This guy has to be the coolest History teacher ever, he actually makes things kind of fun. He likes to crack jokes here and there, which makes class a lot more amusing. His teaching skills are pretty good too and he's very clear and will help you as much as he can.

this guy cracks me up and has a really refreshingly unique way of teaching the subject. he provides individuals stories rather than throwing the whole nations history at you with vague stories that we've all heard since fourth grade. excellent teacher

Freaking hilarious! To top it off, he looks like Jack Black. He's passionate about what he does and is a awesome teacher who doesn't make you do too much work. Lots of reading but it's not bad. 4 pop quizzes, 2 short papers on books, 1 final paper, 2 midterms (impossible to fail if u go to class). I went to every class b/c he was so interesting.

Lots of fun, easy quizzes, and final paper that takes a little effort, but nothing you cant churn out in a day and get an A in the class due to it.

Great professor, Incredibly easy class. If you dont get an A, there must be something fundamentally wrong with you.

You would think US History was boring, but his class wasn't bad at all. You don't have to spend money on a history book, just 2 reading books. He looks like Jack Black and is funny like him. He gives pop quizes, but as long as you do the reading and pay attention to his lectures they are really easy.

Great teacher. Funny, and really smart. Easy tests and quizes. Great class. I highly recommend it.

Very Engaging teaching style, uses wide variety of teaching strategies such as: outlines, video, music, stories. Overall best teacher I have ever taken!!!

Good Teaching! Love the class!

Bates is Awesome-Take him!

Great teacher! He incorporates movies, music, outlines, books, and at times cartoons to better understand history, which makes the class interesting and fun. Now, if only other history teachers would take notice of his teaching style taking history would be fun and not boring.

THIS IS THE BEST TEACHER I HAVE EVER HAD. THE CLASS IS FUN AND INTERESTING. HE DOESN'T USE A BOOK A MIDTERM OR A FINAL. THERE WERE 4 POP QUIZES SO YOU HAVE TO BE IN CLASS. THERE IS NOTHING TO STUDY AND THE QUIZES ARE EXTREMELY EASY. HE MADE THIS CLASS GREAT. I WISH HE TAUGHT EVERY SUBJECT. THERE IS A FINAL PAPER BUT IT IS SO EASY

This professor is amazing. He is extremely knowledgeable, he makes his lectures very interesting, he respects all students and he is very funny. I would highly recommend this class. He does not use textbooks as he doesn't think they are very good. He gives you these informative handouts and bolds the terms that he will quiz you on. He gives pop qu

He Rocked

This guys is the man! I wish I can take him for other classes. Anyone who attends Cal Poly needs to take his class. This is a fun and interesting guy.

BEST TEACHER I'VE HAD SO FAR AT CAL POLY. NO TEXTBOOK, HE MADE THE CLASS INTERESTING FROM DAY ONE. HAS GOOD STORIES RELATED TO CLASS, QUIZES AND HOMEWORK ARE EASY ENOUGH. YOU LEAVE THE CLASS HAPPY AND HAVING LEARNT SOMETHING. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. TAKE THIS GUY!!

Must attend lectures to understand material--no textbook. Lectures are very interesting--didnt fall asleep very often. Grading based on 5 pop quizes, 2 midterm papers, and a final paper.

He is one of the best professors I ever had! Love his teaching style. You will learn from this class. Highly Recommended! =)

Not nearly as cool as some might have you believe, especially if you are a conservative. Everybody has their own political beliefs, but when you try to turn a history class into a political science class and talk down on the red party, how is that professional? If you are not a liberal you will feel out-numbered and trapped in his class :(

Not as cool as some would have you believe. If you are a conservative, DO NOT TAKE HIM, he will make you feel out of place and awkward (not a healthy teaching environment). Or even if you would rather not talk politics for an hour straight when you should be learning about CA History, do not take him for this class!

I first took this professor taking HST 202,which I loved! I'm not just memorizing facts,i'm interpreting and analyzing history.I admit he does have his views but what professor doesn't.He makes sure that everyone understands a point before he continues lecture.He responds quickly and promptly as possible to emails and keeps history interesting.

BEST teacher ever !

Great Teacher. Very interesting

It was really great having Dr. Bates' class. He is one of the best teachers I have ever met in my college life. Before taking his class, "I did not know history could be so interesting".

I was really worried about taking a history class as it is not my strong point, but his class has probably got to be one of my favorite classes taken so far as a student. Awesome professor, I'm actually learning. He makes the lecture interesting. No tests, just two short papers and a final paper.

