It's a damn shame he's leaving... I took Dr. Chang for 30A and after dealing with Felker the quarter before, this was a complete turnaround. He took a subject as intimidating as organic chemistry and made it clear as day. His sense of humor helped liven up the class and made the subject even more manageable. Further, he was extremely approachable and helpful in office hours, and held review sessions before each exam.

There were 3 exams which comprised 99% of your grade (25% for both midterms, 49% final) as well as 1% for an online instructor evaluation. The test were totally fair, covering the material he had taught and not pulling things out of the blue. He also sent out practice tests which were extremely helpful.

Until now, the best experience I've had in chemistry here at UCLA.

He is an awesome lecturer and great teacher. He does go really fast during lecture, so it's important that you review everything otherwise you'll get lost once you hit week 6-7 when you start mechanisms, like I did. He spends a long time on review at the beginning which is weird, but I guess if you don't have a good foundation in that then it's helpful review. Unfortunately I didn't do well in that class because I didn't put in the time, but he is an awesome professor and definitely wants to get to know you. As far as tests, I don't think I have the right to comment on them, except to say that he is not one of those professors that gives much partial credit because you either know it or you don't.

Chang is a brilliant teacher and I felt like I got the best possible foundation in ochem from his 30A course. He posts super clear, organized lecture notes on CCLE before each lecture, which are basically what he writes on the board in class. Luckily he doesn’t replicate the book on the chalkboard, and he stresses mechanism and synthesis concepts. But as a warning, his class is fast paced and 30A is structured crazily—all of SN and E in less than two weeks before the final!! That’s the textbook’s fault, but it turned out Chang’s fast pace gave us ample time for review before the final exam and that saved me.

Even though he posts notes, you have to go to class every day to get the Jonah Chang experience. Not only will Chang remember your name and answer your questions, but he is honestly the funniest prof I’ve had— I remember one of his witty lines had the WHOLE lecture hall in hysterics for at least a full minute. Legendary. But having said that, his 30A course was no joke. I had to study hard to pull off an A. His exams are fair and well written, strictly graded and you MUST be confident in organic synthesis or else. But his synthesis problems are so good, even though I later had 30B with different prof, I studied Chang’s 30B exams from a friend, and with that practice I went to set the curve in 30B! So rest assured that Chang will give you a top quality education in ochem.

His exam review sessions are essential. Go to them to fill your “synthesis toolbox”, as he used to say: he decomposes the massive number of reactions into clear categories, and even throws out a few hints on what to study. Overall, Chang is an unforgettable teacher who makes the famously tough subject of ochem both understandable and fun. Bottom line: if you’re lucky enough, take him.

Side note: Tioga Martin is the best ochem TA--definitely go to his sections if you have him.

Dr. Chang is the best professor I have had at UCLA. The first day of class he was extremely friendly, so I decided to go to his office hours. Not only was he a good teacher in class, but he was even better in office hours. There was a large group of us who would attend these OH, and I couldn't believe the effort he put in to actually learn our names. Honestly, he is an outstanding teacher. Unlike many lectures at UCLA, falling asleep in his was impossible. He kept my attention the whole time. He created a lot of class participation with the 350 students in my class. It was quite impressive, especially when he started calling out people by name. I know this man truly cares about his students, because he respected us like no other professor I’ve had before. By the end of the class, it even felt normal and acceptable to call him by his first name, Jonah. (Now how often does that happen for having a professor for 10 weeks in a class of 350?)

This cat is the most boss chemistry prof I've had at UCLA in terms of approachability. Ironically, I never did approach him (other than shaking his hand after the final), but I can say that what helped me want to learn the material was his wonderful sense of humor and his genuine aura as an educator. By the latter, I mean that he really wants you to learn, and, if you let him engage you, you will. His teaching is doubly enhanced by his love for the subject itself - this guy's a true, purist, staunch organic chemist and is balls-out proud of it.
His tests are on the tricky side, but what can you do, right? O-chem. Dat shit hurtz.
I didn't have to take 30C because it's not required of my major, but Dr. Chang's class convinced me to finish the series.

Prediction: Pre-meds currently taking his Chem 14 class are gonna flip the fuck out on this wall come beginning of Winter Break. Watch.

P.S. For anyone planning to take 30B in general, I recommend you take this class before 30AL. You learn theory here and application in lab. I don't know why UCLA doesn't bother to sequence them.

P.S.S. Is he Canadian? I can't remember.