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He's rather hyper, walks around a LOT. He's funny and very interested in what he teaches. Nice guy, the exams were all short answer, and very little or the exam was based on the text book. Take notes! His power points were clear, and to the point. He gave an extra credit option at end of year to replace one exam grade.

I had no interest in this subject and it ended up being one of the best classes I have taken at SDSU. His lectures are interesting and he brings in stuff to make the material relivant to your life. I highly reccomend taking this class!

Easy class! He is very energetic and interesting if not a little goofy, but overall makes you think and makes attending class enjoyable. As long as you contribute in class, do the readings and glance back over notes for the tests, you'll get an A.

The most interesting class i have taken so far at state. Robbins is awesome!! And unlike a lot of prof he actually really cares and wants you to get an A. He doesnt take attendance but if you dont show up you wont know whats going on because he practically tells you everything he wants u to know for the test. Definitely take this class!

this guy is super excited about what he teaches. he's real helpful with any questions or concerns you might have. Class is easy. You don't have to attend as long as you do the reading but there are 5 pop quizzes that he does throughout the course. Grades are based on pop quizzes and 3 tests. No final and no cumulative information.

He is hilarious. Reminds me of the big, balding guy on Law and Order. (not because hes balding, but because of the way he talks and expresses himself when hes getting an idea) Hes super excited about what hes talking about. But you cant miss class unless the readings are CRYSTAL CLEAR. He really explains, or gets around to it, in lecture.

Easy and interesting class, got an A with ease. There is a weekly assignment where you just basically read the passage and write discussion questions. The tests are fill in the blank so basically make flash cards on all the names (and pay attention to images in powerpoints) and you will get an A. You really don't need to go to class at all.

Definately take him if you need an easy A for a GE. The only work I have done all semester for this class was the notebook which is weekly questions on readings, it is a lot if you wait until the end but only took me a few hours. Other than that it is 2 tests and a final each 25% of your grade. All fillin the blank. Cool guy too. Dont have to go to

i was very interested in the subject to begin with and he is a great teacher. also really easy. there are three tests and a journal that is graded. easy and interesting humanities

great professor-extremely basic history/mythology of greece and rome. three easy exams gives you a study guide of terms to know. his lecture notes are identical to Wikipedia so use that to study for the exams. same thing for the notebook readings. a brief summary of each passage off of google will give you 100%

Easiest general ed class you'll take, got an A with ease. Gives you the word bank before the test so you have all the answers. Fill in the blank tests.

One of the best teachers I have ever had. Ancient Greek is difficult language to learn but he really wants every student to understand it. I liked the small class environment. Plus, his tests are very easy in general. Recommend taking this just for fun.

One of the most passionate teachers that I have come across. He thoroughly enjoys teaching his class and wants you to enjoy it as much as he does. He is a very easy grader because he hates tests. He wants to treach for the intrinsic value of learning rather than for a grade. Very interesting class that will give you a new perspective on the world.

Easiest teacher at State, hands down. I didn't go to class except for the class before the test, which reviews exactly what terms you need to know. As long as you can remember terms the tests are a easy, it is all fill in the blank sentences. There was also no homework and he didn't take attendance. Easy A, a nice teacher and interesting subj

Best Professor at State by far. He makes learning a dead language fun and easy. The subject matter is hard but he really works hard to make sure each student understands. Definitely recommend this class, you won't be disappointed.

Brett is a very hyper and fun person. He really cares about his students and makes learning Ancient Greek simple. I enjoyed his class :)

It was an interesting experience juggling both Ancient Greek and Latin this semester, but I quite liked being in Brett's classes. They're interactive and exciting; you never know what's going to happen next!

Brett is an amazing teacher! The class is extremely difficult and requires A LOT of work. But Brett really makes sure you understand what you're doing in class

For a language ge I definitely recommend this class because you don't have to speak in latin all the time like other language courses. Class Monday thru Thursday which is such a drag. Attendance is pretty mandatory because you get points for reciting conjugations and sentence practice. Fun class and awesome professor.

hands down the radest teacher I have ever had! His love for the etymology class makes it soooo much enjoyable. Definitely an easy A, weekly quizzes and they are always on what you cover. the midterm and the final are super easy. Brett is just a really good teacher. definitely recommend taking him.

Robbins is funny, very easy-going, and enjoys teaching the class. A few days before the exam, Robbins gives you a study guide of terms to know. He wants everyone to pass his class! This is the class to take if you want an A!

