This class is very difficult, but it doesn’t help that the “MCDB 138 Team,” which is composed of 2 professors and 3 TAs, give inconsistent answers. When I ask questions, the professors give contradictory statements regarding class material (for example, if something is true or false). The questions on the assessments are often very poorly worded and it’s never easy to understand what’s exactly being asked.

I had Dr. Rigueur for MCDB 138 and then MCDB 144 and she was genuinely one of the best professors that I feel like I have had at UCLA. I'll condense just some of the reasons why in just a couple of points (but seriously, there's a lot more than just this):

1. Lectures were RECORDED LIVE on Zoom and posted for being able to watch on Zoom later.
This was genuinely so helpful in being able to still have access to her lectures and teaching/explanations of lecture (which are necessary to understand/view/watch if you want to do well in this class) on days where you may be sick, have a time conflict, etc. Luv luv luv this and really helped make her class feel less stressful if I couldn't make it one day even in person as I knew it would always be there for me to watch (either live or later)
p.s. you can ask questions that she'll answer during lecture as she live broadcasts on Zoom so you can get an immediate answer to your questions :33
2. She gave SO MUCH EC
There was a lot of extra credit to go around and various opportunities to earn some that helped ease the pressure on feeling like you had to ace every midterm/final. EC was accesible and easy to do (I think for my class it was mostly just filling out your study guide which there's a huge incentive to do any ways if you want to of well on exams :3)
3. She's a VERY ACCESIBLE PROFESSOR
Dr. Rigueur had so many opportunities for office hours at even times of the day that you wouldn't expect professors to be available but times were students are normally available (like late in the afternoon) which was super helpful for people with busy schedules. She even gave us access to her office phone and numbers she could be reached at which just made it so easy to contact her if need be/if you couldn't reach her by email. Genuinely was very reassuring to have these options as I knew I never felt alone and would always have access o my professor some capacity if I needed to
4. She's SO nice
It's clear Dr. Rigueur wants you to learn and is passionate about the subjects she teaches. Lectures and the slides are long, but they are mostly pictures so you don't get bogged down by words and she explains it all. She makes herself very accesible to students, is very personable, and just super easy to talk to. I ever felt nervous going up to her after class or going to her office/office hours.

Some extra points to mention:
1. This class is extremely doable even with a loaded schedule. I was taking three other classes with this class, two of which were difficult STEM classes (one of which was a notoriously difficult upper div) and I still felt very comfortable with the workload, trust me, you can do it, you just have to study as is expected for any class at UCLA lol
2. Don't expect a super easy A, but DO expect that if you put in some effort and genuine passion/your best foot forward you WILL get a good grade. Only you know what that looks like so be honest with yourself.
3. Again luvv the recorded live Zoom lectures will never stop raving about how helpful that was if you couldn't make it to class
4. I learned sooo much in this class!! Really gives you an in depth look on development and makes you feel smart for understanding it all lol
5. She has study guides for every exam and the study guides actually represent what will be on the exam. She also has practice tests. Don't expect exams to be an exact replica of these, and don't think your study guide will save you if you don't study, but the general topics on the study guide are the same topics you'll see on the exam.

TIPS:
1. STUDY: it's not a super hard class because she doesn't make it to be, but again, don't expect an easy A
2. If you can, get the textbook as it helps put concepts together
3. Go over what you learned for the week, every week. Helps keep the info fresh because there's a lot. This also helps avoid cramming
4. For discussion I think we had to read research papers so do that. You only really need to spend an hour doing so because TA should clarify more on the papers during discussion.
5. STUDY TO UNDERSTAND, not memorize. PUHLEASEEE trust me on this (and do this for every class too lol) the more you ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND the concepts, the much better you will do. This class will not serve you well if you JUST memorize and you won't get a good grade. You really do have to think, be able to put concepts together, and use critical thinking skills on exam questions to do well (don't get me wrong there are some exam questions you can get by on with just memorization, but not all). I know not relying on memorizing can seem scary and make a class seem hard but its not-- you can do it, you're a Bruin for a reason ;3
Anyways, highly highly suggest this class for 138, super good class, lots of help available to succeed, and a clear passion and intent from the professor (and TAs TBH) for you to succeed. Good luck!!

This is my favorite class I've ever taken at UCLA, and Rigueur has been my favorite professor (I have have taken MCDB 165a, 144, 138, 180a, and 180b all with her). I have taken every class possible with her for a reason!
I think I learned more in this class than any class I've ever taken. It's the first time I actually felt like I was getting an education while in college. I felt like I walked away with my arms around the fundamentals of Cell Bio and also the basic science techniques that have taught us what we know. I credit this to Dr. Rigueur's teaching - it is so clear that her priority is that you learn the material.

Now, learning all that is taught in the class is not "easy," per se, and there's not really any way for it to be. If you are not ready to study and work hard, it may be wise to reconsider why you're taking this class/major in the first place. There's a lot to learn and that just takes time and effort.