This teacher was great, he is funny and makes the class interesting, breaking up the curriculum with jokes or stories about his life which are entertaining. Super easy if you are in class and take notes. 4 papers and a final, and 5-ish quizzes based on notes. he is really helpful and easy going, really enjoyed the class, Thank you Mr. Bates!!!

Mr. Bates is awesome! He made US History fun and relatively painless. I would take him again for sure!

Seriously the one of the BEST professors I've ever had. I never wanted to miss a single lecture. He really connects with his students and makes US History really interesting. He's HILARIOUS and really understanding teacher. Hands down best History class I've ever taken. And no finals or actual exams. :)

I am not one for U.S History but after taking his class it makes me want to become a historian. He has such a great teaching style and keeps class interesting! Makes a lot of jokes. No textbook. 2 short papers, term paper, final paper, and 4 quizzes. Go to class and you will for sure get an A. He makes you want to never miss a class! Take him!

I enjoyed Chris's class a lot, he grabbed the students' attention from day 1, excellent professor!

Took him first for HST 201 and couldn't get enough of his lectures. So, I decided to take him for HST 202, 370, and Civil War. Hands down the most genuine professor out there today. His lectures were interesting and always had a great meaning that would be made clear by the end. Take his classes, even if it is just for fun.

Professor Bates is a great history professor. He is very detailed and his lectures and very interesting. He assigns short papers and a final research paper and gives plenty of time to complete them. His overall a great Professor and I would definitely take him again. If your major is Hist or struggle with Hist. Take him his lectures will help you.

Bates is a great history prof, his lectures are interesting! He responds to emails very fast, within the same day. He will always ask if there's any questions about his lectures and calls on people to answer a few questions to clarify the lectures. Quizzes are super easy he covers everything in his lectures, only had 2 exams and final was easy.

This professor is great and his lectures are interesting. He assigns 4 short papers and a final paper as a final. There are 4 pop quizzes and they are based on the lectures and readings. Fairly easy if you show up and do the readings. Really enjoyed the class. I would recommend him. I learned a lot from his class and I would take him again. :)

This teacher makes his lectures fun to learn. Gives Extra credit. Quizzes are way easy, as long as you pay attention and you come close to what he is looking for. You have enough time to get your papers done and no test. I learned a lot from this teacher.

The most interesting lecturer I've had. He provides a unique perspective of history that you probably have not heard of from other history professors. All I did was sit in class and listen to his interesting stories, with the occasional essay assignment. Quizzes are very simple if you listen to his stories.

I would highly recommend this teacher. Teaches very simple and easy to understand his lectures. Relatively easy class if you show up and pay attention to the key points he says. No textbook is necessary.

He is a nice guy who obviously cares about his subject. He does everything he can to help his students succeed, and shows great dedication. Plus he does a good job of making the class fun and interesting.

He is very clear as to what he wants. Allows you time so he can give feedback. He does give a handful of essays but he is an easy grader as long as it seems you are trying. There are 'pop quizes' but he basically tells you what to study and when they will be. Attendance is not mandatory but he asks questions on the quizes about things he discussed.

Greatest class I have taken. I usually fall asleep in class and he kept me up and made me fall in love with history. Honestly best history teacher.

He is a hilarious professor and I would recommend taking him. He does assign a lot of writing so be prepared to do some writing and reading. His quizzes were a bit tough but I did consistently well on those. There is no in class final, just a take home essay about a topic you can choose from a list. Overall, take him!

Simply the best professor ever! I HATE history but he made it fun, and I have never learned so much in any class before. There are 2 essay assignments, 4 quizzes, one essay-like midterm, and one final essay. Gives as many feedbacks as you need for your essays so make sure you get them. Take this class if you want to learn and have fun!

He is an expert at teaching. Every lecture is enticing and never feels like too long. Whenever class starts to get a bit dry he interjects a joke or a movie clip or something to break up the boredom. Absolutely would recommend taking again, one of my favorite professors at this school.

Literally the best professor I've ever had. He is so clear in his lectures and the class is super interesting. He gives us outlines of his lectures and highlights what is important/might be on the quizzes. There are 5 pop quizzes but he gives hints when they will be. 4 short papers and a final paper, no final test. No textbook.

Best professor hands down. Super funny guy but really teaches you a lot. No homework but you have some short papers due before midterm and some due before end of semester. No final, just final paper. He does not take attendance but you have pop-quizzes and class assignments that you can only do if you're in class. He's the best!

AWESOME professor! I was nervous to take this class because I'm not great with history, but I don't regret taking it with him. He actually made lectures interesting and easy to follow. His jokes are funny and I walked away learning new things every lecture. Quizzes were very easy to pass as well. Hope I can take him again some day!

