Jump to research

Composed by

Profile picture

Anonymous Snake

Views

355

April 06, 2023

easiest 5 unit classes at stanford

During my research, I consulted various sources, including Reddit discussions [1][2][6][7][8][9], a listicle from OneClass [3], and other web sources [4][5][10]. The consensus on easy 5-unit classes at Stanford seems to be moderately strong, with some classes being recommended multiple times. However, there is still some uncertainty as not all sources provided relevant or recent information.

Have an opinion? Send us proposed edits/additions and we may incorporate them into this article with credit.

Words

0

Time

1m 58s

Contributors

42

Words read

3.1k

GERMAN 101: Germany in 5 Words

GERMAN 101 is a popular choice for an easy 5-unit class, as it is mentioned in two Reddit discussions [1] [2] . According to users, 94% of the class gets A's, and the course is considered to be pretty easy [1] [2] .

HISTORY 1C: Global History: Modern Times

HISTORY 1C is another recommended easy class that can be taken for three to five units [2] . The workload is adjusted to reflect the credit, and it is considered relatively easy [2] .

Music 8A - Rock, Sex, and Rebellion

Music 8A is a class with an average grade of A- from 200 different listings [3] . The course involves writing two papers, taking trivial pop quizzes, and giving a 2-minute presentation on a favorite rock song, but it has no exams [3] .

CS 105 - Introduction to Computers

CS 105 is an easy course with an average grade of A- from 1000+ listings [3] . The class involves weekly assignments of varying difficulty and one midterm and one final [3] .

PWR 2PB - The Rhetoric of Political Photography

PWR 2PB is a course with an average grade of A- from 90+ listings [3] . There are no papers, but students complete two projects: a PowerPoint presentation and a recorded movie. There are no exams in this course [3] .

REES 35 - Films of Central Asia

REES 35 is a 2-unit course in which students meet once every two weeks and write a 1-page essay per film [3] .

ATHLETIC 190 - Introduction to Nutrition

ATHLETIC 190 is a 1-2 unit course that meets once a week and involves eating projects. It is considered a value-add to one's career [3] .

Physics 240/241

Physics 240/241 is a course with a guaranteed A, requiring just one short paper or a website on any physics topic of the student's choice [6] .

ME120 History and Philosophy of Design

ME120 is a course with weekly lectures and minimal in-class engagement [6] . There are no assignments except for one final paper, which can be written on any topic that interests the student [6] .

Jump to top

Research

Source: "What are some of the "must take" classes at Sta..." (from reddit, r/stanford)

  • MS&E 41: Financial Literacy
    • Offered to non-med students
  • History 106a/b with Martin Lewis
    • Straightforward tests
    • Learn about every country in the world through both courses
  • D School class: Designing Your Life (Forgot the number)
  • Dance 46 and 146: Social Dance
    • You might be pleasantly surprised
  • Behavioral Biology with Sapolsky
    • Straight up the best class taken at Stanford (close admittedly)
    • Made student choose concentration/life goals
    • If you ask nicely, you can even touch his beard
  • Peer Counseling (EDUC 193A)
    • Get to meet cool people who care about helping others
  • Anything at the d.school
    • Interdisciplinary vibe
  • Music 8A: Rock, Sex, & Rebellion with Mark Applebaum
    • 3 unit Spring Quarter class
    • Minimal work
    • Amazing professor
    • Great material
    • Basically a history class on how music was shaped in the US

Source: "How many classes should I take?" (from reddit, r/stanford)

  • 3-4 “real” classes (3-5 unit classes) per quarter
    • Average student takes 15 units
    • For freshman fall, suggest 12-15 units
  • Dual degree students should take 20 units per semester
    • Taking 20+ units while still having a fulfilling extracurricular/social life is possible
  • Most people take 15-17 units per quarter
    • 22-unit quarters are difficult to manage
    • For freshman fall, suggest 12-15 units