However, I am so glad I took Dr. Rigueur for this class. It was such a great experience that I went on to take the rest of the MCDB core classes all with her. I couldn't recommend her as a professor more!

Dr. Rigueur is an outstanding professor whose passion for research and biology shines through in every lecture. I have taken her MCDB 144, MCDB 180A, and MCDB 180B courses, and she has significantly enriched my learning experience by fostering an engaging, supportive, and enriching learning environment. From the beginning, she made me feel welcomed by ensuring that every student, including myself, was recognized and included during class discussions.

MCDB 144 itself is an intensive class covering many aspects of molecular biology. However, Dr. Rigueur's lecture style is highly engaging as she is able to simplify complex concepts for students. Attending office hours is a great way to discuss material and get to know Dr. Rigueur herself. The exams were rigorous, but fair as long as you studied and understood the material well. Under Dr. Rigueur's guidance, all of the molecular biology knowledge and techniques that we learned has well prepared me for working as a research associate in a lab after graduation.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this class due to Dr. Rigueur's enthusiasm, passion, and expertise across multiple fields of biology. Not only did she teach the material effectively, but she also cultivated a supportive community that inspired growth and enthusiasm for science. I'd highly recommend taking this class with Dr. Rigueur!

Dr. Rigueur is an outstanding professor whose passion for research and biology shines through in every lecture. I have taken her MCDB 144, MCDB 180A, and MCDB 180B courses, and she has significantly enriched my learning experience by fostering an engaging, supportive, and enriching learning environment. From the beginning, she made me feel welcomed by ensuring that every student, including myself, was recognized and included during class discussions.

MCDB 144 itself is an intensive class covering many aspects of molecular biology. However, Dr. Rigueur's lecture style is highly engaging as she is able to simplify complex concepts for students. Attending office hours is a great way to discuss material and get to know Dr. Rigueur herself. The exams were rigorous, but fair as long as you studied and understood the material well. Under Dr. Rigueur's guidance, all of the molecular biology knowledge and techniques that we learned has well prepared me for working as a research associate in a lab after graduation.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this class due to Dr. Rigueur's enthusiasm, passion, and expertise across multiple fields of biology. Not only did she teach the material effectively, but she also cultivated a supportive community that inspired growth and enthusiasm for science. I'd highly recommend taking this class with Dr. Rigueur!

Dr. Rigueur is an outstanding professor whose passion for research and biology shines through in every lecture. I have taken her MCDB 144, MCDB 180A, and MCDB 180B courses, and she has significantly enriched my learning experience by fostering an engaging, supportive, and enriching learning environment. From the beginning, she made me feel welcomed by ensuring that every student, including myself, was recognized and included during class discussions.

MCDB 144 itself is an intensive class covering many aspects of molecular biology. However, Dr. Rigueur's lecture style is highly engaging as she is able to simplify complex concepts for students. Attending office hours is a great way to discuss material and get to know Dr. Rigueur herself. The exams were rigorous, but fair as long as you studied and understood the material well. Under Dr. Rigueur's guidance, all of the molecular biology knowledge and techniques that we learned has well prepared me for working as a research associate in a lab after graduation.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this class due to Dr. Rigueur's enthusiasm, passion, and expertise across multiple fields of biology. Not only did she teach the material effectively, but she also cultivated a supportive community that inspired growth and enthusiasm for science. I'd highly recommend taking this class with Dr. Rigueur!

Dr. Rigueur is an outstanding professor whose passion for research and biology shines through in every lecture. I have taken her MCDB 144, MCDB 180A, and MCDB 180B courses, and she has significantly enriched my learning experience by fostering an engaging, supportive, and enriching learning environment. From the beginning, she made me feel welcomed by ensuring that every student, including myself, was recognized and included during class discussions. Dr. Rigueur's lecture style emphasizes collaboration and teamwork, particularly through peer-editing papers, which encouraged us to voice our honest feedback to improve. As a result, I have seen significant growth in my communication and scientific writing skills.

The material assigned outside of class was thoughtfully designed. It was rigorous, but manageable which allowed me to growth as both a student and researcher without feeling overwhelmed. Under Dr. Rigueur's guidance, I improved my ability to read and comprehend primary literature which built confidence, and prepared me for graduate school.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this class due to Dr. Rigueur's enthusiasm, passion, and expertise across multiple fields of biology. Not only did she teach the material effectively, but she also cultivated a supportive community that inspired growth and enthusiasm for science.

Dr. Rigueur is an outstanding professor whose passion for research and biology shines through in every lecture. I have taken her MCDB 144, MCDB 180A, and MCDB 180B courses, and she has significantly enriched my learning experience by fostering an engaging, supportive, and enriching learning environment. From the beginning, she made me feel welcomed by ensuring that every student, including myself, was recognized and included during class discussions. Dr. Rigueur's lecture style emphasizes collaboration and teamwork, particularly through peer-editing papers, which encouraged us to voice our honest feedback to improve. As a result, I have seen significant growth in my communication and scientific writing skills.

