This is a reiteration of BIO 222. If you take both courses together you'll even be studying the same slides. This class is just multiple choice exams so it's easier. Aragona was funny and gave podcasts. Weekly quizzes forced you to study ahead of time and was a good thing.

Best teacher ever

This was my favorite class all semester. I would highly recommend it. He is really funny and makes class interesting. Because he is young his jokes are really relevant.

This class was extremely enjoyable. Brandon is hilarious and has a unique aspect on the material he teaches. Most of the exam questions are in the lectures and if you are sick, he podcasts all of them. Most of what you learn is pertinent to how we percieve everything around us. Take this class.

Class was hard compared to most psychology classes but the prof was so interesting that it ended up being my favorite class. I can't wait to take another one of his classes.

I really liked him, he's very knowledgeable and tries to keep the lectures interesting. You can tell he wants people to do well. THAT BEING SAID you need to workkkk in this class! there aren't many grades so everything counts. His exams are tricky but I feel like I learned a lot. Overall, great class! (also he podcasts so lecture = not mandatory)

He's the best! You really do need to study for exams but all the material is in the lecture notes. AND his lectures are podcasted which makes it even better!

The material is interesting, but the exam questions are so tedious he had to curve all of our exams. He offers extra credit, so you can do well in this class. It's just a lot of memorization.

I found Mr Aragona to be a great teacher, but not easy. If you really want to learn than he is excellent. If you want it easy than your will be frustrated...

I had him for 230 and 437 - two very different classes. But I think he is a great teacher - hilarious, outspoken, sarcastically genius. Oh, and he really knows a lot about biopsychology. Everyone on here is just whining because they can't memorize easy facts for the 230 exams. Don't let these pre-med wannabees keep you from taking a class with him

Aragona is a brilliant professor. I had him for Psych 230 and 437 and loved him in both classes. Those complaining probably don't have a sense of humor, because he is just hysterical. He wants his students to be as passionate about what they're learning as he is. Take his upper level class and you will grow as a student and an academic individual

Professor Aragona is an amazing professor. He really knows the course material and keeps students engaged with his witty sense of humor. He breaks the discussion up with interesting stories and informative meerkat videos that are "cute as a button." He really wants his students to learn and is always able to meet outside of class to help.

Professor Aragona is the best professor I have had at the University of Michigan! His ability to form an active learning environment allows students to constantly engage in intellectual discussions and express their opinions. He is always open to suggestions for topics we want to discuss. Take a class with Professor Aragona and you won't regret it!

Professor Aragona is the man! His sarcasm and sense of humor makes me want to go to class every day. He makes you want to learn about biopsychology and really helps you along the way with his flexible teaching style. Definitely reccommend him.

Professor Aragona is a great teacher! He knows a ton about the subject of the course. It doesn't hurt that going to class everyday is like seeing a "stand-up routine." He has a sarcastic sense of humor that had me laughing out loud even early in the morning. A must take if you're interested in behavioral neuroscience or neuroscience in general.

He's no Fozzie Bear, but his humor does keep the class from losing enthusiasm. Cares more about being insightful and a good investigator than doing pointless assignments.

Professor Aragona is AMAZING. Best professor I have had the University. He is funny, interesting, and really cares about the students. And as a bonus, he has shown me that prairie voles are MUCH cuter than chinchillas (my favorite animals). Highly recommend this class!

Professor Aragona is a wonderful teacher. He easily keeps the students engaged in learning about behavioral neuroscience with his great sense of humor. He cares a great deal about his students and continuously demonstrates his passion for studying the brain.

