3.2
Quality2.6
Difficulty62%
Would Retake84
Reviews62%
Would Retake
84
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
17
4
24
3
18
2
14
1
11
What Students Say
“Terrible lecturer and terrible class”
EXSC205 - 1.0 rating“His lectures aren't the best, but keeps you interested”
EXSC205 - 3.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
10%
Textbook Required
40%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Stable
+0.01 avg changeRatings by Course
EXSE205
4.0
(1)FS100
4.0
(1)FSEM100
3.8
(6)HBIO202
3.4
(5)HBIO205
3.4
(49)Difficulty by Course
EXSC250
4.0
EXSC205LXG
4.0
EXSC202
3.7
HBIO205
2.8
EXSC205
2.6
Reviews (84)
I hate science of any kind but the class I had with Girandola, "the science of human performance." was actually fun. He lets you out early all the time tells jokes and tries to keep all the confusing stuff out of it for you. Great GE class!
No need to buy the book. Tests are fairly straightforward and easy as long as you always attend lecture. Very knowledgeable and approachable. Tries to keep the class funny and entertaining. Great GE class, take this class if you get the chance. Labs were okay, my TA was strict and difficult to get along with. Labs do not alway coincide with lecture
Contrary to what others have said i found the professor to be really difficult to work with. I went to his office hours and he actually got visibly angry when I needed clarification on certain topics. I wouldn't recommend this class to anyone.
The average score on his tests (3) were about 70%. So, I guess he gave a lot of C's. I simply took notes every class and studied the night before the tests and got an A. The lab portion is 25% of your grade- really awesome labs, but the work here is tedious. Overall fun class- all of the famous athletes were in the class
Girandola is incredibly rude. I asked him very politely about my final grade, which he miscalculated, but he literally wrote how it ceases to amaze him how much students cannot calculate grades, and that I was very fortunate to get the grade that I got.I attended every lecture and took notes, but his tests did not reflect any of the notes! Terrible
i really enjoyed Girandola. the class is straightforward and right from the notes. take good notes, and have notes from every lecture, and this class is a breeze!
Don't fall for this guy's trap... his expectations are WAY too high for a GE... i'm a science major struggling for a B+... should have just done geology, lol.
To do well in the class take good notes and study hard a few days before the exam. The professor himself is not too great, so don't rely on office hours to get help.
Interesting and applicable class. However, it was harder than expected. Make sure you take good notes and pay attention to % or #?s he says in class. He will test you on minute details. First Exam is the hardest. 3 tests=non cumulative=25% each (avg: 68%); 25% for lab. Its easy to get a B or B+, but difficult to get an A (unless you do JEP).
i hated this class. class is so boring. he made everything 10 times harder than it shoulda have been. if it werent for the lab section, half the class woula gotten d's. i took it pass no pass and barley survived the class
I took this class last semester. WAY harder than expected. He writes on the chalkboard and his handwriting is hard to read. Don't expect to get an A if you don't like going to class. You pretty much have to write down everything he says and study those notes for the midterms and finals. I thought I did well one the midterms but I got C's.
This is the most interesting class that I've ever taken. If you can manage to go to class, you'll never be bored. Going to class isn't mandatory, but those who go and take good notes are at a huge advantage for the exams. All exams are multiple choice. Hard work will get you an A. Mediocre effort will get you a B.
Terrible lecturer and terrible class. The exams tested mostly on whether you memorized random details, and the lectures were completely unorganized. It's easy to do well if you have a perfect memory or take really good notes though. I understand all the concepts, but he wastes too much time focusing on numbers and equations that we'll later forget.
Have to take really good notes and pay attention to specific details to do well on the two midterms. The labs are very fun and hands-on, depends on how harsh your grader is or the TA on those lab reports. His lectures aren't the best, but keeps you interested.
I thought he was an excellent professor! I could care less about kinesiology before I took this class but he tells you some really cool stuff about your body and how to get the most out of it. Class is easy as long as you take good notes because he doesn't use a text book. I would highly recommend it!
