WARNING: Potential Misconduct and Harassment – Dr. Terri Anderson, Sociology

If you are considering taking this class, be aware that there are open misconduct reports against Dr. Terri Anderson with the UCLA Sociology Board. Several students from past classes were reported to the Dean for issues related to AI use, collaboration, or academic integrity, and even some TAs have filed reports.

Professor Anderson is extremely rigid and unapproachable. There is little to no room for discussion regarding grading or clarification. She strictly monitors AI usage, requiring Google Doc edit histories for every assignment, which feels invasive and excessive.

Grades can be deducted randomly in tiny increments (0.1–0.3 points) without explanation. She may call students out publicly on Canvas for “using AI” or “not engaging,” even when no proof exists. Time on Perusall readings is tracked and assumptions are made based on those numbers.

TAs have limited grading authority, and contesting a grade is nearly impossible. Office hours often do not resolve issues, as all final decisions are subjective and at her discretion.

Expect weekly proctored quizzes with only four highly specific questions, multiple readings, discussion posts, video lectures, an essay midterm, and an oral final. The workload is heavy, and the structure feels more like surveillance than education.

If you are facing harassment or faculty misconduct, see the UCLA Academic Senate charge process here: https://www.senate.ucla.edu/committees/charges
and consider supporting the Spring 2025 students’ petition: https://chng.it/Kx7V4WGXx2

Avoid this class at all costs unless you are prepared to navigate a highly controlled and stressful environment.

==I TOOK SOCIOL 1 WITH ANDERSON==

Dr. Anderson is one of the best at UCLA. She presents the basic sociology concepts with a lot of real-world context, on both a personal level and on a community level. This method really embeds the concepts and made it far more enjoyable than just memorizing a bunch of terms and definitions. If she offers "extra credit" work, do it; you might wind up needing a couple of extra points at the end. Also, pay attention to the manner in which your TA wants you to write the essays. They're the ones grading them.
Overall, this was a great class. If you have a choice in Sociol 1 professors, pick Anderson.