This is the best course I have taken at UVA so far, and Prof. Allen is an amazing professor. I can tell that he really enjoys teaching and he cares about what his students learn. There are three exams (40 multiple choice questions and a short answer essay question) and a cumulative final (100 multiple choice questions). There is an optional paper that can replace one of your exam grades. The lowest exam grade gets dropped. Even though this course was online this semester, I felt like I was really engaged with the material. Prof. Allen is passionate about what he teaches, and it's definitely refreshing to have a professor that genuinely cares about the students. I really loved this course, and I would definitely recommend this class to anyone.

Taken online during covid. Three closed-note tests and a cumulative final. You could drop your lowest non-final test grade, and also replace one of them with an easy optional paper. Classes were synchronous but recorded, and participation wasn't required. He did pull some test questions from readings, so you have to do those, which was probably the biggest downside of the class since they could be kinda dry. I definitely recommend the class overall, though! Prof Allen is super passionate, nice, and knowledgeable about the subject. Lots of people showed up to the synchronous lecture even though you could have just watched the recordings later, which I think goes to show how many people actually wanted to be there.

This has been my favorite class that I have ever taken at UVA. Professor Allen is the best professor, and the material covered in this class is so applicable to real life. There are plenty of opportunities to make your grade better- you can drop your lowest midterm and replace another one with a paper. This class is amazing

Professor Allen is so nice and thoughtful and makes the class incredibly intriguing. The exams are more difficult than they should be, but Professor Allen gives plenty of opportunities to improve your grade and that's why he's so thoughtful. But if you have any interest in psychology definitely take this class!

It was completely my pleasure to have Professor Allen as a teacher. He oozes charisma in every sense of the word. The material lends to be engaging, as the topic is basically the past 6 or so years of our lives, but Allen's lectures are what truly make the class. The ways in which he approaches the class makes it feel a lot less like pure memorization like how some other psych classes can feel. The readings aren't incredibly short but very manageable. I could not recommend this class enough, even to non psych majors.

TAKE THIS CLASS!! Professor Allen is an amazing man. Great lecturer and really knows his stuff which makes going to class enjoyable. Attendance is mandatory unless you find a buddy to share notes with as he only provides outlines before each class. Exams are fair if you read the textbook and pay attention in class; multiple choice and a relatively easy short answer for the midterms. I highly recommend this course.

I recommend this class to everyone. Joe Allen is obviously passionate about this subject, it shows in every lecture he teaches. Lectures are a perfect combination of discussion, questions, lecturing, and the occasional video. Reading will definitely help you on exams. There's multiple choice and free response for those. I really cannot recommend this course enough.

I would give this professor a 6/5 if I could. Joe Allen is the most humble, compassionate, intelligent professor I've had, and I'll miss this class so much. The insights into adolescents, parenting, and social issues like race and poverty could change the way you see the world forever.

This was one of the best classes at UVA. Prof. Allen is easily one of the nicest, most approachable people ever. His lectures are incredibly relevant and entertaining, to not only psych majors. I always paid attention with ease for the whole 75 minutes. The tests are harder than the final which I found easy and I didn't really keep up with the reading. Also, you get to drop one test and have the ability to drop another one if write an option paper and score better on that.

You learn about a lot of interesting stuff which makes this class worthwhile in itself. Lot of reading, put the time in and you can get a good grade.