Dr. Rivkins class was somewhat challenging . He usually grades tough but it prepares you for upper division courses. The LEAP class I had focused mainly on discussion and readings. His class will push you to be a better writer and reader. I highly recommend his classes if you want to push yourself.

Not a terrible class but get ready to read and write. As long as you stay on top of your work and pay attention in class you will get a good grade. He's a pretty genuine professor but will call on you in class.

Dr. Rivkin teaches a discussion-based class where you feel welcome to participate. He constantly gives feedback to his students and because of this he expects them to at least improve and he hopes you use what you've learned in the several group projects he assigns. He can be tough, but he cares about his students.

Take the ArtsLEAP class with Dr. Rivkin!! I took this class for the entire year and learned information and skills that I will use throughout the rest of college. Always had incredibly interesting content to read and discuss in class. This class is a decent amount of work and requires attendance and participation but is totally worth it.

There is moderate amounts of reading. When you come into class the next day, there is a 100% chance that he's going to ask you to find an important passage and talk about it. Best to find it ahead of time to save the energy. He is extremely smart, but his explanations can sometimes get lost in translation. If you're willing to learn, it's worth it

Was very fair and thoughtful about how the course is for students and asked for and took into account student input frequently, and adjusted the coursework. This goes for both semesters (1100 & 1101), though I noticed that he adjusted it quite a bit between them which I think shows that he's genuinely committed to improving the course for students.

I took his LEAP class and had a lot of fun taking it! He gives very informative feedback on papers/projects. Although I had to read a lot of texts for the course, I enjoyed it. Our class discussions were also very enjoyable since we got to analyze texts as a group.

Dr. Rivkin was really good at facilitating and starting discussions among the class. I think he did a really great job of teaching and helping students to succeed. He has higher expectations for within class, however they are for good reason. Without students participating in the discussion, the classes would have been boring.

Rivkin seemed to care a lot about the subjects he was teaching and he seemed to care a lot about the students and how we were doing. He told me about scholarships and I saw him once give a snack to someone else in the class. None of the work in the class was necessarily hard but it could be very time consuming.

The class was really interesting and Dr. Rivkin clearly cared about the topics. The homework was rarely difficult, but was very time-consuming and sometimes hard to find. There are three major group projects, and the second two took a lot of work and were graded kind of harshly. Overall I would recommend, just be ready for a lot of work.

I really enjoyed taking this course. He makes class a great environment to learn in, and everyone respects each other. I rarely volunteer in class discussions, but what we talked about in this class was very interesting and thought-provoking, I found myself actually wanting to learn more and speak up in class discussions.

Joshua Rivkin is a qualified professor to teach creative writing, with the experience and know-how to do it. However I didn't find myself connecting with him personally that much, and our student teacher relationship was surface level at best.

1270: A great professor with very engaging lectures. I enjoyed his class a lot, and his grading rubric is very reasonable. There is a quite bit of reading, but they're all reasonable and spread out and as long as you don't procrastinate, this class is a pretty easy A! He has great feedbacks, the class is very interactive and I highly recommend!

1270: I liked his class, his lectures were interesting and the material we were required to read was fun and I learned a lot from it. His grading criteria were clear and I found it really nice how flexible it was.

Great professor that really cares about the students, this class really helped prepare for future college classes, and I really enjoyed how it felt like a community. Participation in discussions is encouraged and they greatly improved the class.

I've taken two of his Law Leap class and enjoyed both. He expects a lot from his students and can sometimes be harsh but as long as you do the work, you will learn a lot and will reap the rewards. He really does care about his students and gives very valuable feedback. I would highly recommend, he is one of my favorite professors.

I took the pre law leap courses and it was a lot of reading but I found it to be interesting. There is a lot of writing, but he helps you a lot ahead of time to prepare you.

The professor cares for each student and he gives good feedback to students. You wanna get prepared for reading and writing but you will be much improved after taking the course.

Dr. Rivkin is an amazing professor! He is attentive, easy to reach outside of class, and kind. He is a caring professor and when I reached out to him, he was incredibly respectful and helpful. He expects a lot from his students, but provides great feedback and is always willing to work with you to improve your grade and skills.

