Cluster 70A is a great class for non-stem majors. It is super interesting and you can really learn some fascinating and interesting things if you open yourself up to it. Throughout the quarter the main grades were five quizzes, a paper, and some lab assignments. The quizzes were 10 multiple choice questions and a few free responses. The free response was generally straight forward, but sometimes the wording could be a bit confusing on the MC. The paper was also not too difficult and there was a lot of opportunity to work on it. In addition to these assignments there were lab assignments. These were not too difficult but could all build up if you procrastinate. Professor Friscia was a great lecturer. He was super informative, answered questions well, and used his slides effectively. Overall, he was really clear and covered a lot of information without the lecture feeling too dense.

I took the class as a non-stem major simply to get rid of all the science GEs like most people in this class. It was very interesting but as many reviews say, but the workload is definitely a lot if you don't have good time management skills. This class did not have a final but did have a final paper due at the end of the quarter. We also had 5 mini-quizzes spread out throughout the quarter (those were fairly easy if you actually paid attention in class.)

Now the discussion sections were great but we did have a lot of labs that did not make much sense in my opinion. The least favorite was the one where we had to go to Santa Monica to measure the waves. The wording of these labs are hard to understand but just talk to your TA or anyone and it gets easier.

Other then that, it was a great class and I definitely learned a lot.

As a non-stem major, this class is doable if you are taking it online. You have access to lectures and your notes, so despite confusing topics, the quizzes are not bad at all. The workload is mostly bi-weekly quizzes and labs (which are usually graded on completion). I would say this class is mostly busy work. However, I did do well on the research papers from each quarter (utilize your TA's meetings). This class is not as hard as it seems, and DO IT if you want to knock out your science GEs and Writing II (you have to stay in it all 3 quarters). Also, second quarter is way easier in my opinion, as evolution was way easier for me to understand than space. Honestly, so happy I took this cluster.

Not necessarily “an easy A” but definitely a GREAT class to take. I am a biochem major with zero background in most fo the topics but this class was just amazing. Workload was very reasonable and the hardness was manageable. Do be careful with the essays—I am pretty sure if you don’t seek help you can definitely steer off course and crash the assignment. The labs were very smartly designed and harder than you think at first. However, they were all doable. Grading was fair and lenient as long as you turn everything in on time.

This class was so so interesting. If you have any interest in space and how the universe works- TAKE THIS! It was so incredibly cool. It's like one big planetarium lecture and I feel like it changed the way I see the world around me. Tests are definitely tough but if you look at previous midterm and final questions you are totally fine. Just take good notes, pay attention, and study at least a little and you should be fine. The professors are really nice and approachable and love to answer any questions you may have. I highly recommend this class to anyone who is interested in space, want's 4 GE's for only 3 quarter's worth of classes, and want to make friends.

If you're considering taking this cluster, just do it. Especially if you're not a STEM major and are looking to get science GEs/Writing II out of the way. This cluster routinely blew my mind and challenged me, but wasn't overbearing. Professors and TAs are overall really cool and fair graders. (special s/o to Leo, Jesus, and Kirie).
First quarter was probably the most difficult (plus everything else is going on your freshman year of college) but stick with it, and you won't regret it. They put together field trips (even going to Nevada! So cool!) and hold lunch office hours every week. It's always so interesting to just pick their brains. Tony Friscia is just a king; of the Honors program, the Clusters, and just as a human.
You'll hear a lot of complaints about other clusters, (and this one's midterms/finals can be tough), but the workload is really reasonable for the credits you're getting, and all the material you're covering. Make some friends in your discussion & a big class GroupMe, and you'll get through Cluster 70. Prof Friscia will post midterm/final review questions, and we all had a google doc where we compiled our answers. Super helpful. Take this cluster, easily the best one in the cluster program. You won't regret it.

I really enjoyed this class. To clarify, Fall quarter is taught by McKeegan, Lawrence, and Larkin (Friscia doesn't teach until Winter). It was an interesting subject, and the professors were all very entertaining and knowledgeable about their topics. Workload was very reasonable--weekly reading assignments take 30 mins or less to complete (just answering ~3 questions on the assigned chapter(s)). They guide you through writing the paper throughout the quarter so that it's very manageable. Fall quarter material was tougher than Winter in my opinion, but my friends felt the opposite. I recommend that you make a study group with at least one person who knows the material well. They provide a study guide that's very helpful but doesn't cover *all* potential questions.

This course is taught by an array of professors who switch off lectures based on their specializations. I've gotta say, I expected a lot more clarity and organization from this class since there were 4 professors, but I was sorely disappointed. I would say, if you work well with disjointed schedules and assignments with unclear instructions, then this is for you. Otherwise, steer clear.

SELLING BOOKS:
The Story of Earth - $10
A Short History of Nearly Everything - $10
($15 FOR BOTH)

Email: diegoobregonn@ucla.edu

This class was overrated. If you're really interested in the material, then it is a good choice, but you'll be bored out of your mind if you aren't. My TA was pretty dull, and while Professor Larkin's lectures were amusing at times (he's a pretty good lecturer actually), McKeegan's were dreadful (he uses comic sans in his powerpoints like wtf?). Professor Friscia is the class coordinator but didn't do much teaching first quarter so I don't have a lot to say about him. The professors do make themselves available very often though, so if you're struggling they're open to helping you out. The classwork isn't tough, but the midterm and final were (they're doable though, I got a B on the midterm and a B- on the final and really only studied for the two nights before each one). Even if you screw up a bit on the midterm and final, if you do well on all the other work, you can pretty easily get at least a B. This class uses the annoying iClickers, and while only one of the textbooks are useful, it's the textbook that you get for free written by professor Larkin. The other two required textbooks were basically useless outside of needing them to do reading assignments due in discussion. The labs were poorly written at times, but the grading was very lenient. There is a five page research paper due at the end of the quarter, but 70% of the paper grade is based entirely on completion, which means you could get an F on the final draft but get a B on the paper (it's super easy and they hold your hand throughout the entire paper writing process). There are also weekly quizzes due based on the reading that are combined with the iClicker scores to get your participation grade, but if you miss a couple clicker sessions it won't affect your grade that much plus the two lowest quiz grades are dropped. While I got an A-, I'm dropping the class next quarter; this class isn't too hard, but because I'm really disinterested in stars and rocks, it was a snoozefest for me.