This class is the main reason I became a Geography major!! I HATE getting up early in the morning (early being anytime before 11), but I went to every single one of the 9:30 am classes for Geography 5. After the first few classes, I found myself wishing I had the class everyday, not just twice a week! Prof Gillespie is the most enthusiastic and engaging teacher I have had at UCLA, and he really makes learning the material fun. My favorite lab was out near the child care center on Bellagio, when we followed him through some native vegetation. It wasn't just a walk in the park- Prof Gillespie brought along his machete and also had us tasting or smelling everything in our path. Then we cleared part of a hillside and planted native grasses... hot and dirty but so much fun!! Take a class with him if you ever get the chance! It's worth it. Make sure to go to class though... the material he covers is only in lecture, not in the book!!

Everyone enjoys a kick-back class every once in a while, but Dr. Gillespie takes it to an extreme. This sort of dumbed-down, elementary stuff is not why we came to UCLA. I wish Dr. Gillespie would respect our intelligence by digging into the material, not just giving an over-simplified glance.

One midterm, one final, one research project, one awesome professor. Gillespie's enthusiam is contagious, and even if you're not much of a geog person, the class is worth taking. Not only are the work load and tests very fair and decent (just make sure to go to ALL lab sections -- most are pretty long and boring, but worth a good chunk of your grade -- most give you credit for effort anyway), the class and info were actually interesting. Take this class! Don't miss out on a great professor!

Never before have i been piss drunk with my friends discussing the controversial issues of Bush's environmental policies. But Gillespie's class did it for me! the class left an impression that went beyond the classroom, inspiring me to discuss and cite environmental issues at a many random moments. the topics covered were great and so is he as a prof! i literally felt like i missed out if i didnt attend a class. i haven't met many profs like him....

Extremely hilarious, personal, and caring professor. Midterms and finals can be overwhelming. But since the class materials is complex, I guess that's the best anyone can do.

The funniest prof on campus by far... Thought Bohman in BIO 40 was hilarious, but this guy is even funnier! the midterm was difficult, and the class has a lot of info... no joke, but worth taking just to listen to the prof. every day

Dr. G is the best professor I've had so far at UCLA! He is absolutely AMAZING. His enthusiasm about geography is contageous. I never even thought about geography as a major until this class; it has seriosuly made me reconsider my major choice. Plus Dr. G loves exclamation points !!!!!!!!

Seriously, he is a great guy who gets the point across without making it boring or difficult. His final was the shortest final I've ever taken (30 minutes max.) It was simple, straightforward, and covered all the main points. You would have to try to get a bad grade in Dr. G's class. What are you waiting for? Take him now!!!!

Dr. Gillespie is awsome! He loves what he does (which makes the learning environment very productive for students)...clear lectures, funny, keeps your attention, very approachable...definitely take a class with him if you can!

Dr. G is AWESOME.. but please please make sure you attend the labs because they're worth a whole chunk of ur grade (I found out the hard way as I got a low grade due to missing half of those damn friday 9AM labs), and attend the lecture because Gillespie is simply one of the best lecturers that I've come across. Take this class! attend all the labs, do all the work, take good notes during lectures, study them before midterm and final, and u'll do fine.

JUST TAKE ANYTHING TAUGHT BY THIS MAN. He is not only funny and entertaining but the things he teaches can be used in real life AND you won't forget it. Great professor.