Very good professor and class. This class is very informal and it very different then a lecture class. Come to class prepared to discuss. He is not concerned with grades and just is concerned with you learning the material. You will get an A if you just listen in class and do the work which is not that much. TAKE THIS CLASS

This is one of the best classes I have taken in college. Not only is the subject fascinating, but Dr Aragona is hilarious. He cares more about your learning than grades, which makes this class completely stress-free. He's the kind of professor that REMEMBERS YOUR NAME. After taking this class, I want to move to Africa and study meerkats.

this is one of my favorite classes i've taken at michigan so far. You watch meerkat manner, learn about truly fascinating behaviors in animals, and are taught by a professor with clear excitement and enthusiasm about what he does. I will never forget this class, it's AWESOME!

This class is great! Professor Aragona is easily the most engaging teacher I have ever had! The reading material is always interesting, and the workload is very reasonable. I highly recommend taking this class with prof. Aragona!!

This class is AMAZING. Easily one of the most enjoyable classes I've taken here at the UofM. Professor Aragona really cares about his students, and is extremely approachable. I HIGHLY recommenD tAking this class!!

Professor Aragona is an excellent professor that not only teaches well but keeps the class entertaining. He brings in real world examples to help illustrate points (like meerkats!) and is constantly in good spirits. Every student in the class loves him and thinks he's hilarious!

This class is one of my favorite classes that I have ever taken. Dr. Aragona is simply spectacular. From day 1, I walked in and knew that there was something wonderfully different. Aragona's humor really takes the class to a whole new level. He accommodates his students to make an atmosphere of learning, he doesn't chew ice! Take this class!

brandon aragona is flawless. his humor is like a beacon of light shining through the apocalyptic despair of classes taken at the university by mere mortals. i highly recommend taking this class for your attention will never be thwarted by nuances of boredom or melancholy. do it for the meerkats! do it for education! RFT!

Brandon is the best! Discussion is super engaging and funny, which makes class worth going to. He is more than willing to meet students outside of class and is very helpful as you're working on assignments. We watch Meerkat Manor, which is awesome! Take this class, it's the best!

Brandon Aragona is the best! He's by far the funniest prof I have ever had, so class is super entertaining and engaging :). Brandon is very willing to meet students outside of class, responds quickly to emails and is really helpful when you're working on papers and other assignments. Take this class!

All I can say is, take this class and it will open a whole new world for you. He is by far the best professor I have had at Michigan and not to mention Hilarious! The only 10 o'clock class that I look forward to going.

I took Psych 433 with Berridge before and would say that 437 is similar in how interesting the material is and how deep we get to look into some really cool topics. Besides that, Aragona does a great job at keeping class fun and engaging. I would definitely recommend the class. Don't listen to the 230 students that complained about their grades.

Professor Aragona is one of the funniest, most candid professors I have ever had. He truly cares about the success of his students and encourages the use of office hours, not just for getting help on assignments but for developing a connection with each of his students. The workload is manageable and we watch Meerkat Manor! Aka: take this class!

I have this class sandwiched in the middle of 10 hours of class... And professor Aragona makes this class so entertainingly awesome that I am not only learning effectively but also forget the misery of the day that surrounds this class. To be honest, this class beats my usual midday salted caramel hot chocolate!

This class is very laid back and focuses more so on engaging with the material and stimulating your mind. Professor Aragona is only one of the few professors that I have had that encourages you to come to office hours to help build a more one on one relationship that makes class more personal and interactive.

He's so interesting to listen to and really cares about his students

This class is the only reason I get up in the morning. It is a beacon of light during the cold michigan winters. And as for Professor Aragon, the best way to describe him is dangerous at both ends and crafty in the middle.

Aragona is funny and really cares about his students. He genuinely wants you to learn and enjoy your time in his class, and get to know you (which most professors at this university don't care about). He's very chill, and this class is pretty easy too! Definitely recommend for upper-level psych seminar!

Professor Aragona is amazing. He is passionate about what he teaches and makes class one of the most enjoyable parts of my week. I learned a lot in this course and I highly recommend taking Psych 437.

Biopsychology of Cooperation. Very interesting class with an awesome professor! Aragona keeps the class interesting through a variety of innovative teaching strategies. Highly recommended!

