Really easy science GE for anyone looking for one. Seriously, this is a really easy class. Personally, I had a knowledge and liking for dinosaurs since early childhood, but even if you have no idea what a dinosaur is, this is still an easy class. The lab TA I had (Erik) was also really easy, he virtually tells you the answer to every question on the lab during lab sessions. Overall, if you're looking for the easiest GE ever, this is just the class for that.

Took this class in Spring 2020 so it was fully online. This was easily one of the coolest classes I've taken at UCLA. Professor Brown makes learning about dinosaurs so enjoyable. The workload is minimal, the labs are honestly so fun, and the content is fascinating. I totally recommend this class if you're looking to take it as a GE like I did, or even just for fun!

Professor Caitlin Brown is a good professor who cares about the subject and her students. I would love to take another class with her, if it would count towards my major. I petitioned to take this class and it was an incredibly good decision. THIS CLASS IS NOT ONLY ABOUT DINOSAURS, IT IS MOSTLY ABOUT THE HISTORY AND OVERALL REVIEW OF PALEONTOLOGICAL HISTORY AND METHODS PALEONTOLOGISTS USE TO DATE ROCKS AND FOSSILS AND PLACE THEM IN SPACE IN TIME. This class goes over some really interesting stuff that I became even more passionate about as time went on, and Professor Brown made it more engaging. My criticisms of this professor are that her lectures are pretty dense, but the slides are really good for helping and following along, and reviewing. The labs were a big chunk of class, but to me, the content was super engaging and fun to learn, I wish I could have learned more but being online takes away from the rock examination portion of the class, no feeling for texture, orientating them correctly, seeing large vs small grained rocks, etc.. What I did not like is that most of the assignments in this class were groupwork to randomly assigned groups, and I have to say, I really did not like that, it actively detracted from a class I love and held me back intellectually, which was huge for me. I left lab early once out of frustration with my partners. Thankfully my TA, Deep, let me work in a group with some people I was compatible with. She assigns a really engaging and easy-to-read textbook, the 6th extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert. I would say that this class is a little bit too heavy on the homework, with 9 labs, 2 review papers, 2 lecture exams, and 2 lab exams, with 3 labs, 1 final, 1 lab exam, and 1 paper due in the last 2 weeks, in fact, allowing for an adequate time for labs to be completed thoroughly, some assignments were even due during spring break. I didn't have enough time to submit the final paper with all I had going on academically. I appreciated that there was a pre-uploaded syllabus because I needed it to petition for the class LOL. All tests, and assignments were fairly graded and ask fair questions, a bit on the lenient side for the labs I would say, but I haven't gotten a lot of grades back as of now, March 26th. Overall, take this class but be prepared for a bit more work than average.

While the concept of dinosaurs seems cool in general, I found this class to be extremely tedious and boring after a while. There also is a lot of memorize if this class were in person. For an online GE that will not stress you out much, it is not a bad choice. I did not really do the readings and I stopped attending lecture and I ended up in the A range of things. She is an extremely sweet professor but after seven weeks of extremely condensed information on dinosaurs and evolution, I reached my breaking point and could not go to class any further.
As classes become more in person, however, I think this is a way harder class than most are making it out to be. The labs are quite long and the information you need to memorize is very hype specific and dull. For a pass/no pass class, it is very manageable though.

Took this during COVID19 and hands down was the easiest class I had. Relatively, I did not have to study that much and was able to just skim the lecture and powerpoint slides the prof posted during both the midterm and final.

If you are looking for an easy GE, this is it.

No, this class was not an easy GE, but it is an easy science course. The weekly lab quizzes were doable, along with the lab assignments and outside work. Expect to put in a lot of work and time studying. The midterm and final were quite difficult I will say. If I hadn't studied I would have gotten a low grade, but as I studied for hours a week before each test, it was fine. Brown is a funny and engaging professor, do take this class if you need the Physical Science GE or find this content even remotely interesting!

Dr. Brown is an absolutely brilliant woman. There are few dinosaurs in this class, but it was still one of the most interesting and well-structured classes I've ever taken at UCLA. There are no curveballs on exams—everything you expect to be on them will be on them. The labs are super cool because you get to hold actual fossils!

Take this class!

SUCH A COOL CLASS! take this for your GE. So much extra credit is offered, and in labs you just look at dinosaur fossils / bones of other animals. There are weekly easy reading quizzes, and a cumulative in-person final.

If you're looking for a great GE, 10/10 recommend this one, if you're into dinosaurs of course. Every lecture was really fascinating and easy to digest, Dr. Brown has one of the most engaging lectures I've seen on campus. There are labs, which can be hard, but if you get a good TA there's lots of chances for help and guidance. The final wasn't that bad as long as you study the materials given and paid attention to the lectures. It wasn't the easiest class ever, you still do have to study and put in some work, but if you like the material it makes it a lot easier. Really fun class and you do learn a LOT about dinos.

This is the second class I've taken with Professor Brown and this class met my expectations as she is an engaging professor! Lectures were not mandatory and podcasted (no video), but she posts very detailed slides you can follow. It can be difficult to know what exactly she expects you to know as some of the exam questions were on small details but as long as you follow her learning objectives and study guides, you should be fine! The class was divided into three in-person exams, each noncumulative and each acted as a midterm (two during the normal quarter and one during finals week), and discussion assignments. Discussion assignments consisted of some weeks where you read a paper and reflect; the other weeks were group case study presentations for which you did not need to do any homework. Just show up and participate in the discussion and you'll be fine besides for the week your group is assigned to present. This class was very chill especially if you did the case study in the earlier weeks and never worried too much about it! Take this class with Professor Brown!