He's a descent teacher. Not the best and not the worst. Work hard and keep up with all assigned readings and lab work. Do not fall behind. It's an interesting class and he likes it when you're interested!

Awesome. Loved his class. Don't get on his bad side though by doing stupid stuff. You will regret it, I promise you. Stay interested and up to date, and you will do well.

Class was a killer but very interesting. He is a veritable microbiology encyclopedia, but it's unfortunate that he diminishes the learning environment by belittling & berating students. On the other hand, he'll prepare you for working with egocentric MDs.

Threw a guy out of class that was threatening a student-and called the cops. So don't screw with him. But all in all it's a great class, you will learn a LOT! He's a good person with a good heart, but very moody and not afraid to yell if you screw up! :)

He knows everything there is to know about Micro!I learned more than I ever thought I could. He was always willing to help if you were interested. I'd take another class from him.

he is a great prof. just be prepared to do alot of work and make sure you dont fall behind the lab man. he can be intimidating at first but he really is a nice man. and dont be afraid to ask questions.

Don't act stupid, don't ask stupid questions, do the reading and cross reference his lectures with a Tabers manual and you'll be fine. You have to have a sense of humor, not be too uptight, just understand he's a genius and chances are you're not, but you'll be better off after his class.

at first glance, buchanan is a jerk who can't get over himself. as you take his course, you find out more about him and the reasons why he still teaches to this day. i highly recommend taking his class if you are serious and are ready to work hard. respect him and what he does and you will do fine

He's an incredibly brilliant prof. with humorous personality. Just don't cross the line and you'll be ok. I loved taking his course. I would take him again if I could. GREAT GREAT GREAT professor!!!

I got an A on fall semester. He is a very nice, humorous and knowledgeble professor, and he makes the class very interested althought he pushes you to learn a lot. Do the lab.manual on time and study his note and whatever he need you to know on the textbook, you will be fine. He gives you lots of bo

Very tough but interesting class--giving bounes questions on each exam & other extra credits; answering the questions very clear. Although English is my second language,putting efforts on it eventually I got an A. Cool, fair & thoughtful guy. Don't be late and lazy, get all extra credits, take him!!

A great passion to teach, and knows his subjects well. A lot of works you need to do to meet his requirements, especially for the extra credits. He gives bonus credits for each exam but you need to put efforts to go for them. If keeping work hard, you will get an A, but don't argue stupid questions with him after the exams.

He is a great professor-full of passion. He is also an encyclopedia of Biology. He will let you know what you should know and tell you what will on the exam. Thanks for the bonus questions and the extra credits. I got an easy A.

He is cool! He lets extra hours to help student with the lab manuals so I catch them up on time. Everyone says his class is tough, but I don't think so if you can follow his mind and thought. Always ask him politely. More than 15 percent of the extra credits to hold you up if you study for them. Great class,informative and fun. Drink more coffee!

A very organized and professional guy. Put efforts on the notes, bonus questions, lab-manuals, you will have a desired grade. Take very good notes and ask questions if still unclear to you. He doesn't like people questioning or arguing with him after giving back the exam but the answers were totally from his previous lectures. Take him!!!

Dr. Buchanan is a great teacher. He is very knowledgeable in the clinincal part on the science he teaches. He can have a nasty bark, but does not bite. If you are timid or unsure of yourself don't take his class, he will eat you up alive. If going into a clinical setting I would recomend this class.

Whether or not you'll like his class will depend on your own personality. I have learned a lot and I enjoyed the time in his class--very informative and interesting. You still have to study, if you don't have time to study, don't expect to get an esay A, but he makes it very possible--lots of extra credits!! He is THE BEST professor that I have in

Dr. Buchanan is one of the most brilliant people teaching at SMC. Just sit in on a class and you will see how wonderful his class is. It is hard, but that is due to the subject and course content, not the teacher. The best science class I ever took. You will be glad you took the class!

