Whether or not you should take LS 15 with Professor Phelan depends on what you want out of a GE.

If you take GEs to learn about topics that interest you: Take this class! By far the most engaging and interesting GE I have ever taken at UCLA. Every week of lecture has at least one or two things that are applicable to your everyday life. Phelan himself is cool and quirky and tells lots of interesting stories.

If you take GEs to boost your PGA: Do NOT take this class. Compared to other GEs (even other science GEs ) this is a tough class. The exams consist of tricky multiple choice questions and short answers that require you use specific words or phrases to get full credit. I've never got anything but an A in a GE but I fully expect to receive a B/B+ in this class.

I found this class to be very rewarding but it is not what most of the reviews make you think: you will have to work hard and study hard to get an A in this class. I think it is worth it.

Take this class if you can!! Phelan is AMAZING professor and this is the one class I've taken so far that I didn't mind actually going to lecture. He is funny and even though it's a huge class size, he's super engaging with his students. The midterm and final are a bit challenging but you'll do fine if you show up to lecture, and the weekly quizzes are easy and come right off the practice sets.

This class was one of the best classes I've taken so far at UCLA. Selling the required textbook "What Is Life" 4th edition, Mean Genes, and the answers to the problem sets which are our weekly quizzes in discussion. Text me at ********** to negotiate prices!

One of the best classes I've taken at UCLA, a great professor and the material is about things everyone is interested in.

This class was very interesting! Dr. Phelan is a great professor and I totally recommend taking this course! There are just weekly quizzes but study the problem set of that week and you will be fine!

I am selling the What is Life? Edition 4 textbook and Mean Genes book required for the course. If interested please email *************

Professor Phelan is the best professor I've had at UCLA! YOU MUST TAKE THIS CLASS! He is hilarious and gives you free Diddy Reise cookies for attending his review sessions. However, the midterm and final are challenging! I suggest reading the book in addition to attending his engaging lectures! There is also a group presentation in discussion worth a lot of points

I took this class my first quarter at UCLA, heard it was an easy GE so figured I would be fine just not studying. This was very much not true. I really didnt pay attention, although I did all of the homeworks and assignments, I did poorly on the tests and therefore ended up with a bad grade in the class. He is an interesting professor and is very engaging, you just really have to pay attention, if like me, you do not have a great knowledge of science to begin with.

I am not a science person but I loved this class. The discussion sections I found to be pretty boring, but I think it really depends on your TA. Dr. Phelan's lectures, though, were always fantastic. He's clear, funny, and you can tell he really cares about the class and the material. Since this is a GE intended for non-science majors, he could easily just rush through the material and not give the class his full attention since not many kids will wind up majoring in it, but he doesn't-- you can really tell that he just wants to make people excited about the subject. He gives very clear review sessions before the exams, and I think they're tough but fair. Would definitely recommend if you're looking for a good GE.

LS15 is an amazing class! Phelan's lecture material is engaging, and his slides are all handwritten so they make for great notes when you write them down for yourself during class. He has plenty of funny anecdotes that will help your remember the material!
As for the midterm and final, they are pretty tough. He offers review sessions before each of them, and they're very helpful if you take the time to create study guides based off of them. I received Cs on both exams, but the curve tends to be pretty generous, so I got an A- in the class overall (a group extra credit project really helped.)
Take this class & you will not regret it, especially if you're not a science person trying to fulfill the life science GE requirement!

Great professor and easy class!
Selling the textbook for $60.
Please email me at *************