Nationally renowned. He diverts a lot but he explains history in stories that make it interesting and easy to understand. I've taken two classes with him and loved both.

Professor Brands tells some great stories and made my Foreign Policy class relatively interesting. He is really good at giving clear explainations of complicated events. Likes to embellish on own stories quite a bit. Very tough though, we were expected to read over 10 historical/political novels over the course and the workload was substantial.

He tells great stories that really connect history to things we can relate to. He does divert a lot, but he always finds his way back to the main point, which he usually writes on the board. He wants you to truly learn about history and expects you to re-teach him the material on the tests, which I think is awesome.

I love Professor Brands. He is an amazing professor and I enjoyed going to his class a lot. His lectures didn't usually have to do much with the exam till the last section. As long as you read the book, you will be fine. Honestly, go to his lectures though. He has the best stories and you can tell he is passionate about history.

I am a history major but I worked my a** off for this grade. My TA was extremely stingy but overall, this class was amazing. Professor Brands is the cream of the crop and I would take this class over again. He gives the TAs all the work of grading and it's subjective depending on how your TA is.

I don't even like history. I've never found it very interesting but that's because I've never had a teacher like HW Brands. You really do have to read the book for the tests which are all open ended responses and somewhat difficult but his lectures are very interesting and you can tell he is very passionate about what he's teaching.

Probably one of the coolest professors I've had. I swear, he's written a book on just about everything. He really loves what he teaches, and he has such a goofy character about him that it makes lecture pretty exciting. The class work was tough, 90% of the grade was just 3 tests and 3 papers. Overall, a great class to take.

Dr. Brands is the epitome of a perfect professor. I HATED history, but he made it completely awesome. I cannot recommend him highly enough. The tests are out of the textbook--which he wrote--and are open ended. 3 papers, 3 tests, 12 quizzes. I dropped due to an awful, grade-stingy TA, but I think Brands is a absolute genius.

Great professor, made the class really interesting, even for someone who did not like history. I would recommend trying to take him.

This guy is totally awesome, anyone who has him is extremely lucky. His class seriously changed my life

HW Brands is by far my favorite history professor. He is a well respected author and is an amazing speaker. Classes are easy because note-taking is discouraged.

This is literally the easiest and my favorite class i've taken at UT so far. You don't even have to show up for every class, although there are some in-class exercises (super easy). The entire class is literally open book.

Not to be redundant, but like everyone else has said, he has made me discover a new-found love for history. Dr. Brands is an amazing speaker, and it is a guarantee that he is passionate about the subjects he teaches. He is also very specific on what he wants in the papers he assigns, and discusses the topics periodically through the lectures.

Professor Brands is an amazing Professor! His lectures are very interesting, not mandatory, but I would recommend attending. The papers aren't too bad, mine weren't graded too harshly, but it depends on your TA. Overall, great class, pretty easy UGS grade!

I took UGS Foreign Policy. Maintain a good relationship with your TA and you're good. The "tests" are super easy and I never read any of the books. If history isn't your thing you may want to read but if you have a good grasp on history then you're good. You don't have to go to class but the usefulness of attending is hit or miss. Just go and liste

I can't say enough about this guy. Brands is an amazing professor. Take his class. He is passionate about history, unbelievably knowledgable, and fun to listen to. There are few assignments (short papers and online quizzes) and NO FINAL. Awesome class, awesome teacher. 1010 would take again

Brands is probably my favorite professor. I had him for UGS Foreign Policy. While there was a lot of reading, I never wanted to miss class (this is big for me- I'm not big on going to class). Brands was funny and kept the whole class on interested. It wasn't attendance based, but everyone always came. I would take him again in a heartbeat!!

Easy class if you show up and participate. Participation is easy-the questions are nothing you have to read ahead or study for. Essay tests and online quizzes aren't bad at all.

I understand the hype over this professor, but I disagree. For one, he doesn't believe in giving out grades above a 92 because "Nobody is perfect." If you write a killer essay, you're lucky to get an 85. The quizzes are super easy, unless you miss one then the best you can hope for is an 85, which count for 35%. I doubt the avg grade is an A.

