this was such a good class, it really helped me understand many different aspects and meanings of religion...the professor was extremely, funny and entertaining! he's hilarious and very helpful! i recommend taking this class before any other religion class..its also super easy but really informative!

great class i totally recommend it for anyone interested in other religions or even just for the GE's. prof keeps class interesting for the most part, very animated. easy tests, no significant papers, good discussions.

Such an awesome class! I love this guy, I've never even missed a lecture because he makes them so interesting. And the class is pretty easy

Really awsome teacher. Very clear and soo interesting. He makes you love going to lecture. This is the only class that I have only missed 1 lecture for...if I could I would never miss his lecture. Very awsome!! Easy too, but not lame, study guide given before miterms and final...

amazing teacher, he's really funny and very nice. before each midterm and final there is a list of terms. the books are boring but he makes the lectures so fun and says everything in the book!

Loved the class, and Prof Hillis was amazingly funny and willing to do whatever it took to get the students to understand. Material and midterms weren't too bad either

This was my favorite class last quarter. The professor is really funny and you actually look forward to lecture. The tests aren't too bad since he gives a studyguide.

Amazing teacher. I am actually taking another of his classes. The 8 am time isn't that bad. Lecture is not mandatory but does reiterate the ssential points enough so you are ready for the midterms and final. The tests in this class are rather easy if you are good at memorization! Take it, trust me!

even though it was an 8 o'clock class hillis always tried to make it interesting and you could tell how much he cares about the subject. he's also very funny. the midterm and final were SO easy he gave you a list of terms and essay topics and you just had to memorize them

Tests are really easy. There are 3 tests, not cumulative. He posts the definitions and essay questions for the tests, so lecture is not mandatory. Section is worth 40% of your grade! Easy class, great teacher.

Hes a great professor. the class though it was early had me wanting more. It was interesting to learn about religions in the world his test were easy and he gave you a study guide with essays that would be on test so you couldnt really fail his test.great class. take it!

Great prof, easy class, makes everything available before, so make sure you're good at memorizing. You learn a lot, and his lectures are very interesting. Test non cumulative, final worth 20%, section worth 40%, so make sure you go. Great class, highly recommended!!

Super easy class. Don't need to do the reading, just attend lecture sparatically. Also, the honors section is WAY easier than the regular section, plus he's a total push over and gives everyone good grades because he likes them. Don't blow the $100 on the books, you don't need them, just use wikipedia to define the terms on the tests.

Very easy. Lectures are really boring though and he gets kinda sad when he notices everyone leaves in the middle of lecture. Don't read because he gives you a list of terms and essays that could be on the final. Just use wikipedia and you'll do great!

He is AWESOME. One of the best teachers i've had at UCSB. Fun, easy if you put in the work, and I love that he really enjoys teaching and you can tell. I highly recommend him!!!!

Hillis is awesome! He made me want to become a RgST major. the class is very interesting and fun. he likes people to get involved in the conversation. You dont need the books if you attend lecture regularly, but its worth saving the money. i really want to take RgSt 21 with him, but that class fills up real quick.

Hillis is incredibly entertaining. Teaches at a very mellow and easy pace, and does not ask too much of his students. Jolly fellow.

He jokes around a lot in class. TAs are pretty laid back I'd say. The prof doesn't believe in grades, but assigns two papers and of course the final. Read the stuff and you'll do good. Class is easy compared to other classes.

This class was ok....not great, there was a lot of history and reading on your own time to get the theory of Zen Buddhism. Greg was really nice and means well but is a little funny funky....if you like reading on your own and want a good intro to the history and traditions, this is the right class

Fantastic Professor. His enthusiasm really helps you understand the material. Presents the material in an interesting and concise manner, and he's able to translate difficult concepts into lay mans terms. I highly recommend this professor to anyone interested in religious studies at ucsb.

the class was really easy, and the lecutres were usually interesting. grade based on midterm, section, a loooong essay, and final. he gives you a study guide, just make sure to know all the stuff on it. the book was pretty good.

Hillis is an amazing professor. He does all he can to accommodate you to his office hours when you need help. You can tell he understands his students and really wants them to do well. You can tell he is really passionate about Zen Buddhism. Very entertaining at 8am in the morning. Recommended class!!!

1 midterm and 1 final. I was disappointed in the fact that I thought I would learn a little more. He is a funny teacher and does well to engage in class discussion. I was not too interested in the material, but that may just be me. He gives you a study guide so if you wikipedia everything, you will do fine. Not hard at all.

