I loved this course, and learned a lot from it too! It is a lot to learn but the exams are open notes so they weren't too bad. There are 3 exams total, 1 group project, and 5 journal assignments. The group project may seem daunting but it's pretty simple. You choose a topic and each group member speaks about 1 thing about the topic for 2 minutes. Writing a section, making 2-3 PowerPoint slides, and speaking for 2 minutes on Zoom isn't too much work. I thought it would be a lot worse than it was. The journal assignments are 300 words each and they are questions you answer from the book and you might have to look up (or are given) research papers to cite from. The questions are broad enough to where it was easy to go over 300 words.

Dr. Baldwin is a good professor. I've seen a lot of negative comments but I never had any issues. I also didn't have much time with her besides the first exam review and the group project. I did like her lectures because she makes them interesting and she doesn't talk like she is reading from a script. She enjoys entomology and that is reflected in her teachings.

Decently fun class. The attached lab is amazing and would highly recommend, even without the class. You create a collection of insects and explore NATL together every week.

Covers just about anything an amateur bug person would want to know.

She was fine. Clearly was very into the course and quick to respond. Open to people coming in person to talk, though I didn't.

Do NOT take this class with Baldwin. I know it may seem easy because it's online, but it's only a 2 credit class but she makes it like 4. The textbook is long and all memorization (so you'll just forget what you read) and some of what you need to read isn't ever attached to what you're learning that week. The worst part about this class is the group project. Already with 3 exams and writing assignments, a group project for a 2 credit class is way too much, but it's even worse when no one does their part (which most won't). The exams are open notes, but she asks tricky questions or obscure ones from the textbook. She seems like a really nice lady, but she never responds to emails, she took points off my group project because our group leader bailed (which isn't our fault) and her exam revie...read more

Learning about insects is useful for those going into bio, plants, or life science

Pros - nice - open note exams Cons - tests are tricky and very timed - textbook is unhelpful - course is way to much work for 2 credits

Don't take Dr. Baldwin. The TA from the in-person section told me everyone there a few semesters ago all got A's, in Baldwin's class, only a few people will.

The first few labs will go over external and internal anatomy of insects. This is a lot of information so be sure to use flashcards or take good notes for the Final Exam at the end of the semester. There is a lab report you have to write on an experiment done with using household cleaners as an insecticide. You have plenty of time to write it (about 6 weeks). Each week a new section of the paper will be due. The TA's will go over exactly what they are looking for and will give you advice and/or feedback if you need, don't be shy about emailing them or going to office hours. I was dreading the paper, but it was really useful to go through a research paper and know how they are written and to write one yourself - I'm pretty proud of mine! The biggest challenge in this class is the insect col...read more

This is a very interesting class, and it gets you outdoors and exploring the area around you. You'll gain an appreciation for the 'little' world that we don't pay attention to on a daily basis. But I suggest you collect collect!

I've never been so stressed about a class. There's a LOT of information that you need to grasp to do well on the exams, and unfortunately, a lot of it is dry (after the first chapter, the textbook is so dry, full of wall-to-wall text that will boil your brain.) If you're taking the lab with this, prepare to feel like you're taking two 3-credit classes instead of a 2 credit class (this one) and the lab (1 credit). The group project really sucks, especially in the online format. I had one group partner withdraw from the class and 2 others that contributed nothing. That's not Baldwin's fault, but it definitely living life on hard mode. If you don't need this class for your major/minor, my advice is to make your life easier and take an easier science for your bio credit.

The study of insects through projects, various assignments and exams.

She's super nice and you can tell she's incredibly passionate about her work. That being said, she's tough. She expects you to be just as invested as she is, and at times I feel like she forgets that this is an intro class.

That it's difficult, and if you're not great at science courses, it's probably best to choose an easier class to fulfill your bio science gen ed.

There's a lot of work for this class. It's not a bad class, but be prepared for the amount of work required. This is what a lot of people struggled in and what made people less interested. If you get past that then you're fine.

If you are going into entomology, the medical field, veterinary field, pest management, plant science, agriculture, or similar then this is useful. Basically, anything that could involve disease vectors would benefit from this class. It's also a prereq for other bio classes. If that is not what you are getting into then go another route.

The prof was very understanding about some of the issues that came up during the pandemic and even hosted study nights before exams. She gives you every opportunity imaginable.

Take advantage of study sessions and stay on top of assignments. Buddy up with fellow students. You'll be ok.

This course has enough work to be a 6 credit class. If you don't already study insects, memorizing the appearance of insect orders among the other requirements to pass may be difficult.

The professor is very nice but very heavily booked so can be hard to find time to meet with. She also sometimes proselytizes to students which can be uncomfortable.

Terrible class, harder than a Bio class

Don't take this

Terrible professor, unfair exams

Not to take it