I have taken 3 classes from John: Soc 152A, 142, and 185P. Read the book and go to all the lectures because the tests are very difficult!! He is a very animated lecturer which keeps the classes pretty interesting. I would definitely recommend him.

The class was a lot of work. Make sure to go to class because they will test on random things they only say in lecture. The TA reviews are extremely helpful, they tell you absolutely everything that could be on the test. Don't go to John or email him if you have any questions, he is rude and unhelpful. Janice is pretty nice and helpful though.

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Unless you have your entire life to commit to this class, don't take it! Exams are terrible. Poorly written & graded harshly. He asks questions from topics he spent 30 seconds on in lecture. Book is bad too, but read it! Don't bother going to office hours for help, he treats you like you're wasting his time and will never give you a straight answer

Need to read the book, and by read i mean extensively if you want a good grade. Details are needed on all the exams, and good luck on the final because it wasnt that easy. Professors are alright, they seem to really want to teach the subject and look out for the welfare of the student body. cool subject hard class.

Don't understand this prof's popularity. He taught class completely from his notes, no spontanaity. Any question from the students threw him because it took him away from his prepared material (prepared down to every "funny" comment like a overly rehearsed comic). Missed almost every appt. I made with him (honors contract)- just never there.

Took them for 152A and 152B. Great teachers. Always fun and informative.

I could not cope with this class...It's like taking a High School Sex Ed course all over again. This class seems to cover more on Biology and Anatomy than Sociology. I don't understand why this class is held in such a high perspective.

great class - try hard to get in.

Great class. Wasn't an easy A but I really enjoyed the class.

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Best class I've ever taken!

Amazing!

Tests are easy if you have memorized literally every piece of info he tought in lecture and wrighting. don't waste time wrigting paragraphs bullet points will do.

He is an amazing teacher and all of his classes are equally amazing. He requires a lot of studying and a lot of learning, so if you are lazy, do not take him. If you want to learn, he is the best teacher you will ever have.

Best professor I've had at UCSB! If you don't take a class with him, you will really miss out. The classes might not be easy but he'll be glad to help you if you go to his office hours. Trust me, you will never fall asleep in his class!

Very interesting course and I liked John a lot. The tests were tough and you really have to do the reading, but its worth it.

Great teacher and an amazing speaker(you can count his mistakes on one hand). However, he requires us to memorize little inane details from past lectures that really aren't important. However, overall my experience with him was beneficial and you should take his class if your soc. major.

the baldwins are very fun, and truly interested in teaching. lectures were really funny and informative. test were kind of hard.

So the thing about 152A is that you do actually need to read the book, or at least i did, and got an A. They are super nice once you're in 152B but before that generally it's hard to get into the in crowd. Very understanding, kind and helpful people.

Simply the best soc professor on campus, you'll learn a lot and you won't be condesendingly sermonized to (like many others in the department).

LOVES teaching and shows it. Very enthusiastic about the subject area. He's so great that I followed him and took his classes for a whole year! Also teaches Soc 142, 152A/B/C and 165E.

John Baldwin is the best teacher I ever had at UCSB. His tests are hard but when you do well in his class it reflects that you KNOW your subject. Got an A and then became a T.A.

Hands down, the two (John & Janice) bestprofs in the Soc dept - and the only ones intellectually open-minded. Their classes are tough but you'll learn way more than your typical soc class. Highly reccomended.