This class is super easy until the final. The midterm, homework, and extra credit were very straightforward, and then the final was very confusing and didn't have much relevant content on it. The final was pretty hard so I was thinking that the class would be curved, but it wasn't (probably unlike other quarters). I had an A until the very last day of class and ended up with a B+ because of the final, so you have to make sure you know everything. The class is pretty fair other than that, and even though jean-luc and tina aren't always the most engaging, that doesn't matter because you don't need to go to class to do well (slides are posted). They require a "textbook" for the class, kind of like a small book, but you don't have to read that either because the tests/homework don't have any questions about the book. tldr; the class is pretty easy but be weary of getting screwed by the final.

One of the easiest GEs I've taken at UCLA. Can get slightly difficult in the middle of the class when you start doing a lot of biology and chemistry, but no prior knowledge of it is necessary. JLM & Prof. Treude do a great job of explaining a lot of the difficult concepts in this class. They are both extremely easygoing and the tests are incredibly easy. Extra credit is offered as well.

I thought this class was by far one the most interesting class's I've taken at UCLA thus far. It is a lot of information that is being thrown at you. The homework assignments take 5 minutes to do if simply just pay attention in class (15 if you go through the slideshow. The exams aren't hard.

I am honestly confused by everyone saying that this class is hard...the expectations are totally clear and reasonable. The whole reason we take GEs is to be basically proficient in multiple areas. I don't know how you are expecting to be a contributing member of society if you can't take the time to understand science on this low of a level. I found the class to be interesting and the work load was the lowest out of any GE I've taken at UCLA-including humanities. Both the final and midterm were cake if you just went over the slides and took the time to understand them.

I disagree with the reviews, this class is not easy, and Professor Treude does not make it any easier. She has a monotone voice and puts you to sleep. Going to class was pointless since all the the lectures were off a powerpoint that was just read and not explained. Professor Margot makes the lectures a tad bit more interesting but going to class seemed like a drag. The midterm was a lot easier than the final but the only way to pass the class is studying and grasping the material on your own, otherwise you will be lost and confused. The TAs taught me better than the actual professors did.

Overall, this class was tough in terms of tests but the curve was very generous.
Lecture: First half of the quarter was taught by prof. Truede, who was very nice but imo pretty boring. I only went to about 3/10 lectures, since powerpoints were uploaded. However, I would receive emails explaining answers to questions that were asked in class that she might not have known, so very helpful in that sense.
The second half of the quarter was taught by prof. Margot, who wasn't super engaging, but had great material and engaging enough for me to go to most of the lectures. What I liked about Margot was that it was more than him teaching material. Every lecture and the class as a whole had a bigger picture, as he wanted to give his kids a genuine interest in the class and change their habits w/pollution, scientific thinking, etc.
Discussions: Really awesome TAs as a whole, my quarter at least. Really knowledgeable and helpful. You have one homework due a week and they drop your lowest two grades, so its a 100% if you look over the slides and don't overthink. Plus, homework was worth 40% of your grade so...
Tests: Not easy, but manageable. First half was on Tina's lectures, which is pretty much memorization. She bolds the important things in her slides so you just go over that, shouldn't be too hard, I managed a A- and never went to lectures. The final was not cumulative and only on the second half. However, Margot had a much harder test. The test average dropped by a lot to a D or so, I got a C-. However, Margot emailed us saying he made the test much harder than usual, apologized, and said he curved us generously, giving me a solid A in the class.
Overall: Really enjoyed this class, not too hard as long as you study, and pretty interesting material. Not a must take, but a easier GE that is a pretty light workload. The curve at the end should help you out a lot, so don't worry too much but still study hard and the tests should be manageable if not easy.

Professor Margot is great at explaining and it shows he really loves what he does. A really nice and approachable professor - clearly cares that the students do well. For people who aren't scientifically inclined (like myself), this course may be challenging. It's not the easiest GE but honestly really interesting. The midterm was easy but the final was much harder & he curved it at the end. Overall would recommend just be ready to learn a little math, physics, and chem along with the general topic (the earth and our universe).

First half of the class is mainly biology (with ties to astronomy), whereas the second half is more purely astronomy.

Teaching: Both had organized and visually appealing slides. While I initially found her boring, I came to appreciate the effort and passion she has for her field. JLM is more engaging and funny, but both are solid professors.

Homework: Simple! Multiple choice, matching, fill in the blank, short 1 or 2 sentence answers. 40% of the grade, able to drop lowest 2 of 8 scores.

Textbook: "Astrobiology: A Very Short Introduction" Tiny $10 book but covered the content of the course quite well. Could forego; they only ask a couple questions from the book on both exams.

Exams: Treude's midterm was quite straightforward and most of us did really well. However, JLM's final was a nightmare. I couldn't believe some of the questions he asked because there were a few definition or memorization questions that were barely discussed (if at all. And then the majority of questions were conceptual and IMO unnecessarily difficult. Questions from the book were also extremely obscure...

I really don't understand why the questions on the final were not more representative of the time and effort put into certain subjects of the course. I got a 90 on the midterm and 71 on the final. To put this into perspective, 158 students out of 422 got a 90 or above on the midterm, and only ONE MEASLY KID got a 90 or above on the final. And only 38 students on the midterm got below a 70 versus 271 on the final. I expected better out of JLM.

I do not feel like my score represented my actual knowledge of the material, and that's the worst feeling! I expected to kill this final and get an A+ in the class overall, especially considering that I did the extra credit too. Yes, I still got an A, but it's disappointing to feel cheated by a terribly written final. There is still a generous curve - my friend got a C+ on the midterm and D+ on the final (which was below/above average respectively) and ended up with an A-. However, don't let the other reviews fool you into thinking you can get an A+ while doing nothing. While there is very little daily work, the astronomy portion will require some effort.

As a lover of astronomy, I really appreciated the class as a whole. But man, that final... X_X.

Homework: Really easy. It's like one page of multiple choice questions due every week and you get to drop 2 of them at the end of the quarter.

Tests: The midterm and final are both multiple choice and not that hard. Both were not incredibly easy (averages in the 70s), but the curve at the end of the quarter is amazing. I got a B on the Midterm and a C on the final and had an A in the class.

Lectures: Professor Margot's lectures are great. He is an interesting guy and cares a lot about the class. The other professor, Professor Treude, was very boring.

Discussion: These discussions are required because you have to turn homework in. My TA was bad, but not all of them were.

Overall: Take this class. It's an easy A and it's really interesting. Professor Margot is fantastic and he even offers an extra credit opportunity if you go to a museum during the quarter. I cannot stress enough that you should take this class.

JLM was absolutely terrific. He had a great presence in class and his lectures were pretty fun to attend. Great class, great material, great professor.

The co-instructor Tina Treude should be commended for her efforts as well.