Makes you work for the grade, but you will actually come out with some knowledge. Not as hot as he used to be, but the old world charms help...

One of my favorite teachers from Grad School. Think enjoyable absent-minded prof. He is worth taking.

Loved his class. I learned a lot...but you HAVE you study for his tests. He is an adorable, old man...always pushs back his hair. Looks like an absent minded professor. :-)

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Arens is a good teacher!!! If you pay attention and take notes you'll have no problems in his class!!!

You have to pay attention in his class. If you take good notes and study for his tests, you will do fine.

Great class, one of my favorite professors @AASU. Prof. Arens is an endearing, charming person. Very knowledgeable.

Arens is a very good teacher. I really enjoyed his class and plan on taking him again. If you take notes in class you will do fine.

He is a very entertaining man in class. He has an adorable accent. His tests are based strictly off his notes. If you pay attention you'll be fine.

He can be a little hard to understand due to his accent but the class is easy. There are essay questions on the test so read the material that he asks you to and you should do well. His voice can be a bit monotonous. Be sure to write down whatever he puts on the board.

You will get an A if you just take good notes and study them 30 minutes before the test. Use his textbook for something useful like holding the uneven side of a table up.

Wants you to understand the material within presented historical context and extract a greater meaning. Although Arens seems unemotional and unsentimental, he's a very straightforward man who cares deeply about the success of his students. He does not try to trick you. Tests are as expected, essay.

The man can talk forever. If you like history, he cn be interesting, but if not I would recommend a different teacher. His tests aren't easy or difficult, and usually like 20+ MC and a few short answer/essay.

I had Arens for both Civ 1 and 2 both classes were taught the same way. Notes on the board, maps that were checked in class, occasional reading not from text. He's sort of like the absent minded professor and it's amusing. Old tests are in the library and

When you first see this teacher you will feel very intimidated. He looks kinda like einstein with the hair! He accentuates certain words waaay too much, but once you get further in the semester, you see that he is a very sweet guy and loves to teach this stuff!

I like Arens class. He does jump around a little too much for my liking, but he is a very interesting person. Read your stuff and you'll do fine.

Great techer very knowledgeable.

He's a great teacher!! His class is interesting, he's fun and deeply cares about his students. Just take notes and do the maps and you'll do great in his class. He's fun and adorable!!!

Really easy class. You don't have to study much. Study from your notes.

Super easy class, never used the book, everything was from lecture. 5 tests and 5 quizzes and that was it. Read the quiz stuff online and look over your notes sometimes and you'll be fine. I would take him again for sure. He's kinda a funny old man, but very nice and seems to care about his students.

Great Teacher. You can tell he loves history. He makes pretty funny jokes, which are unexpected. I look forward to taking his classes in the future.

BEST HISTORY PROFESSOR AT AASU!! He is really easy and helpful. He let's you make up tests and quizzes when you miss them. He has reserve tests in the library and those tests help a lot! You have to read the book but he's is super easy! Also, a nice person!

He is great!

I love Prof. Arens! He knows alot about history, has a great sense of humor, and gives makeup tests. He DOESN'T take attendance; he leaves coming to class up to you! He gives pretty good basic notes, that most of the test comes from. You don't need to read the text alot, but it helps if you do. The novel quizzes are easy. This was my favorit class!

Dr. Arens is one of the best professors. He is a genius too! You learn tons and he is funny, helpful, and very nice. He is sooooooo easy!!! Didn't even read the books and I got an A.

Dr. Arens is a character. His Estonian accent is a trip, and the goofy, sometimes mischievous or even sinister expressions he gets on his face are hilarious. He is genuine and puts up no facade. And he is a genius.

Dr. Arens is truly adorable. His notes are in fact confusing at times, his "old people" tendencies are hilarious. Absolutely loved this class and would like to take him again! Highly recommended!

