For Bertz, teaching is the art of helping students understand the world and all the possibilities it offers. He teaches a wide range of student-centered courses focusing on South Asian and African history, and others that train students in the disciplinary practices of history. He possesses a passion and knowledge for South Asian history that is contagious and enticing. A colleague observed that his students express an overwhelming appreciation for his enthusiasm and dedication to teaching, and a universal recognition of his knowledge of the subjects he teaches.