3 Exams with 30-35 questions each. No homework or outside assignments. The first two exams were based off of the book he wrote, the last exam was completely based on lecture. The "none of the above" answers are annoying on the tests, and he now refuses to do comprehensive review sessions before tests, will only answer questions for clarification.

robbins is a chill professor. he doesn't assign homework other than the reading but he doesn't test you on it until the midterms. the grade consists of 3 tests worth the same amount. if you get an 90% or higher on the final, the first test is taken out. the class before the test is where he answers questions and goes over what he taught.

The class was extremely easy and interesting. There is no homework other than the reading. It is helpful to go to class to get a more in depth explanation of the reading, but it is not necessary. 3 tests and a 10 page paper. Don't let the paper scare you though, it is open and he grades very easy. Overall, very enjoyable as Robbins is fun & caring.

Took this class to fill out my schedule - no regrets. I'm certain he rounded up my grade at the end so I ended up with an A. The paper is easy for upper div GE - you might write less in a dif class (but probably not) plus other classes are boring. This one isn't.

A really great upper division class to take! Only 3 tests and a final paper that is not too hard because it has no specific format or topic! He is also more than willing to help with the paper in any way you need! The tests are also pretty easy as long as you review lecture notes and read the chapters in the book which are very short!

nice guy and interesting. Hes got everything you should look for in a professor

Dr. Robbins wrote a book for the class and it's very easy to read. The chapters aren't long and are on the rest. There's 3 tests and a paper you have to write but you get to pick the topic and there's no specific format of citations. Really enjoyed the class and would highly recommend taking this upper division GE class

Really great class! You will have to work a bit to keep up as it is an upper division course, but the lectures were very fun and Prof. Robbins is really helpful and responsive. The textbook is easy to read and tailored to the class.

The book is essential to passing, but it's always a short read. It was a very interesting class. However he tends to skip around during lectures, so make sure to pay attention and take notes on what he says rather than what the slides say. Overall really good class and really passionate teacher.

Robbins is an easy-going professor that takes Latin very seriously. He's a wonderful teacher and is very helpful if you're stuck, but if you skip class or act like you don't care, he may be short with you. He does his best to relate the material to the modern world. Understand that this class is difficult and that you'll need to study to do well.

Awesome teacher, very enthusiastic about the subject he teaches. He rambles on a lot, but its all very interesting.

I was already interested in learning about Roman/Greek myth, but with Prof. Robbins teaching, he makes it that much more interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed his class. Def read the book, as they are crucial for the exams, but the chapters are short. Attendance isn't really taken, but you'd definitely miss out on important info not covered in class.

Prof Robbins is rad. He's a very down to earth guy and approachable... he's always around for office hours and responds to emails. If you go to class, that's great. You don't need to though; everything is in the book. Understand the myths and you'll get an A. Long paper at the end, so plan early and have him proof it. DEF WOULD RECOMMEND!!

Really knows his stuff. Is big on participation (which is partly attendance). There for you if you need it. Tries his best to answer your questions. Latin itself is very difficult, so make sure you put in time and effort to learn. Tests weren't easy or hard. Not many tests. Would definitely take again. You need to come for the A.

I really enjoyed this class. Grade consists of 3 non-cumulative exams and a 10 page paper. The paper had no prompt, it was on whatever you wanted to write on that had to do with Greek Mythology. The exams were easy as long as you read the book. Attendance isn't mandatory, but it does help to go, especially on days where no reading is assigned.

Funny guy who makes the subject even more interesting than it would be anyway. Occasionally gets lost on tangents, but they're usually interesting or funny. Wrote his own textbook for 310 (required to pass) but priced it super reasonably. Graded on exams and one paper, but read the book and you'll do fine. Reading trumps powerpoints for study.

Great and easy teacher! recommend him!

Professor Robbins is great! Go to all of his classes and take notes on lectures - they are never boring. You will also need to read his book! The lectures flow well with the information on it. There is an easy 10-12 page essay, but it's 11 point font and 1.5 spacing, so it takes FOREVER to finish - def start early! Overall 100% recommend!

Easy A if you put in minimal effort. The class is solely memorization of suffixes, prefixes, and roots, but a lot of them are straightforward words you already know. 1 midterm & final, fill in the blank no word bank (easy if you study, i finished both in 5 minutes). The only "work" you have is a notebook you turn in at the end & a weekly 5q quiz.