Dr. Rivkin is a great professor and you will learn a lot from this course. There is a lot of reading and homework that goes along with this course, but it is all very useful and meaningful. Highly recommend!

Always gives good feedback and is willing to further help students! Class material is super interesting and engaging too!

Professor Rivkin is a great professor. He does require a bit of reading and class participation. The class participation is not difficult due to it being a discussion-based class. Overall though, Professor Rivkin did a great job, and I learned a lot from his class.

Dr. Rivkin is a great professor. I felt engaged in our class discussions and he provided feedback on my work that I was able to use. There is a lot of reading but none of it wasted my time as I am leaving this class feeling more knowledgable about the law while having gained essential reading and writing skills. Highly recommend this class.

Professor Rivkin is a very engaged professor who focused the course around reading and class discussion. This aspect of the course was very beneficial and helped me grow a lot as a student. Dr. Rivkin gives great writing feedback and pushes his classes to open their minds and think deeply about the material. Overall, I really enjoyed this course.

Professor Rivkin is a great teacher to have for this course if you are someone that loves to participate in class. His class is designed to keep students engaged with the material. The reading can be a bit heavy but as long as you show up, do your work, and try to participate, you'll be fine!

Professor Rivkin is an awesome professor to have. A lot of the classes included deep diving discussions to help us all understand what was being looked at, and the class itself had a very positive atmosphere. He does a great job with giving feedback that's helpful and constructive, and he's a very kind and fun teacher to have. Highly recommend.

Dr. Rivkin is clearly very committed to his students. He gives meaningful feedback. That said the reading requirement is heavier but not unmanageable and always very applicable to what we do in class. If you don't like participating in class it could be tough but I recommend stepping out of your comfort zone to get the most out of it.

Dr. Rivkin knows a lot about what he's talking about. He also knows what he expects from students so if you are not doing that he's going to let you know that. I personally thought he was a nice guy for the most part and was a fair grader.

Professor Rivkin is a great professor, and cares about what he does. The class has a good amount of reading, but nothing unreasonable. If there's ever a week you can't get to all the reading, he's very understanding if you give a heads up. The class definitely had an impact on me, and I would take it again if I could.

For LEAP 1270 (didn't give me the option to select this class) Dr. Rivkin uses specifications grading, so the expectations for the grade you want are very clear. There are due dates for the assignments but they are more recommendations to stay on top of the class, he'll give you a hard deadline as it comes up. Amazing reading material!

Dr. Rivkin is generally very reasonable and offers plenty of clarity for his assignments and gives great feedback on them for improvement and regrading. I enjoyed his use of the 'specifications grading' system, as well as flexible deadlines. With that in mind, be prepared for mid-hefty amounts of reading for the first half of the semester.

I've taken 3 classes with Dr. Rivkin I would say each has varied in workload. He has high expectations for his students but they are definitely within reach if you put in the time and effort. He is also great to reach out to outside of class if you are struggling.

Dr. Rivkin is a great professor who believes in the potential of his students and pushes them to be their best.

Dr. Rivkin was a great professor. In the course there was a lot expected as far as reading and engagement in each class. Dr. Rivkin gave great feedback on assignments and was very helpful to find ways for his students to succeed. This class was a discussion-based class which was very interesting. Dr. Rivkin was very involved in the class.

Just stay caught up with the readings. It is manageable courseload, but if you fall behind, you will be overwhelmed. Overall a manageable and very interesting class for those who stay caught up. I would definitely take this class again.

Dr. Rivkin was an excellent professor who I felt was held back by the format and intensity of the class. His class has a bizarre grading scale with semi-mandatory attendance and points tabulated differently. I disliked it, and hope he reverts to a standard grading scheme. Overall, great class, and you'll do fine in it if you can handle criticism.

Great attitude and energy every class. Would always lead a good discussion and push students to think farther.

I would just say that as long as you chose to apply yourself in his class then you will have a great time. He does have you do a good amount of reading, but its a pre law course what do you expect? I would say that his grading isn't tough or anything but you aren't going to get away with anything. DO NOT USE Ai in his class, he will catch you.

