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.

If you're looking for an interesting Neuroscience of Physci elective, I would highly recommend this class! Dr. Phelps is very passionate about both the content she teaches and helping her students. She always welcomes questions during lectures and office hours and is open to suggestions for new lecture materials or structure changes. This course is made up of two exams, both of which were manageable if you study the lecture note handouts that are provided in class. There are also 4 journal article critiques and a paper presentation. While the workload is definitely more significant than other electives, the material is very interesting and the assignments definitely help you understand the content (not busy work!). If you attend lecture and complete the assignments, it is very possible to earn an A. Overall, I would definitely recommend this course

I think there is a lot of fear around taking this class because students have heard that the course is pretty difficult in comparison to other PHYSCI electives that one could take. However, from my point of view, this class was great. One of the big drawbacks for students to sign up for the class is the daunting "50 minute research presentation". In reality, you yourself are only talking for about 15-20 minutes because you have at least one other partner to present with you. Also, you get an entire week+ to prepare and talk to your TA, who can explain any part of the paper you do not understand. Moreover, you are just presenting to a small discussion group, not the whole lecture. In terms of exams, they are VERY fair based off of what she teaches in the class. Like the previous review said, Professor Phelps teaches through experiments and their most significant findings, so as long as you know what happened in a certain experiment, you will do great. There is not a lot of "take this experiment and apply it to some abstract concept". It's more like "what happened in this experiment or paper". Lastly, the critiques are the same length as the PHYSCI 111 series critiques, but they are much better in my opinion because they ask for you to connect the paper to lecture material, which is more beneficial for learning content. Overall, this class was very overhyped in terms of difficulty (I know you're going to see that I got an A+, but trust me, this is only like my second A+ ever) and the professor was very kind and accommodating. As long as you take notes during lecture, you will do well!

This class right here is the phy sci elective of all phy sci electives. It is pretty different from the other easy-going, not-like-the-core electives. This class requires allooott of work and understanding of the material. Definitely not something you take as a student with senioritis or a junior struggling with 111B. Phelps does NOT play with the minimal effort and understanding. You need to put work into this class. This class is straight-scaled. It will change next year but this quarter:

3 non-cumulative quizzes: 80 points
50 minute long paper presentation: 40 points
Participation and attendance: 20 points
Critiques: 60 points
TOTAL: 200

I was not a fan of how this class was taught. She packed soooo much info into an hour and 15 minutes. It was also purely based on research. She taught experiment after experiment and paper after paper. It was pretty exhausting. BUT I do feel a lot more confident in my research abilities and my paper reading abilities. Overall, would I take it again? Sure. Would I take it as a senior about the graduate? No.