Fessler's class on Human Behavioral Sexuality has been one of my favorite classes at UCLA. He explains the material in a way that is easy to understand, but you should definitely do the readings first before going to class! Not that I always did, but I'd go back afterwards -- the readings are definitely required.

One thing I'd suggest, though, is recording lecture! Fessler does not use slides, and most of the information he gives is verbal and easy to miss. Friends or having someone to trade notes with is also good in case you both might have missed something. That's not to say Fessler's boring, though - he can be pretty funny.

Before the midterm and the final, he gives you a list of all of the possible questions that will be on the exam. They're very doable as long as you've been caught up with the work. Answers are not simply taken from lecture; you'll need to think through the theories presented in class and apply them logically. Also, the top 15 scorers on the final get an automatic A in case you do badly on the midterm and really strive for that A.

On a personal level, I really felt like I began to understand myself in this class. By learning about human behavior, I realized that my attitudes and behavior are, while not necessarily always moral (do not give into the naturalistic fallacy!), well, normal! And you just learn so much about the why humans have come to behave the way they do. So in all, this really was a rewarding class.

I am not an Anthropology major or in a biological or psychological (or anything else related) major. But I did get an A+ in this class, so don't let the bad reviews suggesting you have a background in the topic deter you.

I thought that Fessler was one of the best professors I've had at UCLA. Although it was annoying to have the quizzes at the beginning of class, I always wanted to go to the lectures. The lecture material was more useful and interesting than the readings, Fessler is a pretty great lecturer. The readings are sometimes very lengthy and boring (at least for me). Also, he gives out the questions for the midterm and final beforehand, what more could you ask for?

As far as the class goes, going to lecture and discussion, and then really studying the study guide before the midterm and final should get you the grade you want. Before each test, I would write out the key points for each question so when taking the test, I would be able to answer each question without hesitation. Sometimes the grading can be kind of annoying because the TA's will take off points for really trivial things, so make sure you study everything carefully and accurately. Personally, I scored a B on the midterm, a B- on the final, a low-ish quiz score, and a perfect discussion score. But ended up with a solid A in the class because he gives out A's to the top 15 scorers in the class on the final...I felt so lucky. So Fessler does reward you if you study well for the final.

As a north campus major (political science), reading these reviews really worried me but I took Fessler's class anyway, and I can honestly say it was my favorite class that I have taken in my four years at UCLA. Also doesn't hurt that I came out with an A.

Your grade is going to be based on comprehension. Read: memorization is not going to help you here. So, for you north campus majors, if you think back to high school and had to strain to understand what what going on in biology, this is not the class for you. At the same time, this isn't hard science so a very basic understanding of the logic of biological processes is all you need. Note "logic". If you've forgotten all you learned in high school biology but remember it coming pretty easy to you, you should be fine. You don't need to be some fancy premed to do well in this class.

Fessler curves, but I can't remember whether he curves at a C+ or a B-. The grade is based on a midterm, a final, quizzes, and section participation. Quizzes are based on the readings. They consist of one question and are given at the beginning of class (as in, if you are 30 seconds late you will miss the quiz). The quizzes do take some thought but if you have done the readings you should get the answers pretty easy. The readings are not very long and they get even shorter as the class goes on, plus they are very interesting.

He gives you the midterm and final questions ahead of time, and if you have really been paying attention and understanding the logic of his explanations, they aren't too difficult. The real difficulty of the exams is in being able to write fast enough during the time allotted. That being said, I would highly recommend forming a study group as there are a few question in which he pushes you to think outside of the information given in lecture, and on these questions it is easy to go wrong.

In conclusion: high recommended. You don't have to have to be a south campus major but you do have to be capable of processing science-y logic.