Attendance is non-mandatory tho def helpful. Lectures go along w/ reading but he adds things that aren't included in the book & show up on the test. Only 2 tests and a final consists of 30 questions 1pt each, w/ so little ques it's easy to bomb if you're not careful(ATTEND REVIEW SESSION!). LONG paper but graded easy. Really interesting subject!!

I recommend attending class even if he does repeat himself a lot bc every now and then he talks about things that aren't in the book. Also, it's repetition so he's really just doing you a favor by repeating things bc you remember it on the test. Tests were easy, choice D was always a killer. Essay was also pretty easy once you pick a topic.

Class is interesting & easy to follow, he's very nice & thorough w/ his lectures. Honestly, you can either read the book & never go to class, or go to class & never read the book. Or you can do both, just for reiteration. But his lectures consist of him repeating everything in the book & SOMETIMES adding little things here/there. Easy A.

Prof Robbins is awesome. He definitely loves etymology and it shows. Easy class for foreign language credit and is useful in the long run if you plan on taking the GRE. 2 exams- midterm and final both easy, weekly 5 pt quizzes that he stopped doing, and a notebook filled with the roots from class and sentences. Definitely take

I really enjoyed the class, however, some of the students made it obvious they were using the class for a GPA boost. Some would only show up for test and quizzes and it annoyed me bc if they showed up to class they would be loud and obnoxious, which was not fair to the professor. The class is simple (2 tests, multiple quizes, and journal).

Great guy, with an amazing passion for his field. I really wish this level of enthusiasm was more common in professors. Go to class and read the book to get a good grade. The tests are not that difficult . . . . but some parts will only be from lectures. He also goes off topic frequently in random directions. Headache level randomness.

Dope easy going professor.

The class consists of 3 non cumulative tests and 1 10 -12 page. He is extremely leniant on the essay so as long as you do it you should get the A. As for the tests, you can either go to lecture and read his textbook and get an A or only read the book and miss lecture and get a strong B. He is very passionate about the topic and the lecture shows.

Can be a little hard at first but over time after you get used to the prefixes and suffixes, it becomes a really easy class. Show up to get word definitions (he doesn't post anything online). I recommend writing your sentences as a review for the weekly quizzes in able to keep up since you turn in all your sentences at the end of the semester.

You watch movies, but he also adds in his commentary about cultural and background stuff which shows up on the exams. Exams are also pretty much summaries of the movies so just read wikipedia articles to review. The only difficult thing was the 10-12 page 11 font 1.5 spaced essay about anything due at the end of the semester. Overall, chill class.

Super passionate about words and where they came from. Going to class helps if you learn well from lecture otherwise just ask a friend for notes. Be sure to go when he tells you there will be a quiz, no pop quizzes. Quizzes are based on previous week. Have to write 20 sentences a week, dont wait to start as these add up quickly. Highly recommend!

Prof Robbins loves what he teaches. Does get a bit off track during lectures, but what he talks about on those rants will appear later in the class. Tests are 30 questions, but there is a 10-12 page paper; do not let it scare you. He is an amazing professor to take. You will learn a lot from that class. I took this class as a freshman, so no credit

Robbins was probably the best professor Ive had, he was so funny. He talks forever but its really funny. His class is so easy and you dont have to show up except for the really easy quizzes. Also a lot of kids forgot about the journal that we had to keep throughout the term so make sure to start that early it really isnt hard.

Prof Robbins is the best! Take his class! He's so funny and passionate about words. He's extremely laid back. If you want an enjoyable, stress free class that only requires a little bit of memorization I would highly recommend.

Robbins is an amazing lecturer! He always adds a little bit of spice to his lectures and makes the class super interesting. He also requires you to buy his book for the class and the way it is worded is said in the way that he would talk, so the book is very funny at times and interesting at the same time!

If you know your Greek myth very easy class; if you took his 140 class a repeat of that. Doesn't really follow his ppt so if you're new to this stuff it may be hard to take notes, but he's really passionate about the subject & is very open to help students understand it. Tests are specific so know your stuff & the essay is long so start early.

pretty easy class. keep notebook of notes which will be collected at the end of the semester. a quiz every week. no textbook needed.

Such an easy, stress-free class. Quizzes every week about the material taught the week before. He gives you maybe 4-5 greek or latin roots each week, gives you words that go with the roots, memorize that and you wont' have to worry. It is a pretty boring class, especially since he gets off track a lot but an easy way to fulfill foreign language.

