3.3
Quality3.3
DifficultyN/A
Would Retake134
ReviewsN/A
Would Retake
134
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
44
4
29
3
29
2
15
1
17
What Students Say
“Literally everyone hates Sonia's class”
HUM111 - 2.0 rating“Good teacher, use TA notes”
HUM111 - 5.0 ratingClass Info
Attendance Mandatory
0%
Textbook Required
100%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Rating Trend
Stable
-0.19 avg changeRatings by Course
11101
5.0
(1)HUMANITIES
5.0
(2)ARTHIS310
5.0
(1)ARTHISTHUM
5.0
(1)HUM111
3.5
(120)Difficulty by Course
11101
5.0
HUMANITIES111
5.0
HUM101
4.3
HUMANITIES
4.0
HUM
4.0
Reviews (134)
great lectures!! if you get only take the class without the tests
No Comments
She made me cry!
she makes grown men cry with her stressful exams
I Cried many times over. Gave me the biggest Migraine ever.
I adore world history and am a fanatic, but she killed it!
No Comments
Great Teacher!
Wonderful lecturer. Knows her stuff!
Great teacher--difficult tests!
Best teacher ever!!!
She's a wonderful teacher, but the exams are killers
Her class is the most stressful environment. Hope to NEVER have her again.
No Comments
No Comments
grading system sucked...but she was great
Fabulous class, wonderful person. Class was what a college course should be like
No Comments
She's a spawn of satan.
She is awesome!
Finally, a lecture class I didn't fall asleep in. Sorrell is intelligent and witty. Yeah, the tests are hard. Welcome to college. Sorrell is passionate about her subject and her class is well worth the stress over tests.
Sorrell is FABULOUS. Her lectures were so interesting, attending class was almost like watching a movie (well, close). Exams were difficult because she expects a lot, but she demands as much of herself as she does of her students. Well worth the work.
What can you do with a required GE that most people are dreading? I think she did a great job on lectures, and she is very fair. She would rather talk to you individually and have your test pushed back a few days than have you try to cheat.
Her lectures are interesting, but she's intense.
No Comments
Tests are really hard, attending lectures gets monotonous and difficult be consistent to, but in the end are worth it for the test.
she requires sooooo much from students...hello it is GE!!! Im not majoring to become a passionate historian--get over yourself! must take, so suck it up-- at least she knows her stuff
No Comments
No Comments
She can't teach for**** without her notes. Love Humanities, but can't stand her. she is no help.
tests too spread apart, on too much information. Thinks she's funny but she's not. Not very interesting.
Ok lets just say the class is outta control. She takes it a little too far even though she knows what she is talkin about. She will go on and on at the end of lectures about art forms that are soooo boring to listen to. Tests are waayy to hard for a GE
She is an awesome teacher. She really know what shes talking about and really informative on the topic. She knows all this little info that u can't find anywhere in ur books. Her test how ever is the hardest test I ever taken. The Ta is not helping either
Great teacher. Tells you exactly what to study for the tests. Go to class and take good notes, because that is essentially the test answers. Her outlines give structure to the class. Great lecturer, makes the info interesting and relevant.
One of the meanest teachers you'll ever meet. She's fine when lecturing, but awful one-on-one. Class is dull. Tests really depend on the T.A. that you get.
Tests entirely too difficult. Very interesting as far as lecture classes go. If you want to take the easy route...take it in the summer!!
No Comments
She is a right of passage.
I had her for all majors and she is an awesome teacher and very interesting. She make sthe lectures fun and is always willing to entertain your tangents. She knows her stuff
way too stuck on herself, she lists her credentials in every e-mail. a student sent an her an e-mail and she replied to it to the whole class and made the student look like an idiot. in love with history, could care less about students. avoid taking her at all costs.
DO NOT TAKE HER!!!! Someone needs to remind her that this is a GE requirement. Ya she tells you what is on the test but just to give you an example on our last test she gave us 38 ID'S (mini essays) she picks 12 and you do 10 in an hour. You have to know everything about those 10.
this teacher is brutal. its a ge, someone has to remind her of this. but emily fitzhugh is a good TA. overall, this class sucks, and i feel for whoever isnt almost done with it like i am.