From a student who attends every lecture and lab: *THIS TEACHER IS MORONIC!* The tests are unfair! If you want an "A" don't take this class (it's pure luck to do well). Other than that... I get 100% on every lab assignment and the semester project is fairly straightforward and easy.
Horrible professor! Interesting subject, made boring by professor. In lectures he goes way too fast, does not stop or take questions. He gives bad advice in office hours. Not helpful, not approachable, not smart, and not nice.
Professor is a bit outdated but seems pretty knowledgeable about nutrition. The worst thing about the class are the tests. Its mostly focused on memorizing very specific details and facts which gets pretty frustrating
very interesting guy. Tests weren't hard but required memorization of specific things. Good and interesting GE to take
Really easy freshman seminar. 2 really short presentations that take maybe 30 minutes to prepare. No test. Interesting health, diet, and exercise information. Option for water weighing at end was really cool.
Really easy class if you go to lecture and take notes. Girandola is generally a nice guy but seemed grumpy at times. Labs are a joke
He clearly knows a lot about fitness and nutrition, and he has a lot of cool stories too. But his class notes are really haphazard and it seems like he focuses on random things he likes. The tests require you to memorize very specific random facts. If you go to lecture and study your notes religious, you can do well.
He is a knowledgable professor but chooses test questions randomly and relies very little on the notes he provides his students with in class. It is mandatory to attend his lectures to get a good grade in this class. I got an A- in BISC-220 and a B- in this class.
Bob is the best! The freshman seminar is super easy and actually on an interesting topic. The class is passfail based on attendance, but he usually let us out of class early. He likes to joke around and his sarcasm is hilarious. The "presentations" were really just talking to the class for 5 minutes. Super low key. Take this class!
This class does not use the book. It's all based on lectures, so I'd highly recommend going to class. The tests are based off the slides and what he says in class so remembering a few key points from what he verbally says is important. Lab is also factored in greatly! Had to work for my grade. Not the best GE, but it was interesting.
The classes and lessons were interesting, and he is a hilarious lecturer. Tests are purely multiple choice. Apparently the textbook was optional, but I felt that alot of the test questions came from the textbook. Lectures are not that important, but they are useful. Lab sessions are fun though! Tough class, but interesting.
SUCH AN EASY CLASS. If you have any sort of biology background (even high school level) you'll do fine.
This is a pretty interesting class but you need to work for your grade. He posts slides online but going to class will help you as he sometimes alludes to test questions during class (and he is a pretty funny guy too). There are probably other better GE's to take but if you are interested in the subject matter, I would recommend! Labs are cool too.
I have never learned so much in a class before. Professor Girandola is hilarious but can sometimes be confusing and is not helpful during office hours. Tests are tough and have many trick questions. Slides are helpful but going to class is better. If you have biology experience you will do fine.
This is really a good class for GE requirements. The professor is fine and cracks lots of jokes in class to liven up the atmosphere. Never been to his office hour. If you go to the lectures and do study for the tests you'll get an A with ease.
3 exams + lab (25% each) cracked jobs all the time even noone responds. grading is very objective and you get what you put in. lets be real its a bio class, you need to study. going to class is not mandatory but it helps a lot. take it if you are interested in fitness and for bio electives. I learned a lot bout exercising and the class is doable.
There's only three tests and one lab grade to determine your overall final grade, so all of the exams are pretty high pressure. His lectures aren't too engaging, and he goes off topic quite a bit, but he tries to crack lots of jokes during lectures. His grading policies are really confusing, and he won't explain them to you later in the semester.
Bob is the man! His freshman seminar is worth taking and there is minimal work, show up and pass all honesty. He is passionate about the subject and keeps the class engaged with his jokes. You will learn something out of the class as long as you are interested in the subject.
Only graded on 3 exams and a lab score, and the material on the exams were based on the powerpoints, so attendance wasn't mandatory. I didn't find his lectures engaging. He curved the average of each exam to a C, but the labs were interesting. Exams were all multiple choice, so make sure you memorize the details of the powerpoints well.