Hillis is a cool guy with a unique sense of humor. He made me laugh a lot just with his bizarre jokes! He really cares about his students. Material is ok... Not the most interesting. Not too difficult tho

Professor Hillis is an engaging professor. Tries to make easy material interesting and relatable. Easy class, entertaining professor. Enjoyable class! Format of midterm/final is generally short answer (defining terms) and two essays. As long as you get the main ideas (from lecture/bold words in text) you'll do well.

Often funny, sometimes a little awkward or depressing, always friendly and inspiring. This guy is amazing, and cares about his students as individuals beyond the classroom, from my experience. Highly recommended.

prof. hillis is sort of a ridiculous guy in a funny way. his class is very very easy. a great class to take for GE. the tests were easy and grades fairly. final paper is a bit long but the you pretty much can choose ur own topic which is nice.

This class is really easy. He gives you a list of key terms and essays for the midterm and final, and if you know those the midterm and final will be cake. Take this class for an easy A

Professor Hillis is a fun guy who tries to make the 8 am class a little less dreadful. He teaches zen very well and clearly. It is an easy class, the 2 essays are graded fairly easily and the final is not hard. There is a bit of reading, but doing it all is not completely necessary. Easy class for a GE.

Professor Hillis makes the class so much more interesting by teaching the lessons by demonstration (trust me on this, his way of teaching is hilarious!). And by going everyday, I didn't feel as stressed out studying for the midterm and final. He helped us come up with topics for the papers too so they were a lot more fun to write. GREAT professor!

Hillis is a funny, off-beat guy. He does his best to keep his lectures interesting and "visual" but can get off topic quite easily. He didn't provide much background on the course, but rather dove right into the material. Papers are broad and unspecific, and my TA was kind of lackluster. Overall a good class, with a fun atmosphere.

Professor Hillis is very enthusiastic. This class is a good one, I would recommend it.

this was a very easy class. you had to write 4 essays but they were graded easy and the TA went over everything you should write about. there are two books they tell you to buy but do not buy the eight theories of religion, i never opened it.but you use introducing religion for every essay. there was no midterm and the final was easy id's and essay

Not too hard, and gives good lectures. He assigned 3 papers, but they were graded pretty easily. He is very involved in his lectures and I recommend attending, but it is safe to skip because he puts his slides online.

Hilarious! The class is sometimes a bit dry but he makes everything interesting! You will laugh in every class. The midterm and final are extremely easy if you do the study guide he gives! its a must but you get an easy a if you do it. Overall its a pretty good class just because of his humor.

Chill Professor. Super helpful and passionate about his field. He's always available during office hours and makes the class fun. We are very lucky to have him. Though sanskrit is not super easy, if you dedicate time, you'll succeed. We had quizzes after every chapter and had to memorize some verses. Midterm and Final are very predictable.

He has an interesting sense of humor, but he's a fantastic lecturer. He's clearly passionate about the subject, & does a great job of making the class interesting & clarifying the reading. There are 4 papers, which aren't bad as long as you go to lecture. Use the study guide that he provides for the final & the exam will be straightforward.

Such a nice professor. He is always in his office during office hours. He is very quirky & likes to make jokes. Class is mandatory (slides are not online) but class is interesting. He assigns 4 essays, weekly write ups & there is a multiple choice final. I got a B & didn't read. I thought this class was very thought provoking but controversial.

I really liked him and the class was really interesting. Lecture and section were both helpful. Final was multiple choice and not very hard. But there were 4 papers, which is a lot more than most GE's will require. Overall I did think it was a pretty easy and enjoyable class.

BY FAR THE WOOOOOOORRRRRRSSST CLASS I'VE EVEN TAKEN HERE. The professor throws an inhumane amount of readings of vaguely translated, 5th century, Chinese and Japanese. I hate Zen now as a result of this man's teaching

So, so, so much READING. It's ridiculous. At one week, we had over 200 pages to read. This class incorporates a ton of confusing and mind-blowing concepts but the professor has a good sense of humor and he's really such a nice guy.

I never read anything and was ]screwed for the final. Keep up with the necessary readings toward the end of the quarter. I crammed in one night and got a B. Ask your TA to assign extra credit I think they will. I got an A in the class because of extra credit! Go to office hours for the papers he is so helpful and a great guy to get to know!

One of the best lecturers I've had at UCSB, makes confusing topics very understandable. Lecture slides are very useful but not posted. 4 essays, no midterm, multiple choice final. Overall, I thought Hillis was an amazing professor and made this class really interesting! i never hated sitting in lecture.

Easy tests, but make sure you know everything from his study guides.

