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He is nice at some point, but not always. Test are kinda hard. You have to read the book for his mid-terms. You will get a "C" if you only read his power point.

tests are hard! all of his tests are short answer...multiple choice does not exist in his vocabulary so you have to know the material very well. hes nice 3/4 of the time...shows you funny videos sometimes..

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the best marine biology teacher this school has to offer. helpful, fair, loves his subject.

was really cool, easy to approach. and young

i had him as a sub and i LOVED him. Not only is his accent SEXY AS HELL but his lectures were clear and conscience. HE was always asking if we had questions. Great Teacher! TAKE HIM!

Was surprised that people found him unhelpful. He really knows his stuff (Marine Bio). Enjoyed his class tremendously and highly recommend him. And remember, the profs that dont make you work arent doing you any favors.

I WISH some1 warnd me!Harder than I expectd.u need 2 study hard to get an A.All tests r short answr..no mult.choice on tests. anal on absences and the lab is retarded-all you do is draw and he grades u on detail and neatness. labbook worth too much of ur grade. dont take if you want an ez igetc lab

Loved him!! He is very nice, funny and laid back during lab. You need to study, but you can get an A. Take him!!

He's so nice and makes things really easy. And HE'S SEXY AS ALL HELL!!! I took him twice because he's so hot.

yheah he is hard, but he gives you all the help u need. just study and ask questions. he is such a cool guy and that accent is soooooooo sexy!. his notes and lectues are claer, and he loves questions. good teacher!

He's one of the best teachers I have ever had. He makes learning fun and he loves what he does. Plus, it didn't hurt that he's the sexiest teacher I've ever had! It made being to class at 8am very easy! Take him, take him, take him.

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This guy made me want to major in Marine Bio even more. Not only does he know what he's talking about, he gets the class active and offers fantastic opportunities! I HIGHLY recomend this teacher

He is great!

He is really nice and he helps you through each question and doesnt look at you like your an idiot!

I LOVE GAREN!!!WHOOOO he is one of the best teachers I have ever had! He has a great quality that makes me really get into the subject and that is,excitment! he gets into it so much,gets really excited when he is teaching you, and gets happy when you start to love it too!His class played a big part in my life along with Nancy Hemmert's speech class

Field trips are super fun, tests aren't too bad, but the best thing about this class is that he's so damn sexy.

Truly Amazing! LOVES what he does.

He is an excellent teacher! Very passionate aboutwhat he teaches. This class is one of the hardest classes I have ever taken, but he helped me SO much, and I got an A. If you go to his office hours, he will really help you, and make everything very clear. If you put in the time, and see him after class, he will help you, and you can earn an A.

tests are hard, hard to pull up grade, not an easy A, plays favors, field trips take up too much time out of your weekend.

Amazing. He is very passionate about this subject and really knows his stuff. It is not an easy subject, but he makes sense of it all and helps you every step of the way. Field trips are an extra bonus to the class. Be prepared to get dirty!

Very interesting lecture. It's fun to listen. However, his tests are very detailed so study everything and read the book!! he gives Q's that weren't on his slides. His final is nearly IMPOSSIBLE.

Garen is awesome. His class isn't the easiet but he is always willing to stay after to answer any questions you might have. He's really willing to work with you to make sure you do well. I def recommend taking him for the science w/ a lab. Oh, and be prepared do do alot of sketches!

Willing to stay after class to help students with extra credit ;) Marine Bio/2003, HV

He's hard but good. Just follow class directions, ask for his help when you dont get something, and you can get an A.

Great teacher! Very Interesting and totally Hot!

I took one semester at SMC when I was taking a break from my normal school, JBU. I'm a senior now, and I have never had a better class before or since the one that I had with Garen! I loved it, and I love his teaching. You have to put forth some effort, but he rewards your work and is willing to help.

I find his teaching very easy to understand. THere is a lot of work to do, but it is not HW. Instead you actually have to choose to study and make sure you know the info. His tests are indepth, but if you pay attention in class and study they dont hurt. He will talk about any problems you have with material. I love his passion for this stuff.

He is a very hard grader. impossible to get an A on the paper, he applies his own set of grading guideline which he goes over for the next paper ( how would we know what level of professionalism?) After getting back the paper, I compared it with perfect scored paper from Colavito and I seriously thought mine was better written and worded.

interesting and well-organized. No Textbook!!!

great marine bio prof. Fun class with lots of field trips. You have to study, but he drops the lowest test, gives extra credit, and curves. If you get As in everything, you don't have to take the final. Recommend.

He is a great professor. Has very interesting lectures and he keeps them fun. Lab requires a little bit of artistry. Garen is very friendly and it's nice to be his student because he does care about you and your grade, especially if you show that you want to do well and are interested in the material. No textbook.

