Current instructor
Original student reviews · all captured dates
I'll start off by saying that the reviews talking about his ego were not exaggerated. If you ignore that, overall he's a pretty great professor. Super knowledgeable, expectations for assignments and exams are typically quite clear, also he's pretty funny. I'd recommend you take the class, the topic is super interesting and he teaches it well.Rate My Professors ↗
He is super intense but actually so fun in lecture I really like him. His papers are pretty easy but the tests are so detailed so make sure you know your stuff. So many graphs to remember which is hard but the content is interesting.Rate My Professors ↗
I could never tell if I liked light or not, dude has an ego on him and it comes out during lecture. I did appreciate how much he made us think and reflect on issues, and the assignments and exams were pretty straightforward.Rate My Professors ↗
This class is incredibly fascinating and presents information unlike any college class I've taken before. Light presents on his own research and is clearly passionate about his work. The class is only graded on 2 exams and 2 papers, which are all decently challenging, but what you would expect from a class on such complex and dense topic matter.Rate My Professors ↗
This class with Light is one of the best classes I have ever taken at this university. The content truly changed my ability to critically think about material and what is going on in the world. There's a fair amount of reading, but the exams are fair. Only two essays throughout the semester. Highly recommend this class!Rate My Professors ↗
He was such a great professor and I learned so much! I definitely look forward to taking more of his classes in the future!Rate My Professors ↗
Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.
CHICLA 699 is a directed study course for advanced independent research, readings, or projects mentored by faculty.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2022 · limited sampleExamines ethnicity, race, and justice with a specific emphasis on US Latinx/e peoples.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Michael Light is praised for delivering valuable, life-relevant lectures that avoid irrelevant content, with one student calling him a caring favorite instructor.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Fall 2024LEGALST 681 is an individual study course for Legal Studies majors to write honors theses.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
LEGALST 699 is a directed study course in legal studies.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026SOC 441 covers theoretical explanations of criminal behavior, crime measurement, and evaluation of criminological research and policy.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
Michael Light is praised for engaging, funny lectures that make criminology interesting. Reviewers note he tests primarily on lectures rather than the textbook, making exams fair and manageable. He is described as knowledgeable, respectful, and genuinely caring about student interaction.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2022–Spring 2026SOC 990 is a thesis course involving mentored research for Master's or doctoral dissertations.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
SOC 999 is an independent reading and research course in sociology.
Offering recorded · Fall 2026
No recorded grade history
| Term | Course | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | CHICLA 699 | Directed Study |
| Fall 2026 | CHICLA/LEGALST/SOC 440 | Ethnicity, Race, and Justice |
| Fall 2026 | LEGALST 681 | Senior Honors Thesis |
| Fall 2026 | LEGALST 699 | Directed Study |
| Fall 2026 | SOC 441 | Criminology |
| Fall 2026 | SOC 990 | Thesis |
| Fall 2026 | SOC 999 | Reading and Research in Sociology |
Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.
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