I am a third year and I entered the quarter with a 3.94 cumm GPA. I was on time to every single class, took fantastic notes (which I shared with half-a-dozen other class members), read every single assigned reading, took every single quiz, and spent a minimum of 50 hours studying for the final alone (absolutely no exaggeration.) I received a C+ grade in the course. Professor Fessler gives out the questions for the mid-term and final ahead of time. The struggle isn't the answer to these questions though, but rather dissecting between their wordiness and superior vocabulary to identify what the question is actually asking. In retrospect, I almost feel as though he is an intentionally bad test maker to compensate for the fact that he is an absolutely fantastic Professor.It's true- the combination of his ability to accurately assign applicable and interesting readings, his pure genius talent as a lecturer in which he unfailingly gives his students concurrent sore cheeks from laughing and a sore brain from critically thinking upon the commencement of every class period, and his sheer brilliance creates a class in which students actually learn a TON, work very hard, and enjoy it. Yet in his attempt to produce grades that accurately reflect those of other courses (ones which DO NOT posses this rare combination that so effectively teaches) he decides to rain on his masterpiece by creating tests that measure ones ability to dissemble a puzzling question at the expense of accurately measuring ones knowledge of the actual course material. Hence, students as myself receive an average grade which inaccurately represents our true understanding of the course material. In summary, I have learned SO much that has forever improved who I am and how I see the world insomuch that makes the substandard mark on my transcript worth it. If you are at UCLA to get an education, this is your course. If you are at UCLA to get a degree, RUN!

Looking for an experience in anthropology, take this class. Insight on the material is fascinating. Hands out midterm and final questions ahead of time.

Hands down the one of the best and most interesting professor in the Anthropology Department. If you need to fulfill your 120 requirement for your Anthro degree, definitely take Fessler, because he makes this class worthwhile. You'll be blown away by the information you learn and it is much more interesting than the other 120 series courses, I should know I've taken them. I made the mistake thinking that the others would be as interesting as this course, but I was wrong, because you need to be interested in a course to do well, and with Fessler's readings and lectures, you'll never be bored considering the classes are early in the morning. Also, he gives you the midterm questions and final questions beforehand. How can you possibly do bad in this class? I had some classmates who came to the midterm and final saying they were just going to "wing it." Honestly, I was expecting this class to be torture, but it was a pleasant surprise. Don't miss your opportunity to take this course. It gets better along the way.

Phenomenal professor. If you came here to get an education, this is where you'll get it. The course might SEEM tough, but if you stick it out, you will see the rewards.

This was by far the best class i've taken at ucla. every one of his lectures was extremely interesting. He's funny and a nerd. He stands on a table and talks the entire time. rarely uses a projector. The class is based on a midterm and final and a few quizzes he randomly gives out. For both the midterm and final he gives a list of questions the week before and he will ask like 5 of them for the test. so if you memorize all the answers on the sheet you'll do really well. The stuff I learned in this class made me think differently about the way we live. I can't say that for many classes.

I don't know why people are complaining. This was seriously the EASIEST Class i've taken at UCLA. HE gives you the possible questions for the midterm and final, what more can anyone ask for? If you prepare for the tests you'll do great! Great topic and such an easy A!! Take this class!!!!

124P was a challenging class, but it was VERY do-able. The reading is not a lot, but you need to read them, preferably on a consistent basis, rather than cramming it all last minute. He really tells you what you need to know, so in lecture, you should take very complete notes. The material is interesting, and he presents it in an interesting way. If you pay attention during the lecture, you remember a lot of it, even without reviewing your notes. Some complain that the grading on the test is not fair, but I don't think this is true. Let's just say I was 50 minutes late to the midterm (with a little less than 25 minutes to do the rest), and I still got the average score. It's important to take advantage of the fact that he gives you the questions 1 week before the test. Memorize the key points for each question. Find a study group to go over the questions, so that the answers are more complete. Or you can just split up the questions, so that there's less work to do. Then, go over the answers together. The way to get all the points on the test is to make sure you put down relevant details to the question. Don't jump a point in the thought, relate everything to fitness, and it should be fine! I will warn you though, sometimes you're not sure of your answers, which is stressful! Just talk to a couple of others to get their idea on it. Another warning: he is an arrogant person, and it comes across in his lectures. It made it somewhat harder to come to class, but it's fine as long as you focus more on the material. In conclusion, if you want a challenging class that requires thinking, or "critical thinking", take the class. If you're honest in your effort (and I don't mean cramming effort!!), then you will enjoy the class!