Super chill, hilarious guy. Everything you need to know is in his powerpoints which he posts on Blackboard, so you don't have to go to lectures but I suggest you do because it's fun. However the exams are not easy if you want an A. If you don't study for the exams at all you'll fail I'm serious.
Great class. Fun ride. Have taken him during the fall. Easy A as long as you memorize the slides and ask peers for the notes.
Girandola is a great man who always tries to lighten the mood in lecture with jokes. His tests are not easy, but if you take the time to study two days before the exam, they are very straightforward/easy to get an A on. It is critical to come to class on the review session, as he goes over every topic that will be on the test. Interesting material.
If you're looking to take a GE for a letter grade, avoid this class/ this professor. Pretty easy class if taken pass no pass.. you can skip all lectures. Labs are ok, but expect physical activity He makes a ton of jokes that aren't funny at all. And no one laughs at them. His slides are super old. Passed the class myself, but worst ive taken at SC
I spent 5 days prior to each exam to review. The study guides I made for each exam are about 12 pages long and you have to memorize all the tiny details to get an A. I see myself putting more efforts in this class than my other classes considering it is only a GE class. Lab instructor is the worst!
Although Bob doesn't take attendance, GO TO HIS LECTURES. His powerpoints make no sense if you don't hear him explain the info. He tries to be funny in class but most of the time he's fat shaming people (compared obese children to jabba the hut). Lab section is terrible have to do a lot of extra work (labs, lab FINAL, group exercises)
Professor Girandola's HBIO 205 is very easy to get an A if you put reasonable effort. No essay, no quiz. All you have to do is taking 3 exams and lab. Exams are easy since powerpoints and study guide are posted on Blackboard and the professor gives review session before the exam. Exams are multiple choices. Labs are super straightforward. Easy A
Easy class but one of the rudest professors. He is impatient and doesn't show any courtesy to anyone. His lecture slides can be inappropriate and offensive. I wonder how he is still a professor at USC.
If you show up to some classes and the review sessions, the class should be fairly straight-forward. Exam questions are based on what he discusses in class and reviews. Overall, solid class for a GE. and solid professor.
Great Professor! Tries to make the class fun (I love his jokes, some people might think he is a little rude but he is not) and usually ends class early.
This is one of the worst professors I have ever taken. He makes inappropriate and disrespectful jokes throughout the lecture that nobody laughs at. He also makes things up when he doesn't know the answer, so I've heard him be incorrect several times. The class overall is not difficult but tests are based on small details of the class. Avoid.
Very funny professor and very interesting material. Tests are entirely based on the powerpoint and they are all noncumulative. Study the powerpoints and you will do well. The lab is pretty easy too. Not a lot of work at all. Don't need to go to class but I always went because of how much SC costs and because I enjoyed the professor.
Not a very good professor. Spends class reading from a powerpoint. Exams are based on minutiae of class, which is extremely frustrating. To prepare for exams you need to memorize every detail of the slides. Wouldn't recommend if you're looking for an easy A GE.
Doctor Girandola is simply amazing. He got a great sense of humor and his lectures were very interesting. He usually points out some facts about our health and lifestyle that we never notice. The class was a very reasonable GE course. There is no book required, and all you need to do is study his powerpoints. He gives a clear study guide for tests.
Don't take this class if you want an easy A GE. Tests questions are often not related to lecture/PowerPoint content and lectures are very boring.
Bob's class was really chill. You honestly don't even need to go to class because he posts all the slides online and has a test review the class before he gives it. The tests are actually pretty hard because he makes you memorize random stuff. He says a lot of insensitive jokes related to health, but overall he means no harm.