OK this is GE and someone needs to tell her that. I have been t the class 2 this semester cause it is so boring and you don't need to go. You could get an A if you study for hours upon hours. basically get 50 min to write 10 essays . she picks 10 from about 25 or so essays so u have to know them all
No Comments
Way to hard for a G.E class you can get away with not going to class expect for the actual days of the test but be prepared to study... Avoid at all cost....
Don't take her, you will die, If you want to get a D or try to fail a course, Go for it!
She is not as bad as everyone makes her out to be. She loves her subject and wants you to as well. If you pay attention in the lectures, the tests are right off the outline. Good course if you enjoy history. Go to class even though you don't have to. She loves to tell stories and make lectures fun.
Anyone who thinks that this class is hell needs to suck it up and realize that Pepperdine is not meant to be a slacker school. If you want an easy class go to a CSU or community college. Just pay attention in class (and SHOW UP) and you'll be fine.
One of my fave teachers at Pep. Witty, bright, and always energetic - She makes lectures interesting and is a GREAT teacher! The work is not hard!! Only a few tests - just review the outlines she gives every day and no prob. Don't let the slackers who never showed (and therefore flunked) scare you.
No Comments
Her exams require you to memorize essays (practically) and spit them back out for a TA to read and grade. The TAs do not grade the same and some are very unfair. She speaks all the time about how "fair" she wants to be, but the class is anything but.
Extremely hard!!!!Avoid her....her TA's grade inconsistent and are also tuff....
No Comments
She treats students like babies, we have like baby sitter for each test. Can't understand anything of what she says. Her class is so not organized. She needs like I, A, 1, etc...
EVERYONE LISTEN....Pepperdine is as easy as it gets when it comes to a University's with high accolades and I was not a straight A student by any means. That being said, Sorrell's class takes alot of memorising but just enough that you actually remember some of the facts you learn and can sound like you know what your talking about in a conversation over dinner with authors or diplomats... If anything you should take this class to have stories of that one eccentric, bizzare teacher with wierd hair!
the questions on the test are random and if you dont listen every two seconds then you might miss a question on a test. but i got a's every test just by studying and taking super good notes. just take good notes and study and youll do fine.
Great teacher, great class. It may get difficult though and you must be willing to be challenged. It was worth it for me! I don't understand why people don't like her classes- if you are looking for an easy A don't take her.
I don't know why people complain about her so much, I guess they just don't take the class serious enough. You can't expect an A w/o studying. Her class is actually way more interesting than I expected. She is energetic and a great story teller. She's been to all the places that we learn in class and can tell you a lot of first-hand experiences.
For being a lecture class, I really enjoyed it. Her lessons are interesting and she is very enthusiastic. She makes witty comments to see if you are paying attention. I personally liked her travel stories. Now I have practical knowledge for when I visit Greece..or Egypt..or other parts of Europe..haha. :) I would read for extra test info..
I dont know why people say shes hard. She practically tells you what will be on the tests, and she offers extra credit. She takes 95% of the test questions from her lectures and handouts, and the other 5% is the reading. She almost never gives a full 10/10 on the essays though. But an 8 or 9 is very doable.
u know why?? She is ****... especially for International students.
Definitely take 111 with her over Colburn
Tests were a bear and she wasn't the most personable in the world, but I've NEVER had such WONDERFUL lectures. Overall, I enjoyed her class tremendously!!
Very interesting woman. Her lectures are like watching the History Channel. Her tests are easy.
Lectures the entire class, which can be hard to stay focused in for 3 hours. If you take good notes you will do fine on the test, but if you don't your not going to be happy. Her tests ask some random questions which make them a little difficult you have to know more than the jist, you have to know details.
Great class, she's a terrific professor who LOVES what she's teaching, and has been everywhere she talks about. She keeps her class pretty interesting, even for a 3 hour. She's also very attractive and spunky!
Sonia is an amazing lecturer who has actually been to most of the places she talks about. She actually made a three hour class interesting and I looked forward to going. Don't bother reading the books. As long as you GO TO CLASS and take good notes, you'll do great.
avoid her
Great Professor!!!! Learned so much from her......Her lectures are amazing and her tests are easy....just go to class and youll be fine
Shes the only prof for Hum 111 so be prepared to take her...wasnt very helpful during office hours, offered little extra credit and her tests are hard. nice woman though. humanities GE is a nightmare at pepp. brace yourself.
It's just a bad class, no getting around it. She's a great teacher though, and is willing to help outside of class if you need it. I never opened a textbook and I was fine. She wants you to do well, so take advantage of that.
very biased. biggest ego trip i have ever seen. still, an easy A.
