I took Astro 3 because my counselor advised me to take an easy GE science class... Well Astro 3 with Malkan WAS NOT an easy science class. The only reason I did well in the course was because I had taken a physics class. Compared to the other Astro 3 class, Malkan seemed like a really hard professor. I ended up with an A- in the course, but I definitely had to work for it. HOWEVER, Prof. Malkan did give us fair warning about the intensity of the class. In one of his emails, I quote "That is why my section of Astro 3 teaches it as a SCIENCE COURSE (not a course about science ideas, or history and philosophy of science). Unless you are ready to THINK SCIENTIFICALLY, you should enroll in a different section, or course."

Altogether he was a really good lecturer though. He is very passionate about the subject, so it's really amusing to watch and listen to him. Most of the material on his midterms & final are from past midterms (that he posts online with the answers to) and from the Mastering Astronomy homework.

The only nice thing about the class is that it's 5 units, and the lab that goes along with it, always gets out early (like between 1/2 and hour to an hour early).

But if you're looking for an easy Science GE, don't pick Malkan haha