Brands is by far my favorite professor ever. I feel lucky to have taken him. He is one of the most interesting people I've had the pleasure of meeting. I took him for Foreign Policy (UGS) and his class was the highlight of my school day. He has essay exams which are easy to get a good grade on if you study hard. No final. I'd happily take him again

For someone who's never done American history, this class is an easy A. Really short papers (literally 500 words!), and online quizzing. Def. recommend.

Brands is a super interesting dude, which is good because lecture attendance is mandatory. Class is made up of easy weekly online homework, attendance, a short book report (over the book he wrote), short movie responses, and three essays (500 words). NO TESTS. Only problem is he makes the TAs grade the essays tough. Had to work hard for that A!

Dr. Brands is a great lecturer and always keeps it interesting (because history can get pretty boring at times). He knows so much about what he teaches and is a laid-back, approachable guy. There are weekly online quizzes and essays over lectures and the online quizzes. Easy class if you put in the effort and do well on the essays.

Brands is an amazing professor and I would take his classes every semester if I could. He is interesting and knowledgeable. He doesn't give tests so that makes learning history so much less stressful. I learned so much and I'm telling you TAKE THIS CLASS. It is no where near the stress on other classes because you learn without anxiety of tests.

HE IS TRULY BRILLIANT. First of all, this class is for sure not hard at all... Just complete all the assignments, go to class and you will be good. His lectures are very amazing and interesting. He is so sweet and intelligent and very approachable. I will be taking him again for the second part of HIS!

Very easy class and would definitely suggest to anyone needing a history credit. Really friendly but make sure not to get caught on your phone or talking if you aren't listening during lecture because he will call you out. Highly recommend writing essays beforehand and going to see TA during office hours and you are guaranteed to do well.

Brands is such an amazing speaker. You did not have to take notes because the TAs did that for you while all you had to do was come to class and listen to him speak. It was so interesting and engaging and I learned a great deal in this class. There are a couple of essays to write but your TAs go over the requirements before it is due. Great class!!

Professor Brands made his class very simple. Attendance is mandatory and also counts as your participation grade. There were no tests, just essays. Honestly, it was such an interesting class regardless of whether or not you are interested in History. TA's were nice and made themselves accessible outside of class. Take Brands!(No +/-)

If his UGS course is being offered you sign up for it and shut up. One of the best professors at this school period. His class isn't super hard but this isn't an easy A. You have to read and do your best to write perfect essays. Great lecturer and has an easy going personality. Very easy to get along with. The stuff you learn stays with you. 100/10

If you can, take Brand's class. This guy clearly loves what he does and his lectures are super engaging. He encourages you not to take notes (the TA does it for you) and instead simply listen to him speak. I learned more in his class than pretty much any other history class. He has so much knowledge to give and you'd be a fool not take it.

You will not regret taking Professor Brands!!! Quite possibly the best professor at UT. He is very engaging in his lectures, and his knowledge on the subject is clearly established from the first moment he speaks. Furthermore, the passion in which he has for his class is unparalleled. I promise you will love taking a course with Professor Brands.

No exams. No quizzes in lecture. He is famous. Has dozens of books that he has written. 2009 Pulitzer Prize Finalist. Essays are based on the book that you read.

I personally hate history overall so I guess if I can say I love this class it is really a good one. Lectures are attractive and meaningful. No exam for this class, just essays and quizzes. Pop quizzes are more for attendance propose and online quizzes are easy as long as you catch up with your reading. Definitely take it.

History is not one of my strengths but I loved taking History with Brands. His lectures are very engaging an interesting; he's probably one of the smartest people I've seen. There are no quizzes, just essays and online quizzes. Would take again any day.

Brands gives great lectures that are focused on what the text book doesn't tell you, especially the personal lives of historical figures. A lot of what Brands talks about in class is what he wants you to write about in your essays. I recommend writing your essays early and sending them to your TA -- it will help you get you a higher grade.

Brands is a great professor! History is not typically a subject that interests me, but his lectures were, for the most party, very interesting. No exams, which is awesome. A few short essays- it depends on how tough your TA grades, but they don't give higher scores than 95. Easy online quizzes due every Friday, but be careful not to forget!!