This was my favorite class this year, the books were very interesting, and the discussions in class were always very engaging and made getting your reading done beforehand easy. I may have just had a good group for my class but if you like reading you'll love it. Btw, there really is not that much homework, people are a bit dramatic

This class is great for people who thrive in smaller, and discussion-based environments. There's a lot of reading for homework, and most of the discussions require you to read and be mindful of social issues. His feedback is really helpful and precise and overall helped me with my comprehension skills and my ability to put words to my ideas.

If you are going into the class, just be sure to be ready for some heavy topics in society's social issues and injustices. There are about 2-4 hours of reading per week(Mine was closer to 5-8 hours with Dyslexia). He is a very caring and understanding teacher, making class engaging and welcoming to students. I would recommend him.

This is a fascinating class and a lot of the information I learned I will hold with me for a long time. Rivkin is an engaging professor and good at structuring class. There is a higher workload than I would have expected for the class, but it is still perfectly manageable. He gives a lot of specific criticisms, but still grades fairly.

well-instructed course, professor is very easy to talk to and is willing to work with you.

He was a good professor. Had a lot of readings, and there were a lot of group projects. But still I enjoyed the class

He chooses really great topics and readings but you should be ready to talk about social issues and hard topics. The small class allows for everyone to get to know each other and Dr. Rivkin will make sure to get to know you. There is a lot of reading but it's not boring.

Dr. Rivkin was an amazing professor. At the beginning of the semester I got the vibe that he was strict and he is but not in a bad way. He gives great feedback and has high expectations for us to always improve. He is really caring and methodical with grading. He is not the type of teacher to just give you 100% but I my grade reflected my efforts.

Really good professor! Expect to read a lot for this course, but once you get through that bump, everything else is great. Encourages skill-building and is really to the point with his assignments. You definitely want to participate and contribute to the conversation as well as add your own perspectives and ideas. Overall, a rewarding class!

You can read kinds of works and share your opinion on the class.

Dr. Rivkin is an excellent professor, the way he grades tells you exactly what you need to turn in in order to earn your desired grade. He will introduce you to new authors and poets, as well as new forms of writing that you may not be familiar with. It is a discussion-oriented class, so you will do well as long as you have something to say.

Dr. Rivkin is a great teacher for people who want to truly engage with the course material. He is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about teaching. If your goal is to learn and not knock out a gen-ed, he's your guy. Do expect a pretty high workload with a good amount of weekly assignments.

Great professor, prepare for moderate reading weekly but as long as you can take decent notes the course will be fun. the group sessions are great for learning and discussing with the rest of the class.

The reason someone might not like this class is because they do not like reading or expect easy work. This class is engaging, helps you improve your communication skills, and makes you a critical thinker. It is also a great opportunity to meet new friends and have meaningful conversations.

The social topics we discussed we some of the most introspective and educational topics on grander society that I've ever been a part of. The books we read helped us learn not only about social issues, but about ourselves and our parts in them. This class is a must take for anyone who wants to learn about art's place in grander society.

Discussions can drag on at times but very thought-provoking subjects. The books we read were really good and it is cool to hear different perspectives. More work than I expected and this is my first semester in college so I was a bit surprised. Get ready to read. If you apply yourself and try your best you'll be fine.

I really enjoyed the class with Dr. Rivkin around he is very positive and is very passionate about what he teaches. Be ready to read though. If you are not a big fan of reading and take this class try to look at the reading with a different light. I tried to analyze more than read and it took away from what I didn't like.

He was a good professor who taught an engaging course. The course material was easy to understand, while involving opinions and perspectives of students. There is a lot of reading, so if you hate to read this may not be the class for you. I would recommend this class to anyone who likes to learn about art or important social issues.

Rivkin clearly cares very deeply about the subject, but the class mostly revolves around analyzing three novels that you read throughout the semester.

the teacher is very clear about expectations and the students have a lot of control over their grade. He is always available if you get confused on a subject and there's a lot of grace if you misunderstand an assignment. This is very discussion heavy course, so be prepared to participate, the professor will put on the pressure to talk.

