Thomas W Gillespie
Department of Geography
AD
4.8
Overall Rating
Based on 119 Users
Easiness 4.6 / 5 How easy the class is, 1 being extremely difficult and 5 being easy peasy.
Clarity 4.7 / 5 How clear the class is, 1 being extremely unclear and 5 being very clear.
Workload 4.5 / 5 How much workload the class is, 1 being extremely heavy and 5 being extremely light.
Helpfulness 4.8 / 5 How helpful the class is, 1 being not helpful at all and 5 being extremely helpful.

TOP TAGS

  • Engaging Lectures
  • Often Funny
  • Would Take Again
  • Has Group Projects
  • Tolerates Tardiness
GRADE DISTRIBUTIONS
38.9%
32.4%
25.9%
19.4%
13.0%
6.5%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

32.0%
26.6%
21.3%
16.0%
10.7%
5.3%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

40.3%
33.6%
26.9%
20.1%
13.4%
6.7%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

39.6%
33.0%
26.4%
19.8%
13.2%
6.6%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

35.8%
29.9%
23.9%
17.9%
11.9%
6.0%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

38.3%
32.0%
25.6%
19.2%
12.8%
6.4%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

44.2%
36.8%
29.4%
22.1%
14.7%
7.4%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

ENROLLMENT DISTRIBUTIONS
Clear marks

Sorry, no enrollment data is available.

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Reviews (109)

3 of 11
3 of 11
Add your review...
Quarter: Fall 2018
Grade: A+
Dec. 10, 2018

Listen, guys, you need to take this class. He is so funny and engaging and you actually want to come to class otherwise it feels like you missed out on listening to his commentary.
It's a pretty easy class. He gives study guides and all of the questions are basically from that. GO to class! He doesn't give slides so going to class will get you an A automatically. You need to take him before you graduate. This class is so good. 11/10 would recommend.

Helpful?

1 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Spring 2018
Grade: A-
June 25, 2018

Gillespie is awesome. I actually enjoyed going to lecture because of how engaging he was. I didn't buy the textbook because it was expensive and people told me I could get away with not having it, but there were a few book questions on the midterm and the final and it definitely would've helped to have the book for that. The midterm and final are very easy and straightforward (taken almost directly from study guides he gives) and you get out of lab early every class - you just have to attend for participation points. There was a lab presentation and website, which didn't take much time at all. I met with my group once outside of class and the rest we did during lab. Overall, a great class - Gillespie is so funny and requires minimal effort if you need a science GE.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Spring 2018
Grade: I
April 10, 2018

Selling Visualizing Environmental Science for $35
email *************

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0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Fall 2016
Grade: N/A
Feb. 15, 2017

I took this class first quarter of my Freshman year to fulfill a physical science GE requirement. BEST CLASS EVER. I looked forward to going to lecture because Prof. Gillespie was so entertaining and funny. I've never had so much fun in a class and I've never had such a genuinely interesting Professor. He is so enthusiastic about the material that my attention never wandered. The content is extremely easy and there is almost no outside work required other than reviewing for the midterm and final and one group project. Despite this, you're still learning a ton! I cannot stress it enough, TAKE THIS CLASS. You won't regret it and you'll have such a fun time learning about some interesting environmental concepts.

Helpful?

2 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Fall 2016
Grade: A+
Feb. 1, 2017

Dr. Gillespie is very funny and engaging as a lecturer. He takes boring material about ecosystems and the environment and makes it interesting. He gives you a study guide for the midterm and final with exactly what's on the exam. Also, this class gives you lab credit. In lab, you just draw maps, watch documentaries, and sometimes even go to the Botanical Gardens or Easton Softball Field. There is a final project for lab, but it requires minimal effort. The only downside is the lab is 2 hours, and you need to go. Also, you can't get the lecture material online. This class is an easy A if you just go to class and lab. There is no homework. This is probably the easiest GE at UCLA.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Fall 2016
Grade: A
Jan. 25, 2017

Dr. Gillespie is an amazing lecturer and awesome professor. I regret not going to his office hours and getting to know him better. He's hilarious and really engages with students during lecture. I often found myself dying of laughter while writing my notes because he is just that funny. It was because of him that I decided to switch my major to Environmental Science (the course is really an introduction to environmental science). As for the class itself, 70% of the class is weighted on the final exam and 30% on a group project. The final is based 100% off the lecture notes, so there really is no need to buy the textbook. 10/10 would recommend this class to anyone who wants to take a fun, interesting, and easy class.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Fall 2016
Grade: B
Dec. 18, 2016

The professor was a down-to-earth guy and really tried his best to make the class interesting, but was somewhat disorganized with his notes and often gave conflicting facts and statistics. If you try, you'll get at least a B or B+, but be prepared to remember a bunch of esoteric facts for the midterm and final that oftentimes aren't even related to the coursework. Compared to most other science GEs, however, I would recommend this class (especially to fulfill the lab requirement)

Helpful?