Hillis makes a valiant effort to make the class exciting, but it's just such dry material it's impossible. Four essays (5 pages each), no midterm, ridiculously easy final. If you're into the essay thing, go for it, but if not, AVOID THIS CLASS.

Great guy! I loved going to lecture because he is very good at making zen Buddhism interesting and making modern day analogies and jokes.

Hillis is a fun lecturer. Some of the material can be boring but he does his best to make it enjoyable. I even felt bad for leaving early. There are only two short papers and a final. He puts 90% of the readings online. Hillis is passionate about what he teaches and is very approachable.

There are way too many readings per week and when I took the class it was only twice a week so the lecture was painfully long, plus he turns all the light off in the lecture room. I can see why people like him, he is incredibly passionate about Buddhism. Personally I found him obnoxious and I hated going to lecture. My TA, however, was great.

Lecture is sometimes interesting, a lot of lists to memorize. He gives study guides with all the concepts you need for the midterm which is extremely helpful. If you memorize everything on the slides you'll do well on the midterm. There's 3 midterms, an essay, and section participation in the grade.

Prof. Hillis really knows his Buddhism. His lectures were interesting but started to drag towards the end of the quarter. 3 midterms, 1 paper, no final. He would give us a review sheet before each of the midterms which was extremely helpful. There were no curveballs on the exams. Lots of reading that isn't necessary if you attend lecture.

Professor Hillis is amazing! He is a nice and humorous person who makes lectures very interesting. His lectures are well organized and help understand reading materials(4 books) a lot. Not many papers, one for midterm and one for final, 5 pages each. But make sure to read all books required and attend each lectures, as he won't post PPT online.

Best teacher I've ever had. So enthusiastic and a really funny guy. Go to lectures cuz they're great.

Lectures are often funny and he keeps it interesting. There is a lot of reading but it can be very rewarding. Two short papers and he tells you everything that will be on the final ahead of time.

Lots of reading and confusing names, but this guy is so funny that it was worth it. I thought I was going to fail this class, ended up with an A. Paper wasn't bad at all, I BSed it and he loved it.

I loved this class and really enjoyed professor Hillis' lectures. He is very enthusiastic and is really well-informed and helpful. The material interesting (if you're into East Asian religions), but expect to read a lot and attend every lecture as he does post his lectures online. There is material from the texts and from lectures on exams.

He keeps lectures funny and lively, gives concise and helpful notes (doesnt post online so dont skip class), and gives very easy and predictable exams. Only tedious things are the TA's weekly assignments and essays, but other than that, you will not need to crack open the book for the exams. if you need a GE and you see him teaching, TAKE IT!!

Hillis is extremely knowledgeable about a lot of things, especially religion. He managed to cover centuries of religions in a quarter! Books were not necessary, surprisingly. I learned that after Week 6. Just regularly attend lecture and THOROUGHLY complete the study guide before the midterm and final. Go TA's office hours for 8-10 Page paper.

He's so enthusiastic and lively and really wants his students to engage in the material. The TAs were super helpful and nice. The tests were pretty simple. There's weekly homework assignments and an essay due at the end of the quarter, but as I said, TAs were helpful and gave good feedback. Such a nice guy. And a pretty easy class.

Hillis is a great guy, he loves talking about Buddhism. He assigns a lot of reading but after taking the final I realized it wasn't necessary, just DO the study guide he gives you, go to lecture and take notes. There are 2 papers for the class itself - 5 pages each, make up 50% of your grade. Depending on your TA there are more. Fairly easy GE.

Gregory is hands down the best professor at UCSB

Best religious studies professor! Such a genuine guy and is always available for help. The class is so fair that it makes you really respect him. It's quite a bit of memorization, but he gives you a study guide on the words you'll need to know for the midterm and final. TAs were really helpful when it came to the final essay.

The best professor I ever met in my life. He is both humorous and easy-going. You don't have to worry about your grade if you listen to his lecture. And you should do so for his lectures are the best! You should go to his office hour, too since he seems to like people having discussions with him about anything. Very nice man.

Hillis is the bomb! I took Zen Buddhism with him Fall 2016. The class was interesting and Hillis is hilarious! There were clear grading guidelines, and definitely go into Hillis/TA's office hours for credit feedback (TA grades your stuff). Class consisted of midterm paper, final mult choice exam, and final paper on your own topic. TAKE HIM!!!

He's super nice and his lectures were easy to follow. He posted the slides online, but he added information so it'd be best to attend lecture. There's reading, but it isn't difficult. One midterm and one final, with a 5page paper. He's a really nice professor and wants everyone to do well.

