# CHLA 204 — Contemporary Studies (AUB) > CHLA 204 Contemporary Studies at American University of Beirut. 20 student reviews · 2 shared files. Source: https://studiety.com/aub/course/543 Retrieved: 2026-09-17 ## Facts - Course code: CHLA 204 - Title: Contemporary Studies - University: American University of Beirut (AUB) - Subject: Critical Humanities - Department: Critical Humanities for Liberal Arts - Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Sciences - Credits: 3 - Professors on record (9): Aida Arasoghli, Christopher Nassar, Hayat Bualuan, Maher Jarrar, Mahmoud Baassiri, Peter Bornedal, Reem Rizk, Sirene Harb, Zeina Fayad ## Catalogue description An introduction to some of the most seminal influences in thought that have shaped our contemporary world from the late 19th century to the present time. This course typically explores themes and developments such as evolutionary theory, Nietzschean radical critique, depth-psychology, astrophysics, philosophy of science, revolution, the absurd, existentialism, gender issues, and postcolonial literature and criticism, from both the Western and the Arab worlds. Sequence one courses (201, 202, 205, 207) focus on the ancient world up to the Renaissance, sequence two courses (203, 204, 206, 208) on the pre-modern to contemporary world. Students have to take a sequence one course, before enrolling in a sequence two course. ## Quick answers ### What is CHLA 204 at AUB? CHLA 204 Contemporary Studies is a 3-credit course at American University of Beirut (AUB), in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. An introduction to some of the most seminal influences in thought that have shaped our contemporary world from the late 19th century to the present time. ### How many credits is CHLA 204? CHLA 204 Contemporary Studies is worth 3 credits at AUB. ### Is CHLA 204 hard? 20 AUB students have written about CHLA 204 on Studiety. No one has left a star rating yet, so read what they wrote rather than an average. ### Who teaches CHLA 204 at AUB? Studiety has 9 professors on record for CHLA 204: Aida Arasoghli, Christopher Nassar, Hayat Bualuan, Maher Jarrar, Mahmoud Baassiri, Peter Bornedal, Reem Rizk, Sirene Harb and 1 more. Sections change every term, so check the registrar for who is teaching now. ### Are there past papers for CHLA 204? Yes — 2 files for CHLA 204 have been shared by AUB students on Studiety, including exams, quizzes, syllabi and notes. They are free to download with a student account. ## What to expect - Has Quiz 1 - Has Quiz 2 - Has Drop Quizzes - Has Midterm - Has Final - Has Attendance - Has Project - Has Participation ## Shared course material 2 files shared by students. Free to download after signing up. - Syllabi: 2 (most recent from 2018) ## Student reviews 20 of 20 reviews by students who took the course. Any review carried over from elsewhere is marked with its source on its own line. - **2022-11** — Extremely unpleasant and vile person to take the class with. Super opinionated and will cut down anyone who has different ideas. She's not even that good with grading, unless you kiss ass. Do yourself a favour and and take it with a different professor. - **2022-07** — one of my favorite courses the material is so interesting and easy and it doesn't even require studying. I didn't study before both of my exams and I got 89 on both, but I think it depends more if she likes u or not so make sure to participate a lot in class and show her that you're interested and well-read ab the material. - **2022-07** — Aida is a rude and mean old lady. If she doesn't like you, your time in class will be very frustrating as she tends to harass the ones she doesn't like. She has strict class rules such as not being allowed to shake your leg. She also does not like students disagreeing with her or challenging her. Other than that, she tells you what will be on the exam and the material is interesting. If you enjoy class discussions, I don't recommend you take with her. She does not let you speak your opinion and tends to cut you off. All in all, the course is easy but she is just rude and annoying. Her teaching style is very old and outdated. - **2021-11** — I took cvsp 205 with christopher. He is the sweetest and all you have to do is study the notes HE provides and boom.... an 85> on the exam - **2020-03** — The instructor is nice. You will learn some Interesting topics - **2020-03** — Take the course with her for sure. Her class is super interesting and she tells you to highlight what will come in the exam. - **2020-03** — It is easier to get high grades with her than other instructors if you care about the grades. - **2020-03** — Instructor is sweet, but you gotta work a bit hard to get high grades. - **2020-03** — Great instructor, easy course - **2020-03** — It is an easy and chill course with her - **2020-03** — As a whole, she is very good in the way she delivers her lectures and the exam format. Low workload and extremely chill. However, she can become a bit annoyed depending on her mood. As long as you stick to her good side, you'll survive the class and get high 80s to low 90s. - **2019-08** — Aida Arasoghli’s classes are very interesting, and she is very knowledgeable + she’s a fair grader and does a make-up quiz if you do not do well in the midterm. Workload is minimal (you study 1 or 2 days before the exams). - **2019-08** — I took 204 with Dr Nassar, and if you’re the type of student who enjoys thorough in-class discussions, he is not your guy. But if you’re the type of student who can transcribe every analysis/comment he mentions in class and deliver them to him coherently in his exams, you’re sure to get a pretty decent score. Personally speaking, I thought he was one of the sweetest human beings on earth, very caring, very considerate, but I never felt that the discussions we held in class were intellectually stimulating (in all fairness and respect to Prof Nassar). - **2019-08** — I've only taken with Peter he's an amazing human being but it's really difficult to understands what he wants from his students and he's the king of going off on tangents which makes his lectures hard to follow lol - **2019-08** — both excellent. Bornedal higher grades, less workload and much less studying but more boring - **2019-08** — she’s really good and very fair. She doesn’t give that much workload and you can easily get very high grades on her quizzes ? - **2019-08** — Hayat she’s an old bat. If she likes more than good, do the readings interact a bit and you’ll be fine. Just try not to get on her bad side. - **2019-08** — Aida 0 workload and low or mod 80s grade ensured with minimal effort - **2019-08** — Aida for sure. Her class is super interesting and she tells you to highlight what will come in the exam. - **2019-08** — I think it's easier to get higher grades with Aida if you care much about grades. Baasiri is sweet, and you gotta work a bit hard to get high grades. ## See also - [All Critical Humanities courses at AUB](https://studiety.com/aub/subject/critical-humanities.md) - [Every AUB subject](https://studiety.com/aub/subjects.md) --- From Studiety (https://studiety.com/), an independent, student-run course guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by any university. Reviews are the opinions of individual students.