The most interesting class I have taken so far at UCSB! I recommend these professors so much. This is one of the only classes that I have read ALL the assigned readings for, which wasn't that bad because the material was engaging. Know the box materials, keep up with the readings, and know the study guide, and you'll do fine.
I have taken three courses from Professor Baldwin! He is an incredible teacher and his outlook on life is inspiring. TAKE ANY AND ALL CLASSES HE OFFERS! Do the readings and show up to class and you will get a good grade in the course. Your grade is made up of 3 exams and a final ( For SOC152A & SOC142).For (SOC185P)you have 2 exams and a final.
Professor Baldwins were really nice funny and gave interesting lectures. You can tell that they genuinely loved each other and they were willing to share their experiences with their students and life skills, sexuality, world issues, STDs, psychology, biology, and sociology. Grade is 3 Mrs and 1 final, easy to study for/fun readings.
Loved this class and couple dynamic. Class teaches relevant info that will be useful for the rest of your life. As long as you fill out the study guide and know that information well and read & know the boxes from the textbook you can get an A. 3 midterms and final. For the tests you write everything you know & don't get marked down for wrong info.
Very important class to take! Goes into way more than high school sex-ed and will give you a lot of practical real world knowledge. Class can get weird at times but overall a good class. Grade is 3 midterms and a final. Getting an A is do-able, just gotta work hard.
I have had John in three of my classes now. He is honestly a profoundly intelligent professor. The courses he teaches with his wife are awesome especially if you get into the honor class you become really close with the rest of the students which I have never done before in a college class. His socialization course have three midterms and one test.
Eh. The lectures are pretty boring, but they don't post the slides online and some of the material is on the exams so attendance is necessary. There's a lot of material to study and only bits and pieces are on the tests, so you're screwed if you don't study everything in anticipation of it being on the exam.
worst class I've taken at UCSB. Was warned to not take this course by other students at UCSB but thought I would at least try it out and failed miserably. Approached him outside of class on a couple occasions and he basically told me I didn't know how to study and sent me off with nothing but 2 points e.c. that he offers. DON'T TAKE THIS
This was one of my favorite classes I have taken so far. It was so interesting and one everyone should take before leaving UCSB. I got an A but you gotta read and go to all lectures if you want that. Lots of tests too. But overall, a very worthwhile class and the Baldwins are the best.
Talk to him and he is willing the help and work with you. I enjoyed his class and only missed 4 classes. 3 midterms and 1 final. study hard for the 1st and 2nd and the final. Do the regrades if you feel like you can justify your answer.
John inspires me so much. As an old man with all white hairs, he teaches his lectures with SO much enthusiasm and encourages you to live with so much positivity, i really enjoyed his class. his tests are all basically based by memorization of concepts and terms (no mulitple choice you basically just write out what you know of the concepts.
A lot of work, but easy A if you do the readings & attend lecture. Make sure to attend lecture and do the readings because the test draws from there. His lectures are structured so students can see the main points. For example, he uses (A,B,C & 1,2,3). He writes on chalk board making it easier to follow and take notes. TAKE THIS CLASS!!
Took this class because I loved 152. Going to lecture and reading the book/reader is a must to do well on tests. I didn't think his lectures were that bad, he was very enthusiastic which made class fun. I wish he'd given us a review sheet or had better ways to prepare us for the 3 midterms and final, but class was overall easy if you work for it
I Would not recommend 142 for socialization. He calls it positive sociology, but its more so a glorified version of behavioral psychology. There are reasons why behavioral psychology isn't popular anymore, so I'll leave you with that to think.
The way he runs his lectures you would think that the material is of the utmost importance, but think again. His tests are horrible because he grades really tough and will not mark what you did wrong or what to improve. He has curved every test because at the students were struggling. Oh did i mention the book assigned for class is written by him.
I loved 152A which is why I'm disappointed in 142. His "positive sociologist" approach completely disregards any social/racial/economic inequality & his lectures felt more like life coaching/parenting classes. I learned absolutely nothing & his tests were roughly graded & unclear. WOULD NOT RECOMMEND SOC142!!
3rd class with John. Again, he's amazing. 2 MT, 1 final, short essay format. Reading for this class was life changing, highly recommend
SOC152A is an amazing class. I would not be upset if this class were made mandatory for everyone.
Love this class, the Baldwins are always animated and entertaining. I do wish the Spring course didn't have Midterm 3 the day after Extravaganza, that was a huge bummer.
The class is nothing out of reach if you do the readings and attend the lectures. However, the grading is dependent almost entirely on your exams and they are picky about what the answers should be. The section on LGBT people can be improved; they use narratives that are very specific to speak for a broad range of people's experiences.
if you like spending weeks on certain topics then being tested about materials not discussed then this is your class. Unclear with his midterms
The Baldwins are amazing lecturers. Most people take this class for fun and expect it to be an easy A... which it is if you go to class and do the reading (which doesn't even take long). People do poorly because they blow it off -- but this class is amazing and worth every bit of effort. Just read and go to lecture and you'll be guaranteed an A.
Took 152A with him, but this class was not as great. He is very picky with what he puts on his tests, and the material is not that interesting.
One of my favorite classes at UCSB. All about how to make the most out of your life from a social-science perspective. 3 midterms each worth 20% and one final worth 40%. Test questions come from both reading and lectures, so make sure you are attentive to both. John is an enthusiastic professor and makes this class applicable to everyday life.