This has been by far my worst class at Pepperdine so far. The classes are extremely boring, and the tests are really hard. I am a low A or high B student, and I got a low C in this class. I feel sorry for anybody who has to take this class.
Sorrell is very good. It is a long lecture class (3 hours can get bad), but she makes it engaging and interesting with her strong lectures. Plus, the tests are easy
Very nice, very interested in the subject. Classes are long but if you bring your laptop and take notes/look at facebook its not too bad. Tests are ok if you study for them. Grade is just based on your tests scores. No chance for extra credit.
Dont buy text books, not a single question from any test is taken from them. extremely trivial material in this class
She is a teacher who is very knowledgable about the subject but it is a long class and focus is lost after the first 1.5 hr block. you dont need to books, you need to take good notes and study off the lecture outlines
Dr. Sorrell was not very clear on what was expected for her tests prior to exam 1. Therefore, there were a lot of low scores on that test, mine included. If there is a problem, she always defers you to one of her TA's, who grade your exam like they are reading a doctoral thesis. However, she is a very good lecturer and a kind person.
I found myself looking forward to the lectures from Prof Sorrell. Taking DETAILED notes during lectures is critical. Never once opened my books. The tests are quite difficult. High standards for the essays on the tests; be sure to include lots of details! Overall, class was difficult but Sonia made it so good and bearable. One of my fav professors
The class is interesting, regardless of what other people say. It is not really a hardcore history class- its cooler in that it allows you to learn more various perspectives. Tests are lil hard. Everytime I was convinced to get an A it was a high B or A minus. Lectures- really important. Take notes like crazy. She is extremely nice and cool!
For 2 years people have been complaining about this class! Basically imposs. to study for.Take VERY detailed notes. This makes it difficult because having the book makes studying a lot easier.The tests come out of left field and are VERY DIFFICULT.I DONT recommend her class because if you ask for advice about how to do better she isnt helpfull.
Not a bad teacher by any means, but she could really enhance her lectures with PowerPoint. It would make note-taking MUCH easier than it is now. Also, the tests aren't as difficult as everybody says they are as long as you have an overview of the topics discussed. Be warned that it's nearly impossible to concentrate if you take her 3-hour section.
Sorrell is brilliant! One of my favorite classes ever! Great lectures and clear instructions. Read her e-mails--she tells you all about studying for the exams.
Sonia is incredible! He lectures are so interesting (though I wouldn't recommend the 3 hour long section..it's a little too long) and she is genuinely passionate about what she teaches. She teaches about more than just the boring cookie cutter history stuff. She is amazing to talk to one on one as well. Watch for the hair flip.
horrible teacher
Easy, but seriously HOT and you'll love her. She's seriously such a hot topic on campus...
Sorrell is a good teacher, although study her notes RELIGIOUSLY. you don't need the books, so don't buy them. her hair flip and corny jokes make the class worth going to. You do need to study for the tests. do not think you can slide by. if you know your material, you will be completely fine
Her tests are a joke as long as study all the necessary stuff. Not at all challenging like she used to be, now tests are super easy multiple choice and short essay. Just study and you'll do fine. However, she's not exactly the most approachable person outside of class. Who cares, joke class!!!
Don't buy the textbooks or her version of that princess story. She is a bore and is a scary sight to see. You don't have to go to class as long as you get lecture notes from someone else or the year prior. Test consists of multiple choice and an essay. Just study like an other class. As a teacher, she's draining.
First don't buy the book, she tests on lecture. Lectures are fairly interesting, but don't take the class that is 3 hours. Tests are fairly easy and you can get old ones from previous students. The essay question on the tests are tricky and she grades them kind of harsh. Overall easy class with good prof.
She is a fantastic professor, and has alot of enthusiasm in her subject. She grades fair on test, and a little harsh on the mini essays. Just try hard when studying and actually go to her class. Notes are everything, but you can probably find someone with good TA notes. Watch for the hair flip and her "traveler tips" for when you go to Egypt haha
Sonia is amazing! She is a great professor, love her lectures - always interesting and useful. And she has a wonderful personality, love talking to her during office hours! Plus she's been to what, 140 countries! She truly can relate to all her lectures
I hate history, and I still found Sorrell's class interesting! Her lectures actually contain some interesting information and are easy to retain information from them. This class really isn't as bad as everyone makes it out to be! Also, the tests are easier than any test I ever had in high school. P.S. Don't buy the books.
nom nom nom
Come to class b/C notes are essential. Try to write everything down (tape it, if possible). Sorrell's a sweet heart, full of interesting/useful theories. If you appreciate passion, you?ll love her. No reason to be one of the infamous cheaters. Study your notes, you?ll do just fine. Forget the book(s).
