Professor
Patricia Phelps
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Most Helpful Review
Fall 2019 - I am coming back from just finishing PhySci 111B... and I am very very happy I stayed a PhySci major despite all the negative things Ive heard. YES, it is hard. YES, I did question my abilities like crazy. But I and many other people did this! You can too. Dont let anyone tell you what you should or shouldnt do. If you want to be PhySci, BE PHYSCI!!! 107 was the best class Ive taken so far and I would do the series all over again if that meant choosing phy sci again. Good luck incoming juniors!
Fall 2019 - I am coming back from just finishing PhySci 111B... and I am very very happy I stayed a PhySci major despite all the negative things Ive heard. YES, it is hard. YES, I did question my abilities like crazy. But I and many other people did this! You can too. Dont let anyone tell you what you should or shouldnt do. If you want to be PhySci, BE PHYSCI!!! 107 was the best class Ive taken so far and I would do the series all over again if that meant choosing phy sci again. Good luck incoming juniors!
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Most Helpful Review
Spring 2025 - I went into this class thinking I was cooked (not a fan of neuro or development, just needed an elective) but it really was not too bad (I mean I did get an A+ after thinking I was gonna get an F after the very first lecture) the hardest part is getting used to the format. there's a big focus on major research findings relating to development and research methods. it's almost like you're learning about development through one research finding to the next. a lot of the info is not clearcut so sometimes you have logical questions you may not receive answers to. not my fav but I feel like only the first half of the class (up until the midterm) really emphasizes the research methods stuff. exams aren't too bad either. content is a lot harder than the exam is. Lecture attendance is taken but even if it isn't, I would really suggest going to class because the lectures are only audio recorded and Prof. Phelps will often write on the blackboard or show specific parts on diagrams which you can't tell is important otherwise. I won't lie, the material is DENSE. We went through like 2 weeks worth of physci 107 module 1 info in one lecture. the most important thing is keeping up with the material bc we only have a midterm, lecture, a group presentation, and some small group presentation feedback assignments during discussion every week. so it's easy to not keep up with the material but once you get to the exam weeks it will be torture and basically impossible to learn all the information don't slack. phelps is also super helpful. there are times where she isn't the clearest but she's really nice and I'd recommend going to her office hours. discussion sections are chill (s/o to Anita--best TA ever) we don't really do much. there are 4 critiques you have to write throughout the entire quarter and they don't take that long (kinda annoying to do with the 111b critiques though lmao). there's one group presentation where you have to read a paper and present it during discussion but it's chill. overall, I think this class gets a worse rep than it deserves. I'm still not a big fan of neuro or development but there was some really cool parts and I would take it again. random stuff - straight scale - exams are short answer - 1 midterm + final - 4 critiques - 1 group presentation - mini feedback assignments for other group presentations - i believe participation is also considered - research papers to read every week (some generic info from each paper will be on exams) - don't wait until last minute to learn the info for exams. i cram a lot for exams but this was the first time I realized I would not get through all the material for the exams if I crammed.
Spring 2025 - I went into this class thinking I was cooked (not a fan of neuro or development, just needed an elective) but it really was not too bad (I mean I did get an A+ after thinking I was gonna get an F after the very first lecture) the hardest part is getting used to the format. there's a big focus on major research findings relating to development and research methods. it's almost like you're learning about development through one research finding to the next. a lot of the info is not clearcut so sometimes you have logical questions you may not receive answers to. not my fav but I feel like only the first half of the class (up until the midterm) really emphasizes the research methods stuff. exams aren't too bad either. content is a lot harder than the exam is. Lecture attendance is taken but even if it isn't, I would really suggest going to class because the lectures are only audio recorded and Prof. Phelps will often write on the blackboard or show specific parts on diagrams which you can't tell is important otherwise. I won't lie, the material is DENSE. We went through like 2 weeks worth of physci 107 module 1 info in one lecture. the most important thing is keeping up with the material bc we only have a midterm, lecture, a group presentation, and some small group presentation feedback assignments during discussion every week. so it's easy to not keep up with the material but once you get to the exam weeks it will be torture and basically impossible to learn all the information don't slack. phelps is also super helpful. there are times where she isn't the clearest but she's really nice and I'd recommend going to her office hours. discussion sections are chill (s/o to Anita--best TA ever) we don't really do much. there are 4 critiques you have to write throughout the entire quarter and they don't take that long (kinda annoying to do with the 111b critiques though lmao). there's one group presentation where you have to read a paper and present it during discussion but it's chill. overall, I think this class gets a worse rep than it deserves. I'm still not a big fan of neuro or development but there was some really cool parts and I would take it again. random stuff - straight scale - exams are short answer - 1 midterm + final - 4 critiques - 1 group presentation - mini feedback assignments for other group presentations - i believe participation is also considered - research papers to read every week (some generic info from each paper will be on exams) - don't wait until last minute to learn the info for exams. i cram a lot for exams but this was the first time I realized I would not get through all the material for the exams if I crammed.
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