If you need to knock out your science + lab GE, this is the perfect class for you! The midterm and final exam were definitely doable; there were no curveballs thrown at us. Professor Rich is extremely generous with the curve for the midterm and final exam, and also offers two extra credit assignments (up to 2% EC) as well as extra credit on the homework. The weekly two hour labs aren't extremely difficult, but definitely do take some thinking and effort. I stopped attending lecture early on since the professor posts the lecture slides online, which pretty much have all the information you need to know for the exams. He also provides a practice exam and study guide before the midterm and final, which are very helpful. He literally pulls some of the exact same questions from the practice exams and puts them on the midterm and final.

Very passionate professor, absolutely in love with astronomy, and just wants to share his knowledge and findings. Offers extra credit! Rather rudimentary astronomy knowledge, nothing too extreme. Just keep up with lecture content.

Many students do not attend his lectures (they can be a little boring for some). He does post slides. I honestly attend for snip-bits of his adorable humor about astronomy, and he points out what is or will not be on the exams.

Prof. Rich is very generous with his grading and often rounds up the exam grades higher than they should be. Cares about students' education, means for them to learn and not be too harshly restricted by exams; largely why he is also so generous with extra credit opportunities.

I recommend attending his remote observing sessions! Very interesting, and a great opportunity to see how imaging galaxies work.

Give Prof. Rich a chance, for an easy GE and a wholesome soul :')

Professor Rich was really passionate about the class which made the class really engaging even if he went over time a lot.