Her class is like going to an afternoon at the movies. Bring a snack and enjoy: It's story time with a historical twist. Don't buy the books and always right down everything she says..even if it is that Greece is the size of Louisiana. (P.S. the hair flip is world-famous)
easy if you have the TA's notes. Not helpful and isn't a outside-class-help teacher. but overall okay
Sonia shuts it down every class period! She is an amazing professor and person; shes been literally everywhere. Her hair flips are world famous and she is the talke of pepperdine; just you wait. Ive personally met with her and shes very helpful and cares. Take the class, listen and take good notes, books not needed; study hard! U will heart Sonia.
Sorrell's lectures are a drag. Her tests are nearly impossible unless you're into details.DO NOT BUY THE BOOK! Just take good notes.
I LOVE SONIA! She is one of the greatest professors I have ever had. She loves history so much and she is so much fun. Make sure you have lunch with her one day because she's great. DO NOT BUY THE BOOKS. Tests are straight out of the lectures...but if I could take the class again I wouldn't bring my laptop to class. Hand notes=A+.
Fun lectures. She's an awesome professor. Don't buy the books, just go to class and take hand-written notes. Flashcards are great for studying. I had an A until the final, idk what went wrong.
I hate this class with a burning passion, which is probably the only reason why I'm not a fan of Sonia. The class isn't easy, especially when essays are incorporated. It's a GE and she's the only, prof, so just get it over with. She'll meet with you and is helpful, though.
MOST BORING CLASS EVER. only one that teaches it, please dont listen to the <3 other people wrote. Essays are graded by TAs that grade differently. A lot of people actually audio record her lectures cause she talks so much. She puts u to sleep and can be very sassy--she snapped at a girl who asked if it was BC or AD. LOVES to catch people cheating
AWFUL, SOMEONE PLEASE GET HER FIRED!!!!!!!!
Worthless instruction. The entire humanities sequence is a fraud.
I hate this professor with a passion! AVOID AVOID AVOID!!!
Definitely one of my favorite professors! She is INCREDIBLY knowledgable in her field, and very actively involved in it. She is a very passionate person, and she really makes the subject come to life. The class is really easy if you take notes and study, but no need for the books to get an A+. She is very accessible, helpful, and funny.
If you go to class and take notes, you will do fine. If you have essay tests, prepare an outline prior and have it reviewed by her or one of the TAs. TAKE NOTES BY HAND. If you fail the class, get off of facebook and pay attention to what she says. Also, make a friend who has had her and ask about old tests.
Sucks you cant avoid her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Did not like this teacher she was rude to students. DO NOT BUY THE BOOK! If you get the TA notes you should be fine. It took me a a couple tests before I figured out how to study but after that was easy. Final is a breeze. Sucks you can't avoid her.
LOVE her! She's extremely knowledgable, funny & experienced. If you take notes you'll be fine. Her anecdotes keep lectures interesting, and the syllabus is very organized. Side note, ask her for traveling tips as she's been to over 100 countries!
she isn't as bad as people may say. it is boring and her hair flips are annoying but if you have the ta notes (which are constantly being passed down) then the class isnt that bad. you have to study. the best way i found to study for her tests are to answer the thought questions. it makes you study all the material and it is a possible essay.
She is actually a really good teacher, but there is a catch in getting a good grade: you have to show up to class and take notes, or you have to decide to read through the TA notes. In any case, you have to really study for the test or you will do poorly because the test is 30 multiple choice and 1 essay. She is really knowledgable about travel! (:
Her class is easy if you show up and take notes. Start studying prior to the night before an exam and you will be fine.
She is actually very sweet and willing to meet with you and help you out. You can tell she cares about her students and she loves what she teaches. Recognize that although the class may be boring, it is worth it to attend and I find the textbook reading helpful as well. Don't be afraid to talk to her!
Very easy class if you have the notes
her job description is to teach.. i mean, really? all she really does is read her notes. hires TAs to take notes but tells students TA notes are useless. i mean, seriously?