Professor Aragona is a really dedicated teacher who loves what he does. It is always a great time in class because he is super funny; he is a character for sure. Also, the class is interesting and relatively easy. Show up, do the work, and you will get an A. He is always there to help if you are struggling too.

This class is enjoyable and Professor Aragona really makes it fun. The material is a bit hard to understand but as long as you do it and ask questions, its easy.

Seriously the best professor I have ever had. Really focuses on a real learning experience. He is super casual and comfortable to talk to. He doesn't really know all his students that well but if you take a few minutes to go into office hours and chat he'll remember you and help you if you ever need anything. He really cares about the students.

This is the best class I have taken at the University of Michigan. Professor Aragona is extremely entertaining and brilliant. You can tell he loves to teach and wants all of his students to get the most out of his class. He is very helpful and is genuinely interested in his students and their success. Definitely recommend taking this class!!

He really cares about this class and he makes sure people understand the material. He is helpful and really friendly so make sure you visit him in office hours. He loves sports so that was a plus for me.

Professor Aragona is a great professor! He really cares about what he does and genuinely wants his students to learn. Pretty easy class, and low key in work minus the final paper. I definitely recommend taking this class.

Aragona is a great guy and one of the few profs I've had at Michigan to really take his students seriously. 437 is an easy A so long as you show up and do the readings, but you will learn a LOT and have an awesome time doing so.

Aragona is a great professor. His papers are tough and your likely to get a paper back covered in writing, but he gives the best feedback I've EVER gotten from a professor. I became a much better writer because of this class, and would recommend it to anyone.

Professor Aragona is a great instructor with a great sense of humor and assigned reasonable amounts of reading every week. I found the writing assignments difficult but Professor Aragona was really willing to help struggling students and meet outside of class. More in-class guidance on writing might have helped but I would recommend the course!

I really enjoyed taking this class. It was challenging but definitely worth it. Take this class if you actually want to learn. The readings aren't too long, but you must do them. Aragona is very flexible and understanding. Definitely my favorite class this semester.

This was a discussion based course with 5 page, 20 source papers. Seemed intimidating at first, but Professor Aragona always made it a point to meet with students individually to help with paper topics (which were pretty much your choice). Usually one reading per class that was never long, but must do in order to participate. Great instructor

Aragona is a solid prof. Ambition and creativity is encouraged and rewarded. There were 4 papers for my semester in 437 (the class format changes depending on Aragona's mood), three 5 page papers and a final 15 page paper. The class covers some tough neurobio concepts but always in context of how it applies to animal and human behaviorrelations.

Dr. Aragona is soooo quiche (you're welcome professor) Okay, this is the best class I took in my college career. Aragona is one of those professors that makes learning fun and teaches you versus lecturing at you. If you talk to him, he will help you out and make sure you are where you want to be as long as you put in the work. TAKE THIS CLASS!!!

Important Facts about Aragona 1. He's so quiche. 2. His passion for these topics makes class interesting and a pleasure to be in. 3. He is a reasonable, compassionate human being with a big beard. 4. His higher level classes take effort to do well in. 5. If I could take any professor again at this school, I would choose Aragona.

Professor Aragona is honestly the man! I'm not a neuroscience major and I decided to take this class, but it has probably been the best decision that I have made here at UM. He is awesome! The material is pretty tough and requires a lot of time to actually fully understand, but it's fascinating stuff! He is there to help you if you ever need it too

Funny guy, cool class, take it and have a good time.

We had an exam the Monday after halloween. Being the good guy professor he is, he declared his dislike for Monday exams and moved it to Wednesday. He is low-key a hilarious professor and makes lecture interesting. Probably does stand-up in his spare time.

Hilarious while still staying mostly on track. I honestly have no idea why people are saying his lectures are disorganized and the tests are way too hard. The average for the first two tests were above an 80 and everyone seems to be on the same page. One of the rare classes where attendance is not mandatory and still most people go.

