Extremely difficult, unwelcoming, and by far the worst experience I’ve had at UCLA. I was waitlisted for two weeks for multiple classes and, like many students without priority registration, had no choice but to enroll late. This class was my only remaining option, and I joined during Week 3. Instead of any understanding, I was immediately met with hostility. The professor openly expressed her frustration, saying, “I am very unhappy with this situation,” as if my enrollment were a personal inconvenience to her.
She went on to say that if I had contacted her earlier, she would have told me not to join the class at all, and when I explained that I needed the course, her response was, “If you manage to stay in the class, I guess I’ll have to cope.” That is an unbelievably dismissive and inappropriate thing to say to a student—especially one who is clearly trying to navigate an already stressful academic system.
I also made it known that I have an active IEP, yet that seemed to make no difference. I was questioned, spoken down to, and made to feel unwelcome from the start. Rather than offering guidance or support, I felt belittled and discouraged. The overall atmosphere of the class was tense and uncomfortable, and it showed—no one seemed engaged, and the lectures were painfully dry and uninviting.
I would not recommend this course to anyone, unless you are a clear favorite of the professor or someone who thrives in a cold, unsupportive environment. For students who are simply trying to fulfill requirements and succeed, this class is unnecessarily stressful and disheartening.

Course taken: C156
Professor Shiffrin is a wonderful and brilliant who is known both in philosophy and ucla law department, and I don't find her to be as intimidating as everyone on bruinwalk claimed..
The final is very fair. The class can be difficult at times, and the readings can be dense. But so long as you attend the discussions and lectures it is manageable.
Definitely a challenging course, but looking back it is a worthwhile experience.

I had Seana for her Rawls class (C156) and a Lying and Promising class (153A or something). She's a brilliant individual, as has already been mentioned. I have a few more things I'd like to add. She is an individual who you do not mess around with. You must be tolerant and accepting with her methodology and her personality. If you are a person who will not put up with certain types of attitudes from people for whatever reason and feel like you need respect because of this or that, then you should probably avoid Seana. Bottom line, she is the professor and if you are reading this you are probably a (potential) student. The professor-student relationship is one of subordination. Respect that. It may seem like she's not respecting you in that relationship, but that should be beside the point if you really are a student. Your job as a student is not to get along and kiss ass. It's to learn. Hence, my admission of tolerance and acceptance requirements if you are to take her classes and learn something from them. Seana is definitely an asset to UCLA's Philosophy and Law programs and I'm honored to have been under her instruction.

First off, she scares the crap out of me. She is a intense, short little woman who has to be one of the smartest people I know. Her office hours are incredibly intimidating, but they will go well as long as you have your questions written down and organized. She doesn't make eye contact during lecture and don't expect her to unless you ask her a question. The topics she covers in her classes are very sensitive so she doesn't take likely to people that like to state obnoxious opinions and slam other people's views.

Here are a few tips:

- DON'T BE LATE. Really, unless you want her eyes to bore into your soul.
- Never miss a lecture, she covers a lot.
- She knows your name so don't dick around, not even on day one.
- Don't be a know-it-all. You'll piss of the class and you'll annoy her.

The final was a little rough, long and difficult. She grades pretty easily, so don't worry too much about it. TA's vary, but they all tend to find her a little intimidating.

All in all, I think she is an excellent lecturer and will repeat herself until it is perfectly clear. She can get a little boring, but her occasional side jokes and stories are rather entertaining. I like her and I would definitely take her again... even though she scares me.

NB: Non-philosophy majors, please don't see her office hours as an opportunity to spout about your theories behind the reasons for human existence.