1. I hated history before taking this class, but he made it so interesting & easy to understand 2. Take notes from his lecture & you will be good(he tells you exactly what to write) 3. Super funny & engaging 4. Papers & short writing assignments are not difficult 5. Has pop-quizzes but they are exactly what is in the lecture

Best class I have ever taken in any university. Lecture is amazing, always interesting and keeps us interested. Would take in again and again! Thank you Professor.

The best history class Ive ever taken. Super knowledgeable, passionate, and understanding. Barely any homework, 3 essays but they are short and easy. Lots of extra credit if you come to class, hilarious and interesting. Each class makes you want to listen. Highly recommend this prof. Easy A if you come to class and listen

The Man. The Myth. The Legend. Professor Bates is amazing. Hands down. His knowledge of the subject matter is stunning. He is very fair and even has his own website for students. The only reason why I'm giving his 4 stars is because of his excuses when grading papers and quizzes. I don't blame him though, since he has many students. Take him!

Professor Bates is a great professor. This class is an easy A.

Hands down best professor I've ever had in my four years at Cal Poly!! Gonna miss that guy :( Don't pass up the chance to take him, it's honestly life changing lol

Mr. Bates is a well-respected teacher and I highly recommend anyone to take a course with him! Make sure you show up to class because there are in-class assignments which are significant for your final grade. Also, the final paper is worth a lot imo. He truly cares about his students & you just have to put effort in his class for a good grade!

a textbook was never assigned but he did assign pdf readings that were short. you must read them if you want to receive points on quizzes & participation points. attendance is not mandatory though if you skip class you will not pass the quizzes as they are solely based off in class discussions. quizzes are easy. 4 short papers.

I literally cannot say enough good things about this professor. Never a boring lecture, work load was very bearable, super knowledgeable about the subject. I would take his class again and in fact I will be next semester.

He has plenty of good reviews but I couldn't resist not to write one as well. His class will always be my favorite even though it's not my major! Plz note that you have to work for that A. Take good notes, study for the quizzes and write good essays. Since he teaches passionately and gives detailed instructions, everyone gets motivated to study!!!!

Everything you'll need to know for quizzes and exams are in his lectures and readings. Attendance is an absolute MUST because his presentations only include pictures, so the actual information you need to know is given verbally during class. However, quizzes/exams are easy; he makes it very clear what what will/won't be on the quiz/exam.

A cool class with very interesting lectures, Bates is very knowledgeable on the subject and puts together good online presentations. Assignments are easy and straightforward. Really funny guy, has lots of good jokes throughout the class.

Despite facing an illness, he was still an amazing and caring professor. He really was an expert in civil war history and offered his own insights on the class.

His lectures were very straightforward, assignments were never too hard, and he was very understanding.

Super interesting lectures, almost like he is telling a story rather than boring speeches or monologues. Assignments were straightforward and pretty simple but also requires a bit of thought and critical thinking. He includes jokes within his lectures which actually makes people laugh even if the class is asynchronous. Definitely take this class:)

Great professor, amazing lectures, homework is straightforward, not too much reading, quizzes are not too hard if you pay attention to what he tells you to take notes on. Provides recording from class if you miss a day, has his own website.

Professor Bates, honest to god might be the best teacher I've had in my entire educational career. His lectures are amazing. He does a great job of encouraging participation and his knowledge is really impressive.

Easy A and homework is not hard. No test or papers. Just responding to lecture and 6 question quizzes.

Very chill and interesting class. We talk about how movies are a product of studying history. We talk about how Star Wars isnt really about Skywalkers but about Vietnam War. Only seven writing responses and 12 in class assignments which are just showing effort. Really funny and chill professor.

Awesome professor, genuinely enjoyed being in his classes. Make sure to attend lectures because the stuff talked about isn't easily found online. If you want to get easy 100/100 in his assignments utilize his rough draft review that he offers. You email him your submission 2 or 3 days before due date and he gives you a full rundown on what to fix

Professor Bates makes his lectures very engaging and always has extreme enthusiasm when teaching. I have learned a lot from his class and he always gives interesting facts about historical events that people usually don't know about. He is always informative with giving feedback on papers. Highly recommend taking his class!

Great Professor, insanely knowledgeable and smart. Lectures are the best at Cal Poly. However, be warned he will only grade 2 papers out during the semester and grade the remaining 4 essays 24 hours before grades are due. If you want to do well just submit your papers early for feedback. Quizzes are just making sure you listened to the lecture.