Bob is the of the worst GE professor I have add. His lectures are not always relevant to class material and he is rude and condescending when u email him with questions. Class material is super easy but you have to memorize every detail on the slides to get an A even if he says you don't. Not a chill GE but labs are super easy
The science of sport is an interesting class to take for GE credit. He posts all the lectures online and that's all you need for the class. The tests are hard because you have to memorize the lecture slides, but other than that there's no homework. The lab was easy too. Bob can be rude over email but honestly that's the only bad part. I recommend.
Bob knows his stuff and is also very practical. He understands that students need books for various classes, so he made it very clear on the first day that we would not need to get a textbook for his class. Overall, very clear and concise in his manner of grading, which can seem harsh to some, but in the end is very fair.
Prof. Girandola is hilarious and definitely makes the lectures interesting. The class isn't difficult but is for sure not an easy A. Overall solid class with very applicable material.
This class was VERY easy!! The labs were a breeze and there were just 3 tests, all multiple choice. The questions do get a little specific, so it would honestly be good to show up to lecture and listen to what he has to say. That said, I know people who NEVER showed up to class and still ended up with a B. Hes super funny and carefree, take him!!
Prof Girandola is funny and a personality but my advice is to avoid taking his classes. all scantron exams w/ very obscure or specific info, so studying is basically memorizing his scattered powerpoints. the labs are very demanding ESP for non stem oriented ppl. do not let this be sold to u as an easy A it was by FAR my most stressful/hardest class
The sweetest. Rounds up grades and make ur life easier for u.
It is what it is. tests straight from notes. labs are most interesting parts but he's not involved plus they don't affect lecture
Bobs a great guy. I study for a couple hours before the rest and do decently well. He makes the discussions really interesting and brings us in to talk about different topics. Lectures are pretty short around 30ish minutes. No homework - other than the lab section. Overall bob wants us to stay healthy throughout our lives with the right choices
Hilarious professor and a very easy class (I took it online, everything is open note). Don't understand why some people say his jokes are inappropriate, people are just too sensitive nowadays. the jokes honestly make the lectures more interesting. great and chill professor.
the lecture is so easy, especially online. I learned a lot actually though. Professor's jokes rarely land but it's funny to watch. The TA and lab is sooooooo much work though. lab was like another class and a half. one of those classes where if you put in the work you'll get an A, but it's a lot of work. busy work type class.
This class is definitely an easy A, especially if taken online. When he does a review for the upcoming exam, make sure you take note of everything he says. The professor is super chill and tries to make sarcastic jokes throughout the class. But, I feel like he teaches FOR the exams. I don't get much from the class tbh
Prof. Girandola has his funny moments, but I found his lectures disorganized and the content of the class not very interesting. Much of the class seemed like busywork. However, because the class was online everything was open-note, which was really nice.
From New York. He tries to crack jokes. This is a two unit class that only goes on for 10 weeks in a semester. 2 quick presentations. no tests. no homework. super easy. lightest 2 unit class ever. but the professor is very unique so some might like his jokes, some might not.
Professor Girandola is a very interesting professor. He always tries cracking a joke or two during his lectures, but in a way, it keeps everyone focused on the material. It's a pretty easy class, the only difficult aspects is the lab section, which has pretty strict criteria for the lab reports. Overall a solid class and professor
Prof. Girandola is a pretty good lecturer. He is funny, but sometimes a bit impatient towards his students. Other than that, the class is an easy option for a GE. Your grade is based off non-cummalitve tests, which are all based on the powerpoints.
Girandola is great! He's pretty fun, keeps lecture short, and is really nice. Definitely just wants you to learn and cares about the subject. Would recommend this as a GE to anyone. I don't know what it will be like in person, but the exams were super easy. Great GPA booster.
easiest GE D course you can find. Prof keeps course straight and to the point, will tell you what you need to know for finals. Reads right off the slides but keeps lectures short (usually 30 mins) and tests are straight off slides. Always tries to make jokes that rarely land which makes him kinda fun. Fun guy & easy class
If youre not a Bio or Stats major this class is going to be extremely difficult. I took it because of the reviews on here and the first week I read the lab book 10 times and still could not retain what I was reading. Its a mix of science and stats, and dense biology. Good luck!