Hillis is hilarious. The course is easy: he knows most students taking it are just taking it for GE credit. He offered a 5% grade bump if you wrote a short summary on a meditation seminar. His courses and the basic Buddhist ideals have helped me get a better grip on my anxiety and depression. Buddhism has taught me more about life than my major

Took this class p/np for the GE and attended most lectures/sections. Class was pretty interesting and Greg is a hoot in lecture. The most annoying thing is the mandatory section hw every week. The exams are very fair and he gives you terms to know beforehand. Paper wasn't too hard to write despite not reading and starting two days before due date

Greg is one of those professors that you will remember long after you have graduated. He is hilarious and an overall jolly dude. He is aware that many take his class as a GE. With that being said, he doesn't make the tests too difficult as he realizes the material can get pretty complex.

Professor Hillis demonstrates an enthusiastic interest in both the subject and his students. He is very cordial and will talk with you after class if you need advice on your papers and what not, plus he's a funny guy. If you participate in lecture he will happily interact with you. To get right to the point: this is a fun, low maintenance class.

BEST professor for a GE I have every had. He is super funny at times and the class is super easy. There is a lot of reading assigned but I got through this class without having to read much of the material. The final was exactly like the study guide he handed out. The papers were pretty manageable. Overall, this class is an easy A!

Professor Hillis is a really good teacher. He posts the power points online so you don't have to go to class. Don't waste your time and money on the books. Your grade consists of two 5 page essays, participation is section, and a final. He made a study guide for the final that was exactly like the test. I highly recommend this class for an easy A.

Greg is super passionate about his topic and really tries to make lecture interesting (the man put a shoe on his head and walked around to illustrate a concept) This class is mainly about Zen Poetry. Consists of two 5-6 page essays, one is due as a midterm, the other due around finals. Final was mc and short response but easy

I learned solely through lecture, and didn't put as much effort as I should have. Ended with a B+, wasn't as easy as the reviews make it out to be. very interesting class though. More like the atheist perspective on religion

Hillis is a a bit odd, but very funny guy. Definitely not boring as an individual, although some of this class was pretty dry. Honestly, I barely paid attention in class, but I studied hard for the final/midterm so I got an A in the class. Not too difficult and his tests have a very clear layout which he explains beforehand for you to study well.

Honestly, this class was a little harder than I expected it to be. However, I didn't do a great job of paying attention in class, so that makes sense. I studied hard for the midterm/final and wrote a good paper, so I got an A. Hillis is hilarious and entertaining.

He's very funny and clearly enthusiastic about what he's teaching, but the material wasn't always engaging (to say the least). That being said, the class is very fair considering how detailed the material is and the TAs are super easy graders! If you're one of those existential hippie philosophers, the material will probably resonate for you anyway

Hillis is hilarious and entertaining. I scraped by with minimal reading. Pay attention to lectures to get the general ideas so that when you write some of your papers, you have an idea of where to start and can do the relevant reading/get evidence. I got an A- because I didn't study the quizlets online long enough for the final. Easy A.

TAKE GREG!! I recommend reading the texts up until the first paper. After that, it isn't really necessary as long as you are going to lecture. Easy final and the midterm was just a paper. He's also really funny, tends to go off on tangents, but otherwise very passionate about Buddhism and is very positive during office hours.

Prof Hillis is the best prof I've ever had. I took him for zen and it was just as easy. I showed up to lecture 3 times (he posts them all online) and he gives a study guide for both midterm and final that had everything on quizlet. No iclicker. He is the nicest and most jolly guy ever. TAKE THIS CLASS FOR EASY A.

He is a really nice guy with a good sense of humor which definitely helped when watching his lectures, but there is so much reading, like, a ton of reading and it was necessary to read everything to be able to complete the weekly assignments. I loved Hillis and would definitely take one of his classes again.

Hillis was a real gem. His lectures were easy to understand and follow along, and if you took notes on them you would be able to get an easy A on the midterm/final. He is overall just a nice guy who loves what he teaches. There is a lot of reading each week, but if you skim you'll be fine. Tests are easy and clear. Would recommend the class+Hillis.

Hillis has long recorded lectures, he talks very slowly so watching them on 2x is okay. 10% of extra credit offered as well as study guides for midterms and finals. Section attendance w/camera is mandatory. Great GE class, the quality of your course experience will depend on your TA.

