As I wrap up my sophomore year of college, I’ve started reflecting on all the classes I’ve taken so far. With my GEs and pre-major requirements behind me, I’m now moving into primarily upper-division Sociology courses until I graduate.
Thinking back on the best classes I’ve taken here made me realize just how transformative learning can be. It might sound cliché, but it’s easy to forget that when you’re caught up in chasing a GPA and class becomes just another box to check.
Yes, the ultimate goal of college is to earn a degree, but sometimes it feels like that’s all it is. I catch myself looking forward to the end of class rather than the class itself.
I’ve even gotten to the point where I’m planning future breaks while still on my current one. If my Spring Break trip to Cabo isn’t booked while my Christmas tree is still up, how else am I supposed to survive Winter Quarter? It certainly won’t be because I’m excited about class.
UCSB is home to some of the best professors and classes in the country. And while some courses might feel like they exist just to fulfill a requirement, it’s the hidden gems that make this school exceptional and truly worthy of its reputation.
To save you the trouble of finding some of those gems yourself, I asked a few friends from different majors about their favorite classes and professors at UCSB.
Their answers actually surprised me. You might expect a computer science major to rave about a tech class, not one on philosophy. But the variety of courses offered here gives students the freedom to explore interests well beyond their field of study.
The sample size for this list is small, so it’s by no means exhaustive, but I promise the people I interviewed wouldn’t lead you astray. These classes could genuinely change your life, just like they did theirs.
I interviewed two Computer Science majors, and the first said his favorite class was PHIL 3 with Dr. Thomas Barrett. He said he learned a lot about philosophy, specifically logical fallacies, and genuinely appreciated how approachable and engaging Dr. Barrett was. He also insisted I mention that Dr. Barrett’s exceptional mustache might even outshine his teaching ability, which, according to him, is really saying something.
The other Computer Science (CS) major said she enjoyed CMPSC 32, a CS class focused on object oriented design and implementation, with Professor Nabeel Nasir, praising the class for its clear structure and his approachable teaching style. She added that he still says hello to her whenever they pass on campus, even over a year after she took his class, which speaks to the genuine care he has for his students.
One of my roommates, a Psychology and Brain Sciences major with a minor in Applied Psychology, said her favorite psychology class was PSY 106, an introductory course to biopsychology, with Professor Samantha Scudder. She said Professor Scudder “sets up her students for success with ample resources and practice opportunities. The material is laid out in a way that is clear and concise. Her jokes and real-world experience also keep her class interesting!”
She also could not stop raving about Professor Steve Smith and CNCSP 101, a class offering an introduction to helping skills: “Steve Smith is a real-world psychologist and has years of experience in the helping profession. He introduces all the different types of therapy and why each one is important for certain situations. Due to his experience, he is able to provide numerous examples of past clients and scenarios, withholding confidentiality laws of course, which really helps me apply what I could encounter in the helping profession. He is super funny too!”
One of my roommates is a Hydrologic Science and Policy major with a minor in Geography, focusing on Geographic Information Systems (GIS), so, needless to say, she’s got her hands full. That’s all I have to say about that. Just kidding.
Her favorite classes so far have been ENV S 30, an introductory course in environmental economics with Professor Robert Heilmayr; PSTAT 5LS, a statistics course geared toward life science majors with Professor Miller; and ENV S 144, a class focused on river systems with Dr. Rafael Schmitt.
She said Professor Heilmayr stood out for being especially thoughtful, and she appreciated how his simulations connected concepts in both environmental studies and economics. Before taking his class, she wasn’t a fan of economics, but it helped her see the subject in a new way, one that showed how science and policy intersect. That connection has since shaped how she views her field and its relevance to current events.
Professor Miller had what my roommate described as an “amazing” grading policy, one that genuinely rewarded hard work. He made challenging statistics concepts feel approachable by breaking them down clearly and effectively.
Dr. Schmitt, despite being relatively new, came across as incredibly knowledgeable and surprisingly at ease in the classroom. He managed to comprehensively cover surface water hydrology, incorporating elements of ecology and policy, all within a single quarter, while still keeping the class both manageable and enjoyable.
My roommate also pointed out that Dr. Schmitt’s course is cross-listed with Geography, so students can take it for credit as either an Environmental Studies (ES) or Geography class.
The last student I interviewed is a Sociology major, and while she said she loves her sociology classes, her two favorite classes she’s taken at UCSB are FEMST 20, an introductory feminist studies class with Professor Katie Von Wald, and SOC 152A, a human sexuality class with Professors John and Janice Baldwin.
She said Professor Von Walk was a fantastic lecturer and brought up topics that can be difficult to discuss with tact but also with passion and urgency. She genuinely cared about the material she was teaching and was accessible outside of class. She also set very clear grading expectations and lived up to them!
SOC 152A is one of UCSB’s most well-known classes, and my friend said it “changed [her] life.” She explained, “Many classes you take help you develop skills for your future, which is incredibly valuable, but SOC 152A teaches you things you need to know right now to be a healthier, happier person.” The course covers everything from anatomical education to the foundations of healthy relationships, topics that are not just useful, but essential.
Talking with my friends reminded me that education is about more than just earning a degree. The right class or professor can completely shift your perspective and make learning feel meaningful again.
College isn’t just about checking boxes, it’s about the moments that make you think, laugh, and grow. So if you’re building your schedule, try something new. One class really can change everything.