ASTR 5
Life in Universe
Description: Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. No special preparation required. Topics include formation and evolution of Earth and Sun, life on Earth, origin and evolution of life, solar system, habitability, extra-solar planets, search for intelligent life in universe, and interstellar travel. Draws primarily from astronomy and biology but includes some chemistry, geology, and physics. P/NP or letter grading.
Units: 4.0
Units: 4.0
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Most Helpful Review
This was, despite being easy, the most frustrating class I've ever taken at any level of schooling. Cline is a nice guy, and a genius, but he has no business teaching an intro class, this one at least. The course boils down to two facts: the universe is really, really big, and we don't know if there's any other life in it. That's it. It's mind-bogglingly boring. If you want to raise your GPA I guess it would help, but you're going to suffer for it. Take Astro 3. You won't regret it.
This was, despite being easy, the most frustrating class I've ever taken at any level of schooling. Cline is a nice guy, and a genius, but he has no business teaching an intro class, this one at least. The course boils down to two facts: the universe is really, really big, and we don't know if there's any other life in it. That's it. It's mind-bogglingly boring. If you want to raise your GPA I guess it would help, but you're going to suffer for it. Take Astro 3. You won't regret it.
Most Helpful Review
Winter 2018 - Coming into this class, I was really interested in Astro 5: Life on other planets. The first half of the quarter was about lipids, carbohydrates, and a bunch of other things (avoiding curse words here) very indirectly related to what the topic of the course was. But that was fine. The absolute, WORST, part of this class is how unorganized and ambiguous Coriniti's slides are. He doesn't explain them that well in class either. However, I would take this class again because the second half of the class was very interesting, even though the slides didn't get any better. It was about actual other planets and solar systems, and how life/Earth/the universe was created. Nothing to do with lipids or carbohydrates. There is a small curve to make the class average a B/B+.
Winter 2018 - Coming into this class, I was really interested in Astro 5: Life on other planets. The first half of the quarter was about lipids, carbohydrates, and a bunch of other things (avoiding curse words here) very indirectly related to what the topic of the course was. But that was fine. The absolute, WORST, part of this class is how unorganized and ambiguous Coriniti's slides are. He doesn't explain them that well in class either. However, I would take this class again because the second half of the class was very interesting, even though the slides didn't get any better. It was about actual other planets and solar systems, and how life/Earth/the universe was created. Nothing to do with lipids or carbohydrates. There is a small curve to make the class average a B/B+.
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Spring 2025 - I took this GE class thinking it would be fairly easy based on reviews, but it turned out to be a bit difficult. The professor is very hard to hear/understand as he talks very quietly, often doesn't speak clearly, and has an accent, and didn't even use a microphone even though it was in a very large room. Even when I arrived early to sit in the front of the lecture hall, I could only really understand half of what he says. I would just focus on the information on the slides, but this made classes hard to engage in. If you have a strong background in biology, or other fields relating to this class, it might be pretty easy for you. But, found myself having to study a lot in order to get a good grade. Overall, there is not a lot of work for this class and the quizzes are very easy. I would only recommend if you have a decent amount of prior knowledge.
Spring 2025 - I took this GE class thinking it would be fairly easy based on reviews, but it turned out to be a bit difficult. The professor is very hard to hear/understand as he talks very quietly, often doesn't speak clearly, and has an accent, and didn't even use a microphone even though it was in a very large room. Even when I arrived early to sit in the front of the lecture hall, I could only really understand half of what he says. I would just focus on the information on the slides, but this made classes hard to engage in. If you have a strong background in biology, or other fields relating to this class, it might be pretty easy for you. But, found myself having to study a lot in order to get a good grade. Overall, there is not a lot of work for this class and the quizzes are very easy. I would only recommend if you have a decent amount of prior knowledge.
Most Helpful Review
i took this class in fall 06 and i can say it was worth it. Although his lectures can be VERY boring, the material is quite interesting. The class itself is not very hard. His homework can be tedious but at least all of the answers are in the book. Also, his exams are free response with a few multiple choice questions. If you go to lecture and skim the book while doing ur homework you will get an A.
i took this class in fall 06 and i can say it was worth it. Although his lectures can be VERY boring, the material is quite interesting. The class itself is not very hard. His homework can be tedious but at least all of the answers are in the book. Also, his exams are free response with a few multiple choice questions. If you go to lecture and skim the book while doing ur homework you will get an A.
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