Brett Robbins is awesome! He can be a bit scatterbrained at times, but you can tell he loves teaching. Make sure you take notes -- the paper for this class is LONG. If you have questions, you can email him and he will respond very happily. He understands students and doesn't assign busy work. Read the book ($12). Few assignments, but an easy A.

Brett is cool but if you are a visual learner I wouldnt necessarily recommend taking his class. I had difficulties following what he was talking about at times as he didnt use powerpoints etc. nonetheless though he is a fun guy who definitely cares about his students

super easy. It was hybrid so you go to class one day a week, take a short 10 point quiz on some roots and words, which is usually like 20 mins. lectures are videos on youtube so you can speed em up and be done in 30-40 mins usually. would definitely recommend to boost your gpa !!

Three exams are your only form of grades in this class - all fill in the blank with no word bank. Do NOT take this class if you want an easy A or do not care about Greek history. He's VERY passionate about his subject. You have to buy two books, one written by him, that count as textbooks but they only add up to 30 bucks together maybe.

I took Brett for two classes in Fall18 and I loved every bit. Hes very passionate and you can tell that he genuinely cares about what he teaches. Class is definitely easier with a passion for the classics. Book was concise and helpful. His enthusiasm is very encouraging but the class is only graded by 3 MC exams and a 10p paper on an open prompt

1/2 online class that was super easy and super useful. He teaches words specifically chosen to help you pass the GRE. Lectures are YouTube videos and you show up once a week for a 20 minute quiz on the roots/prefixes/suffixes. Hes super chill and is clearly loving what hes doing which really encourages his students. Easy gpa boost too:)

Just be prepared to memorize hundreds of words. Heavy memorization.

Half online half in class. Lectures are youtube videos (about 20 min). In class quizzes once a week with only 5 questions. The class is all about memorization but once you memorize prefixes and suffixes its super easy. Super passionate dude but rambles a lot. Just a down to earth guy that loves etymology.

Honestly the easiest class I have ever taken. He is hilarious and only gives weekly quizzes because he has to. Very very Easy A. He is very caring, he just loves to teach and wants people to learn. Take him!

Best professor Ive had at State. Its true, there are only a few exams, and you have to attend class to do well, but his lectures are brilliantly exploratory; Im a Classics minor (philosophy major) because of him. His YouTube channel (GreeceAndRome) is also really helpful.

Hard class but fascinating lectures.

Super easy class. Went in for a quiz once a week, all the lectures were online. 3 tests, just watch all the lectures and you'll be fine. He goes off on tangents sometimes, but the material is actually pretty interesting. Its basically learning English as your language GE.

weekly quizzes that can be taken multiple times to get 100%. 3 exams that can be taken twice. 1 paper. there are lectures to listen to and the readings are fairly simple and short. I recommend this class! not stressful at all. and you learn a lot about greek heroes and the myths etc

One quiz a week online, midterm and final online. Great class.

Best course for stress-free upper division elective. Weekly quizzes allowing infinite chances to make a perfect score. 3 tests allowing only 2 attempts (highest score counts). Book is not necessary as long as you take note of the quiz answers. 1 paper that he probably does not read in detail because there are 350 students.

If you want an easy GE class this is the class for you. It's technically not an online class but you never show up to class, he posts all lectures online and the weekly quizzes and tests are online too. The material is actually pretty interesting too.

I've said it before. Brett is my favorite professor I've ever had. I've taken him for 4 classes and I've loved every bit of them. He's so passionate about what he does that you can't help but be excited about what he's teaching. He knows his stuff and will encourage you all the way. Just do the reading (which really isn't bad) and talk in class.

This man is AWESOME. He has been so accommodating with the issues COVID has brought to our lives. He definitely cares. The quizzes (weekly) and tests (3) are very easy as long as you stay on top of the lectures and readings. The weekly readings are fairly short and from a book written by him (how cool is that!). Definitely take his class! I love it

Brett is such a great professor! The material was really fascinating for people like me who are fascinated with learning etymology. The class is really easy if you know the lectures. He does get side-tracked really easy which can be a little distracting but that's relatively small. Solid humanities GE. Please take!!

I really like this professor, and I really enjoyed his class. Not too heavy on assignments (hour long video, 5 pages reading per week), but you gain so much knowledge. I looked forward to class every week with him. Professor Robbins is really passionate about the subject, and about his students.