Dr. Arens is the MAN! ! His class is extremely easy. We had 9 quizzes and he dropped the lowest 4. He is a extremely nice man, sometimes too nice. He will let you make up exams (not quizzes b/c he drops 4 of them). He even let some whiny students redo essays b/c they didn't do so well. Just take notes and read (optional) and you will make an A.

I adore Dr. Arens and would recommend him in a heartbeat. If you pay attention during his lectures and take notes, he'll give you all the answers you need to do well on his tests. I simply do not understand why more people did not do better.

He is a hilarious old man who gets excited about the most random stuff. I would have to say attend EVERY class and write every word down that comes out of that mans mouth (which is easy b/c he talks slower) If you write every little thing down, you will Ace the exams. And his quizes? Research the readings, dont read them.

This is not a hard class. Just take notes and read. He gives 6 quizes about books and drops lowest 2. I made a 100 on all of them and I just read cliff notes. He is really easy to work with. if you have to miss a test he will let you take a make up.

This man is a very good professor that cares for his subject and his students.

Dr. Arens is a great professor. He is from Estonia and brings a plethora of knowledge with him. He is brilliant. Take notes and study. He is not hard if you do so. He can get distracted but it is not a problem. He's very nice and funny. Get to know him! You will learn a lot!

I love Mr. Arens. He's a goofy old Estonian. He clearly knows what he's talking about, and his tendency to go off on tangents makes class fun. Tests are pretty easy, and he has copies of his old ones in the library for study help. He starts off taking attendance, then gives up a few weeks in. Good class to take.

One of the best(if not the best) professors at Armstrong. Arens is fair and he knows his subject. He makes it all palatable and adds a great sense of humor. He requires his students to work hard, but I got my money's worth and then some.

Pretty easy class. He can be confusing and kind of scatterbrained, but overall a good experience. 6 quizzes, he only counts the highest 4. Four tests and a final. He's pretty laid back but can be boring. I would recommend him to anyone who is somewhat interested in history and/or looking for an easy class.

Overall I enjoyed this class. The class consists of lectures (so attendance is important), and three reading assignments which each have two quizzes (use spark notes and you'll be fine). Tests are multiple choice and usually have 2 short answer questions and an essay. Good about allowing make up tests. Fair professor.

Dr. Arens isn't a bad of a professor. His lectures can be boring, but if you go to class, copy what he writes down on the board, and study (at least two days) you should come out of his class with a good grade. He offered us up to two extra credit points to be added to your final grade if you went to and wrote about a lectureseminar.

Arens is awesome. Everyone keeps freaking out about his essay questions, don't. He only cares about content. Put down everything you remember on the subject. I bomb at essays, but I got full points on the vast majority of his. I also, for some put my input or take on the subject, he responds . He likes discussion too as long as it is not too stupid

Dr. Arens is great! His lectures are a little long but he is a nice and friendly professor. Made an A in his class and I'm terrible at history! Just write down everything he says and writes on the board and you will be fine on the exams. Show up to class and you will be fine.

Arens is a fantastic teacher. He is kind, sometimes funny, and if you listen to what he says in class and write everything down that he does, you will pass. I've opened the book maybe twice, and have gotten A+ on all my tests. If you miss an exam, he will help you retake it. He wants you to pass, and gives you the information you need to do great.

He's the best! Now he is an elderly gentleman so he's not super loud, so sit near the front. On his exams, for the essays write everything you remember about the topic. He cares only about info on exams. He is funny, helpful beyond concept, and passionate about history. I've taken him for an upper level and lower level and he rocks.

I haven't taken his class since 2005, yet I still love this man. I can still hear him start his sentences with "OK" in his native accent. He is very knowledgeable and makes class interesting with some of his humor sprinkled here and there. Take him. He's definitely a favorite, and made me love the subject of European Unions. That's no small task!

Dr. Arens is a wonderful professor! He truly loves the subject he teaches and he knows nearly everything about it. He counted attendance the first few weeks of the semester but i haven't seen him do it since. You have ten quizzes but he drops the lowest 3. His tests are 20 multiple choice (which is the hardest for me) and then 3 essay questions.