Great lectures, fairly simple essay assignments, but discussion section quizzes were a pain

I took Brands thinking it would be an easy A, but the TAs grade the papers very harshly with unclear expectations. However, Brands himself is amazing and makes history enjoyable. If you do well on the weekly online quizzes, it will really help your grade. I would definitely take him again because of his lectures, and there are no tests.

TAKE PROF BRANDS! He is my favorite professor. He gives super interesting and engaging lectures. He gives random pop quizzes (they are easy but you need to go to class in order to get credit for them). There are quite a bit of essays for this class but they are all 500 words and over cool movies! Have your TA read your essay before you turn it in.

Brands is a wonderful lecturer, making a normally bland subject pretty interesting. Weekly open-book online quizzes are easy, but be sure to remember the deadline! Essays are short but graded somewhat toughly. Attend class in case of pop quizzes and randomly taken name calling. Almost a sure-fire A, especially since the cutoff is a 90. Great prof!

Professor Brands is an amazing lecturer. His discussions on politics and history are really interesting. There isn't mandatory attendance, but there are pop quizzes in class. The class didn't have major tests but essays instead. The TAs determine your essay grades so if you've got a harsh grader, the class will be more difficult for you.

Prof. Brands is super knowledgeable in American history. He is a historian and novelist so he spent some time talking about important historical figures and their life stories. His assignments are not difficult and the textbook is great. No exams, just online quizzes and essays. Attendance is mandatory but he does not lecture on Friday.

Brands made history interesting. He was up to talk about anything and everything, which made the class even better given the current political climate. If you go to class and turn in the "pop quizzes" (basically just takes attendance), do the weekly readings, and turn in decent essays this class is an easy A. No class on Friday. Take him.

I looked forward to Professor Brands's lectures/stories far more than I have for any other professor at UT. He truly brings history to life and knows how to make lectures interesting. Papers can be graded a bit harshly but are certainly manageable. As a student who has always hated history classes, Professor Brands was a breath of fresh air.

Brands was hands down one of my favorite professors. He had so much energy and facts to keep lectures interesting and it wasn't too difficult. The TA's were the only thing that could stand in your way of receiving an easy A but Brands was amazing. He really made me enjoy history and attending class.

3-4 essays, and no final. Brands himself is a fantastic lecturer and is clearly knowledgable. If you attend class regularly and turn in decent essays, an A is assured.

Dr. Brands was my favorite professor of the semester. The textbook is taught by him online and includes weekly quizzes he grades. 5 overall essay & the TAs are harsh graders. Quizzes and participation are just to make sure you're in class, they help or diminish your grade. He doesn't talk about History, but stories that caused history. Great class.

I'm a good writer. Just be warned really the TA's grade harshly on essays when they're only 500 words. Also, they don't give higher than 95's to anyone. I recommend going to the TA to glimpse through your essay and you're golden! The essays make up the majority of the grade. Dr. Brand is well spoken and loves history! Really cool guy and enjoyed it

Easy A. Cancels class every Friday. "Pop Quizzes" are essentially attendance, he gives you the answers. Only have to write a few 500 word essays

Prof. Brands is a GEM! The best professor I've had so far at UT, I wish I got to know him more and take another one of his classes. Show up to class to hear his interesting lectures that basically feel like story time and get ready to learn a lot about Ben Franklin. A few essays that are graded pretty easily as long as you invest a few days in each

Dr. Brands is the most engaging professor I have ever had. He is articulate and extremely knowledgable about History. Attendance is worth 25% of the grade and open book quizzes are another 25%. Several 500 word essays based on books, movies, and course material make up the rest of the grade. Easy A if you show up and do the work on time!

Best history professor ever!

Brands is the best & easiest professor I've had at UT! He is so passionate about what he's teaching and his style of lecture is very entertaining. NO tests, 2 essays, 1 movie and 1 book response as well as pop quizzes that he gives the answers to, & hw online that is super easy! Everyone should get an A in this class. Take him!!!

Dr. Brands is awesome! Had for HIS 1 and 2! He makes you at least enjoy History with his stories of historical figures! He knows that most of his students don't like history but he wants us to at least realize we're apart of history right now! Such an amazing professor! Change: There is now pop quizzes every class so go to every class! Easy A!