I've taken both his etymology course and his mythology course (CLASS310). Both classes expanded my knowledge and came easy to me. He presents the material and never "wastes anybody's time". We met in-class for syllabus day and he gave us the option to move the class to fully online. He is easy-going, nice, & respected.

Best prof I've had at State, period. Fascinating and hilarious lectures, both in the classroom and online. Always open to questions and answers them thoroughly. I'm a Classics minor because of Dr. Robbins. His book is amazing, informative but also funny (especially the foot notes!!). Just take him.

His course is seamless. Brett designs a class that is perfectly predictable: readings, video lectures, then a quiz. Simple. Big gaps between exams, plenty of time to prep. Only complaint are lectures need to be streamlined. Unnecessary superfluous wording! So his speeches border on pretentious. Overall Id still recommend this class. Cool topic!

I take every class I can with Professor Robbins. He's why I'm a Classics major, TBH. He obviously loves mythology, etymology, etc, and it shows in his lectures. Very clear in grading, great book that HE wrote (fun!), and lots of interaction (he conducts office hours, etc. via phone and Zoom for those who are interested). And HILARIOUS!

Took my GRE recently and this class had much to do with why I scored in the 97th percentile for the verbal portion of the exam. Robbins takes you root by root and introduced several words per root and before you know it you've mastered hundreds of crucial words and I can't say enough about how interesting Dr. Robbins' lectures are. Just take it.

If you want to learn what words REALLY mean, take this class. Not everyone does, which amazes me, but that's TMI. Easy? Yes, but if you don't do the work, you get a bad grade. Brett holds his office hours consistently, via Zoom if enough students want to join in. Why hardly anyone does is understandable these days, but I appreciate him doing so.

Fun class, take quizzes til u get 100. 1 paper but about almost anything. Same day email responses.

Easy and informative. Take the quizzes as many times as you want until you get 100. Take each exam twice.

Lots of stuff to learn but not so hard if you're into the ancient world, which I am. Available for questions via email. Good teacher.

Prof. Robbins is a solid choice! He lets you take the quizzes as many times until you get 100% and you can take each exam 2x. The essay can pretty much be about anything and he's a super chill person. The only critique are about his lectures - they're relatively unorganized and you don 't follow a PowerPoint (you just have to listen and take notes)

An easy GE with interesting subjet matter. Weekly quizzes with unlimited attempts to get 100%, a midterm, a final, and a 5 page essay about any mythology related topic. Very managable class for anyone with a heavy course load. I forgot I was in the class at times. Overall, great professor and an easy A.

Great guy, super fun class. 10 quizzes, 2 get dropped. 3 exams and a paper thats fully open-ended. He is super accessible outside of class and a great person. His lectures are lowkey the only difficult things about the class, because he goes on tangents a lot and its kinda poorly edited with no powerpoint. BUT HES AWESOME :) youll learn a lot!

I originally registered for this class because I had an interest in etymology and it satisfied a GE but Professor Robbin's passionate teaching and care for students made me LOVE this subject and now I will be minoring in it! Great class structure, engaging lectures, and I learned SO much!

i took this class to fulfill a GE. thank god his class was online because in person i wouldn't have been able to keep up with his heavy lectures. weekly quizzes that you had unlimited attempts, a term paper, and 3 tests (2 attempts). wasn't too bad of a class at all. you will need the textbook / lectures because he asks very specific questions

I took this as a filler course, but I genuinely enjoyed learning about Latin/Greek roots. 5-question weekly quizzes (w/ unlimited attempts), and 3 exams (w/ 2 attempts). The questions are not difficult if you take good notes on his lectures. He is also quite lenient; I accidentally missed an exam and he extended the deadline for me. Easy A!

Great professor!

I'll start by saying there is a TON of work for this class. I felt like I was always doing work. That being said, I absolutely loved it. Brett is an incredible professor and person, and his class just further inspired me to continue my journey in Classics. You can tell he loves what he does. I'm excited to keep learning from him.

Pretty much an easy A if you take notes on his lectures. 5 questions each quiz (unlimited attempts) and 3 exams (2 attempts) and you have 12 hours to take them. No homework. Honestly, the class was VERY MID.The work is fairly easy, it is just that the class is boring.

Loved this class. Very generous with his time. Cool and insightful. Great (and funny!) book. One of my favorite teachers yet.

Just take it. Awesome lectures, fair grading. Always available for extra office hour consulting.