Professor Aragona is a funny lecturer and made the tests easy to study for since only the slides would be covered. Lots of information, but since most students taking this are interested in pursuing a Neuroscience or Psychology related major, it should be interesting. Sometimes rambles, but I'm not sure why the other posters had an issue with him.

Professor Aragona was a pleasure this semester. While this class it not easy by any means, as long as you study and listen to his lectures you'll be fine. I personally didn't go to lecture and watched them online and felt that the class was fair. You're only tested on what he covers on slides and in lecture.

A wonderful human being. He is an intelligent accomplished professor but speaks like a millennial which I find refreshing. The material covered in class is EXTREMELY interesting and very valuable if you are preMED. He is so approachable and cares so much about his students. Only drawback: exams are TOUGH. MUST UNDERSTAND, NOT MEMORIZE.

Material isn't that difficult. However, the class can be really disorganized at times and there is an inconsistency in difficulty levels of the exams. The 1st exam was pretty fair, the 2nd exam was laughably easy, and the 3rd exam was ridiculously tricky with only 2 weeks to study for it. He's hilarious and a very nice guy.

Professor Aragona is great! Those complaining that he was unfair about tested about the reproductive topics are just wrong. He gave a few slides and told us (during lecture) to review them for the test. His third test was harder than the first two, but that's pretty expected when the averages are higher than normal. All in all, he was 100% fair.

This class was just as expected. For those complaining about the test difficulties, the first test was very fair, the second one we were told was going to be easier, and the third one we were warned would be very difficult. Aragona is a great lecturer, very funny, and not jokes are not insensitive. He's extremely helpful and very intelligent.

Prof Aragona is one of those professors who genuinely cares about your well being and your grade; while the class was a little disorganized, it was fair and you could do well if you studied hard enough.

God bless Dr. Aragona. When you sign up for this class, you know it's going to be tough, and for those of you who are complaining, the first exam average was an 86%, second exam was an 82%, and the third (difficult exam) had an average of 78%. Yes, there is a ton of information, but Dr. Aragona is amazing. Great man and great professor. Funny, too.

Professor Aragona was clearly very well educated on the topics and although the exams were pretty tough, they were never unfair. We were given everything we needed to do well, it's just a matter of the work you put in. He was a very good professor who was always more than willing to help , he just made us work for our grades, which is normal at UM.

Such a great professor. He's very willing to help if you go to his office hours & he cares so much about his students. Bottom line: if you aren't use to intense biology courses, this class may be difficult for you. If you are use to memorizing slides and paying attention to detail, you'll be fine. He's also hilarious, making learning less painful

He is very friendly and happy to meet outside of class. His exams are difficult, but if you put the time in you will be okay. The last exam and final were more difficult than the first exams.

Dr. Aragona is honestly one of the best professors I've ever had. Although the 230 reviews seem brutal (let's be real, 230 is set up AWFUL no matter who you take it with), he is so passionate about the work he has organized for this class. Be present for lecture, you'll miss important discussions - this class is geared towards changing our futures.

Agreed with the last post. Professor Aragona is the most passionate professor and he really cares about his students and their future. He is the best professor I've had, a real "O captain, my captain!" kind of teacher. This class is a great combination of neuroscience, philosophy, and humanism.

Professor Aragona is one of the kindest and most enlightening professors I have had at this university. No other professor here cared so deeply about taking in the valuable material in this class, and applying it to our futures. going to office hours make it so much more meaningful. If you are looking for a class to think critically, please take.

As a senior of UofM he for sure has been the best prof I've taken at UofM. The course papers are to reflect your growth and understanding of the materials. He makes sure you leave with a better understanding and he is always willing to explain and listen to your ideas.

AMAZING!!!!!!