Brands takes attendance via daily pop quizzes which are impossible to fail, there are no tests, and the essays are only 500 words. His lectures are excellent and he clearly knows his stuff, and is hilarious too. And there are no lectures on Friday. If you need a US History credit, this is an excellent and easy option.

okay this professor acts like hes a super tough grader first day, and i don't know if i just got lucky with my TA but i always got As on papers. hes so funny and such a cool guy. you can tell he loves what he teaches and always finds a way to give cool facts to make history interesting.

Great professor for history, his lectures tell history in a way that's enjoyable, it's not all about memorizing dates but about the fascination that is history. He does this thing where he calls out random names during lectures to answer questions and if you aren't present then you get 1 point off your final (just be there). Also no lecture on Fri!

I took Dr. Brands UGS Foreign Policy class my freshman year at the University of Texas. He is an amazing lecturer and a great mind. He has very interesting anecdotes about history and does an excellent job making history and foreign policy interesting for everyone in the class. If you have the opportunity to take him, do it!

Dr. Brands was amazing and knew EVERYTHING about history. He periodically calls on students in class and you will be penalized if you aren't there. Bad thing about this class is the TA's. They give minimal feedback for grading how hard they do. There are 3 novels to read, and only 3 major assignments + participation. 1 bad grade will pull you down!

BEST PROFESSOR EVER. He is a really smart guy and makes history so interesting. I'm taking the second part of the course next semester:) The only things I didn't like is how he calls on random people in class for attendance (thankfully I wasn't called), and I thought the papers were graded too hard. Other than that, he/the class was great!

He's a pretty decent professor. I never really paid attention and the class is graded weirdly where the highest grade you can get on an essay is a 95 so you actually have to try on them. It was more a stress reliever class but sometimes I thought it got bland and dry. You have to do some online modules and read a few books.

I loved Professor Brands! His lectures are funny and the class is not a lot of work!

When people ask me why the University of Texas is such an elite university, I tell them it's because they have professors like H.W Brands.

Fairly easy course and he's a great lecturer. He gives out "pop quizzes" which are extremely easy, don't worry about them. The weekly homeworks are very interesting as well and should be a breeze. All required essays have a maximum word limit of 550 words, which is also great. If you can get into his class, you should definitely take it.

I LOVE PROFESSOR BRANDS. He had two books that were finalists for the Pulitzer Prize. His lectures you don't have to take note, just listen. Pop quizzes are more writing down the answer if you don't know. You learn a lot by the end of the semester. What is important about the grade is the TA, if they are a tough grader or not.

Professor Brands is a great lecturer, he is definitely very knowledgeable about American Presidents. He makes learning about history fun and interactive. The class is based on random in-class assignments that are very easy and 4 writing essays. Definitely take him, especially if you are a History major.

As someone who looked up to Professor Brands before I was even accepted into this school, I was not at ALL disappointed with his class. His class was fun, and even his tangents were filled with unique and useful information. Assignments are few and graded reasonably. In-class assignments count towards one grade. No final!! Literally the best.

Not very passionate about history but the class was fairly easy if you just try. 50% of your grade comes from just going to class and completing easy reading assignments (ctrl + F). However the 2 essays were graded pretty strictly (little more lenient on the book report and cliovis). Id recommend having your TA look it over and you should be ok

Took Hist of Am. Presidency with Dr. Brands. His lectures are some of the best lectures you will hear even when he goes off on some other historical or political topic. 4 short papers (500 words each) and in-class writing assignments (which were super easy). Dr. Brands is a must if you're a history major and even if you are not still highly recmnd.

Easiest A ever. As long as you just show up to class and submit decently written papers you are essentially guaranteed an A.

Professor Brands would be my favorite professor thus far in UT. His classes are engaging, as he does not allow notetaking. He rather wants you to pay attention and listen to his lecture. He will give you notes and tips in his office hours. Pay attention to how your TA grades. Lectures count 20% of the final grade in the form of pop quizzes.

Easiest history class ever. All you need to do is show up to class where you write out answers (which he gives you) to questions he asks for participation. Very few real assignments, mainly just a very easy online reading and quiz.

