152A was a fun class and I learned a lot, however, the exams in this class are brutal. So much information is crammed into these tests, and we were given no clear indication as to what we would be tested on. The grading curve is very generous. My biggest advice: study groups, go to TA review sessions, and pay attention to readings.
Class is like sex ed for 15 year olds. Very basic information, do not take if you have basic sex knowledge. I can see how it would be good for some people though. John and Janice are cute, but the lectures are painfully cheesy, and I think they are too old to teach this course now. John is always talking over Janice. Tests are easy if you can write
Only graded on 3 midterms and 1 final. They're fairly hard but if you study, READ and attend lecture you should be ok. He is rude about giving slides/notes when you miss class and don't care about the reason you missed class. The teachings also seem to be outdated especially when it comes to the LGBTQ+ community.
If you take 152A submit the form to take 152B!!! Genuinely the best experience I've had at UCSB. Tests are hard but very curved. Essentially you read a chapter/articles before each class and then have a discussion with your peers. Exams are MC and there's one paper as well. In my experience, everyone in 152B is simply wonderful, highly recommend!!
NOT a soc major, took this as an elective. Exams graded/curved very generously. I didn't read the textbook at all, only attended lectures + review sessions and managed to get an A without studying. The first couple weeks of the course are very bio-heavy but don't let that scare you off, it gets much easier + covers stuff you probably already know.
Professor Janice and John Baldwin worked together to teach Soc 152a. Lectures were dated, catered to a white, straight, conventional perspective. They seem to care, but the tests were a nightmare because the study guides weren't helpful and the material was so vast it was impossible to study and memorize everything that showed up on the tests.
Tests are based on randoms things from textbook reviews, go to every lecture cause its the weird stuff that they test you on. Exams are all short answer and are pretty hard but they have a curve that helps. I didn't read,, so i used textbook reviews from the TAs. Lectures were eh but its relatively easy for an upper div.
lectures were interesting but the tests had little to do with what was taught in class. The tests are 5-6 essay questions and your hand will hurt by the end of the test. Study guides are 30 pages long and there are 3 midterms and a final. All tests were pretty hard and they grade extremely hard as well. Don't take if your'e looking for easy A or B
If you take good notes, go to review sessions and spend a decent amount of time studying for each midterm you'll do fine. The tests are pretty specific but the content is interesting and probably somewhat familiar. I do think some of the content should be updated, and it isn't a very sociology focused class, but interesting and I would recommend.
He is very passionate and eccentric about what he teaches. Lectures can be chaotic, yet I enjoyed the lecture material. Beware of midterms & finals, he makes you study everything and asks pretty specific questions. Doesn't take attendance, but you need the lecture notes for the midterms, since he doesn't upload or record his lectures.
I took SOC 142 Socialization last winter with Baldwin and loved the class, I got a A- . I just took the final for SOC15A & no idea how I did in this class.I went to all of the study review sessions the TAs did, first two were extremely helpful. It feels like the TAs grade hard af for no reason, material is simple but the questions are very specific
RIP y'all. This class did not feel like a sociology class at all. The tests are so freaking difficult. They give you such a little time to answer the test questions. Youre always rushing and there's a good chance you wont finish. They dont care tho. To top it off, the grade so harsh. There's no winning with them. && the lectures are so long. Boo!
They make you buy the most current edition of their own textbook. All lectures are asynchronous, and they are nice I guess, but the lectures are pretty boring and you might fall asleep. There's never enough time to get the information on the tests, and the TAs are not super helpful, overall this class is overrated. it was funny how outdated there.
they are a couple. There is no teaching involved simply recorded lectures and that's about it. I've emailed both of them have not received anything and it's been nine weeks. They give you like 40 minutes to answer six questions there is never enough time. John is very rude I think, talks over his wife, and hardly lets her say anything, don't take!
this class is so outdated! I have nothing against the Baldwins, but this stuff is so old along with their power points. They make you get the most current edition of their own textbook which is extremely pricey, they simply upload lectures and make you do everything on your own. It just seems so outdated material. they just need to update stuff.
Do not take this class! Teachers non existent only profit off class and textbook sales. Class only consists of tests, little time given, random questions. TA's grade, hard graders af for what? Class doesn't go in depth about Human sexuality topics that are interesting, felt like a biology class, not SOC! very surface level. You teach yourself. DONT
I don't want to discredit the Baldwin's enthusiasm and the importance of the subject. The class is skewed to a heteronormative narrative and tone-deaf when it comes to discussing SA. If your student assistants are having to correct the language you're using, I'd consume some new literature. Easy class but painfully out of touch.
Took this class over the winter, i zoomed him for help. I needed more time on the test he simply said I wasn't studying enough and that it was very easy. Not a friendly guy, he literally made me feel like I wasn't even studying even though I was, the TAs are not helpful either, just a totally not nice teacher. The textbook cost a fortune, bad class
This was a really interesting class. The Baldwins are good lecturers but lectures are pretty long and kind of hard to take notes on bc theyre talking most of the time. Grade based on 3 midterms and a final. 1 hr to answer 4 short answer and 6 mc questions, doubled for the final. Overall minimal work, but a really good class to take.
I took SOC152A with both Baldwin professors, and they are both actively trying to raise awareness about stuff that is sometimes kind of taboo which is nice. There was a lot of reading, and the lectures are long, but if you can get through it, it's a pretty easy A. The tests are really specific so taking good notes is important.
There's so much info you have to memorize within lectures/chapters/charts for each midterm, and the midterms only have about 12 questions under a timer of 50 min. If you're not good at memorizing even the smallest details, you're basically being set up for failure. The Baldwins themselves are enthusiastic but seem pretty outdated on the topics.
this class is a must at ucsb! the baldwins are amazing and this class is really fun and interesting. Really easy A if you take good notes, at least online! it will help to read the textbook, but you can skim it and still do well! highly suggest taking soc152A and soc142 at the same time for the soc major because baldwin teaches them both!
Professor Baldwin is my favorite. He is passionate about what he teaches and it shows when he lectures. he's actually excited unlike so many other boring profs. I took this class in 2019 and he and Janice were awesome. Easy tests you literally just regurgitate the study guide which if filled out, you'd be fine. Definitely taking him again
John & Janice are both excellent lecturers and are very inclusive when it comes to the sensitive topics of SOC152A. Their lectures are informative and witty and balance the pain from the readings in the text. I wish I was able to take their course live but ultimately they did a great job translating human sexuality to online learning.