Brandon was AMAZING!! He truly cares about you just enjoying and understanding his material, so he doesn't give exams. Just 3 short papers where you reflect on your understanding of the material. He has some super interesting points of view and really expanded my mind set. Love this guy and would take infinite classes with him.

I could not be more inspired and praising of Dr. Aragona. He is an excellent teacher with motivation to help you actually learn and develop concepts, not only applicable to the academic field but to life as well. This class was exciting and engaging, and transformed my understanding of human life to one of philosophical biology. Highly recommend!

I took both Psych 339 and Psych 430 with Brandon and he is truly an amazing professor and person. He is always willing to help, talk through the material, or just talk about life in general. I wish I could take infinite classes with him. He truly values that students learn rather than just shoving info down your throat, which I appreciated.

As a junior, Ive never had a class where all that is expected of me is to think and share my ideas. This class was a combination of philosophy and psychology, where I truly enjoyed and looked forward to class with Dr. Aragona. He is inspirational, funny and extremely motivated to share his theories and listen to your thoughts. Best prof ever

Professor Aragona was an incredible teacher and very understanding of his students busy academic schedules. He has taught me so much about having an open mind and thinking critically. A great course that breaks down how the world is interconnected through philosophy and neuroscience. Definitely take this course, you will not regret it.

Professor Aragona is absolutely amazing! He truly has a different perspective on learning than any other professor Ive had at UM. He is so passionate about what he teaches and really cares about his students learning. While the readings are sometimes a bit extensive, they really challenging your thinking. Would definitely recommend this class!!

Prof. Aragona is genuinely one of the wisest professors I have ever had. I had never taken a class that was so subjective, and open to interpretation. He is super understanding and grades on participation, so just give your honest thoughts about the material! I am so glad to have had the chance to take this course and widen my perception of thought

Dr. Aragona is one of the better professors I've had in my four years. He genuinely cares about you learning the material and applying it to your life and thinking, not just getting a grade or passing tests. Assignments include giving your thoughts about the material, which I found made me actually engage more than I have in other classes.

Prof Aragona is the most kind & passionate professor I've had. He genuinely cares about your learning and understanding of the material rather than specific grades which is a nice change of pace as you can dive deep into the material without the fear of doing poorly in class. You get out what you put into this class so participating is helpful.

Took this class with him during COVID. Times were hard and I have never been more grateful for a teacher. He is so caring and understanding and helped me out tremendously. You'll get an A as long as you do the work. Great class

Professor Aragona and psych339 were an excellent combination of prof and class concepts. He looked at everything with an open mind and understanding attitude, making it very reasonable for student expectations. He made himself extremely accessible, which I appreciate. He also is just brilliant and spews interesting info during lectures

I loved how straightforward the class assignments and expectations were. You read interesting readings or videos before classes, and the assignments were based on the week's readings and discussions. Prof Aragona also was just a great guy all around, you could tell he loved what he does and cared about his students.

He was a cool professor and very interesting

Professor Aragona loves talking about the narrative theory of mind and does it in a way that is super engaging. You'll be able to investigate the discussed ideas through films like the matrix, or fight club. The coursework is really chill and he is really understanding of life circumstances that come up. Would really recommend taking his class.

Professor Aragona is an awesome guy who is very willing to help and work with students and is genuinely excited and interested in the work he does

Literally one of the most caring and understanding professors I have ever had. Psych 339 was a really interesting class and diverse array of profound topics were discussed. Just put in effort and try your best!

Dr. Aragona is one of the best professors at U-M. He's incredibly well-versed, open-minded, highly scientific, caring, forthright, and flexible. I've never left a review on this website before although I have used it. Dr. Aragona is one of the best professors I've had at U-M (if not the best). I'm a better person for having taken this class.

Dr. Aragona is one of the nicest professors I have had in my time at Michigan. He is passionate about his class material as well as his students. He also prioritizes you learning and understanding the material over grades. I would definitely take this class again.