Best professor at UT, get him if you can

Very easy class. You have to show up because attendance is a big chunk of your grade, but you don't have to pay attention at all. Grade consisted of 4 short essays, book quizzes, and attendance. Essays can be graded pretty harshly, but they don't affect your grade much if you do the completion stuff. No pluses/minuses.

Brands is a fantastic lecturer: his lessons focus on grander historical trends, intersting micro-histories and duel re-enactments. Forget about the difficulty: the class is by far the easiest I've had at UT. My only critique is that there's no way around paying 70$ for the textbook, which is tied to Canvas for a grade.

There are no exams for this class, so the final grade is calculated based off of attendance, 500 word essays (4), and weekly online textbook quizzes. Textbook quizzes are easy As but essays arent. Overall an easy class just make sure to meet with your TA and find out what they like to see in essays and how they grade them.

Very easy class and would definitely recommend to take for history credit! Dr. Brands is extremely intelligent and tells funny stories. You have to go to class every day because of daily "quizzes." They are very easy and he tells you the answers afterwards. Had a hard TA, but online quizzes for books are easy 100 and boosts your grade.

DR BRANDS was an amazing professor. You could tell he was so passionate in his "lectures". Attendance was required though, but there are no tests in this class. Only 4 short essays and My TA was great so the class was fairly easy.

Easiest history, no exams, Brands tells you not to take notes at all in class. Random attendance so be sure to show up. There are a few short writing assignments that are graded toughly, but getting 100 in attendance will guarantee you an A.

If you get a bad TA, you're screwed. You never see Professor Brands - everything is done through a recording. You will get grades between an 85-93 on big assignments, but if you do the section assignments it should guarantee you an A.

Fall 2020's class was led by the TAs and not Brands. Our only interaction with him was watching weekly prerecorded lectures and writing responses. I wish I could take his class in person, his lectures were very engaging. However, EXTREMELY easy UGS. Easy weekly assignments (basically participation), 3 easy 500 word essays, and no final.

GREAT PROFESSOR! He is very well respected in the world of American History and will challenge you intellectually. He knows when you're actually trying and when you're faking it.

This class was pretty easy, at least online. It consists of two 30-minute lectures along with a short textbook quiz every week, both of which are easy 100's (or 95's rather, because he doesn't give grades higher than a 95 which was kinda annoying). There are 4 essays, but those were also easy. Brands is a super knowledgeable dude. 9/10

This class was all done through recordings and was very doable. There are no exams so I enjoyed being able to just listen to the material instead of worrying if I missed something. Make sure to do the assignments on time and you should be good.

Super knowledgeable professor who brings you a different perspective on history. Lectures are engaging. Grades are made up of 4 500-word short essays, weekly easy quizzes, and lecture responses.

This class was super easy online. A third of your final grade is textbook quizzes which are very easy. Another third is lecture responses that are super short. The last third is 4 essays. Only bad thing was his deadlines were Friday at 6 pm & you have to pay for textbook. But lectures were asynchronous and short. Only two 30 minute lectures a week.

Super chill class. You are graded based on weekly lecture responses and quizzes (are not timed) on Pearson platform, and 3 essays. He is super knowledgeable and very caring. Minimum effort and you can get an easy A.

Brands is one of the most well-respected and entertaining professors on campus. He is one of the professors that reminds you why you are paying for this. The class is not a ton of work, short essays, and concise reading that doesn't go too far into the details. Show up to the lectures and the discussion sections too, it is worth your time.

Professor Brands is my favorite instructor I have ever had the privilege of taking a class from. His lectures are absolutely amazing and you just sit there in awe as if you are watching a movie. He doesnt just repeat the textbook (which has all the information you will need to pass). This class largely repeats AP US History too. Take this class!!

Best lecturer I've ever had. Took his class instead of testing out of my second US history core req because I'm a history buff, and I don't regret it one bit. Pretty easy to get an A, and Brands is one of the most passionate and knowledgeable professors I've ever had. Please take him if you have the opportunity to do so.

