Introduction to the science of life; cells, genetics, metabolism, molecular biology, physiology, natural selection, evolution, ecosystems; current news and controversial topics in biology.
5
UnitsOptional
Grading1, 2, 3
PasstimeNone
Level LimitLetters and science
CollegeProf. Low was the most hilarious professor I have taken so far. Although exams were quite hard and sometimes difficult to understand, all you have to do is take good lecture notes and make sure you fully understand each concept taught. I thought she did a pretty good job explaining everything and she made her lectures fun with jokes. I recommend
The exams and quizzes are very very very difficult. Professor Low is very funny but the information she is teaching is extremely challenging and she goes very quickly and tests us on SO much information.
Worst class I have taken at UCSB. Prof expects you to memorize way too much info in such a short amount of time. Lectures are extremely boring. Her tests are way too hard!!!!! (especially if you're a non-bio major. I am not exaggerating when I say she made this class miserable. Would not recommend. Avoid at all costs
Funny and easy to talk to, Professor Low was one of my favorite professors at UCSB. She writes confusing questions on her tests, so be on the look out for lots of double-negative statements and "E. None of the above" being the answer most of the time. Sit in the front and be sure she knows who you are - she appreciates candidness.
For being a conceptual biology course this class proved rather difficult. Her tests tended to take the general gist of the material and ask the student to make serious extrapolations. I recommend keeping up in the textbook, if you do so lectures are not necessary. Learned more doing the book on my own then spending 1:15 bored in class.
Material was not very hard but tests and quizzes were very tricky. The class average was extremely low but she used a bell curve. She is funny in lecture and teaches in a very clear way but her accent makes her difficult to understand sometimes.