Looking for a gentler semester? Start with courses where students have earned higher grades.
Highest historical GPA first. At least 100 letter grades over the five years through the
selected term. Grades reflect past outcomes, not workload or a guaranteed result.
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15 courses
Historical grades cover up to five years through the selected term. Only courses with at least 100 letter grades are ranked.
Covers Italian history and culture from the Unification (1860) to the 21st century.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
The course features three to four in-class essay exams where students choose from provided prompts. Preparation involves attending lectures to capture detailed analyses and reading the assigned novels, though one reviewer reported not reading the books at all.
GERMAN/LITTRANS 276 explores diverse world literary traditions with an emphasis on German and German speaking cultures.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
The course requires readings, films, and music. Exams consist of open-note mini-essays, and students emphasize that attending lectures is essential for preparation.
Survey of 19th-century Russian prose fiction from Pushkin to Chekhov.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of David Bethea, Irina Shevelenko: Students must read assigned books and stay current with material to succeed on exams, with additional writing requirements in Comm-B sections.
Examines Dostoevsky's exploration of life's fundamental questions through close reading of translated works.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
The workload involves significant reading of novels and writing three to four analysis essays, supplemented by discussion posts and short quizzes. Students are warned not to fall behind on the reading.
LITTRANS 247 explores periods, genres, and themes in Russian and Eastern European literature.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of Kirill Ospovat: Workload is light, often involving homework during lecture or simple reading, with timed quizzes noted as the primary stressor.
Survey of 19th-century Russian prose fiction from Pushkin to Chekhov.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Historical reviews of David Bethea, Irina Shevelenko: Reviewers consistently report a high volume of reading with quick turnarounds. Work includes challenging tests, essays, and frequent quizzes, requiring significant time management.
This course examines the works of Hans Christian Andersen, focusing on his fairytales, narrative mastery, and biographical context.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Reviewers describe the workload as light with relatively short readings, noting that flipped Fridays are the primary time commitment and the class is generally easy.
This course explores Dante's Divine Comedy, examining the journey of the human soul through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise within its historical and cultural contexts.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Reviewers note little to no out-of-class work, though exams are difficult without attending lectures. One reviewer found assignment criteria unclear, while others consider tests straightforward if lecture content is mastered.