Word of mouth is one of the top ways to hear about some of the best courses offered at Cal. If you need to fulfill a requirement and have a couple of courses to choose from, I highly suggest that you talk to your peers who have taken the classes or your advisor. It is much better to get an insider’s view rather than choosing blindly. Currently, the PAL Program has a survey out that is getting student feedback on various courses offered at Cal, so soon you will have that resource too. I have enjoyed all my courses (some a little more than others), but a few of them stand out as my favorite classes for one reason or another.

First, I really enjoyed Bio 1A. I took it over the summer, so it was a fast passed, tough class that took a lot of time and commitment; however, it was well worth it. If you are interested in general biology then this is the class for you. Don’t be scared off by its reputation as a hard class because it is so interesting that you don’t really notice that the material is tough. What was refreshing about this class is that it covered a wide range of material, yet it was still detailed enough to get a worthwhile experience.

Bio 1A was my favorite class up until I took NST103. NST103 is a great course because you learn everything you need to know about how our bodies digest, absorb, and use nutrients. Not only is the material fascinating, but Dr. Fleming is a wonderful professor who truly cares about her students understanding and retaining the information she teaches. You don’t have to be a nutritional science major to appreciate this class, it is knowledge that everyone can enjoy (as long as you have a passion for science and have previously taken biochemistry).

Lastly, I would highly recommend PH 162A, a microbiology class that focuses on infectious diseases. This was one of my required courses and I didn’t know what to expect going into it. As the semester progressed I came to love this class. It is a useful class for all to take because you can apply every aspect of it to your life. There were several times in class that I thought, “I have always wondered about that.” This class not only answers a lot of common questions but it goes above and beyond.

There are so many amazing classes offered at UC Berkeley that it is hard to go wrong. However, if you are having a hard time choosing your classes don’t forget to use your resources. Come by my office hours if you would like to hear more about these classes or any other classes that I have taken and would suggest you take (especially if you’re a Dietetics major).