Joseph Esdin
Department of Physiological Science
AD
4.3
Overall Rating
Based on 376 Users
Easiness 3.9 / 5 How easy the class is, 1 being extremely difficult and 5 being easy peasy.
Clarity 4.2 / 5 How clear the class is, 1 being extremely unclear and 5 being very clear.
Workload 4.0 / 5 How much workload the class is, 1 being extremely heavy and 5 being extremely light.
Helpfulness 4.1 / 5 How helpful the class is, 1 being not helpful at all and 5 being extremely helpful.

TOP TAGS

There are no relevant tags for this professor yet.

GRADE DISTRIBUTIONS
61.2%
51.0%
40.8%
30.6%
20.4%
10.2%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

41.3%
34.4%
27.5%
20.7%
13.8%
6.9%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

75.6%
63.0%
50.4%
37.8%
25.2%
12.6%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

78.2%
65.2%
52.1%
39.1%
26.1%
13.0%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

81.4%
67.9%
54.3%
40.7%
27.1%
13.6%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

68.0%
56.7%
45.4%
34.0%
22.7%
11.3%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

43.0%
35.8%
28.7%
21.5%
14.3%
7.2%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

50.0%
41.7%
33.3%
25.0%
16.7%
8.3%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

63.2%
52.6%
42.1%
31.6%
21.1%
10.5%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

72.9%
60.7%
48.6%
36.4%
24.3%
12.1%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

57.0%
47.5%
38.0%
28.5%
19.0%
9.5%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

77.7%
64.8%
51.8%
38.9%
25.9%
13.0%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

77.2%
64.3%
51.4%
38.6%
25.7%
12.9%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

77.1%
64.2%
51.4%
38.5%
25.7%
12.8%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

88.9%
74.1%
59.3%
44.5%
29.6%
14.8%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

59.3%
49.5%
39.6%
29.7%
19.8%
9.9%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

92.9%
77.4%
61.9%
46.4%
31.0%
15.5%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

75.8%
63.2%
50.5%
37.9%
25.3%
12.6%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

52.9%
44.1%
35.3%
26.5%
17.6%
8.8%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

39.6%
33.0%
26.4%
19.8%
13.2%
6.6%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

45.7%
38.1%
30.4%
22.8%
15.2%
7.6%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

51.9%
43.2%
34.6%
25.9%
17.3%
8.6%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

24.6%
20.5%
16.4%
12.3%
8.2%
4.1%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

44.7%
37.3%
29.8%
22.4%
14.9%
7.5%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

52.2%
43.5%
34.8%
26.1%
17.4%
8.7%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

50.1%
41.8%
33.4%
25.1%
16.7%
8.4%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

52.6%
43.8%
35.1%
26.3%
17.5%
8.8%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

43.7%
36.4%
29.1%
21.8%
14.6%
7.3%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

51.1%
42.6%
34.0%
25.5%
17.0%
8.5%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

43.2%
36.0%
28.8%
21.6%
14.4%
7.2%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

35.2%
29.3%
23.4%
17.6%
11.7%
5.9%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

50.1%
41.8%
33.4%
25.1%
16.7%
8.4%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

31.6%
26.3%
21.1%
15.8%
10.5%
5.3%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

43.1%
35.9%
28.7%
21.5%
14.4%
7.2%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

28.9%
24.1%
19.3%
14.5%
9.6%
4.8%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

25.9%
21.5%
17.2%
12.9%
8.6%
4.3%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

44.0%
36.7%
29.3%
22.0%
14.7%
7.3%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

18.6%
15.5%
12.4%
9.3%
6.2%
3.1%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

19.0%
15.8%
12.7%
9.5%
6.3%
3.2%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

17.3%
14.5%
11.6%
8.7%
5.8%
2.9%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

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Reviews (326)

4 of 33
4 of 33
Add your review...
Quarter: Fall 2025
Grade: A
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
Dec. 24, 2025

The general consensus with everyone I spoke to in this class was that we all took the class expecting it to be super free and it ended up being harder than expected.

I’ve realized that a lot of the highly-rated reviews that this course has are from a few years prior when Esdin’s exams were open-note and/or online, and this quarter they were closed note and in person. With that being said, the exam material wasn’t insanely difficult, but getting an A required A LOT of studying—much more than I had anticipated for a GE that was rumored to be easy. If you’ve taken AP bio or another anatomy/physiology class, you’ll be much more prepared for this class and it honestly might not be too bad, but as a non-stem major I definitely studied more for this class than any of my others this quarter.

