Marian N. Bernstein

I had MB for CLAR 502 this past Spring, and will be taking CLAR 500 with her in the Fall.

There is no doubt that there is a lot of reading, and that, at times, MB has problems hearing and seeing some things (I should do so well at her age). At times, she appears a little disorganized.

It's all deceiving. She's got a mind like an encyclopedia that opens to just the right page. She has a passion for her subject, and even if you want to do a project on something that is only tangentially related to the in-class topics, she will support you AND she'll help you find material, frequently from her own collection.

If you have a chance to study with MB, take it. It seems like a lot when you first get the materials, but stay with it, put a little into it, and you'll get so much more out.

This class was a challenge because Bernstein does not assign a book. His lectures seem organized until you go back over your notes and see that the information is not organized at all! Be prepared to do independent research. In regards to tests and grades. 2 tests-40% each, 2 papers-10% each. He will modify the grading scale if needed but he doesn't seem to like doing it. This class is passable, the key is self discipline

Marian Bernstein is one of the best teachers at SFSU. After traveling to Egypt twice, I returned to SFSU and took all of Marian's Egyptology and Museum Studies classes in the Classics Dept. I was also fortunate to work in the Sutro Egyptian Museum (5th floor in Humanities) and to work with the rare and exceptional artifacts, including 2 mummies. I highly recommend all of Marian's classes. She is enthusiastic and knowledgable, and an exceptional teacher. SFSU is fortunate to have this dedicated teacher. She encourages students to work hard and learn difficult material but it is fascinating and educational. I found all of her classes very challenging but I dedicated myself to my studies and struggled to get all A's. Marian encourages professionalism, which I appreciate. Her classes taught me self-discipline and they helped to improve my writing. Take her classes, work in the Museum, and visit Egypt with her in January through Extended Learning. Egyptology has something for everyone -- art, science, philosophy, religion, literature, architecture, etc. It has greatly enhanced my life to study Egyptology. I have gained a richer sense of history. I enjoyed reading about the Ancient Egyptians' sense of humor and their beautiful, romantic poetry! Taking Marian's classes are like going on a fascinating journey along the Nile, while time-traveling and connecting with our ancestors. They believed that the scribes had the best profession because their work lived on. They loved their life along the Nile so much that they wanted to live there in the Afterlife. They had a deep appreciation for life, for nature, and for knowledge.