1 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Fall 2016
Grade: A
Dec. 15, 2016

Great class. Gillespie's lectures are very engaging and funny. Tests are easy if you attend the lectures and the lab and group project are very manageable. If you get below a C on the midterm you can work with him to get your grade up to a 70%. Would definitely recommend this class to friends.

Don't bother buying the textbook, it's not necessary.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Fall 2016
Grade: A
Dec. 7, 2016

This is the one of the easiest classes at UCLA hands down! Before the first midterm, I went to all the lectures, and I took notes as best as I could. The only possible complaint for this class is that his handwriting and notes are messy disorganized and are tough to follow, would be better if he used slides. He also doesn't write everything he says, but it's really not that big a deal.

Before the midterm and final, he gives out a study guide that lists out everything you have to study, and while it quite a bit of information, its pretty easy to absorb and a lot of it is common sense. I also realized that majority of the answers to the study guide are online on Quizlet, just google some of the book questions at the end of the study guide and you'll find them. I didn't go to class after the midterm (only to get the fish card, which you'll hear about later), and a few days before the Final I found all the information and memorized it in a few days.

Memorizing the information is a bit tedious, but the exams are pretty easy. About 55 multiple choice questions (on the midterm you will have to know how to draw a map with things he specifies), but pretty straightforward. He does ask a lot of "Which of these is NOT..." so you do have to know everything, because you'll have to be able to sort out the wrong choice. The group project is pretty chill, not a significant amount of work involved and the grading is relaxed. Lab is 2 hours, but majority of the time, it's let out early, and all you do is go for participation, nothing too bad.

Gillespie is the chillest professor ever and the classes I did attend were also interesting. Super easy A, just do what I did above, and you'll be fine.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Fall 2016
Grade: A
Dec. 6, 2016

This is probably the easiest GE at UCLA and Gillespie is such an awesome guy. He's really funny and engaging and loves getting to know his students. I thought the midterm was a joke, even Gillespie said it was ridiculously easy. You don't need to buy the textbook (tests are based off of lecture) and he gives you a review sheet for both the midterm and the final, so if you study those you will probably get an A. If you can, get Remy for a TA. He cancelled our lab 3 times and I'm pretty sure he gave everyone a 100 on participation and the group project. The "labs" are just worksheets. And there are two field trips on campus that aren't bad. Overall the class has very little work and it's good if you care about the environment. Easy A.

Breakdown of the class:
- 1 midterm (50-60 multiple choice questions and draw the map of the world, they tell you exactly what to include)
- 1 final (around 50 multiple choice)
- lab participation
- final project (group project, very easy/little work)

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Fall 2018
Grade: A+
Dec. 10, 2018

Listen, guys, you need to take this class. He is so funny and engaging and you actually want to come to class otherwise it feels like you missed out on listening to his commentary.
It's a pretty easy class. He gives study guides and all of the questions are basically from that. GO to class! He doesn't give slides so going to class will get you an A automatically. You need to take him before you graduate. This class is so good. 11/10 would recommend.

Helpful?

1 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Spring 2018
Grade: A-
June 25, 2018

Gillespie is awesome. I actually enjoyed going to lecture because of how engaging he was. I didn't buy the textbook because it was expensive and people told me I could get away with not having it, but there were a few book questions on the midterm and the final and it definitely would've helped to have the book for that. The midterm and final are very easy and straightforward (taken almost directly from study guides he gives) and you get out of lab early every class - you just have to attend for participation points. There was a lab presentation and website, which didn't take much time at all. I met with my group once outside of class and the rest we did during lab. Overall, a great class - Gillespie is so funny and requires minimal effort if you need a science GE.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Spring 2018
Grade: I
April 10, 2018

Selling Visualizing Environmental Science for $35
email *************

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Fall 2016
Grade: N/A
Feb. 15, 2017

I took this class first quarter of my Freshman year to fulfill a physical science GE requirement. BEST CLASS EVER. I looked forward to going to lecture because Prof. Gillespie was so entertaining and funny. I've never had so much fun in a class and I've never had such a genuinely interesting Professor. He is so enthusiastic about the material that my attention never wandered. The content is extremely easy and there is almost no outside work required other than reviewing for the midterm and final and one group project. Despite this, you're still learning a ton! I cannot stress it enough, TAKE THIS CLASS. You won't regret it and you'll have such a fun time learning about some interesting environmental concepts.

Helpful?