He's the best prof at SMC undoubtedly! He will inspire you! His class caused me to change my major on the spot. Take this class! Lots of feild trips & lots of fun. :)

Prof. Baghdasarian's Marine Bio class was awesome but if you just don't feel like coming to class, you can look at the notes on powerpoint on e-companion. Test questions are derived DIRECTLY from these slides, with the rare addition to the notes in class. Not gonna lie, the A takes some work, but its not impossible at all. GREAT FOR MAJORS!

Professor Baghdasarian is a really great teacher. Passionate about the environment and what he's talking about. Very knowledgeable and a cool guy to boot.

Best class I've ever taken at SMC! He makes the material fun and interesting, there's no incomprehensible and expensive textbook to buy, and all his lecture notes are posted online. The labs are easy and fun, he has a great sense of humour, and there are field trips to the beach. The tests are only difficult if you haven't paid any attention.

No textbook..Great Teacher...i loved his class and i learned alot from it.its not an easy A if you don't study.and.yeah you have filtrips on saturday but it counts as lab hours..he makes the class interesting but most important is that he explains what you dont understand with stick figures if he needs to..

Garen is an amazing teacher! He loves his material, knows it cold, and makes a difficult class enjoyable. Field trips, sand, camping, LAB BOOK, quizes, exams, all part of class. [Sorry people, no free rides here!] You will work but he is extreemly fair and wants you to be successful. OH, and no book, just power points and inclass notes. Good luck!

He was definitely one of my favorite teachers ever! He kept me interested in Marine Bio and was always available to help the students. Lots of great labs that I really enjoyed.

Dr. Baghdasarian is a fantastic professor. He is the best teacher at SMC.

I just had him for the lab portion of the class, but he's awesome. I think the best definition of whether or not you know what you're doing is if you can clearly explain it to someone who doesn't. Genuinely seems to like his job, and has a good sense of humor. I'd probably recommend him for any class.

lots of field trips, hard written tests, but all in all a decent professor

Not understanding.

great class. not easy in the least, but it is do-able. easy B, but with study time, extra credit, and some flash cards, you'll be at an A. he's the nicest guy, had us laughing, class really bonded on the field trips. no textbook, just sketchbook with was great. don't have to buy or carry around another brick of paper. highly recommend!

Enrolling in this class confirmed this will be my chosen field.

This is an excellent class taught by an excellent professor. He is very helpful, thought, inspiring and knows his material very well. His passion for marine biology, teaching, and environmental activism is evident. Its clear he cares deeply for the subject for his students. And he's really hot. I am so glad I took this class.

great class! no text book, just lab notebook to draw and glue in some papers. be ready to study study study! - flash cards helped me. great field trips. prof really loves what he does, and wants you to love the science of what he teaches as well. take this class if you're not afraid to get dirty and learn about ocean critters!!

Do not miss taking Garen. He loves what teaches and makes his students love it too! One of the best teachers at SMC!!!

Best professor I had in two years at SMC. I'm at USC now, and he's still the best professor I've had in college. Don't take this class if all you want is an easy A. It is challenging, and it is very interactive. I took it during the winter, we did 3 field trips and a 3 day extra credit camping trip. Best class I've taken in college.

By far the best teacher at SMC. He loves what he does, making it easy for his students to love it too. Extremely interactive and hands on. No textbook, and not an easy class by any means. But he is a passionate and caring individual. I recommend this class not only to anyone and everyone!

This professor has such a cool life! He's been everywhere and knows so much. He looks like Patrick Dempsey too! He's kind and so passionate it rubbed off on me and made me want to learn more. The class, however, is not simple. It requires A LOT of studying. You must give up at least a weekend every now and then. But it's all worth it. Fun class!

I highly suggest only those interested in the subject to take this course. If not, it will be hard to keep up. Also, don't take any courses after this class because you will have awesome field trips to attend. The class is super fun. Things are not quite that simple in this class, but the stuff you learn is quite amazing. No book but take notes!

You definitely need to study to get a good grade, but its all just studying facts. He's a great teacher and knows his stuff.

Loved this class! Great professor, he's amazing. You have to study for the 3 exams, 2 lab practicals, & final, but it's not so bad. All slides are posted online to study. 3-4 field trips, lots of interesting info, and it was fun for a GE class with lab! I recommend this to anyone interested! This is my favorite class I've taken at SMC!!(:

MY FAVORITE PROFESSOR OF ALL TIME!!! Garen is an incredible professor. Funny, passionate, and so knowledgeable! You definitely have to study a lot. There are 3 exams, 2 lab practicals, and a final exam, but he drops your lowest exam score and the final is multiple choice. I would definitely suggest taking this class if you need the lab credit.

I really enjoyed this class. It was a lot of studying, but the professor kept it interesting and took the class on really neat field trips. Also, there is no text book from this class. He makes slides for you to study the lecture from. You should definitely take this class if your interested in marine bio!