It was a pretty easy class to do well in but dear lord the amount of readings and lectures that went over time nearly drove me crazy. 25% of your grade completely depends on what the TA wants to grade you on (participation or weekly assignments), 25% final paper, 25% midterm, 25% final. My TA offered like 6% of extra credit so :)

All the assignments are given based on your TA so go for a TA at the end of the week that way you won't need to do extra reading. His midterm and final were very easy if you take notes from the lectures. The reading isn't useful and I never went to class. Be sure to watch his lectures on 2x because he talks slow. Definitely take this for an easy GE

Going to be finishing my second year of Sanskrit with Professor Greg, very nice and caring Professor. He makes everything accessible and tries not to over stress students. The first year of Sanskrit is a little more intensive and requires a lot of writing but the 2nd year has been very pleasant.

This guy as funny as heck!! You will learn a lot about religion and it might even interest you if it didn't at first. Came into the class pretty reluctant because I'm not religious myself, but it wasn't even biased towards religion. I love the class and actually learned a lot. Could listen to this guy talk for hours hahaha

Professor Hillis is very funny and made Buddhism super interesting. The concepts talked about in lecture were all very fascinating ideas and allowed you to explore the religion. He posted all the lectures online for you to watch and you just write two papers, which are graded very fairly, and the final. Very good class!

Mixed. Great lecturer; funny/engaging w/ clear lesson + slides. Went on some wild tangents a few times... However, the grading criteria wasn't clear. Midterm was out of left field; questions were bizarre/overly broad. The final paper prompt wasn't clear either... TA told me my thesis was good multiple times before vetoing it days before due date.

Easy course

He was honestly one of the best professors I've ever had. Super passionate about the material, even sang to us in class once, and very easy to understand him. Gives study sheets for his non-cumulative midterm and exam. Definitely recommend taking him, he was great.

EACS21 is a great class, very easy GE. Prof. Hillis understands that his class is taken primarily as a GE, and as such ensures that the material covered is not extensive tested. The class is extremely manageable, and reading is only super necessary depending on your TA. His enthusiasm for Zen Buddhism is delightful and I would 100% take again.

Professor Hillis was amazing. His lectures were always funny and engaging, and also recorded and posted online. He gave comprehensive study guides, and was very personable in office hours. Would strongly recommend him.

Very nice in lectures, though they aren't mandatory.

Professor Hillis is a caring person and makes his lectures fun! He made learning about religion interesting for me. There are pretty long readings per week but he goes over the info in lecture for clarification and better understanding. I didn't expect to enjoy this class as much as I did!

1 midterm, 1 final, in person but easy. 1 5-7pg paper; also easy. Sections mandatory but very helpful. Readings provided online but are extremely dense and difficult to understand, but read at least the Eight Theories ones bc he doesn't go over everything in lecture. Funny guy. Don't know why someone said the class was boring, I had a great time.

Very funny guy who made learning Buddhism super interesting. Lectures weren't mandatory. Sections were, but they helped my understanding. The midterm and final were super easy, just go over the study guide. Final paper was also easy and fun to write. Readings were dense and sometimes long, although I only did a few after the midterm and ended fine.

You can tell he actually likes teaching Buddhism.

Great professor, I really enjoyed this class. Section was mandatory but was super helpful for breaking down the material. He provided the textbooks for the class and the reading was about two chapters per lecture. Class is a midterm, paper, and final which were all very easy if you attend class. Would totally recommend!

Professor Hills is the best! He is so nice and is so passionate about religious studies. The reading is very dense and pretty boring, but lecture and section help break it down.

Really funny professor, a LOT of reading but exams weren't too hard. Can pass with a B or higher with minimal studying if you keep up with lectures.

Very silly and kind professor, taken as a GE and was among the easiest I've ever taken. Grades are based on your TA and I had Jay who was both very helpful & kind. Grade Scale: 25% split for Section, Paper, Midterm, & Final - with 12% of potential extra credit. Tip is write your paper about topics covered in Final so you can study while writing.

Totally amazing and hilarious in class. Posts all lecture videos on gauchocast with slides, attendance in not mandatory. Pretty clear grading criteria for the class, its divided into four 25% sections for attendance, midterm, final, and a final paper; plus he also provides plenty of extra credit opportunities towards the end. TA's are very helpful.

Professor Hillis makes this class really engaging. The readings can be dense, but the helpful lectures and study sessions make it manageable. I found Unstuckstudy great for preparing for the exams.

One of my favorite professors I've ever taken! Very funny, kind, and immersive, and made the class material interesting even though it wasn't something I was interested in before the class. A ton of readings, but I made it through without reading most of them.

One of the most engaging lecturers I've ever had!! Super funny, cares a lot, knowledgeable. The class is a bit harder than an "easy GE" but that's just because there is a final paper along with a midterm and final test (both mcq/frq). Would recommend going to lecture if you don't do the readings. Very detailed teaching/history of Buddhism.