The material assigned outside of class was thoughtfully designed. It was rigorous, but manageable which allowed me to growth as both a student and researcher without feeling overwhelmed. Under Dr. Rigueur's guidance, I improved my ability to read and comprehend primary literature which built confidence, and prepared me for graduate school.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this class due to Dr. Rigueur's enthusiasm, passion, and expertise across multiple fields of biology. Not only did she teach the material effectively, but she also cultivated a supportive community that inspired growth and enthusiasm for science.

Professor Rigueur is one of the worst professors I have ever taken a class with. The content of the class itself was interesting, but Rigueur ruined the course for me. First of all, our first midterm was a ridiculous length for being handwritten in-person, and almost every student I talked to had trouble finishing the entire exam. Rigueur released the grades for this exam one of two ways: 1. you had to go to her office hours and stand there while she graded it (while other students were present in the room) or 2. wait until the day before the second midterm for the grades to be posted on Canvas. The grades for our second quiz, which was taken in the middle of the quarter, and several of our weekly assignments were posted during winter break, showing her complete lack of timeliness when it came to grading. She did not let the TAs assist her in grading exams, causing them to be in the dark for almost every question students had about logistics for this class. Rigueur's know-it-all personality and holier-than-thou attitude (she made it clear on the first day that she was apparently titled "Distinguished" Professor Rigueur) made me feel so unwelcome to seek her help, and I cannot see myself wanting to take a class with her ever again unless forced against my will.

Rigueur demonstrates a complete disrespect for her students' time. After leaving students in the dark for 4 weeks about their first midterm scores, she decided they could only find out their score in office hours for an extra week. She made these office hours at a relatively inaccessible time (long weekend, late in the evening Friday/parents' weekend/night before second midterm/etc). Those who did go to her office hours stood in a long line while she only let a few people in at a time. Most exams were not graded, so the few students in the office at a time would close their eyes while their exams were graded and then she would let them view it. Basically, this was simply just a strategy for her to get the exams done as she didn't grade them for the past 4 weeks, likely paying extra attention to her research and not the other parts of her job. This is also a completely biased and unfair grading method. And in addition to having no way of knowing your grade when it actually matters, you won't know how to calculate it because she couldn't even be bothered to create an updated syllabus. Her idea of an updated syllabus was to just fill in the correct exam dates, but those didn't even match what dates we actually ended up having the exam.

She loves to make empty promises, often saying in lecture that the grades would be posted, but not post them for at least a week later. This happened for both midterms, with midterm 2 grades being posted right before the final exam opened. She also did this with the final study guide, claiming on week 10 Tuesday that it will be posted right after lecture and she ended up posting it one day before the final exam opened after ignoring countless emails from students and the TAs. The final study guide was also labeled for MCDB 144. It's ok to teach multiple classes, but it's stupid and disrespectful to our time and effort that she couldn't even change the title of a PDF that it took her over a week and 100 reminders to post. Also, it demonstrates that she doesn't even change her curriculum between classes that much.

Her TAs are not allowed to help her and do not have any information about what's going on with grading or any information about exam details. I often begged my TA for information throughout the week leading up to exams and they had no clue what was going on, simply because it was not communicated with them. She did not post any announcements about exam details (that were often changed) and everything for this class was constantly left up in the air. Our second quiz, taken in early November, was graded today (12/23), which is the deadline for submitting final grades. If you can't handle grading, then delegate like a normal person or don't make exams in that format. It's part of your job description to get grading done somehow and keep your materials up to date. She excuses herself from all aspects of her job that aren't research by saying "I have a life too guys." Ok? So do the rest of us. I could have screamed when I heard that one.

She expects you to accommodate your time to her constantly canceled and rescheduled office hours and wait until the last second to have material to study (because her in class material is useless). Her lectures are unorganized and do not provide relevant information to the course or info to answer what is put on the study guides, leaving most people to self teach themselves and making going to lecture to hear her fragmented sentences and listen to her horrible Zoom recording and babbling about her research an utter waste of time.

The only thing that matters to her is her research, which she makes clear from the get-go. She also likes to brag about being a distinguished professor, which makes her immediately unlikeable, as you will realize within a couple weeks of lecture from her laziness and inability to form coherent, organized slides/content is a title she is not qualified for. She will act all special, lure you in with the appearance of organization. Then, you will realize she's just some fake, high and mighty lady who could possibly be one of the most disrespectful and annoying professors you will encounter at UCLA (unless you have Amber Reilly for any Ochem class).

The only thing good about this class was that we were not required to sit through lecture, which ranged from sleep-inducing to outright painful. Of course, this was a lose-lose situation, as her lecture recordings are taken from her computer on Zoom and she often walks away from the camera so you can't hear her, doesn't show her whiteboard drawings, and cuts off any announcements. Long story short, hold off on taking this class for anyone else. She will not help you unless it fits her agenda (and many things do not fit) and she does not care. Don't listen to the bots that wrote a good review for all her classes. Yes, you could do well in the class, but you'll be constantly angry and confused.