I wanted to take it not only for gen ed and credit towards my minor. I also wanted a place to write and share my writings. This class was the perfect place for it. Dr.Rivkin is a great instructor. He only wants the best for his students. He is tough but in a good way because he wants everyone to blossom. His energy is also fun. I highly recommend.

Kind and insightful professor. Invests in the success in his students and moderates the classroom well. A little vague on certain grading specifications, but nothing inscrutable.

Dr. Rivkin is an amazing professor. Class has such a clear grading system, your grade is based on your own participation and how well you push yourself to do. Attendance is mandatory, as the class is fast paced. He's a professor for the students, will crack dad jokes here and there. Class never gets boring, would 100% take again.

His class was really hard as it required a lot of reading between classes so you could be prepared to participate. However, he was always really nice and understanding. I felt like I was able to learn a lot about how to improve my writing style from what I learned from authors and students in class. His grading system was also really nice and fair.

He tries to make the lessons engaging, discussions flow well, and most of the time he does a great a Job. One of his biggest strengths is definitely his timely grading and feedback. He'll never leave you waiting for an assignment to be graded and he always leaves incredibly thoughtful feedback on your work.

Professor Rivkin is an amazing professor. I took both LEAP 1260 and 1265, and I am so glad I took his class. The smaller class makes it very easy to get to know him, and he is able to help you even more if you have questions or need help with anything. 10/10 recommend!

He is a really nice teacher. His class is lot easier if you go to the class and participate in the activities we have to complete assignments according to the grade we want to we have lot of options and opportunities to get good grade. He is always ready to help if you are stuck.

Professor Rivkin was an amazing teacher who was very interactive with the class. He asked great questions and made the classroom very interactive with each other. Me being introverted it was very interesting being in this class as I was forced to discuss outloud to gain attendance. I would change that style of attendance because I was scared.

This is the second class I have taken with this professor, and I would take another if I had the opportunity. Yes, the reading was a bit much at times, but I didn't mind it. I really enjoyed all the feedback he gave for assignments, so I knew what I needed to work on.

The main homework is reading. The books were amazing and very well thought out. He's super nice and approachable. He does grade harder but offers redos cuz he knows you can do better. There were group projects, and they were fun. Recommend if you love art and society.

The professor is very knowledgable on the subject he teaches. Participation is required as this is a discussion based class but, as long as you complete the assignments and projects, while speaking during discussion circles, you will do great

I really enjoyed the overall class environment and experience. Professor Rivkin created a great environment for collaboration with others and we talked about very interesting topics. Definitely would recommend to students because of the overall experience and things you learn that open your mind to different perspectives.

Was really good at asking questions that would further discussions and the understanding of the reading material and gave lots of background information for anything introduced.

This class is a discussion-based class that is consistent with group projects and readings. Dr. Rivkin is lenient as long as there is communication. This course is assignment heavy but the class itself is pretty lenient.

Kind of a lot of work but valuable content. Gives great feedback and is very responsive to email. Works to have valuable class discussions.

Dr. Rivkin is a very good professor. Take this class if you like reading, contemporary art that doesn't suck, discussion-based classes, smaller classroom sizes, & social issues. You will get to know the people around you in the class because it is smaller & you are often put in groups for discussion. There are a few group projects as well.

Dr. Rivkin is a great professor! His class is very organized and it's really easy to figure out each assignment. He makes class a fun environment and gives great feedback. The course material isn't very difficult, just stay on top of each assignment and get ready to discuss in class. I would take another class with Dr. Rivkin again!

The professor is great, and the course is an A if you submit all the discussion and reading. If you don't like to talk in front of the whole class a lot and hate reading, don't take this class. Otherwise, it's an essay A.

The classroom vibe is very relaxed and positive. Assignments were fun. He will give us good feedback on our assignments and will follow up in time to provide a lot of advice and help during group work. The grading are also pertinent and there is a possibility for getting extra credits.