I understand that switching a class to an online zoom was difficult, but the teacher should understand it's mutual. He was funny in the lecture and seems like a decent guy, but his fuse was short and unnecessary. Come off combative. Tests were straight-forward but he was unkind and childish, which made me dislike the lessons.
The course was fairly easy. However, it was not worth suffering through a semester of juvenile, offensive jokes, making fun of women, overweight people, and other populations. He really reached for low-hanging fruit and it felt like a middle school locker room. It felt so degrading sharing space with him.
professor is super nice and easy going. Class was not hard at all and had no outside of class assignments except for labs. If you show up to lab and turn them in, you should be fine. I didn't even go to class half the time and just showed up for the exams and still did well.
Nice prof, clear grading scale. Tests straight from powerpoints. He gives review sessions before each midterm, which basically cover everything u need to know for the tests. Tests are all multiple choices. No need to understand the bio & chem staff behind each concept, not a bio class, but a class useful for your life.
you had three exams and one lab grade. class was also interesting and no science background. exams are based off slides so it is important to really study because there is a lot of material but i loved professor girandola. hes super funny and knowledgable
Prof G is hilarious and has many funny and entertaining lectures. Some of the material is hard to grasp at times but he is good about answering questions. The class is very lecture and test heavy but if you show up and listen you will get a good grade. I recommend this class as a GE.
Prof. Girandola is very unapproachable and doesn't really answer questions in class. His jokes are also very insensitive which makes the class uncomfortable. The content isn't too difficult there is just a lot of it and if you are not a science major there is a lot to memorize. I would take a similar class like this again, but not with Girandola.
This Professor is the absolute worst do not take any classes with him. The tests are just insane and there is no chance you will get a good grade. Yes, the class is curved but that's cause everyone's failing. Our test averages were around 68% and the study guides do not match the test at all. No matter how much you study you will be ruined.
Class is very interesting and I learned about nutrition which I can personally use. The exams were tough since they focused on obscure details. Professor didn't post grades during the semester. When I got my final grade I thought he made a mistake on one of my exam grades so I emailed him. He refused to even discuss it with me.
Avoid Avoid Avoid. The class seems easy at first but the tests are legit impossible. Everyone failed and the average was around 70%. It's not at all an Easy A like others say and if you mess up you will get a c or b-. The study guides are not at all near to the actual test. What a waste of time!!!
Dr. G's tests come straight from his slides, however the information he picks out for tests is on the most minute details and values he presents in class. He makes expectations for each test clear, but grading is kind of bizarre. If you want to do good, read the slides and take notes. If you want to do great, go to class too. 'Nuff said.
If you're taking this class as your GE-D, I'd strongly consider P/NP. Actually knowing the material won't get you an A, it's how well you can take Scantron tests(which are 75% of your grade). The info tested is also very niche, which makes studying hard. Overall, i see very little reason to take this class for a grade.
He is a whole character. Unapologetically himself. Every class something eventful would happen, never missed one because there was so much to unpack every time. Loved his class! A must take to be honest.
I enjoyed Professor Girandola's Freshman Seminar class. The class itself is only 10 weeks, so it goes by quickly. The only assignments were two presentations. Attendance is important as this classes is graded Credit/No Credit. I recommend this Professor.
All of these other ratings say Professor Girandola has a sense of humor and sarcasm. However, they do not say many of those jokes are in a poor manner. I barely made it through the first class due to the excessive fatphobic/sexist remarks he made. I was highly uncomfortable and don't want others to blindly sign up for the class as I did.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
10%
Textbook Required
40%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Stable
+0.01 avg changeRatings by Course
EXSE205
4.0
(1)FS100
4.0
(1)FSEM100
3.8
(6)HBIO202
3.4
(5)HBIO205
3.4
(49)Difficulty by Course
EXSC250
4.0
EXSC205LXG
4.0
EXSC202
3.7
HBIO205
2.8
EXSC205
2.6