Professor Bates is one of few professors I wanted to write a good review on such that others can find him. He has incredible, well-organized lectures and is very understanding of the students' POV. However, numerous health issues this semester prevented him from providing timely responses and grades. Nonetheless, I have great respect for him.

Professor Bates is awesome. He does take awhile to grade things. His lectures are informative and in depth. It's a good idea to take decent notes on his lectures, because the quizzes are mainly based on the content he recites. Despite his health issues this semester, he attended classes fairly regularly and even brought cookies on the last day.

Professor Bates was my favorite professor this semester! I enjoyed his lecturing style & he always made class interesting. His weekly quizzes are super easy & open notes. He also includes extra credit points in the quizzes. His essays and homework assignments are easy overall as well. He allows you to send in a draft for feedback before submitting.

Best professor ever, super caring and awesome lectures. 100% deserves the amazing reviews and I highly suggest taking History of California if you're thinking about it, very cool and very interesting.

He is a double-edged sword, and that's why you'll find conflicting opinions on this page on how good he is. He is AMAZING when it comes to lectures, but he waits until AFTER the semester to grade EVERYTHING, and I mean EVERYTHING. It leaves you in the dark as to how you are performing. I would not recommend him if you stress about grades.

I admit he is a great professor and clearly enjoys what he teaches, however I would not recommend this class if you worry about grades. He grades everything LAST minute... Read the articles he assigns because he randomly hands out flashcards and asks questions based on the reading. Other than that, do the work and you should be fine

Christopher Bates was definitely one of my favorite professors during the semester I was in his class. His lectures were very entertaining; all of his explanations really made sense to me, and he has a passion for what he teaches. He was a little slow grading end of the semester. (because of health issues) Even with that, take him; very worth it.

Chris Bates is the man! His lectures are amazing. He tells you exactly what he's going to quiz on. It's so clear as long as you show up this class is easy. I've learned so much about California, he makes it so interesting and entertaining. Best professor I've had at CPP.

A really cool and interesting professor, attendance quizzes is taken on random days based off the readings he assigns the week of. Assignments are pretty straight forwards and he does take awhile to grade but it is not to stress as long as you do the assignment correctly.

If you take this class you need to write notes or else you won't do well on the quizzes but it's pretty easy to follow along and remember topics because he has a fun way of explaining things. He does take a long time to grade and by the end of the semester he never input the grades for the last few assignments. No tests but there are a few essays.

Homie is chill, super easy to follow along, just take notes and youll get perfect scores on quizzes. Cool dude

Professor Bates is very good at telling you what you need to know for your notes (lecture content is on his website if you miss class), quizzes are due weekly but with good notes they're quite easy, make sure to follow weekly readings (typically 5-10 pages in pdf tops), gives in-class assignments that he uses for attendance so make sure to show up.

Honestly one of the best professors I ever had. Very interesting lectures, very unique as well, and overall I would retake this class for fun. Super caring, gives great feedback, and always tries to work with the students. I recommend taking his class as its super easy, all the homework and assignments are super easy if you just pay attention.

Professor Bates is a great lecturer who tries to make them entertaining. Class consists of easy in person quizzes based on reading, essays, online quizzes open notes, and final essay. He is a great Professor who really cares and is funny as well. I highly recommend taking him! It's the best history course I've taken. Pay attention and take notes!!!

Go to class. His quiz questions are super easy as long as you show up, they aren't questions you can look up. You do have to read before class but the reading are easy and like 4 pages of relevant topics, he may ask a question about the reading for attendance. Just read 1h before class and show up, youll probably get an A, was 2 papers .

Dr. Bates is extremely knowledgeable about the Civil War and the Antebellum era in US history. While writing my thesis, I went to him for information and help, and he was awesome. His lectures are amazing and so informative. His class is quite easy as long as you show up for class; if you don't, you will struggle. Take him.

One of the best professors I've had so far, and history isn't even my major. His lectures are extremely interesting and exciting, and the way he presents the material makes it all the more entertaining, including his fun stories! Attend the lectures, write down what he tells you you need to write down, and you will pass easily.

Bates honestly needs a raise! He is amazing at what he does. Every lecture is interesting, and I was never bored in his class. All assignments are easy; all you have to do is show up for class and take notes. He tells you exactly what will be on the quizzes. Honestly amazing class and professor, I have nothing bad to say about him!

Very interactive and helpful, made the class really interesting

absolutely hilarious, engaging, caring professor. he wants students to succeed and is knowledgeable about his courses. definitely come to class and pay attention to the lecture (he does post them online), not just bc you need them to pass but because they're hysterical. was never bored in his class. only complaint is that the semester isn't longer.