SOC GEN 188
Special Courses in Society and Genetics
Description: Seminar, three hours. Departmentally sponsored experimental or temporary courses on selected topics, such as those taught by visiting faculty members. May be repeated for credit with topic change. Letter grading.
Units: 0.0
Units: 0.0
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Most Helpful Review
Winter 2016 - This is an extraordinary class that you won’t find anywhere else. The lectures were amazing. Dr. Allard presented cutting-edge research (including his own - he’s humble about it:) as well as classic cases in gene and environment interaction. We learnt why different people process alcohol differently or get different effects from chemical exposure, why some people may get sick from eating red meat, while others don’t, about the genetic predisposition to melanoma, connection between the genome and microbiome and many more aspects of GxE. For each GxE issue we looked at biochemical pathways which were pretty complex, but Dr. Allard explained and clarified the nuances. We looked critically at many research papers, analyzed the results and discussed their validity. Some topics were challenging for me, because I’m not a science major, but Dr. Allard was helpful and understanding. He made the class engaging and fun. There was a lot of conceptual learning, memorization and hard work. Dr. Allard was always available to answer any questions and consult about our research. He really required everyone to be logical, sound and detailed in our papers and presentations. He gave me constructive feedback on how to improve and organize my work. Overall, the class expanded my horizons, and I learned a lot. A truly innovative and unique course.
Winter 2016 - This is an extraordinary class that you won’t find anywhere else. The lectures were amazing. Dr. Allard presented cutting-edge research (including his own - he’s humble about it:) as well as classic cases in gene and environment interaction. We learnt why different people process alcohol differently or get different effects from chemical exposure, why some people may get sick from eating red meat, while others don’t, about the genetic predisposition to melanoma, connection between the genome and microbiome and many more aspects of GxE. For each GxE issue we looked at biochemical pathways which were pretty complex, but Dr. Allard explained and clarified the nuances. We looked critically at many research papers, analyzed the results and discussed their validity. Some topics were challenging for me, because I’m not a science major, but Dr. Allard was helpful and understanding. He made the class engaging and fun. There was a lot of conceptual learning, memorization and hard work. Dr. Allard was always available to answer any questions and consult about our research. He really required everyone to be logical, sound and detailed in our papers and presentations. He gave me constructive feedback on how to improve and organize my work. Overall, the class expanded my horizons, and I learned a lot. A truly innovative and unique course.
Most Helpful Review
Spring 2025 - Dr. Carr is a great Professor, though this isn't your typical cookie-cutter UCLA course. She lectures for the whole period, with some writing on the board, but no slides. You're expected to listen and keep up with fast-paced and complex concepts, and really need to do the readings to engage and understand class. Some classes were audio-recorded, but going to class was definitely mandatory to understand what was happening. There was a group final creative project, and a blue-book midterm. The workload was a bit heavy at times, mostly with long dense readings, but Professor Carr was super open to student feedback. She wants everyone to engage and succeed, and is a lenient grader on tests if you have a general understanding of things. This course pushed me as a human and as a learner, to reevaluate the power structures and academic institutions around me, and genuinely gave me a deeper perspective of the world, science, and how the military is deeply intertwined with so many parts of civilian experience that we don't know. The political theory was really challenging, but also pushed me to understand power structures and how consent is manufactured. It seems from other reviews that this course continues to be improved upon, and is quite relevant in current political times. If you're looking for an easy class to check out and scroll on your computer, this is not it, but it's not hard to do well in this class if you just do the readings and apply yourself. Professor Carr isn't expecting perfection, just engagement. I'd also highly recommend going to OH and chatting with her, cause she is hilarious and really kind.
Spring 2025 - Dr. Carr is a great Professor, though this isn't your typical cookie-cutter UCLA course. She lectures for the whole period, with some writing on the board, but no slides. You're expected to listen and keep up with fast-paced and complex concepts, and really need to do the readings to engage and understand class. Some classes were audio-recorded, but going to class was definitely mandatory to understand what was happening. There was a group final creative project, and a blue-book midterm. The workload was a bit heavy at times, mostly with long dense readings, but Professor Carr was super open to student feedback. She wants everyone to engage and succeed, and is a lenient grader on tests if you have a general understanding of things. This course pushed me as a human and as a learner, to reevaluate the power structures and academic institutions around me, and genuinely gave me a deeper perspective of the world, science, and how the military is deeply intertwined with so many parts of civilian experience that we don't know. The political theory was really challenging, but also pushed me to understand power structures and how consent is manufactured. It seems from other reviews that this course continues to be improved upon, and is quite relevant in current political times. If you're looking for an easy class to check out and scroll on your computer, this is not it, but it's not hard to do well in this class if you just do the readings and apply yourself. Professor Carr isn't expecting perfection, just engagement. I'd also highly recommend going to OH and chatting with her, cause she is hilarious and really kind.
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Most Helpful Review
Fall 2016 - Honestly, I didn't care for her Soc Gen 188 seminar on Reproduction and Reproductive Technologies. The subject matter is very interesting, and I definitely learned something from the class, but sitting in section was actually painful. She speaks for most of the time and when she wants answers to her questions, she expects you to know an exact line from one of her 40 page readings that she assigns; if you're not exactly right, she tends to shoot you down. She seems like a sweet lady overall but she's frustrating at times. The grade breakdown consists of a group project, participation, and a final project (usually a research paper). The group project was the only day that I really enjoyed, and she brought a breakfast for the class, which was nice of her. I'd say that I could've gotten an A if I didn't procrastinate on my paper.
Fall 2016 - Honestly, I didn't care for her Soc Gen 188 seminar on Reproduction and Reproductive Technologies. The subject matter is very interesting, and I definitely learned something from the class, but sitting in section was actually painful. She speaks for most of the time and when she wants answers to her questions, she expects you to know an exact line from one of her 40 page readings that she assigns; if you're not exactly right, she tends to shoot you down. She seems like a sweet lady overall but she's frustrating at times. The grade breakdown consists of a group project, participation, and a final project (usually a research paper). The group project was the only day that I really enjoyed, and she brought a breakfast for the class, which was nice of her. I'd say that I could've gotten an A if I didn't procrastinate on my paper.
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