I failed bio in high school, so I was worried about this class. But he changed my outlook on bio. I really enjoyed the class, and ended up doing really well. He was very clear and to the point. I recommend this class if you need lab credits.

Rigorous: need to learn concepts not definitions. Detail: drawings for lab practicals have to be Michelangelo worthy. Humor: crucial. Subject Matter: wondrous! Teaching Style: passionate, emphasizes test questions & field-trips=BEACH. Bonus: cuts class early, SAGITTARIUS, loves tardigrades, tree-hugger, world-traveler. Will you marry me? elephant

Garen's Marine Bio class was the most fun class that I have ever taken, and I'm really bummed that it's over. Don't take it if you don't have a genuine interest, it's very high intensity and you'll spend a lot of time studying slideshows and previous lectures. Garen is a GREAT teacher who really approaches the subject with a lot of enthusiasm.

Great guy! very approachable and very helpful. you dont need to a textbook for the class & the class material is challenging but if you ask questions and review the powerpoints you will be fine. the class requires a lot of dedication because of the field trips but they are fun. if you love going to the beach and touch organisms this class is for u

Garen is an amazing professor. The class requires a lot of effort but is extremely doable. This class made me change my major completely. I'm now wanting to go into marine biology. He is the best teacher I have ever taken. Garen is willing to help students outside of class. He is extremely passionate about the subject and is just great!

If you like marine bio and have good study skills you'll pass no problem.

Garen is such a wonderful professor! However, I would only take his class if you are seriously interested in learning and are willing to put in ALOT of effort. He is a great guy and I learned so much and remembered a lot from his class. The field trips we get to go on are really enjoyable and overall the class is both interesting & challenging.

Garen is an amazing Professor, but absolutely DO NOT take this class unless you are a Marine Biology Major. He treats all his students as if they are Grad students in the field, this class is VERY hard. if you're looking for IGETC lab DONT TAKE THIS CLASS. There are easier classes to get your credit. If you're interested Im sure this class is great

His marine biology class is absolutely amazing! As a marine biology major I am extremely enthused by the class. He's an amazing teacher, his door is literally open and he responds very quickly to emails. He wants to help you succeed in the class. He will warn you the class is hard, but if you study and pay attention you can get an A.

If you're not genuinely interested in Marine Biology I do not suggest this class. In labs you get to play with a myriad of organisms (dead & alive), on field trips you are on the beach--everything is directly connected to the lectures if you apply it. Go to Morro Bay it's lit. Garen is a great professor who will leave you questioning your major.

(Whoever said below that the Morro Bay field trip is lit was spot on. It was crazy. Anyway!) Garen is a great professor! I took him for Marine Bio and get this, I also took him for Karate! (He is basically Indiana Jones). But the class is very hard and you gotta study. Not a science major and still studied my way to an A. So it is possible! Learn!

Garen is one of the best professors I've ever had. I signed up for this class thinking it would be easy, but he really makes you work for it. Nearly all of the lectures are interesting, and you can tell he is incredibly passionate about his work. There's field trips, fun labs, and he offers plenty of extra credit. I would recommend him to everyone.

Fantastic professor who is truly passionate about his field. He was so much to teach and every day in his class was insightful. The field trips are very cool and you also get to see several live and preserved specimens in class. This class is not easy though; studying is a must if you want to get a good grade.

Garen may just be my favorite professor at SMC! His class is SO interesting (if you like learning about marine bio) and his passion for the subjects make each class so much more enjoyable. The field trips are a lot of fun. Do not take this class if you aren't willing to work for it. Definitely not an easy A, although it is possible!

Great class if youre seriously interested in Marine Biology. He doesnt lie when he says its a hard class, out of the 20+ students who attended at the beginning of the semester only 10 stayed till the end. If you have no artistic ability this is not the class for you, this class requires lots of drawings which will go towards your grade.

Honestly Professor Garen is super tight. lectures heavy but just pay attention, he wants his students to succeed and you can always catch him out of class. Gives great feedback and offers extra credit. Don't buy the book you won't need it everything that's n the tests are on his lectures crystal clear.

He is a very knowledgable and enthusiastic teacher; however, his tests are difficult and it is extremely hard to get an A. You have tons of homework all the time, and always need to be studying. The coursework is very interesting... but this is not in any way an easy class.

Really fun class! Lectures are all based off powerpoints. He is extremely knowledgable about the ocean and all of its contents. Make sure to keep up on the lab notebook; lots of work and it's easy to get behind. Field trips are mandatory all except Morro Bay. Make sure to study for tests! Lots of stuff to memorize. Flash cards are your best friend.

This is one of the coolest courses ever w/ engaging material. All in-class lectures are verbatim ppts with an added flare professed. The prof is a diva! You'll learn about the aquatic world + nature stuff. Verbalizes specific slides to note. It felt rigid course structure n rqurmnts to validate your knowledge via trdtnal exams. memorization heavy.