Pre-1865 US history had never been my thing but Professor Brands really made it all worthwhile! His lectures were enjoyable and he's clearly passionate about the subject. Graded on 3 essays, weekly lecture responses, and pearson chaptersno tests. Easy class, but no less interesting! Hands down my favorite of this semester.

Brands has some of the best lectures Ive ever heard. This semester he didnt require attendance which made the class a breeze(apparently it usually is required ) Course weights are evenly distributed and its pretty simple to score well on the essays. Book is required cuz its digital.

Brands knows that the course is a mandatory one and he understands it, still manages to make the class enjoyable.

I literally took Brands just because I have seen him on the history channel so many times... and he did not disappoint! His lectures were always engaging and you do not have to take notes. It's an easy A as long as you complete all of the (very simple) assignments on time and somewhat pay attention.

incredibly easy, you only have 3 essays the whole year and weekly lecture responses and textbook questions. LRs and textbooks questions are 65% of your grade and your basically guaranteed a 95 on them. I never went to class as they're all recorded but he did say attendance would be mandatory next semester

Super chill, super easy professor. The lectures are optional, but you have to go to the discussion sections. Two books, two essays, and a presentation.

Pretty easy class, all of the work is online and can be done without attending lecture. His lectures are pretty interesting and you'll always learn something new within a history niche. TAs grade pretty hard on the three essays and don't give anything above a 95 on the lectures responses. Cool class and easy A if you don't turn in anything late

tbh I went to the first class and never again. I would just do all the assignments he assigned on my own time but the one time I did go it was very interesting! I think that he is making attendance mandatory in the future so be aware but that being said the hardest part would probably be waking up to go. This class is just easy busy work.

The professor really has nothing to do with your grade in this class so it all depends on who your TA is. My TA was probably the best one and he did not expect you to write PHD history papers and graded accordingly. This is a good UGS for your GPA and lectures are not mandatory so you only need to go if you are truly interested.

Professor Brands has interesting lectures, but the assignments (3 essays & Pearson assignments) don't have much to do with what he talks about in class. There are lecture responses due on the weekends, but you can just rewatch the recorded lectures on Canvas. TAs give almost everyone Bs on the essays, but if you do the other work you'll get an A.

My experience with this class wasn't the greatest, but that is mainly because of my TA. Rubric was rarely followed and directions were never clear. Overall, it ended up being an easy class, but I would've probably enjoyed it more had I been given a different TA. Lectures aren't mandatory, but you do have to go to the Friday discussion sections.

Dr. Brands is super passionate about history, making his lectures very enjoyable. Easy A if you submit everything on time and perform well on the essays. TA's do grade the three essays hard though...

Great lecturer. He knows everything about US Foreign Policy. He can literally answer any question. I attended every lecture, but you don't ever have to step into the room to succeed in his class. Everything is about the discussion sections. Your grade is in the hands of your TA.

The hardest part about this class is attendance which makes up 20% of the grade (only Mondays and Wednesdays). The lectures are pretty interesting, but history can be pretty stale at times and a lot of students might zone out. Also, the written assignments (only 3 for the entire semester) aren't very hard and only take a couple of hours to do.

Super interesting lectures, which you need to go to. But it's only two days a week, so it's not bad. the writing assignments aren't bad unless you have a sucky TA to kill your grade. Otherwise, a minimal effort class that is interesting and easy to get an A/B in

Lectures are mandatory Monday and Wednesday BUT they're actually interesting!!!! The online quizzes are doable took me like an hour each week and the writing assignments (3) were NOT that bad! I loved this class and I actually found myself enjoying the lectures. Brands is an amazing lecturer

take this class for us history core! history from 1865-present with Brands is the best class, attendance is required Mondays/Wednesdays, and Friday is office hours. you get 3 excused absences guaranteed, the rest of your grade is a chapter in the online textbook each week which are easy and straightforward, and 3 essays, graded by TA, that's it

Very good professor. Weekly homework readings with comprehension questions that take 25 minutes max. Three 500 word max essays that are graded by TAs but they are not too strict. Easy to get an A if you come to class and do the homework.

Likely the best Professor in the History Department at UT for lower-division classes, the workload is minimal and his passion for history is infectious. This is my second semester taking him, and I wish I could go back for a third. He's always happy to talk after class, you can tell he really cares about his students. The class is an easy A.