As far as the professor goes, Professor Esdin was clearly super passionate about what he was teaching and it was really interesting! I feel like I learned a lot of practical information about my body and the food I eat. On the other hand, I had Jocelynn as my TA and she wasn’t the most helpful or kind… Luckily, the lab slides get posted on BruinLearn and the lab quizzes are really straight forward. Another big 100 point assignment is the Lifestyle Assessment Project, which is just a lot of tedious busywork but if you follow the guidelines you’re almost guaranteed to get full credit. Also haven’t mentioned this yet but the two lab quizzes are online and proctored and the second one was pretty much extra credit (one simple question)—god bless Professor Esdin for that.

Anyway, my general advice would be this: Take this class if you are genuinely interested in the course topics and prepared to seriously study for the midterm and final. This class is by no means an “easy A” but I’m a music student who has never taken AP bio and I managed to get an A through embarrassing amounts of studying. Professor Esdin is very nice and lowkey wholesome—I had this class 3 days a week at 9am and he was always in a good mood which was nice.

***ALSO attendance is graded. You have to answers a few IClicker quiz questions at the end of each lecture to get your daily attendance and you can have up to 6 absences and still receive full participation credit.

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Quarter: Winter 2024
Grade: A
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
Oct. 15, 2025

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!

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Quarter: Fall 2024
Grade: A-
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
July 24, 2025

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!

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Quarter: Spring 2025
Grade: A
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
July 22, 2025

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!

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Quarter: Spring 2025
Grade: N/A
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
June 10, 2025

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.

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Quarter: Spring 2025
Grade: I
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
April 9, 2025

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

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Quarter: Winter 2025
Grade: N/A
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
April 6, 2025

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.

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Quarter: Winter 2025
Grade: A
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
April 3, 2025

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

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Quarter: Winter 2025
Grade: A
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
April 1, 2025

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.

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Quarter: Winter 2025
Grade: B+
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
March 31, 2025

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.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
Quarter: Fall 2025
Grade: A
Dec. 24, 2025

The general consensus with everyone I spoke to in this class was that we all took the class expecting it to be super free and it ended up being harder than expected.

I’ve realized that a lot of the highly-rated reviews that this course has are from a few years prior when Esdin’s exams were open-note and/or online, and this quarter they were closed note and in person. With that being said, the exam material wasn’t insanely difficult, but getting an A required A LOT of studying—much more than I had anticipated for a GE that was rumored to be easy. If you’ve taken AP bio or another anatomy/physiology class, you’ll be much more prepared for this class and it honestly might not be too bad, but as a non-stem major I definitely studied more for this class than any of my others this quarter.

As far as the professor goes, Professor Esdin was clearly super passionate about what he was teaching and it was really interesting! I feel like I learned a lot of practical information about my body and the food I eat. On the other hand, I had Jocelynn as my TA and she wasn’t the most helpful or kind… Luckily, the lab slides get posted on BruinLearn and the lab quizzes are really straight forward. Another big 100 point assignment is the Lifestyle Assessment Project, which is just a lot of tedious busywork but if you follow the guidelines you’re almost guaranteed to get full credit. Also haven’t mentioned this yet but the two lab quizzes are online and proctored and the second one was pretty much extra credit (one simple question)—god bless Professor Esdin for that.

Anyway, my general advice would be this: Take this class if you are genuinely interested in the course topics and prepared to seriously study for the midterm and final. This class is by no means an “easy A” but I’m a music student who has never taken AP bio and I managed to get an A through embarrassing amounts of studying. Professor Esdin is very nice and lowkey wholesome—I had this class 3 days a week at 9am and he was always in a good mood which was nice.

***ALSO attendance is graded. You have to answers a few IClicker quiz questions at the end of each lecture to get your daily attendance and you can have up to 6 absences and still receive full participation credit.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
Quarter: Winter 2024
Grade: A
Oct. 15, 2025

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!

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
Quarter: Fall 2024
Grade: A-
July 24, 2025

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!

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Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
Quarter: Spring 2025
Grade: A
July 22, 2025

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!

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Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
Quarter: Spring 2025
Grade: N/A
June 10, 2025

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.

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Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
Quarter: Spring 2025
Grade: I
April 9, 2025

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

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Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
Quarter: Winter 2025
Grade: N/A
April 6, 2025

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.

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Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
Quarter: Winter 2025
Grade: A
April 3, 2025

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

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Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
Quarter: Winter 2025
Grade: A
April 1, 2025

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.

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Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
Quarter: Winter 2025
Grade: B+
March 31, 2025

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.

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4 of 33
4.3
Overall Rating
Based on 376 Users
Easiness 3.9 / 5 How easy the class is, 1 being extremely difficult and 5 being easy peasy.
Clarity 4.2 / 5 How clear the class is, 1 being extremely unclear and 5 being very clear.
Workload 4.0 / 5 How much workload the class is, 1 being extremely heavy and 5 being extremely light.
Helpfulness 4.1 / 5 How helpful the class is, 1 being not helpful at all and 5 being extremely helpful.

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