I took Marine Bio this past summer and enjoyed the class immensely- while we weren't able to go on all of the field trips, the class was incredible and I learned a lot. He is extremely knowledgeable about the ocean and told lots of stories about his experiences. "Things are not so simple" is a sentence you'll hear a lot. Take this class!

Garen is one of the best teachers I have ever had. His lectures are interesting and he is a really nice/funny guy. Your grade primarily relies on your test scores and lab scores. There are also lots of field trips. The tests are a lot of memorization but there's no homework so if you do well on the tests you will get an A. He offers extra credit.

He started the semester saying that the class was very hard and you need to be genuinely interested. I guess I was because this was the most fun i've ever had in a class! The tests can be difficult but as long as you study, you'll do well. LOTS of extra credit options so theres no reason to not pass. I wish he would teach all my science classes.

Class was super fun and engaging but were long lectures. He makes things super easy to understand but also be ready to memorize some phylums!! also lots of field trips but fun field trips. you get to have up to 50 extra credit points which is cool and he drops your lowest exam!

I would recommend him if you have an interest in Marine Biology or Environmental Science. Teaches relevant information for these majors that I have found useful as an Environmental Studies major at USC. Extremely passionate about his work which makes the class a lot more engaging and fun to attend. Great GE class but be prepared to study.

Such a sweet man, genuinely cares about science and teaching his students. I'm an arts major, and I still know so much about the ocean a year later. The lectures take up a good portion of the class, but they are SO interesting you aren't bored at all! The field trips are so fun too! It also allows you to improve your work ethic :) favorite class!!!

One of the best classes I've taken so far in college! Amazing professor and really interesting lectures. Really recommend his class! Super lecture heavy and tests can be hard but if you pay attention and put in effort, you should be fine. No homework other than studying and the field trips are SO FUN! Bummed that I only have one month left of it!

One of my favorite professors! The class is heavy and the tests are difficult. But if you put in the work, youll be fine!

Garren is one of the most genuine and caring teachers I've had. However, Bio 15 is general is also the most difficult class I've been enrolled in. I do not reccoment this class unless you are very interested in Marine Biology. Best teacher, worst class!

Garen is and awesome Professer. He extremely intelligent and very funny. He makes a difficult subject actually interesting. Its a hard class but his power points make it easy to understand. Put time into to studying and you will pass. Take him you won't regret it!

Garen is one of the best professors I've ever encountered. He is upper order intelligent, but completely relatable, and funny as well. The class is not difficult, just keep up with the work. Do NOT fall behind or you'll be kicking yourself at the end.

He is honestly such a great professor. He doesnt make you buy a stupid book and literally says the test info will come from my powerpoints and all powerpoints are accessible on his canvas at all times. He gives extra credit. BUT This class is SO MUCH INFO. Its not that the material is hard but its just ALOT. So a lot of memorization

I'm taking Bio15 for summer and as an accelerated class its pretty tough. A LOT of lectures and info to cover so don't fall behind. The Prof is passionate and smart and a joy to take even if the subject matter isn't easy. Fun opportunities for extra credit and he's really willing to work with u if u need help with anything. def recommend

Garen was an awesome professor. He made difficult subject fun. The class was hard though and there is a lot of memorization. no book to buy either. lots of tests. a very intelligent man. and funny. take his class!

Super cool professor! Average difficulty course but his lectures are fun to sit through. Seems like a really cool guy. 100% would take this course again.

This prof is probably the most passionate and nice prof I've ever had, he really cares about the subject. but this class is so. freaking. hard. I took bio15 over summer and there were so many lectures and the hardest tests I've ever taken. would skip if you're just doing for IGETC or if ur not a marine bio major

Literally the best marine biology teacher I have ever taken. I took him online this COVID year and even though it was asynchronous, his lectures were extremely interesting and so easy to understand. I hate science and was actually excited to sit through his powerpoints and take notes. 10/10 recommend. He's funny and test are easy if you studied.

Great professor. This class is a lot of work but it is very rewarding. The prof is always there to help you when you need it and be ready for the tests. They're timed very quickly so you HAVE to know your stuff. Great class, great prof. 10/10 recommend.

I took his course for the winter session which I would absolutely not recommend unless this is your only course! He only grades based on exams and lab exams which are timed at 18 min for 46-48 questions. Lecture exams at 40-50 min for 50-61 questions so its hard. I got an A but it was so difficult. Wouldn't take again tbh.

though my grade wasn't the best (my fault) GAREN IS AWESOME. i love this man. pls pls pls dont be like me and think you can wing the tests. i learned the hard way that you absolutely MUST study. i was able to bring my grade up by studying and the extra credit he provides. 10/10!!!