GEOG 5
People and the Earth's Ecosystems
Description: Lecture, three hours; laboratory, two hours. Exploration of ways in which human activity impacts natural environment and how modification of environment can eventually have significant consequences for human activity. Examination, using case studies, of real environmental problems that confront us today. P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 5.0
Units: 5.0
1 of 2
Most Helpful Review
Spring 2020 - (CORONA REVIEW) This class was extremely well-structured in that it had weekly discussion responses, weekly quizzes, weekly labs, and weekly discussion sections. The class was already supposed to be online so I am assuming that is the reason it worked out so well. Assignments were graded extremely fair and as long as you didn't miss any you should have been able to do extremely well in the class. There was no midterm or final exam, only a final paper that ended up being made optional given the circumstances. Section was also pretty cool thanks to Lisa M. where she'd do a fun participation question and then get into the week's topic. Our professor was very helpful too and answered emails very promptly. The only tough part of the class was the weekly quiz. It usually took me over an hour to complete despite being only 20 questions because the questions came from our online textbook and the multiple videos we had for the week. We also were able to get 2% of extra credit in the class from doing evaluations which made me go from A- to A. So, coming from someone who is normally pretty lazy, this class was well-worth the weekly hassle and I would definitely take it again.
Spring 2020 - (CORONA REVIEW) This class was extremely well-structured in that it had weekly discussion responses, weekly quizzes, weekly labs, and weekly discussion sections. The class was already supposed to be online so I am assuming that is the reason it worked out so well. Assignments were graded extremely fair and as long as you didn't miss any you should have been able to do extremely well in the class. There was no midterm or final exam, only a final paper that ended up being made optional given the circumstances. Section was also pretty cool thanks to Lisa M. where she'd do a fun participation question and then get into the week's topic. Our professor was very helpful too and answered emails very promptly. The only tough part of the class was the weekly quiz. It usually took me over an hour to complete despite being only 20 questions because the questions came from our online textbook and the multiple videos we had for the week. We also were able to get 2% of extra credit in the class from doing evaluations which made me go from A- to A. So, coming from someone who is normally pretty lazy, this class was well-worth the weekly hassle and I would definitely take it again.
AD
Most Helpful Review
Winter 2015 - If you happened to take AP Environmental Science in high school, or already have a little knowledge on those concepts and are looking for a relatively easy GE, this class is definitely for you. Fricker is funny, laid back, and makes his lectures interesting. Any homework assigned can easily be completed in section each week.
Winter 2015 - If you happened to take AP Environmental Science in high school, or already have a little knowledge on those concepts and are looking for a relatively easy GE, this class is definitely for you. Fricker is funny, laid back, and makes his lectures interesting. Any homework assigned can easily be completed in section each week.
Most Helpful Review
Winter 2020 - This class is an easy A if you do your part. You need to memorize a sizeable amount of information, but it is pure memorization. On the midterm, I got a 92% and the mean was 85%, so I already knew I was on track for an A. The lab portion of the grade is an easy A as long as you participate at least once per discussion, do the bare minimum on the group project, and you do the 2-3 worksheets assigned throughout the quarter. I got bailed by not taking the final because I think I would have gotten a B+ on it and maybe ended with an A- instead of an A for my final grade. However, I might just be underestimating myself so just believe in yourself! Professor Gillespie is such a character! He made this class so great I actually looked forward to going to lecture, which is out of the norm for me. He is an amazing professor who gives easy tests as long as you memorize simple and straightforward information. I suggest you guys make a collaborative study guide through the discussion section on CCLE like my class did so you can answer the study guide questions as quickly as possible in order to have more than enough time to study for the midterm and final. All in all, I'd rate this class 10/10! No regrets!
