Professor Gillespie's Geo 5 is a super easy and interesting GE course (either north or south campus). Go to lecture and take solid notes. Memorize those and the study guide he gives thoroughly (it's not TOO much info) before the 50 or so multiple choice mid-term and final and you'll get an A. Make sure to go to lab and thoroughly complete all the assignments there -- don't slack or you could lose easy points. Also do the powerpoint project at the end well and get those easy points. The textbook is non-honors high-school (if not middle-school) level, as is the overall course, but it's also interesting. Gillespie is an asset to UCLA and us undergraduate students -- plus he submitted where he thinks Bin Laden to the FBI! (look him up on youtube). I thought the course could have been structured in a manner that moved away from memorization towards a lasting understanding of the issues that face our planet, but I'm still really glad I took it.

Professor Gillespie is awesome! I love going to lectures because he always makes it interesting with stories and funny jokes. The book was great--a very easy read. Do well on the labs...they are actually really easy and can help your grade out a lot. The presentation seems like a lot of work at first, but it's fun and goes by fast. I highly recommend this class! I got a A- easily.

fun and easy class! take this! I recommend it for freshmen if you want time to adjust to the quarter system! selling his textbook for Geography 5 for cheap! contact dynoemite101@aol.com

Geog 5 is one of my favorite classes taken at UCLA. Gillespie's lecturing skills are superb, I thoroughly enjoyed going to lecture every monday and wednesday and listening to what he had to say. He made the material fun to learn and I actually enjoyed studying. The midterm and final were 52 multiple choice questions and he gave us a study guide before both. The labs were fairly simple yet helpful, and the presentations at the end were very insightful. I would definitely recommend Gillespie for any student considering taking him.

Midterm = 1 hr of study
Final = 2 hrs of study
Labs = virtually non-existent, and only 4 hours on an EASY powerpoint

EASIER than highschool, but sooo mcuh fun, TAKE HIM

Professor Gillespie guest lectured in my cluster when I was a freshman. I knew I had to take a class from him.

Little did I know that he would be the best professor I have ever had the experience of knowing/learning from. Not only is he absolutely hilarious, but he really inspires his students and illustrates the relevance of all his topics beautifully. He makes going to class fun, and I cannot wait to take more classes from him.

His midterm and final for this class were both 52 multiple choice questions, and the average on the midterm was an 89%. If you put even minimal effort into the class, you will probably get an A... ESPECIALLY if you have ANY background or interest in the material AT ALL. I loved this class SO much. There are easy labs, and my TA (Christine Zuhlsdorf) was great. Easy lab assignments which compliment the class well (pretty much all done in class) and a final group project on an ecosystem (I did mangroves in Africa) which everybody does well on.

Gillespie's stories are hilarious, and he sometimes even gives people money/extra credit for exploring the topic on/off campus! (looking for plants, etc.)

TAKE THIS CLASS! TAKE THIS CLASS! TAKE THIS CLASS! TAKE THIS CLASS! TAKE THIS CLASS! TAKE THIS CLASS! TAKE THIS CLASS! TAKE THIS CLASS! TAKE THIS CLASS! TAKE THIS CLASS!

You will not regret it. I promise. I just declared as an Geography/Environmental Studies major, and I want to take all of his classes!

Do not take Geo5 unless it is with Dr. Gillespie. He is an intelligent man and is truly passionate about the work he does, as well as teaching it to his students. I had such a great time in his class. His lectures are engaging, so it isn't common to see people start snoozing away (you usually only do in his class if you are legitimately tired out from the day/week). His labs involve a lot of hands on activities, such as exploring the botanical gardens and seeking out trees behind the res halls.

Labs, midterm, and final. Multiple choice, and a map for the midterm. He gives you a study guide beforehandl it's up to YOU to study the material and just reproduce it on the exam.

One thing I will say though is that he does often throw a lot of offensive jokes, especially concerning race. However, he is merely entertaining the large majority of students that will chuckle at a small joke. Though I did not appreciate all of his jokes, I did enjoy a few that did light up the room. I wouldn't take things personally.

I'll be honest--I hate nature. I don't even like walking on grass. I took this class because it was the only one that fit my schedule and I still don't like nature, but Professor Gillespie is a model for how all professors should be: Engaging, concerned, welcoming and passionate about what he does. He also throws in a lot of sex jokes and has an awesome radio voice. He's very fair and is shockingly willing to help with problems you might have. One of the best professors I've had--I'd probably say the best if I enjoyed the subject more.

Labs are a bore. But they're easy so I don't have any huge complaints. Try to get Pablo as your TA.

Take Prof. G. He's legit.

This is hands down my favorite class taken at UCLA so far. Professor Gillespie is an asset to UCLA. He makes lecture fun and engaging as well as quite enlightening in terms of what is going on in the world around us. I missed not one of his lectures because he made going worth-while. The lectures were not boring and there were no sleeping bodies throughout. I have recommended this class to all of my friends because I really enjoyed going and am sad it's over.

The midterm consisted of 52 multiple choice questions and a map which were all simple if you attended lecture. He gives you a study sheet basically telling you what will be on the midterm. He is not trying to trick you and actually wants you to know the material. If you go to lectures you'll know what is going on. The material is easy to remember because not only is it interesting but the vignettes and funny stories Gillespie attaches to it makes the material fuse to memory; the material is pertinent to know and take with you in the real world and not things you're forced to learn, never to hear of or use again in the future. You will take a few field trips, one of which is in the botanical gardens on campus. The other is given by Gillespie himself. He'll take you around UCLA to show you the native and non-native plant species we have on campus. By the end you'll be able to point out tree species around campus.

There was a power point presentation at the end of tenth week which was fun and not difficult at all. You get to choose the environmental topic. The final consisted of 52 multiple choice which again he gave a study sheet for. I thought it was fair and pretty straight-forward. Wish there were more professors like Gillespie. The only problem with this class is the inevitable comparison that I will draw from Geo 5 to my future classes. They will never live up. If you get the chance to take this class, don't hesitate.

This class was quite interesting. I think Gillespie made it really interesting. His voice--which sounds like that of a radio show host--kept me engaged and awake throughout all his lectures. He threw in a lot of jokes while lecturing, which kept the class lively. Midterm was pretty easy (52? multiple choice questions + a world map that you'll need to draw out). Final was slightly harder than expected but it was fair. There was a powerpoint presentation project due 10th week. That required some work, but it was fun. Overall, the workload for this class was medium compared to my other classes. I wouldn't consider it demanding or hard. There was a LOT of memorization though. Try to think of songs or acronyms to remember the material. But the exams were straightforward. I got an A (wasn't an "easy" A, so don't slack off).

I liked the class and the cool professor. He's one of those professors who leaves me a greater appreciation for the subject because of HIS genuine love and enthusiasm for what he teaches.