Professor Aragona was a wonderful professor for PSYCH 430. I could always sense his passion for his field. Unlike many professors who teach to fill a requirement, it is clear that Professor Aragona genuinely cares about sharing his work with students and growing his field. I would highly recommend taking any of his classes.

Similar to other reviews, I have had very few professors who care as much about students as Brandon does. While there are weekly quizzes, he goes over everything you need to know for them and also allows you to use all your course material. He is very passionate about the material which makes it easy to learn.

Professor Aragona was a really wonderful professor, and you can really tell how passionate & knowledgeable he is about the material. His teaching style is a little different from other UM profs, but I really enjoyed it because it allowed me to actually focus on learning instead of just memorizing the information.

Professor Aragona threads neuroscience and philosophy together in a way that leaves one feeling like they have so much more to learn after taking his class. His lectures reveal and reveal. It is clear that his top interest is fostering discussion and questions. I highly recommend, especially after having taken MCDB 322 and PSYCH 230.

Dr. Aragona is the best professor I've had at the UM!! I don't leave reviews often but his Psych 430 course is interesting and informative. It involves a mix of philosophy and neuroscience which I enjoyed learning about and Dr. A truly cares about students' well-being and makes the material even more interesting. I highly recommend this course.

Aragona is extremely kind and knowledgeable about this field. The class wasn't tightly structured, but it was nice to have a relaxed grading environment because it encouraged learning and engagement with the material. His notes documents were great because it simplified our learning objectives. I highly recommend this low-stress course to take.

Professor Aragona is extremely knowledgeable across a variety of topics. He genuinely wants students to learn strategies for navigating their life and being aware of their cognition. He offers a plethora of resources and is more than willing to have an in depth discussion about whatever a student connects with.

Knows his stuff, and also knows how to teach it. Nice grader and fun class in general. One of my favorite professors so far.

Dr. Aragona's class is a must-take for anyone remotely interested in the intersection of biology, psychology, and neuroscience. His passionate teaching style and insightful lectures provide a terrific and unique understanding of human motivation and cooperation that is both eye-opening and thought-provoking. I would recommend this class to everyone

Great course for those interested in the intersection of psych and neuroscience (also recommend 430 that he teaches). Prof Aragona is knowledgeable and passionate about the material, which is reflected in his lectures. It is on students to take advantage of their learning in the class as reading and attendance is not mandatory.

I walk away from this class with a foundational model for understanding the world through an interdisciplinary lens seeking to explain how and why organisms do what they do. I love this class, and would highly suggest it to any individuals who seek to discover a more holistic neuroscience that will lead us to uncover the true potential of humanity.

Dr. Aragona is truly a once-in-a-lifetime professor who every student should take a class with. Although attendance is not mandatory and most materials accessible online, I couldn't recommend sitting on his amazing lectures. Both his breadth and depth of understanding are amazing, and there is so much to learn from him.

Such a great guy and an overall enjoyable class. I will say that his lectures are sometimes all over the place and he does get sidetracked quite often.

Brandon is very knowledgeable in his subject matter. He is one of the most interesting professors I have ever had. I appreciated his flexibility. His class can be taken via zoom or in person. Great class, he is full of information that he loves to share.

It was a refreshingly different course from any other I have taken. It truly encourages students to think more abstractly and in a way that is not demanded of any other psych courses. Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed the content and found Dr. Aragona to be a very kind and caring professor with clear guidelines and expectations for his students.

If you are interested in the intersection between biopsychology and philosophy, this is the course for you. The workload is definitely manageable with open note quizzes and easy short writing assignments. Professor is also very passionate about the subject and kind and understanding to students. Highly recommend this course.

Dr. Aragona's genuine curiosity and awe for the subject is infectious. In this sense, my motivation for engaging in the subject material has transcended beyond just getting a grade for credit. He presents a different, complex view of the world, and he's excited/eager to share it with those who are willing to engage intrinsically.