I took this class a long time ago, but from what I can remember, it was a really chill course. There is a quarter long project where you track your exercise, calories, etc., and it's tedious but easily do-able in 3 days (coming from experience). There is also a midterm and final that were take home and not proctored. He might've changed this since I took the class. Overall, the content was interesting and even though I wasn't a stem major, I would totally take this class again!

Esdin teaches the last four weeks of Phy Sci 111A, and his module covers sensory organs (eyes, ears) as well as sensation in general (basal ganglia, cerebellum). This module in my opinion was more dense than the others but because it's tested in a way that mostly relies on memorization, it's not too difficult. Esdin teaches the class like it's a 7C lecture, and you can see that in the slides that he uses. I would say he's a very satisfactory lecturer for this class.

Literally made a bruinwalk account just to leave this class a review. Esdin is THE BEST yall. This was my first time ever having an 8am class at UCLA, and it was 100% worth it. Esdin lectures in such an engaging way, you literally just have to listen to him as if he's telling you a story and take some notes here and there to retain all the info for the class. I took the midterm and final all from memory just from straight up learning from what he spoke about in lecture (also of course, reviewing a bit of my notes the night before the tests). The workload is VERY doable; there's a report you have to do at the end, but it's a lot of just copying over data you collected, it was a bit time-consuming but def very easy. There's no homework, just some light studying before quizzes in discussion. Aside from all the technicalities, this class was also genuinely SO beneficial and interesting! I learned how to actually eat properly and understand how my body processes food. To be quite honest, I would say this is the one class at UCLA that I have actually taken away beneficial knowledge from and have applied to my personal life ever since! Seriously, I have learned so much and my lifestyle is much healthier now. Esdin is just such a sweet diva fr. Really hope I can get him again as a professor one day!

I would highly recommend taking this class with Esdin. I took this to fulfill a life science + lab GE and I honestly enjoyed the class more than I expected. The things you learn about diet and exercise are actually useful beyond the class and it definitely inspired me to make changes to my personal habits.

In terms of difficulty, I would argue that it's not as easy as some of the other reviews mention but it is 100% manageable if you put in a little time. The grading is based on the following:

Exam 1 - 100 points
2 Lecture quizzes (20 points each) - 40 points
3 Lab quizzes (15 points each) - 45 points
Attendance/Participation in lab - 25 points
Attendance in lecture - 44 points
Lifestyle Assessment Report - 100 points
Final Exam - 100 points
Total: 454 points

Lectures were mandatory and attendance was tracked with iClicker. Esdin is very funny and an engaging lecturer, but even though the lectures were interesting they were not useful. He goes over some basic ideas but you will need to read the textbook to do well on exams and quizzes. The lecture quiz is difficult and you need to thoroughly read the textbook for it!

Lab sections were mandatory but pretty boring in my opinion. The TA spends a painfully long time over the instructions for the Lifestyle Assessment Report, which is all available on the instructions PDF anyways. You learn some new topics which will be tested on Lab quizzes, but never on any of the actual exams or quizzes. The Lab quizzes are super easy as long as you go over the Lab slides (posted on Canvas).

The Lifestyle Assessment report is a paper that's worth a decent part of your grade, but everyone gets 100% on it. It is not difficult at all, but it is VERY tedious so I recommend you don't procrastinate. It is less of a paper and more of a report, so all you have to do is put things in sentences for full credit. No original ideas or actual writing involved.

Exams were fair, but you will need to study. Make sure to read the textbook fully, because everything in it is likely to show up on exams.

Also, DO NOT BUY YOUR OWN iPROFILE AND COURSE READER!!! The iProfile software (~$30) which is mandatory for the Lifestyle Assessment Report can be shared by multiple people. It has a feature to add profiles. Get a group of friends in the class and split the cost. The Course Reader (~$70) is definitely necessary to buy, but again you can share this with friends. Unfortunately, only one person can use it at a time because it's an external software, but we got around this by taking screenshots of the pages. It's really weird that we have to buy it since Esdin wrote it and can give it to us for free, but he for some reason chooses not to. I tried to buy a secondhand one from a previous quarter, but he changes it from quarter to quarter so that most likely won't work.

Otherwise, solid class, easy way to get you life science + lab credits in. Pretty much a guaranteed A. Highly recommend!

This was not...an easy GE. Especially if you're a non-stem major I think. Both midterm and final were closed-book in-person. I still liked this class but can't deny that you do have to study hard for it.

take this class if you like iclicker that doesn't work and in person responds exam from a bozo

If you're looking for an easy GE this isn't the one. Earlier reviews state how the class was relatively easy, however now all the tests and quizzes are online with lockdown browser. While the lectures are pretty interesting the tests are not like the lectures. Even if you read the book, which cost $70 btw, it will only minimally help you on the tests. He words the questions very strangely, like he's trying to trick you on purpose. This is worsened by the fact that some of the questions were neither mention in class nor in the book. His tests are unfair and unreasonably difficult. How were we supposed to know the answer?? I don't know. Overall, the class isn't terrible because there is no homework and only one project, but if you are really stressed about you gpa do not take this class.

The workload is great but the exams are much harder than expected.

Honestly, this class isn't a "free A" GE from my experience. It looks like from the previous quarters that this class used to be open textbook for tests, quizzes, etc., but during this specific quarter everything was closed textbook and taken on lockdown browser. Like some of the other reviewers mention, you definitely need to work to get the grade you want. The lectures are fun and engaging, but the assessments (specifically the midterm and final) are slightly difficult. The phrasing of questions are overall strange and it's especially evident when it's true/false. Each question was worth 3 points, so if you missed 3-4 you'd lose a whole letter grade. The final project isn't that bad as it's a lot of writing and you have a lot of time -- just don't slack off. Final note: buy the course reader. I didn't buy the course reader as many people said it wasn't necessary but I ended up bombing the first lecture quiz cause there were questions from the course reader. If you don't, I still think you can end the class with an A-. Overall, an interesting GE and I'd probably take it again.

All exams are online with lockdown browser. Useful information that was very helpful for the gym and overall fitness. An alright class and a mid GE.