It should be fair to consider that I took this class during the Spring 2020 Covid-19 outbreak. With that said take this review with partiality, because I was not able to receive a full intellectual experience in-person. I have read here in the reviews that she gave in-class short essay exams for the midterm and final. But for distant learning she gave us weekly quizzes. Each quiz consisted of 10 multiple choice questions each. I have to say these quizzes required you to know the weekly material in very fine detail. She also assigns weekly readings which comprise of her book and a course reader that includes several research articles. Her book cost $35 and the course reader cost $28. You’ll have to make a trip into Westwood to purchase the course reader because you can not purchase it online or on campus. I’m not sure if she used slides in class pre-Covid outbreak but for us she uploaded slides with audio commentary to further explain the material. I learned a lot about sexual selection, social intelligence, primate taxonomy, dominance and the evolution of intelligence. This class is not difficult, but it’s not an easy A. I probably spent more time studying for this class then my other two classes and I still got a B. I really enjoyed her class, she seems very approachable if you have questions, and she added all types of interesting optional assignments (how to write grant proposals, primate research opportunities, and tons of other interesting stuff if you want to further your academic career in research). I would definitely recommend this class if you’re interested in primate behavior.

I took this class spring 2020, so I'm not sure how relevant the coursework we did will be to other quarters (unless you're taking the class also online). Our grade originally consisted of 9 quizzes (no midterm, no final) the lowest 2 of which you could drop. At the end of the quarter, Professor Perry changed this to be able to drop the lowest 3, due to the BLM protests. The class is curved, but only to help student grades (i.e. you will never receive a grade lower than the percentage that you earned). The quizzes were not difficult, as long as you did the readings, listened to lectures and took notes. Most of the lectures there were lecture notes provided, with most of the important information (you did need to add some details from the narrated powerpoints she provided). They were just ccle quizzes, 10 MC questions each week. The main reason I am writing this review, is that Professor Perry, out of all my professors this quarter, was the most accommodating given the transition to online classes, coronavirus, and now of course the BLM protests. You can tell she is very passionate about what she does, the subject is interesting enough, and she really cares about students mental health. She provided alternative sources for readings from the course reader so students didn't have to buy it, and the chapters from her book are also available online. Overall, Professor Perry is one of the nicest professors I have ever had at UCLA and I would honestly recommend taking the course just for this professor, she is so kind and teaches the material earnestly.

I hated this class. Got an A on the midterm and then failed the final. It was so incredibly boring and unclear, tests were written badly, and the class was not what was in the description. She only talks about her own research, makes you buy books she has written, and has ridiculously specific test questions about what the name of the money is who did a specific action in the book. Don't take this class. She also plays really long videos in the dark, and i fell asleep in class for the first time ever.

This class is the first time I have ever fallen asleep in class. It is boring and seems easy, until it is inexplicably incredibly difficult-not because of content, but because of badly worded multiple choice questions. I got an A on the midterm and failed the final. She makes absolutely no sense in her test questions, and each question counts for 1% of your grade. Her slides are black and white with few pictures. She keeps the classroom pitch dark but doesn't allow laptops so you cant see your notes. This class is just basic evolution and then random details about any of the monkeys you talk about over the 10 weeks-and really random details at that. the grade is based solely on the midterm and final, which correspond in no tangible way to the lecture nor the readings. I did and understood all the readings for the final and still failed. I would not recommend this class to anyone.

I liked this class, lots of review and repetition of similar material if you're an EEB major and have taken EEB100 or evolution/animal behavior related courses. Just more focus on monkeys. I found a lot of the material to be interesting, not too complicated, she makes the exams fair and the readings are probably important in doing well in the class. If you go to every lecture and are alert and take notes (I'd recommend printing the lectures out beforehand and adding notes on them in class) you should be more than fine. Her final exam was more difficult than the midterm for sure, but she bases the grades on a curve so the top 33% of the class gets an A, the following a B, and the lowest a C. Definitely a good course with a light workload and not too much stress involved.

I enjoyed this class! took is as an elective as bio major and I must say there is a lot of overlap between 128P and EEB 100 which I really enjoyed since I was taking them at the same time! Her multiple choice questions are FAIR but some harder than others and you have to pay close attention to her slides as all the answers ARE there and there are NO surprises. She actually made me care about a subject I didn't care about before and made an effort to learn names of students which I liked! She has a very friendly and approachable nature and you can tell she knows her stuff and is definitely one of the most intelligent professors i've had at UCLA! Would recommend her class, favorite part was there was no discussion just lectures twice a week and the reading for the class (Manipulative Monkeys) was actually a VERY enjoyable read!

Perry writes the textbook for the class, and has contributed valuable research in her field. She is very nice and helpful, but the lectures can a bit dull or monotone if you aren't engaging with the material. Exams were graded so that top 1/3 middle 1/3 and bottom 1/3 receive an A , B , and C respectively. Perry is obviously very smart and you do need to do the readings if you want to receive an A on the exam; however, her textbook is quite interesting so its not a tough read (i hate reading). Lastly, my TA was Kotrina, and she was very friendly, knowledgable, and helpful.

BEWARE! Her tests are extremely difficult and she has to curve them a ridiculous amount. I got a D on the final and it was curved to an A. I'm happy to have gotten an A but the time I took studying for the final could have spent on another class more worthy of it. Additionally, I would have liked to know that I left the class having learned something. So ya, kind of easy... but awful teacher.

If you have an interest in primatology and human origin you will likely enjoy this class. Susan Perry has worked with capuchin monkeys for over 20 years, so she is able to supplement her lectures with examples from her own research. She is very available to help, offering two chances to have lunch with her! The final was cumulative and 60% of the grade, midterm 40%. There is an almost overwhelming amount of information to know, but the fact that it is so interesting makes it easier to cope with. Regardless of your grade, you'll leave this class feeling like you've learned so much. And you'll be able to apply what you've learned to almost everything. It's such a fascinating course and Susan Perry is a fascinating person.

Absolutely loved this class. If you are interested in primates, this is definitely the course for you. Professor Perry is very accessible and has office hours all the time, plus informal lunches that are great for discussing primate related things (and things not related to primates at all) with the professor and your classmates. The book was a quick and fun read: think Game of Thrones, with monkeys. Unfortunately, I doubt I'll be getting an A in this class, but that is due to frequent absences for health related reasons and my general inability to take tests. This was a class that I really always looked forward to going to even though it was a morning class. Not a lecture went by without fun and educational anecdotes about various primates (mostly capuchins). The midterm was difficult for me, as I was sleep deprived and stressed out about things unrelated to the class, but the grade was curved so that helped people who didn't do as terribly as I did. In spite of the fact that I am very obsessed with getting a 4.0 and died a little inside when I saw my midterm grade, I don't at all regret taking this class because I've learned so much from it, and isn't that what going to a good school like UCLA is supposed to be about? This class changed my perspective on how human beings fit into the tree of life and the universe (as cheesy as that sounds). 10/10 would recommend this class to anyone with the slightest interest in animals.