This class is so hard if you are not a science major do not take it for a GE!!! Every person I know who took it outside of major requirements did not get an A and thought it was hard. The tests are difficult and the professor covers so much content; his questions are so specific and graded harshly. Would not recommend this class at all.

Overall I had a lot of fun and learned so much from taking this class. However this is NOT an easy GE. In fact, it definitely is one of the most challenging ones I have taken. Professor Phelan is a wonderful professor who gives engaging lectures and is extremely knowledgeable in the subject. The content is not too difficult but when it comes to the tests, the application of the material is definitely the more challenging part as the SAQ's make up a greater percentage compared to the MCQ's. The class is on a points system and consists of one midterm, a final, a debate, 4 quizzes (lowest gets dropped), participation, and discussion posts. Despite the final making up a big chunk of your grade, Phelan offers a very generous amount of extra credit throughout the quarter to help improve your grade. On a whole, I loved Phelan as professor and the content he taught.

This was my favorite GE I have taken so far at UCLA and I genuinely feel like I learned a lot of valuable information. Phelan is extremely engaging, personable, and understanding. Definitely not an easy A class but extremely doable if you genuinely understand the information which isn't difficult to do. Lectures are honestly fun to attend and he is always telling interesting anecdotes about his life or random facts/experiments that connects to the topics and makes the information more memorable. There are problem sets each week, 4 quizzes based off one question from the problem set, one group debate during discussion, one midterm and a final. The exams consistent of multiple choice and short answer questions. He offers ample extra credit opportunities as well. The textbooks are helpful and honestly interesting to read but not entirely necessary to read. The best way to study for the test is to study the questions he provides in a review session before the exams. If you are someone who wouldn't consider yourself a science person and needs LS credit, take this class!

This class is the best class ever! If you are looking for a fun class you have to take this one (especially if you're doing this for prereqs)! I cannot explain in words how much I enjoyed the contents and materials that were taught in this course. You go over stuff like evolution, nutrition, kindness, and happiness (obv there's more). Also, yes, like many others although midterms and finals are hard, as long as you put in effort to study and do each extra credit, it is possible to get an A! At first, I was so scared to take this course just because I've never taken AP Bio, but you really don't need to have taken it to succeed. However if you had taken it, it will only help you because this class is like a mix of Biology and Psychology. For context, I got a D on the midterm, but I then was able to get a B on the final getting an A- in the class overall. So, don't be discouraged and it's reassuring to note that you definitely won't fail this class unless you do absolutely nothing. This class is structured into quizzes, debates, discussion posts/responses, and the exams. For quizzes, you are given the problem set for upcoming quizzes and one of the problem in the set is basically the quiz you'll be taking. I highly recommend going to office hours and asking about them especially for problems you don't know, that was basically how I was able to get 15/15 on all the quizzes. Also shoutout to my TA Tanner, he is such an engaging and chill TA (from what I heard though all TAs in this class are awesome). For the debate, you'll basically sign up for one of the topics with people in your discussion group and do a debate (it's not as bad as it sounds like). My tip would be to make sure you print out your rebuttals and opening statements and to sign up for a earlier debate so you can get it out of the way. As for discussion posts/responses they are pretty much self-explanatory. Also, during midterms and finals, Jay holds review sessions and you should go to them or have someone you know share the questions because it helps aids you when studying. I think the biggest tip I would say is go to lecture, make outlines when studying for exams (helped me a lot), go to office hours, and just have fun while studying. The final is usually always easier than the midterm, but the few things that tripped me up on this quarter's final was when it asked to differentiate minerals and vitamins which I literally glanced pass when studying (my fault), but the class average for the final was a B. Also do the extra credit it practically saved my grade. I was one of the lucky groups that got a 30/30 on the music video extra credit, and even if you weren't top 5, you could still get a 20 a least. Other than that, TAKE THIS CLASS!

DO NOT TAKE IF LOOKING FOR EASY SCIENCE GE.

That being said, if you do put your work in, an A is still manageable (just probably more work than you’re looking for if this is a GE).

Professor is great, TAs are great too - shoutout to Matt and Natalie in particular. There are a lot of different ways you can boost your mark in this course. The midterm was quite disastrous, but the final was much better.

I'm not going to lie, unless you need this class as a pre-major, don't take it as a GE. One of the hardest GEs I've taken thus far. A lot of memorization and application of that memorization is involved. The midterm and final exam have the same lay out (around 25 multiple choice questions and 4 - 6 short essay questions). You really have to know your stuff because the short essay questions carry your exam scores. The final exam is worth so soooo much of your grade, so study up. Participation during discussions is a grade. There are weekly quizzes in discussions. Weekly readings (lowkey mandatory to know what's going on in the class). The professor is super nice and the lectures are really interesting and engaging. It is by far the most interesting class I've taken here; however, very hard for a GE.

Such a good professor!!! I am not someone who usually enjoys science classes but I found this class so interesting as the information was very relevant to our lives. Phelan is such a good professor, the lectures were so interesting and engaging. The midterm and final were tough but he curves the class and offers extra credit which allowed me to get an A in the class. Take notes during lecture and ask your TA questions. Also attend the review sessions they are very similar to the midterm and final! Do not take if you want a really easy GE, but I would definitely recommend this class.

Enrolled to see if this dude was overrated. Turns out the hype was valid.
Lectures are interesting and keep you engaged, and he genuinely cares about the students. No homework but discussions posts, which are simple and easy, and 4 quizzes throughout the weeks, again easy if you memorize your answer. Exams are solely based on lecture material, so whatever chapter or section of the textbook is talked about in lecture will be tested. However, exams were not easy so expect some studying. Assigns two class materials, "What is Life?" which is the actual textbook and "Mean Genes" which a chapter book that you may enjoy reading in your free time. There is also an extra credit opportunity if you and a group do a music video/trailer. Overall, funny guy and fun class.

I really enjoyed this life science class with Dr. Phelan thanks to his really entertaining lectures and sense of humor. Don't underestimate this class, though. The midterm and final were both tough and the average was a C. If there's only thing you do to prepare, GO TO HIS REVIEW SESSIONS! He tells you everything you need to know for the exams. I regret not reading the textbook more because he tests you on concepts that he doesn't talk about in lecture but are in the book (which is his own book, but it's affordable). Discussion sections are helpful and you have to do one 3 on 3 debate, but it's not too bad. Overall, if you put in effort you'll do okay. I ended with an A- after he curved everyone's grade (originally was a B+).

I enjoyed this class. Professor Phelan makes his lectures very interesting and engaging so its easy to pay attention. To succeed in this class, its better to have conceptual understanding of all topics instead of memorizing just terms. There is a lot of extra credit opportunities which is very nice