2 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Fall 2016
Grade: A+
Feb. 1, 2017

Dr. Gillespie is very funny and engaging as a lecturer. He takes boring material about ecosystems and the environment and makes it interesting. He gives you a study guide for the midterm and final with exactly what's on the exam. Also, this class gives you lab credit. In lab, you just draw maps, watch documentaries, and sometimes even go to the Botanical Gardens or Easton Softball Field. There is a final project for lab, but it requires minimal effort. The only downside is the lab is 2 hours, and you need to go. Also, you can't get the lecture material online. This class is an easy A if you just go to class and lab. There is no homework. This is probably the easiest GE at UCLA.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Fall 2016
Grade: A
Jan. 25, 2017

Dr. Gillespie is an amazing lecturer and awesome professor. I regret not going to his office hours and getting to know him better. He's hilarious and really engages with students during lecture. I often found myself dying of laughter while writing my notes because he is just that funny. It was because of him that I decided to switch my major to Environmental Science (the course is really an introduction to environmental science). As for the class itself, 70% of the class is weighted on the final exam and 30% on a group project. The final is based 100% off the lecture notes, so there really is no need to buy the textbook. 10/10 would recommend this class to anyone who wants to take a fun, interesting, and easy class.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Fall 2016
Grade: B
Dec. 18, 2016

The professor was a down-to-earth guy and really tried his best to make the class interesting, but was somewhat disorganized with his notes and often gave conflicting facts and statistics. If you try, you'll get at least a B or B+, but be prepared to remember a bunch of esoteric facts for the midterm and final that oftentimes aren't even related to the coursework. Compared to most other science GEs, however, I would recommend this class (especially to fulfill the lab requirement)

Helpful?

1 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Fall 2016
Grade: A
Dec. 15, 2016

Great class. Gillespie's lectures are very engaging and funny. Tests are easy if you attend the lectures and the lab and group project are very manageable. If you get below a C on the midterm you can work with him to get your grade up to a 70%. Would definitely recommend this class to friends.

Don't bother buying the textbook, it's not necessary.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Fall 2016
Grade: A
Dec. 7, 2016

This is the one of the easiest classes at UCLA hands down! Before the first midterm, I went to all the lectures, and I took notes as best as I could. The only possible complaint for this class is that his handwriting and notes are messy disorganized and are tough to follow, would be better if he used slides. He also doesn't write everything he says, but it's really not that big a deal.

Before the midterm and final, he gives out a study guide that lists out everything you have to study, and while it quite a bit of information, its pretty easy to absorb and a lot of it is common sense. I also realized that majority of the answers to the study guide are online on Quizlet, just google some of the book questions at the end of the study guide and you'll find them. I didn't go to class after the midterm (only to get the fish card, which you'll hear about later), and a few days before the Final I found all the information and memorized it in a few days.

Memorizing the information is a bit tedious, but the exams are pretty easy. About 55 multiple choice questions (on the midterm you will have to know how to draw a map with things he specifies), but pretty straightforward. He does ask a lot of "Which of these is NOT..." so you do have to know everything, because you'll have to be able to sort out the wrong choice. The group project is pretty chill, not a significant amount of work involved and the grading is relaxed. Lab is 2 hours, but majority of the time, it's let out early, and all you do is go for participation, nothing too bad.

Gillespie is the chillest professor ever and the classes I did attend were also interesting. Super easy A, just do what I did above, and you'll be fine.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Fall 2016
Grade: A
Dec. 6, 2016

This is probably the easiest GE at UCLA and Gillespie is such an awesome guy. He's really funny and engaging and loves getting to know his students. I thought the midterm was a joke, even Gillespie said it was ridiculously easy. You don't need to buy the textbook (tests are based off of lecture) and he gives you a review sheet for both the midterm and the final, so if you study those you will probably get an A. If you can, get Remy for a TA. He cancelled our lab 3 times and I'm pretty sure he gave everyone a 100 on participation and the group project. The "labs" are just worksheets. And there are two field trips on campus that aren't bad. Overall the class has very little work and it's good if you care about the environment. Easy A.

Breakdown of the class:
- 1 midterm (50-60 multiple choice questions and draw the map of the world, they tell you exactly what to include)
- 1 final (around 50 multiple choice)
- lab participation
- final project (group project, very easy/little work)

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
3 of 11
4.8
Overall Rating
Based on 119 Users
Easiness 4.6 / 5 How easy the class is, 1 being extremely difficult and 5 being easy peasy.
Clarity 4.7 / 5 How clear the class is, 1 being extremely unclear and 5 being very clear.
Workload 4.5 / 5 How much workload the class is, 1 being extremely heavy and 5 being extremely light.
Helpfulness 4.8 / 5 How helpful the class is, 1 being not helpful at all and 5 being extremely helpful.

TOP TAGS

  • Engaging Lectures
    (26)
  • Often Funny
    (28)
  • Would Take Again
    (27)
  • Has Group Projects
    (25)
  • Tolerates Tardiness
    (23)
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