AMES-209S
LOVE, SPIRIT, AND MYSTICISM
Not in Fall 2026
Term
Overview
Feedback is mostly positive. The strongest signal is that the readings, films, or examples carry real weight. Best for students who will engage with the materials instead of skimming everything.
DepartmentAMES
Terms offeredFall
Typical enrollment10–12
Semesters of data2
3.5
Hrs / week
16
Responses
22
Enrollment
73%
Response Rate
Evaluation Scores
Overall quality
Teaching, content, and experience combined.
4.0
Intellectually stimulating
Challenges students to think deeply.
4.5
Instructor effectiveness
Explains concepts and facilitates learning.
4.5
Difficulty
Higher means harder.
3.3
Feedback Analysis
Feedback Analysismedium
Analysis based on student evaluations
Based on 54 comments across 2 sections
Feedback is mostly positive. The strongest signal is that the readings, films, or examples carry real weight. Best for students who will engage with the materials instead of skimming everything.
Student Reports
How hard is the A?
A is doable but not automatic
The signal here is more do-the-work-and-you-should-be-fine than easy-A chatter. Students do not describe the A as automatic, but the evidence also does not paint grading as punishing.
Homework Load
Moderate homework load
Homework load looks moderate. The recurring signal is steady weekly work, but not a course that turns every assignment into a grind.
Lecture Load
Lighter lecture burden
Student comments describe this as more discussion-, seminar-, or workshop-driven than lecture-dependent. The lecture burden itself does not sound like the main source of friction.
Strengths
• Readings, films, or outside materials come up repeatedly as a real strength rather than filler.
• Discussion is a clear strength; students repeatedly describe the class conversation as engaging and useful.
Tradeoffs
• There is no single dominant complaint theme, but the feedback is not uniformly glowing either.
Best fit for
Best for students who will engage with the materials instead of skimming everything.
Watch out for
• A large share of the evidence comes from one instructor's version of the course, so this may not generalize cleanly.
Student Responses
This course taught me how to read poems in the context of greater spiritual lessons and concepts along with how these poems extend and expand upon such lessons and concepts. I developed my ability to integrate and synthesize texts into a cohesive argument. I learned how to read and engage with poetry and spiritual teachings to formulate my own understanding of the world.
Fall 2023 · Safi, Omid
I learned how to read spiritual texts, about the cultural history of Sufism, and about the teachings of important leaders in Sufism.
Fall 2023 · Safi, Omid
Ability to answer hard philosophical questions
Fall 2023 · Safi, Omid
I learned about the Sufi tradition: it’s practices, it’s traditions, and its origins
Fall 2023 · Safi, Omid
I have learned various forms of the Islamic religion. As well as a specific focus and appreciation towards Sufism. Through lectures, readings, and papers I have learned a deeper connection with my spiritual journey.
Fall 2023 · Safi, Omid
Rating History
Rating history
Error bars show \u00B11 std dev
| Term | Instructor | Overall | Difficulty | Hrs/wk | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | Safi, Omid | 4.7 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 10 |
| Fall 2023 | Safi, Omid | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.6 | 12 |
Instructor
Safi, OmidAMES
Also teaches
AMES-123 HISTORY AND CULTURE OF IRAN4.1AMES-203S MODERN ISLAM4.8AMES-317 MARTIN LUTHER KING