Not an easy GE. Graded on 2 midterms and a final. Tests are all short answer, based on his very disorganized lectures and an outdated textbook that has little to do with the lecture material. His grading scale only allows 30% of students to get full credit on each question.

The first day of class, I thought this was going to a be a super light course. It turns out that it is likely the hardest GE that I've taken at UCSB. Your grade is entirely dependent on the tests, and don't count on the tests being easy. If you want a class to just cruise by with, do not take this class.

Worst professor paired with the worst class I've taken at UCSB. Lecture is so scatterbrained, expressed on the whiteboard by his chicken scratch scribbles that are literally unreadable. Outdated material, outdated classroom culture, outdated professor. Do yourself a gigantic favor and avoid both Baldwins

John's teaching is experienced but disorganized, with lectures hard to follow due to rambling, stock photo slides, and illegible notes. Grading relies solely on two tests (25% each) and a final, emphasizing rote memorization over comprehension. Interesting material, but overall hard to stay engaged with due to the way the class is taught.

One of my favorite courses I've taken in the Sociology department so far. Very interesting lecture material and engaging reading content as well. Graded based on three big exams throughout the quarter, but Professor Baldwin is clear about what to know for the exams and provides study guides as well. Highly recommend this course.

Professor Baldwin is enthusiastic, but his lectures were kind of chaotic and dated. Some of his commentaries additionally felt odd. There was no homework outside of reading, but your grade relies on three midterms and a final. Fortunately, they all seemed to be graded lightly. It wasn't the worst class that I've taken but I wouldn't do it again.

The professor is well rounded and knows a lot about the subject. He only had 3 heavy quizzes (Midterm) and a final. The quizzes consisted of the readings and the lecture information. Attending the classes is important because the information that he gives out will be on the quizzes and the final. The final was commutative of the whole quarter.

This is one of the kindest professors I have met on the campus. If you have taken AP Psychology, youll find materials familiar(but not exact same). His lectures are interesting, but if you want an easy A, better not take any of his classes. Exams are derived from readings and lectures. Catch the key terms, youll be good.

You won't get good grades unless you attend every lecture and write every single random thing John says down. The curves help because we all did so bad on the midterm and final, but it never feels good walking out of a test thinking you guessed on everything. You won't learn anything either, just random outdated theories about socialization.

Overall, this course is pretty easy if you keep up with the assigned readings. This is a 0 homework/extra credit class! :) However, you'll need to read the material to pass! ALL of the exam questions are pulled from the reading questions at the end of each chapter, so use those answers as a study guide! His lectures are insightful & entertaining.

Doesnt matter how hard you try or how much you try to memorize. The final exam was the hardest test Ive ever taken. 12 short answers (you pick 10)and half of them were asking you to quote johns examples from lectures or the most unimportant information from the course. You will learn absolutely nothing!!

Literally the worst class I've taken in the SOC department. He really needs to stop teaching. I thought 142 would help me as a future teacher or parent, but all I've learned is random theories John has on socialization (with no evidence.) He writes on the chalkboard, draws diagrams, and the tests literally ask you to quote him from "Lecture 1 on.."

I really had so much fun in 152A, I thought the same level of engagement and exciting material would be in other Baldwin courses. Soc 142 is nothing like you would expect, the data he used is all so outdated, I thought it would be about kids but somehow its been about monkeys and cell assemblies. Three midterms on reading and random stuff

Unorganized and barely gives any feedback on how to improve on future tests. He gives a study guide and more than half the things on the study guide dont end up on the test. The answers he's looking for on tests are extremely specific and there's no partial credit given, it's graded on an all or nothing basis. Not worth taking

Baldwin is very passionate and teaches in a unique, enthusiastic way. His class however is hard to follow because the grading criteria is unclear and is VERY test heavy (3 midterms 20% each and 1 final 40%). As long as you take good notes and watch lecture, you'll be fine! Take this class if you're passionate about how humans/monkeys socialize.

I took soc152a last year and it wasn't bad but it was also pre covid. Taking his class now is a nightmare. He wastes so much time writing on the DRY ERASE BOARD! like why use a dry erase board? it just makes lectures unnecessarily wrong for no reason. He posts 40-minute lectures MWF as if it were regular class. DONT TAKE DURING COVID TRUST ME

Awful teacher, he is the author of his own textbook and makes it mandatory so there's that.. Extremely harsh grader and requires extremely specific answers on his tests. Took his class in 2019 and it was not worth it. Never gives feedback and is a very boring lecture. Do not take this teacher and then regret it like I did. Im warning you now

Interesting materials, but he's condescending when you ask questions.

No doubt he is amazing with 152A, definitely take that. However, 142 is one of the most difficult upper divs I have encountered. The mandatory textbook was $250 for the cheapest used version and there was an awful amount of reading. Felt it really sucked that he made this textbook mandatory considering its price and that he is the author. Beware!

Took this class cause I just needed upper division units and it turned out easy. Attendance is mandatory and there is a lot of reading. 3 midterms and a cumulative final, but if you show up youll pass.

If you do not show up to lecture or you take crappy notes, you will not do well. If you don't read or read last minute, you will not do well. Common sense. I highly recommend taking reading notes! It sucks but it's how I became number one in the class. If you do all of this and start to study a week prior you will do fantastic! 3 tests and 1 final.

3 tests & 1 final exam. Teaching is boring & he wrote the textbook that the class is required to use. Many of his teachings are completely made up like 'the greater upper force' you search that up on the internet & nothing will show up. harsh grader & lecture heavy class. Would've been alright if he taught real material instead of his made up stuff

John is a wonderful professor! He makes it obvious what he is looking for on tests. I appreciate the review sessions before exams. He talks fast in lecture and does not post the slides, but his lectures are always very interesting and he makes it fun.

I attended every class and found the way he taught to be difficult to understand. I understood the readings and everything in the lecture, but when I would take the test, I'd write paragraphs and still not do well. I would talk to him and he would say thats what he said in lecture. I've talked to others who had similar experiences