Febe Armanios

I originally took this course with Professor Armanios to fulfill a distribution requirement, but it ended up being very interesting and eye-opening! At first, the syllabus made the class seem a bit daunting, but as the semester went on, I realized it was manageable. The essays she assigned were actually enjoyable to write, though they could be time-consuming since they required analyzing a film alongside related readings. Her grading on essays felt fair. I got the sense that she values your ideas more than rigid structure. While she did occasionally take off points when a paragraph lacked enough depth, she wasn’t overly harsh or critical. There were three quizzes throughout the semester based on the assigned books. The books were short but filled with nuanced, first-person narratives, whether fictional or nonfictional. If you did the reading, you were likely to do well. That said, some quiz questions asked for specific dates, places, or historical context, which was unexpected at first and pushed me to read more closely. Participation is important in her class and counts for 20%. I sometimes hesitated to speak up, worried that my comments wouldn't be relevant or insightful enough. But she made it clear that all participation was welcome, and she was always happy to answer questions. There were readings assigned before each class that were usually very long, but if you stayed engaged during lecture and participated, you could do without reading them. Professor Armanios’s enthusiasm for the material and her understanding of students stood out to me. Despite the class meeting at 8:15 a.m., she was always welcoming and even greeted latecomers with kindness, encouraging them to join without hesitation. While the course can be time-consuming, it is not overly difficult. As long as you stay on top of the work and put in the effort, you should do well--plus, she offers extra credit opportunities!

I originally took this course with Professor Armanios to fulfill a distribution requirement, but it ended up being very interesting and eye-opening! At first, the syllabus made the class seem a bit daunting, but as the semester went on, I realized it was manageable. The essays she assigned were actually enjoyable to write, though the …Read more

The Professor is a fair grader. Lectures weren’t the most entertaining, and neither were the readings. Readings are a bit dense but the overall amount wasn’t overwhelming. The professor is accommodating and wants her students to succeed.

I can't have loved this course anymore. I had very limited experience with the topics in the class, and wanted to learn more, and I am so glad I did. I learned so much about Christians in the Middle East, and how they influence the current geopolitical scene in the area today, and I feel much more equipped to understand and discuss some of these issues now. The readings and class material were engaging, and Professor Armanios was extremely fair and very enthusiastic about the material. If you have a chance to take this class, or any class with her, jump at the chance

I can't have loved this course anymore. I had very limited experience with the topics in the class, and wanted to learn more, and I am so glad I did. I learned so much about Christians in the Middle East, and how they influence the current geopolitical scene in the area today, and I feel much more equipped to understand and discuss s …Read more