He's by far my favorite professor. He's an adorable little old man, he does speak quietly sometimes so sit near the front. All of his classes are lectures, he writes notes all over the board, so copy those. The HW is mostly just reading. If you like history, you'll probably like this class. He's funny and it's obvious he loves what he teaches

Arens is fantastic and funny. Lectures are easy to follow, reading is a little heavy but you can get by without the textbook readings, the short stories and articles need to be read for quizzes he drops like 5 quiz grades. Exams are multiple choice, identification, short essay and essay but SUPER easy if you take notes in class

Dr. Arens is amazing! He is passionate about his subjects and dedicated. If you have a question, he will have the answer. He is always on campus so it is easy to get a hold of him. He has extensive experience in the field. He is a pretty easy grader, just have the prime information in your head. You cannot BS his classes.

Had to read 2 or 3 books throughout the semester. Handwriting is a bit rubbish at times, but he is easy to follow. Take thorough notes, as long as you study you will be fine. I had a textbook but I didn't really need it. Really enjoyable as a person.

Dr. Arens is the smartest man alive and I have enjoyed every second of his class. I wish I could take him for everything.

Very heavy reading, and hard grader. He is an excellent professor, and passionate. Lectures are engaging. But in his own words, "I wouldn't even give myself a 100% on an essay/exam if I took it" - He oftentimes took off 1/2 a percentage point just because he refuses to give full credit even if it's worth it. Fun class, difficult exams. Hard grader.

I love Professor Arens. He is such an intelligent and knowledgeable man, and his passion for what he's teaching is clear in his lectures. I look forward to going to his class every time. His lectures can be pretty heavy, and he tends to go off on tangents, but it was never boring. I hated having to take history classes until Professor Arens.

Very easy as long as you pay attention.

Dr. Arens is a passionate and funny professor. He is old so your online page for him is useless. he only posts readings AND THATS IT. however if you attend class the tests are easy. he is enthusiastic and so sweet.

Dr. Arens is by far my favorite professor this semester. He is very passionate and knowledgeable about his job and will pass that on to students easily. He says that the textbook is necessary, but I seriously never ever read the book and got A's on exams regardless. VERY necessary to attend lectures!!

Old lecture style of class. Look at his notes, take your notes as he lectures, take 2 quizzes then a test. Everything is on paper which he gives back quickly but you wont know your class average until the end, unless you calculate it yourself. Absolutely nothing on Folio. Personally really liked it, show up take notes and youll do fine.

I like how Professor Arens LOVE his subject. He tries to tell jokes which I find funny sometimes. I'm not good at history and LOTS of reading for this class. 5 question quizzes (10%) and 5 exams including final (90%) as your overall grade. The notes are helpful but HARD to understand. He's a great person but this class is very challenging for me.

Dr. Arens is a super sweet guy but he's very old school. 5 tests make up 90% of the final grade. Almost no homework and the class is very lecture heavy, but he tries to be funny and he really cares about this stuff. He once said etcetera 50 times in a class. You don't really need the textbook, but write notes quickly because he won't post them.

I think he is a very nice professor and you can tell he enjoys teaching history. There were 9 quizzes worth 10% of the final grade, which are very easy once you read the textbooks. The tests weigh the most which are worth 90% of your overall grade so it is imperative that you show up to class, read the textbook and pay close attention.

Prof. Arens is an old-school professor who brings a lot of passion to his lectures, though the course can be challenging. Attendance is a must, and while the textbook is required, I found Unstuck AI and class notes to be the most helpful study tools. Overall, a rewarding experience for engaged students.

This is a real old-school teacher—strict, tough grader, and expects a lot. But it's all because he genuinely wants to push his students to do better. If you're willing to put in the work, you'll come out smarter and more disciplined. A challenging but rewarding class.