Winter 2020 - This class is an easy A if you do your part. You need to memorize a sizeable amount of information, but it is pure memorization. On the midterm, I got a 92% and the mean was 85%, so I already knew I was on track for an A. The lab portion of the grade is an easy A as long as you participate at least once per discussion, do the bare minimum on the group project, and you do the 2-3 worksheets assigned throughout the quarter. I got bailed by not taking the final because I think I would have gotten a B+ on it and maybe ended with an A- instead of an A for my final grade. However, I might just be underestimating myself so just believe in yourself! Professor Gillespie is such a character! He made this class so great I actually looked forward to going to lecture, which is out of the norm for me. He is an amazing professor who gives easy tests as long as you memorize simple and straightforward information. I suggest you guys make a collaborative study guide through the discussion section on CCLE like my class did so you can answer the study guide questions as quickly as possible in order to have more than enough time to study for the midterm and final. All in all, I'd rate this class 10/10! No regrets!
Most Helpful Review
Fall 2017 - The easiest GE I would recommend for a scient GE when you need a lab. The class is based on memorization, you don't need to read or go to class because the slides are posted and the labs consist of group activities like going on a field trip. Midterm and Final are both just multiple choice. She is super interesting and passionate. Brings in a lot of guest speakers. Easy A GE!
Fall 2017 - The easiest GE I would recommend for a scient GE when you need a lab. The class is based on memorization, you don't need to read or go to class because the slides are posted and the labs consist of group activities like going on a field trip. Midterm and Final are both just multiple choice. She is super interesting and passionate. Brings in a lot of guest speakers. Easy A GE!
AD
Most Helpful Review
Fall 2023 - Professor Illes is engaging and funny in her videos, but she is brutal and cutthroat in my opinion. She basically does not tolerate late work unless your mom died. Her 90 multiple choice midterm questions (with no given study guide besides hours of rambling lectures) were written so vague and confusing and sometimes conflicted with lecture material and that was a huge scandal. The final was better, she dropped a study guide but it was vague and I basically only got a good grade because an angel student made a Quizlet. In terms of the class, GEOG 5 is a great lab GE to take, and in terms of the content it is very easy and comparable to AP Environmental Science. I took asynchronous lectures and in-person lab, so I watched 4-6 lecture videos ranging from 20-50 minutes a week, with the weekly assignment being to write 3 questions and answers per lecture video. The lab is mandatory with no makeups (depending on your TA), but the labs are incredibly easy and often group work.
Fall 2023 - Professor Illes is engaging and funny in her videos, but she is brutal and cutthroat in my opinion. She basically does not tolerate late work unless your mom died. Her 90 multiple choice midterm questions (with no given study guide besides hours of rambling lectures) were written so vague and confusing and sometimes conflicted with lecture material and that was a huge scandal. The final was better, she dropped a study guide but it was vague and I basically only got a good grade because an angel student made a Quizlet. In terms of the class, GEOG 5 is a great lab GE to take, and in terms of the content it is very easy and comparable to AP Environmental Science. I took asynchronous lectures and in-person lab, so I watched 4-6 lecture videos ranging from 20-50 minutes a week, with the weekly assignment being to write 3 questions and answers per lecture video. The lab is mandatory with no makeups (depending on your TA), but the labs are incredibly easy and often group work.
Most Helpful Review
Prof Leddy has been, by far, one of the most interesting professors I've had at UCLA. He knows his stuff. He always presents (or has you read) ALL sides of an argument despite what his opinion may actually be (you can probably pick out his opinion by the witty remarks he makes here and there that usually only make 2 or 3 people laugh, me being one of them!). Prof Leddy is also really good about not shooting down students' opinions so fast. He values what every student had to say, no matter how brainless a comment is made. Tests are pretty straight forward, with some questions being semi-tricky at worst. PS- For the person who was complaining about Prof Leddy not posting notes on time... GET OVER IT!!! And for portraying him as a 'liar'? That is definitely not fair.
Prof Leddy has been, by far, one of the most interesting professors I've had at UCLA. He knows his stuff. He always presents (or has you read) ALL sides of an argument despite what his opinion may actually be (you can probably pick out his opinion by the witty remarks he makes here and there that usually only make 2 or 3 people laugh, me being one of them!). Prof Leddy is also really good about not shooting down students' opinions so fast. He values what every student had to say, no matter how brainless a comment is made. Tests are pretty straight forward, with some questions being semi-tricky at worst. PS- For the person who was complaining about Prof Leddy not posting notes on time... GET OVER IT!!! And for portraying him as a 'liar'? That is definitely not fair.
AD
1 of 2
