HIEA 3321

I would take this class if you're interested in Chinese history or the Cold War in general (if not, you might find the lectures a bit boring). Prof Liu is not only passionate about the subject but has experienced some of the topics he teaches as well-- he even shows some pictures of him in class.
Definitely take advantage of his office hours to either get feedback on your essays, clarification on what we learned in lecture, or current events regarding China. Speaking to him in OH was my favorite aspect of this course.
You don't need to do all the required readings to do well in the class. Go to lecture, take notes on overall themes (don't get bogged up in the details), and read the Westad reading, especially the first quarter if you've never taken a Chinese history course before.
The only work for the class other than the readings is one four-page single space midterm, a critical essay on different documents, and a final (6 pages single space recommended). He gives the gist of the midterm and final prompts in advance so it's nothing to worry about.
All in all, I really recommend this course. Some of the things we've learned apply to current events like the China-Taiwan conflict.

Lovely class.
Professor Liu is incredibly knowledgeable about this period of the Cold War both in China and abroad. It's incredibly humbling to learn from a man who endured the Cultural Revolution and the tumultuous events during Mao's regime. As a historian, he doesn't only teach standard historical facts about the Chinese Cold War, but also on obscure, not-well-known facts. These include evidence of possible American CIA involvement in Tibet against the Chinese Communists, and other archival analysis you will not find in a standard history textbook! This class has helped me understand so much about China, and helped shape my complicated view of this massive yet mysterious country that is constantly under scrutiny and criticism by the Western media.

My only gripe is that myself and other students I know seem to all get the same A- grades. (I think his TA very rarely gives out As.) It's a minor point, you'll do fine if you just watch his lectures and take good notes!

Professor Liu is awesome! He knows so much about this area of study and really cares for his students. I just wish that I could have had this class in person.

This is my second class with professor Liu and it has been just as amazing as the first. Professor Liu is one of the most amazing professors in the department. His lectures are thoughtful and well planned. I genuinely looked forward to coming to class because I knew I would get an enlightening lecture each time. Seriously, his lectures on the Cultural Revolution were the most amazing lectures I ever had. He's very charming and friendly, and because he was born and raised in China, he offers a wonderful perspective and insightful anecdotes about events that happened while he was there. In lecture, you focus on the Chinese perspective but also gain insight into the Soviet and Americans ones so the class feels very well-rounded. I am coming out the class with a much more informed perspective on Chins's participation in the Cold War. There is assigned reading but you don't have to do any of it. I only used my book once for the assigned paper. There is a 6-8 page historiographical essay you have to write at the end of the semester but it really isn't that much work and he is a very fair grader. He gives a really awesome study guide for the mid-term and final. He gives the essay questions and topic with the study guide and doesn't change anything when we have the actual exam. He's very transparent about what to expect on the exam and what his expectations are. Overall this class has very little work but you will learn so much.