This class is NOT an easy A with her. She asks ridiculously detailed questions that she mentions(?) in class. The material isn't hard but she words the problems in her midterm and finals weirdly, making them impossible. I wouldn't take this class again. I also felt that she was unnecessarily rude to her students. On the plus side, her lectures were entertaining.

I've already rated the professor, so I'm just rating the course. I definitely recommend it. I learned SO much about Eastern and Sub-Saharan Africa. There are a plethora of issues going on in these areas that I knew nothing about and I felt very enlightened about world issues by the end of 10 weeks. She has spent a lot of time in African countries, so it's cool to hear her two cents about certain regions as well. For example, during her lecture on elephants when she was talking about how people often treat them like horses when it comes to riding them she said rather nonchalantly that the only time she's ever ridden an elephant was in Nepal to get across rapids.

I got an A in the class and didn't feel like it was an overwhelming effort. I definitely recommend it to Environmental Studies and IDS majors.

Illes is a very funny, engaging professor in lecture but acts more cold & disinterested in office hours. This course definitely pushed me from being an ArcGIS novice to actually understanding a lot of the things you can do in the program. There are weekly projects which are pretty straightforward because she presents them in a step-by-step tutorial way. She's a fairly easy grader and this class is a great way to walk away with UCLA with a tangible skill that shows that you are capable of learning technology & analyzing data--even if you don't end up pursuing a career that uses GIS.

I heard that Geog 5 is a renowned easy GE, but definitely not with Professor Illes. Her materials are fair, but her wording is difficult to understand. To get an A, you have to do well on weekly assignment, lab, midterm and final. Again, NOT an easy A.

Took this class during last summer. Awesome lecturer! MC questions on both midterm/final. Homework assignments and an online project weights most part of the grade. Definitely an easy A class.

NOT an easy A. Took it thinking it was going to be, but she is the "hardest" Geo 5 professor. I only knew 1/15 of the people I knew in that class who got an A on the exams. I read all the chapters twice before the final and highlighted and got 100% on all the homework (meaning I did read all the chapters), but ended up with an 84% on the final (I got a B+ on the midterm). I was SHOCKED to say the least. She words her test oddly and expects you to know all the little details both in the book and in the lecture and at most times, how they differ. I regret taking this class. The only plus side is she's got a sense of humor and her lectures are fun. And the material is so so easy compared to the "real" science classes.

But definitely not an easy A.
You're gonna get a B

Professor Illes is a great teacher and very knowledgeable of California. I loved her class as it provided me a deeper insight to the state we live in. Her class grading is based on a midterm (in calss), long essay (you have to visit the place), and final. She is fair and fun. If you want to learn about California take her. Attendance is mandatory as the midterm and final are based on those notes you take. So you must be a good note taker to take her class.

AMAZING PROFESSOR. You learn A LOT about the subject. The class I took was very interesting because she was really passionate of the subject. Very knowledgeable of African Wildlife. Class is based on 4 things. 1) Weekly 500 word responses to videos or readings she posts. 2) Midterm. 3) Final. 4) Final 2600-3000 word conservation paper. The paper is not bad at all. Illes is VERY fair about grading.

No matter how much she says that you do not need rote-memorization, trust me you do !

I didn't go for many lectures ans still got an A-. The stuff is really really simple. So basically, you have to update your blog every week with a write up and post an image of your lab. There is this software called ArcGIS which is used to create maps. You just make different maps every week and write a paragraph on it and that's your post.

There are 2 exams one midterm and one final. You sit in front of the computer and they are multiple choice ! (35% each exam). Just memorize (throughly) her lecture slides a day or two before the exam and go give it. The question are straight out of the slides.

I would say take this GE if you want to get done with a requirement and want an easy A

This class is so easy! I took it over the summer. 40% of your grade is online homework and an online project which are very doable and, again, easy. I bombed the midterm (I got a C) and I still got an A in the class. Midterm + Final =60% of your grade. Her grading scale is really lenient since there are no in betweens (as in -/+) so anything from 90-100 is an A!
If you need a GE or a boos to your GPA, take this. She is wonderful and funny and her lectures actually teach you important things about our world; things you'll remember and use later on. :)