Source: "How to deal w econ 1 workload?" (from reddit, r/stanford)

  • Skim the textbook instead of reading it in full
    • It should suffice for understanding the material
  • Read news articles just before the midterms
    • There will likely be one question on them
  • Expect 15 hours of work per week total
    • This includes class time and the expected workload for the “average” student

Source: "What are some of the "must take" classes at Sta..." (from web, www.reddit.com)

  • Music 8A: Rock, Sex, & Rebellion with mark applebaum
    • 3 unit spring quarter class
    • minimal work
    • amazing professor
    • great material
    • overall an awesome time
    • history class on how music was shaped in the US

Source: "Easy 3 unit classes offered during the fall, wi..." (from reddit, r/stanford)

  • Physics 240/241
    • Guaranteed A - one short paper/website you build on any physics topic of your choosing
  • ME120 History and Philosophy of Design
    • Weekly lecture (only meets once a week) with very little in class engagement required
    • No assignments except for one final paper which is pretty chill and you can write about any topic that interests you

💭  Looking into

What is the average grade of 5 unit courses at Stanford?

💭  Looking into

What is the average workload for a 5 unit course at Stanford?

💭  Looking into

How many exams are there for the class?

💭  Looking into

What is the workload for the class?

💭  Looking into

What is the average grade of the class?

Source: "10 of the Easiest Classes at Stanford - OneClas..." (from web, oneclass.com)

  • Music 8A - Rock, Sex, and Rebellion
    • Average grade from 200 different listings is an A-
    • Two papers, trivial pop quizzes and a 2-minute presentation on favorite rock song
    • No exams
  • CS 105 - Introduction to Computers
    • Average grade from 1000+ listings is an A-
    • Weekly assignments of varying difficulty
    • One midterm and one final
  • PWR 2PB - The Rhetoric of Political Photography
    • Average grade from 90+ listings is an A-
    • No papers
    • Two projects - powerpoint presentation and recorded movie
    • No exams
  • REES 35 - Films of Central Asia
    • Meet once every two weeks
    • Write 1-page essay per film
    • Two units in the course
  • ATHLETIC 190 - Introduction to Nutrition
    • Meet once a week
    • 1-2 units
    • Eating projects
    • Value-add to career
  • HUMBIO 91Q - Neuroethology
    • 3-unit grade-based sophomore seminar
    • Read 1 research paper a week and write 1-2 page write-up
    • Presentation on topic of choice
  • MS &E 41 - Financial Literacy
    • Meet once a week
    • Spreadsheet with a budget and forced salary of $41.5k/year
  • PHYSICS 17 - Black Holes
    • Average grade of an A
    • Quizzes
    • Midterms are all online
  • AMSTUD 140 - Standup Comedy since 1945
    • Class average in the range of an A
    • Spunky professor
    • Easy syllabus
  • PSYC 135 - Sleep and Dreams
    • No formalized testing
    • Practical applications
    • Extra credit for falling asleep in class

Source: "Need an EASY 5 unit WAYS class : r/stanford - R..." (from web, www.reddit.com)

None

Source: "The easiest 5 unit classes for winter quarter 2..." (from web, www.reddit.com)

None

Source: "Any easy 3-4 unit classes to satisfy WAYS- ED?" (from reddit, r/stanford)

  • HISTORY 1C: Global History: Modern Times
    • Can be taken for three to five units
    • Workload adjusted to reflect the credit
    • Pretty easy
  • GERMAN 101: Germany in 5 Words
    • Almost everyone gets As

Source: "Need an EASY 5 unit WAYS class" (from reddit, r/stanford)

  • GERMAN 101: Germany in 5 Words
    • 94% of the class gets A’s.
  • Any other course than ED, FR, and AQR
    • 3 units will usually fulfill the requirement.
  • Psych 70
    • Fun, easy, and covers SI.
    • Only 4 units.

💭  Looking into

What are the easiest 5 unit classes at Stanford?