PSYC 2200

I took this course over the summer, so my experience probably differs from many others, but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this course. Prof. Brunjes definitely loves what he does and has a great command over the course material. He lectures from memory without relying on PowerPoint, which made for a more engaging lecture experience. The textbook was interesting and clearly written too (although many sections were quite dense). Once we got past the units on neuroanatomy and sensation, the course material got increasingly more fascinating - especially the chapters on motivation and addiction, hormones and sexual development, and emotion. We were able to ask questions during class on material we were unsure about. Tests were difficult and specific, but he provided all his old exams from the past five years so we could get a feel for how they would be structured. This class definitely takes a lot of effort, but taking diligent notes and making flashcards from the bolded words in the textbook definitely helped to solidify all the information. If you're considering signing up for this course, keep an open mind about Brunjes! I know he's gotten a lot of bad reviews on CourseForum in recent years which almost turned me off from taking this course, but I can say that I actually enjoyed the material a lot and found his lectures very interesting. Plus, he curves the grades at the end so that the top 60% of the class gets B-'s and above, so don't panic if you're getting grades in the mid-70s or 80s. Plus, you get to drop your lowest exam, including the final! Overall, I would recommend taking this class with Brunjes, especially over the summer, which helps with keeping the material fresh in your mind over the shorter timespan.

I would NOT recommend this class to anyone, it has been my least favorite class to date. Given, I am not science-oriented so I should have strayed away from this class in the first place, but I have never been so frustrated with a course. I have been to every single lecture, kept up on every single reading (taking extensive notes each time too), and done all the practice tests and still have received my lowest exam grades of my college career. This class is extremely frustrating because hard work will not necessarily pay not. Brujnes lecture style is a mess. He refuses to use a microphone so it is hard to hear him when he begins mumbling and in addition he jumps around a lot in the material, and does not project any sort of notes, just pictures and diagrams. His multiple choice exams are only 35 questions, but the are super specific, it is never general questions. I think the class may have changed since a few years ago because he switched the textbook, therefore studying the old tests that refer to the old "Kalat" textbook hasn't proved to be too helpful like I had read. Once again, if you are good in science courses you may have a completely different experience, but I personally regret not dropping this class every single day

I would not recommend this class to anyone. Brunjes makes sexist jokes and literally does not know what he's talking about half of the time. He doesn't want students to use laptops but makes it ridiculously hard to follow his lectures while writing notes. He is all over the place and often says the exact opposite of the textbook. Questions are often ambiguous and he always has errors in the keys. Very hard to do well in the class even if you memorize the textbook and lectures because of poorly worded questions. Brunjes is not a good professor and should be avoided.

The content of this course is very interesting if you have any interest in the topic. You definitely learn a lot, and I enjoyed Brunjes as a professor while in lecture. However, the tests are extremely frustrating. It is very nitpicky. You need to know every little detail from lecture so this is not a class to take if you like to skip. You also need to know every little detail from the book- nothing is off limits from the assigned reading, and there is a good deal of reading assigned so do not procrastinate on it. Definitely use the old exams to study with because he will pull questions from there. The curve is really helpful so while the exams could be frustrating, it works out so the vast majority of people pass the class, with the top 60% getting an A or a B. I wouldn't recommend taking this just because, but if you have to take it for Cog Sci or Psych, you will get through it. Just be prepared to put in some effort!

Very hard class. Not gonna lie though, definitely possible to get an A if you know how to grind. 5 short mid-terms, you get to drop the lowest grade. Listen for minute details in lectures, because that's what he likes to put on mid-terms. I found this class very hard because he asks very specific questions that requite an in-depth knowledge of the topics. Definitely do all of the readings when they're due, don't procrastinate otherwise you'll get screwed. Looking back on it, I should've gone to office hours. They are very willing to help you, so take advantage of that. My only problem with this course is that it seems like the exams are designed to trick you or fail. The professor's goal is obviously for you to learn, but the tests are designed to trip you up and stump you on very-detailed information. Not a huge fan of this type of testing. He curves the class a ton so don't be discouraged if you get 70s on all the mid-terms. ALSO DO THE PRACTICE QUIZZES THEY HELP A SHIT TON.

Brunjes's lecture style might not sit well with some people; if you're used to professors who use powerpoints, then Peter's style of teaching might be hard to adjust. You gotta write down ANY word or image he draws on the chalkboard, because there's no way of knowing if it's on the exam. Do NOT assume this is an easy class; otherwise, you'll be one of the people who's giving the people who did study a ride on the curve. READ THE TEXTBOOK, DO NOT CRAM FOR EXAMS.

Real talk: Brunjes is easy. His test are only facts that he said in class and facts in the textbook. Nothing else. You dont have to think outside the box for his questions, nor do you have to apply anything he says or in the book to real life questions (like old Dave Kittlesen). With that said, you absolutely have to go to lecture, memorize your notes, and read the book. You can not do that and get an A. The tests are straightforward. "What does _______ do? The _______ is located in the? If you damaged the ___________, what is the outcome on behavior?"

Brunjes is super fun but this class is pretty hard if you're not a science person. You sorta have to take it if you're a psych major and it's a good choice but just be prepared for the dense reading a the difficult exams.

To be honest this is a good class with silly tests. I say they are silly because if you have a desire to remember tiny details from a text book and lecture and regurgitate them then this is a class for you. Otherwise I would strongly recommend BIOL 3050 with Condron over this course because at least he tests over the information that is relevant and he is organized. With Brunjes I feel like every day is a new day and there is no real order to his lectures. We jump around to different parts of the brain and are expected to remember stuff. In summary take this class if you want silly tests that are hard because they are comprised of obscure questions, not because he teaches at a high level.

Brunjes' class is a terrific class if you are pre-med or a Biology or Psych major. It is a hard class. You MUST go to lecture if you want to get a good grade on the test. The reading is also 100% necessary. Do the practice tests! The class is graded on a bell curve, so your grade will depend on the other people in the class. One test an A was a 92-100 and the next test an A was an 84-100. The tests are all 35 multiple choice questions.