Hum 111 is very easy. She isn't a bad teacher I learned a lot. Her test aren't meant to trick you at all they are straight forward and easy. She can be mean if you disobey the rules but its simple don't talk during class. Loved the class easy A. Just be sure to take notes!
First time taking a humanities class and I learned a lot. I dislike Roman history but she made it interesting. Read her novel for extra credit and you will succeed. Easy A if you form study groups and ask her questions. We' re now good friends thanks to her accommodations.
Sonia is one of the most genuine professors at Pepperdine. The only people that have a problem with her are the ones that never attend class or read the textbooks. Her class is extremely easy if you go to class; she gives you answers to the tests! I thoroughly enjoyed HUM 111. Also, read her book for extra credit; it's actually really good!
Sonia...Class may get boring at some point. She gives a lot of info in 1 class so it's important to go. I had TA notes and did not go until the first test and did well on the test. I began going to class after and got better grades. Passed the class with an A. Get the TA notes, take them to class and highlight as she says them. Then review them :)
She is a great person and obviously cannot exhibit that in a lecture class. Go visit her; she's very knowledgeable in travel. If you can get TA notes, get them. If not just go to class and print out her lecture outlines. I mean you are paying a lot for these classes. All the test questions are from there. No surprises. Oh and read her book!
Sonia's class is easy as long as you go to EVERY CLASS, take notes, read her outline and stay off of your phone. She tries to micromanage a class of 150 or more and it's really annoying. But she's a wealth of information and if you read over your notes and her outline a couple of times before the test you'll be fine. The only book I touched was GP.
Good teacher, use TA notes. Her class is becoming increasingly hard but still not too hard if you show up for class and take notes, or get your hands on the TA notes. Study 2 hours the night before the test and you should be good. Kind of a strange teacher but hilarious in her own way. DO NOT FALL ASLEEP IN CLASS or you get called out super hard.
Either attend class or read the book (I recommend attending class). She clearly likes the material, but cannot lecture interestingly. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE EXTRA CREDIT. 20 free points on top of a 300 point gradebook= 6% grade boost
HUM111 is by far my favorite class at Pepperdine. Sonia is so passionate about what she teaches, and you can tell by the way she "takes us on a journey through the Parthenon" or even when she goes on and on about not cheating on exams. Her class is so easy- no reading required. She's the best.
Literally everyone hates Sonia's class. Nobody shows up, lectures are super boring, and what's worse is she bombards you with spam emails about 'cool Roman recipes.' Try to take this class over summer with another professor if you value your sanity.
Dr. Sorrell, known to all as simply "Sonia," is a professor everyone should have the experience of taking. Her lecturing style is extremely unusual: her passion for the subject is filtered through her passionless voice, which gives her lectures an oddly endearing tone. Tests are all details, which is a pain. She's incredibly organized and clear.
Having Sonia is part of the Pepperdine experience. She isn't too terrible, just fairly boring. If you attend class and take notes, you'll be more than okay. Don't rely on the TA notes because they can be totally wrong.
She's super boring.... but she's a good professor. Showed up with MATH 140 homework and just listened. DON'T listen to what she says about the TA Notes. They saved me and are the reason i passed.
Although Sonia's class is boring, it is very easy. Don't buy the book because you will not open it. Just attend the lectures, do your best to stay focused, and take good notes. Also, get a set of TA notes as back up. One of the easiest classes you will ever take if you just do the bare minimum.
I didn't go to class except to take tests and pick them up, and I got a B+. If you study the TA notes and other students' notes well an A is easily within reach. As for her lectures, from what I did experience, they were not particularly exciting, but she does enjoy talking about her subject.
Boring class
Her lectures aren't as boring as some other teachers but they aren't worth going to, especially if you learned any ancient history at all in high school. Just get yourself a copy of the TA notes from a friend and study that before the tests and you will pass.
Class Info
Attendance Mandatory
0%
Textbook Required
100%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Rating Trend
Stable
-0.19 avg changeRatings by Course
11101
5.0
(1)HUMANITIES
5.0
(2)ARTHIS310
5.0
(1)ARTHISTHUM
5.0
(1)HUM111
3.5
(120)Difficulty by Course
11101
5.0
HUMANITIES111
5.0
HUM101
4.3
HUMANITIES
4.0
HUM
4.0