David Lavond - University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

Professor: David Lavond

Department: Psychology

College: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PSYC326
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Perhaps one of the laziest upper divisions I've taken. This prof uses pearson PPTs with his own (almost unintelligible) notes added onto each slide and calls it teaching. This class was not cumulative and based on 14 weekly quizzes, which is not something I'd mind if this were a GE. It's an easy A, but I didn't get much in the way of education.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH326
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

No essays. No midterm. No real final (You just take a half an hour long quiz on the date of the final). Just 14 quizzes. Easy to earn extra credit if you show up to all the lectures and take notes on what he says in class. His lectures may get a little bit boring, but if you pay attention and take notes the whole time its worth it.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PSYC326
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

His lectures are long and difficult to sit through. He's not always super personable, but he really tries to help students succeed. If you can pay attention for 2 hours without a break go to class, but otherwise you can read the textbook and do great.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PSYC305
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

voice is slightly monotone, which doesnt really bother me. He is very great at explaining examples and is clearly so knowledgable. The entire grade is based on weekly 20 ques. MC quiz, is easy if you pay attention in lecture and skim the book. You can miss 3 of them and make them up during the final quiz. I love this class, because I actually learn

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PSYC326
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

This man will literally drag lecture for 20 min on one slide that it not on his weekly quizzes. Quizzes aren't that bad, but it is a pain to constantly study every week to keep up with the material. Not that fun.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PSYC326
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I took two of his classes and both of them were so awesome. I understand that he can be boring sometimes but I still think he's very knowledgable and hilarious throughout the lecture. There are multiple choice questions quiz every week so you have plenty of chance to make up.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PSYC326
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I took two of his classes and all of them were great. I understand that he can be boring sometimes but I still think he's very knowledgable. There are multiple choice questions every week so you have plenty of chance to make up.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PSYC326
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Clear lectures. Weekly quizzes just based on lecture.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PSYC326
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I took this class Fall 2016 hoping that the class would be about neuroscience. Boy was I wrong. Most of what we learn isn't even neuroscience, it's psychology. He doesn't even cover some of the most important classic experiments and the quizzes are on mere random facts. Quizzes aren't hard but studying for them feels tedious and pointless.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PSYC326
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Tough but fair. Definitely helpful during his office hour.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PSYC305
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Really clear and concise. Classes are not mandatory but the weekly quizzes are heavily based on the lectures. You don't necessarily need the textbooks if you go to lectures. His quizzes are specific but easy if you pay attention.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PSYC305
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I love Professor Lavond. Not only is he a really great professor, but his personality is just the best. He's got a really good sense of humor, he's really nice and sweet and caring, and just all around a good guy. A quiz every week on the material of the past 2 lectures, but that's it. His lectures are super clear, he shows videos, really great

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PSYC305326
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I took both 326 and 305 with Lavond and they have by far been the easiest stem-related classes I've taken at USC. Weekly quizzes are 20 multiple choice and extremely easy- makes it nice that nothing is comprehensive (plus no final- only another quiz). He is a nice guy and will lower the cutoff for an A so that more students can get A's

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PSYC305
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

This class is a pretty easy A, but make sure you really go to class and take good notes! and make sure you study those notes and refer to the textbook for more details about what he goes over. If you can do those things then you're golden. This class definitely also teaches you some very valuable information that can be applied to everyday life.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PSYC305
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

The material covered in this class is somewhat interested, but Professor Lavond makes it exceedingly boring with monotone, long-winded lectures and poor explanations. The entire lecture is his summarization of the book chapter for that day. Weekly quizzes (the only grades for the class) aren't too hard if you've studied the book.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PSYC326
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

No tests. No paper. Weekly quizzes on a single chapter determine your grade. Extra credit is meant to help students at an A- or B+ to be bumped up . So A- to A. Very helpful during office hours. Amazing professor. People complaining that he is hard are asking for an easy. He even lowers the cutoff when students score low to improve grades.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PSYC305
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I accidentally slept through my final and lost my mind. Luckily this man was kind enough to let me take it the next day. Great guy, only thing to beware of is his tendency to pronounce 11s as 2s. Could cause a bit of confusion lol

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PSYC305
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

The information can be interesting at times, and when it is interesting, professor Lavond makes sure to kill the interesting aspect about them with his monotone style of lecturing. You would think a psychologist that has learned how people learn best would know how to properly lecture so that students learn (This is a learning and memory class).

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PSYC305
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Professor Lavond is such a nice guy! However, the way he presents material is extremely monotone and undeviating from the textbook. He definitely knows his field, and he wants his students to do well. Make sure you take specific notes on lectures and read the book. Take it seriously and it's an easy A.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PSYC305
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

You only get extra credit if you score 18 or above on the WEEKLY quizzes. He has a very monotone voice and he absolutely refuses to use visual aids including powerpoint. However, he is very helpful and he will usually play a related video directly after the quiz to reward you. The subject matter is interesting but also very technical vocab wise.