Professor Monarrez fully understood that this class should be a simple GE, and it was, even if lectures could drag on a little bit. Lecture exams were open note, but lab exams were not. Every week, lab consisted of a worksheet graded on completion. The professor was very willing to help during office hours. As someone intimidated by STEM courses, I highly recommend this course!

Sometimes long, winding, verbose lecture recordings with unnecessary tangents, but overall very good in explanation.

This class consists of one main project, a geologic map and a strat column, nothing too difficult. This class really prepares you for summer field and really helped me become more comfortable with identifying different lithologies. Pedro is very knowledgeable and I really enjoyed this class.

This was Professor Monarrez's first quarter teaching this class, and I would say that he did a very well job. I took it as a GE, as I assume many others have and will, and he acknowledges this. Readings were not required at all, only if you absolutely did not understand anything and needed supplemental resources. No HW, gives notes after each lecture, but still strongly advised to go to lectures as it gives all the information needed for open-note midterm and final. Labs just consist of a worksheet to do, but the lab midterm and final are a little more topic-specific. Still, very manageable and an easy Lecture/Lab course to fulfill GE.

Professor Monarrez is aware that most if not all of his class is there for an easy GE, as I was one of these people. He is very passionate about his work and teachings and lectures were always a treat, although mine were 5-6:15. The overall course material that you cover can be considered a lot but the actual work that you are given mainly stem from the weekly labs that aren't due the day you attend the lab. Lab attendance isn't mandatory, but it is nice just to be done with the work and the labs usually don't fulfill the entire hour and half that is scheduled.