All lectures are recorded and put online. Brands is incredibly funny and engaging. His essays (and the fact that you have to read the textbook and his books) are a little annoying and grading can be slightly harsh, but his A's are 90+ which makes it pretty easy to get an A even if you don't do very well on the essays.

Brands is by far the most interesting professor I've had thus far. Homework is easy to execute and manage, and attendance is mandatory (but he teaches so well that you really tend to enjoy going). The bigger grades are our essays, and I would recommend meeting with TAs before turning them in. Its scheduled MWF but F classes aren't mandatory.

The class was really easy and Brands is an engaging lecturer. He would tell interesting stories that you've never heard before, and he also wrote one of the two books that inspired Lin Manuel Miranda to create Hamilton. Ngl I stopped attending lecture after a month bc they were online to reference when we had occasional lecture responses.

The class is amazing. Attendance is required as it is 20% of our grade, 40% comes from very easy Pearson online quizzes, and 40% comes from 3 writing assignments (not hard if you actually do the work for it, but does depend on TA). Brands is an AMAZING lecturer as I've never slept in his class. Took this class for my history req and didn't regret!

His class is really easy. We have some textbook homework that is super simple and 3 writing assignments. He is not clear with the criteria for grading and the max you can get on the writing assignments is a 95. Lectures are mandatory but he makes Fridays optional. Overall it was so easy and not stressful.

Brand's lectures are very interesting, but they are required. Fridays are optional though! There are about three assignments in the class for the whole semester, and you must do well on them to do well in the class! It is very doable, though.

Theres literally only 4 assigments, if you need an ethic flag TAKE IT. the grading really depends on your TA though, but his lectures are super interesting i literally feel like an irl podcast

It was easy to get an A, lectures were actually engaging and fun to listen to, attendance/participation points were easy to accumulate, and the few other grades did not really pull down your grade. Just remember to do your textbook assignments! Brands also started getting stricter about attendance. This is hard class to get into for a reason.

Brands is the coolest. Take his class!! Super easy to succeed, and attendance being mandatory isn't even a bummer because his lectures make me WANT to go to class. Amazing guy. 10/10

He's a super awesome guy, great lecturer. Be careful as your grade only consists of 3 250 word assignments and attendance. He is NOT lenient on attendance. He basically says fun president facts for 45 minutes then leaves. One of my favorite classes for sure. Also one of the few professors on this campus that keeps my attention with his lectures.

Engaging lectures, easy to succeed with regular attendance. Textbook assignments and essay writing are manageable. Unstuckstudy proved helpful for study prep alongside other resources.

Very easy class if you show up to lectures. Super engaging lectures that follow a sort of story telling format and he's understanding, kind, and funny. There are no exams and it's mainly writing based, super easy to get A.

Awesome class. Attendance is required but the lectures are so good it's not a bad thing. Lectures are about different people in the era, and you have a textbook assignment every week that's pretty light. He's a great lecturer, and you almost never feel bored. Definitely recommend taking if you have a chance. Also go to the Friday discussion!

Simple class: go to lecture, do the online textbook homework once a week, and do the 3 writing assignments and it is a great class!

Dr. Brands is a charismatic guy, and that bleeds through into his lectures. If you picked this UGS because you're interested in foreign policy, you're going to love this course. If not, it's still super easy. No tests, no quizzes, just readings and discussions and a couple of essays and presentations. TA's are approachable.

Probably the best professor I've had at UT. This man is amazing. Attendance is required and checked. Loved his lectures. No exams. 3 short writings (less than 500 words) and weekly Pearson quizzes. My TA (Ben) was amazing and super helpful when I had to leave school for 2 weeks due to back-to-back family emergencies. TAKE THIS CLASS!!

Brands gives wonderful lectures and Friday classes were optional discussions, which was nice. I struggled to get used to the format of the lectures, but once I did, it was an enjoyable class. There were only three 500-word essays as our major grades, which were graded pretty nicely, so you don't need to worry about them too much.

Amazing professor and lecturer. Always found a way to make lectures interesting and entertaining.