I really liked this class. It was a lot better in my opinion than 1260. I personally liked the projects and the readings this semester. Other than that Doctor Rivkin was a good instructor and was easy to talk to.

Chill class, chill guy. Some pretty engaging assignments and the books we read are enjoyable.

An elaborate teacher who is passionate about what he does, and knows. Gives good constructive criticism and will help you if you let him. Sometimes the workload gets heavy with reading, but he usually gives enough time beforehand to get things done. Introduced us to helpful resources and tools that I will probably use for school years to come!

I personally think that this class gives a lot of work for a gen ed, but it was honestly not too bad. There is a bit of reading required each week, with books, essays, and the occasional documentary but you don't need to spend a lot of time analyzing them to have a good discussion about the topics. Prof gives excellent feedback on assignments.

Great discussion based class that will push your way of thinking and analyzing different texts. The books you will read in this class are really interesting and they are something that you typically may not find otherwise. The peer advisor aspect is also really good and paired with Professor Riven they both seem to care a lot.

Overall this professor made the class worthy of taking.

- The professor was great at utilizing resources and textbooks to strengthen the course's lessons. I enjoyed the interesting topics that were relatable. There is a lot of reading and homework, but it is worth it since it's very stimulating. Just be prepared to put time into this class!

I'm very grateful for this professor. I feel I learned most of the coursework smoothly thanks to his patience and willingness to conversate both in & out of class. It is clear he respects the students individually and utilizes different teaching strategies to promote a good learning environment.

I really enjoyed the class. Final project was fun but you will need to dial in the topic you are researching so that you don't change it right before its due. The professor and the TA give great feedback and both are a huge resource to use when it comes to any big essays or the final symposium project.

Dr. Rivkin inspired me to pursue a career in social justice and advocacy through his LEAP course Art and Social Issues. He leads a wonderful class discussion that allows you to connect and make lasting bonds with your peers over complex issues. Many of my best college friends were found through discussion over art and human rights in his course.

Although the class has a heavier workload, it is necessary to be able to have the in-depth discussions that you have in class. It also makes your experience enjoyable knowing about the content and topics. Rivkin is also conscious and considerate about his students and how they are taking to the workload and is willing to make changes to help them.

Although the workload was heavy, he assigned due dates for progress on big assignments to keep you on track and give you the opportunity to ask for help with more specific sections. He is very passionate about what he teaches!There was a lot of reading but it was not textbooks! Mostly read novels and articles!

Dr Rivkin is extremely passionate and well-versed in his line of study. He was accessible outside of class and generally gave solid feedback. My only critique is I felt that while my skills were improved, I often had to bring and defend my own passion instead of being inspired. Overall, challenging but solid.

Joshua Rivkin is the kind of professor that knows what he is teaching and finds enjoyment when his students learn and grow. His selection of books were perfect and the resources provided are very much appreciated for first year students, but If you don't care about art or emphatizing with others outside your bubble, don't even take the course.

Dr. Rivkin encourages discussion-based lessons and has fun with them. He cares a lot about the success of his students and about the content he teaches. There is a lot of reading involved, however he does a great job at selecting relevant material

Dr. Rivkin is one of those professors that you know really cares about what he teaches. His lectures are all really great and he fosters a really great classroom environment where everyone feels able to speak their minds. He does have a tendency to be brutally honest even in front of your peers, but the criticism is often valid and helpful.

Good at teaching, answered questions and helped out during group discussions really concisely. Gave a good balance of reading, writing, and discussion assignments.

This professor is very understanding and always has office hours available for students who want to talk to him outside of class.

The professor utilizes engaging resources and promotes a good learning environment. The class has a decent workload, but the discussion-based format and interesting texts make it worthwhile. Unstuck ai was a helpful tool for study prep.

Great professor, really cares about his students. Participation is very important in this class, but it is worth it, easy to engage and super small class sizes which is really nice.

Dr. Rivkin is a caring and engaging professor with amazing course design leading to classes full of interesting discussions. I took LEAP 1260 and 1265, and I am so glad I did! My favorite courses in each semester and the discussion element of the class led me to meet two great friends in his class.