj was honestly such an interesting professor. He was witty, very knowledgeable, and passionate about his subject. However, he taught the kind of class where he wanted you to leave knowing the content, and not necessarily for you to get an A. You must go to every class. Attendance isn't mandatory, but he randomly calls on one person a day to share a modern news story about the country or region he is lecturing about that day (so be prepared). And you have to write every single thing he says down during the lecture. Not kidding. The tests are online on a lockdown browser, and some of the questions are about some little thing we talked about. I scored Bs and Cs and I believe those were about the averages of each test. There are 4 tests throughout the whole quarter (so no midterm or final test, though the unit tests will fall on those weeks). There is one assignment per week, a discussion post. There is usually a 2-3 hour movie to watch or about a 150-page novel or story to read and respond to a week. The discussion posts (at least in my quarter) were graded on whether you successfully analyzed the material in response to a prompt and if you tied it to what we were learning in class. The final includes a webinar on a Slavic civilization we did not touch on in class. You are put into groups to make this as well as a traditional dish from the region you were assigned. During finals week, it's just a potluck! (And the online test, and the webinar). Overall, he may be one of the most interesting professors I will ever learn from. If this class is in your major, it may be one of your favorite classes you'll take! But if you're just looking for a GE, I would definitely think about how much you want to take this class because while I'm grateful I took it, I don't know if it was the best choice for me. Definitely my hardest class at UCLA so far.
Winter 2024 - I want to preface this with the fact that I took this class as a GE with no prior interest in Slavic Civilizations (which I don't recommend). Koropeckyj was honestly such an interesting professor. He was witty, very knowledgeable, and passionate about his subject. However, he taught the kind of class where he wanted you to leave knowing the content, and not necessarily for you to get an A. You must go to every class. Attendance isn't mandatory, but he randomly calls on one person a day to share a modern news story about the country or region he is lecturing about that day (so be prepared). And you have to write every single thing he says down during the lecture. Not kidding. The tests are online on a lockdown browser, and some of the questions are about some little thing we talked about. I scored Bs and Cs and I believe those were about the averages of each test. There are 4 tests throughout the whole quarter (so no midterm or final test, though the unit tests will fall on those weeks). There is one assignment per week, a discussion post. There is usually a 2-3 hour movie to watch or about a 150-page novel or story to read and respond to a week. The discussion posts (at least in my quarter) were graded on whether you successfully analyzed the material in response to a prompt and if you tied it to what we were learning in class. The final includes a webinar on a Slavic civilization we did not touch on in class. You are put into groups to make this as well as a traditional dish from the region you were assigned. During finals week, it's just a potluck! (And the online test, and the webinar). Overall, he may be one of the most interesting professors I will ever learn from. If this class is in your major, it may be one of your favorite classes you'll take! But if you're just looking for a GE, I would definitely think about how much you want to take this class because while I'm grateful I took it, I don't know if it was the best choice for me. Definitely my hardest class at UCLA so far.
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