I'm a transfer student-thanks Dr. Buchanan for preparing me for upper division classes. I say that comparing him to university level instructors, his class always keeps you busy, but if you keep up you'll be fine. His notes are avsolutley amazing and thorough. He's concise to the point. He offers lots of extra credits so take advantage of that as w

what can i say...the dude has a...i dunno what accent and thinks he's funnier than he really is. but other than that he is a great teacher. he's obviously a very intelligent man with strong beliefs and he's on your side. I RECOMMEND

Dr.Buchanan is the most amazing professor I have ever had. You would be lucky to take his class. His passion for science and the persuit of truth is so palpable. He is perhaps the most humane person I have ever met. I will never forget the life lessons and information Dr. Buchanan instilled in me. He deserves the utmost respect.

He's always very professional! You'll learn a lot more than you expected from his classes, especially in clinical aspects. I was so glad that I took his class one and a half years ago- his class did prepare me to the advanced health care study, and make my study a lot easier.

Take him if you really want to learn something in the field. No an esay class-- you have to do lots of work. Thanks for the extra credits which held me up to an A.

Dr. B is very intelligent and humorous. He creates the class an interactive learning enviornment. I think that he is fair and organized. If you want to get a good grade, read the material before lecture, study the notes, and keep up with doing each lab manual. Nice to take his class.

If you want an easy class take somebody else. But, if you want to learn information of value to your career as a health care professional then he's the man. His experience and knowledge are encyclopedic. He brings to the course a wealth of relative experiences far surpassing the information presented in the text.

He is awesome!! Dr. B. has been one of the few profs. that I've had that was both friendly and personable as well as a great prof. Although the content of Micro. is difficult for an ESL student, he encourages you to study, expects you to do well, and is always open for any questions and concerns that you may have. Extra credits is a plus! Take him!

KNOWS HIS MATERIAL, teaches medically relevant stuff, sociopolitically aware, funny as hell but can get a really snippy attitude sometimes; You HAVE to be able to take a joke at your expense to last in his class! Material is pretty straightforward, sometimes doesn't explain well, and can get impatient. Overall, though, I really enjoyed this class!

I was so surprised to see all the negative reviews. Indeed, Dr. B is a very nice person and one of the best professors I have ever had. I had him two years ago and he made me love a subject I never thought I would like. Now I am in a B.S.N and RN program. Thanks Dr. B for helping me and preparing me for the nursing career!!!!!!!!!

Professor Buchanan is knowledgeable and passionate. He clearly lets you know what will come out on the quizes/exams. If you want an A, you have to work consistently (don't procrastinate!). Memorizing some parts of the textbook will be helpful. He also gives out VALUABLE extra credit assignments.

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THIS CLASS & PROFESSOR ROCKS!!For all the negative comments, you guys must be stupid or? class(tkn in winter)was intense, but really interesting. Tests aren't that hard, he gives you the bonus questions which are 40 points already. I mean seriously? Labs not hard, group project kinda sucks, but over all the easiest of the 3 prereqs for nursg.IgotA

BEST PROFESSOR EVER!!! Dr. Buchanan wants you to succeed in his class but this doesn't mean he makes it easy, he challenges you and it is for your own good. He is a kind, sweet and brilliant man. Don't believe the negative comments posted...someone obviously was a bad student and is still bitter. GET OVER IT!!!

Brilliant, fun, understanding, helpful...among the many words that describe Dr. Buchanan. He makes the subject very interesting. I loved him and his teaching style. One of the few professors who care about student success. Class was hard but it can be done. Thank you Dr. Buchanan for all that you gave to us in such a short time!

whether a teacher is hard or not doesnt matter, as long as they can teach the topic. the class was hard, but if you equal the effort put out by the professor, you WILL get a good grade. the tests arent easy, but there are points outside of tests that will help your grade. Im not a strong science student, but i did well in this class b/c i studied.

Solid Prof. Took his class 2 yrs ago. Visiting and decided to add my 2 cents. He's helpful if you're trying, very helpful if you're trying hard. Does NOT suffer fools-if you're not thinking, he lets you know it. Show up, LISTEN, study like a student should, be respectful of his class, tactful with your questions and you'll earn a good grade.

Hard subject, hard work, hard tests. Dr. Buchanan knows what he's doing and doesn't let you off the hook if you aren't thinking or studying. I respect him because he's brilliant BUT he has a serious attitude problem and makes totally inappropriate comments sometimes (which I admit can be hilarious). But you will learn if you focus and do the work.

I've had him for 2-3 days now. I can see why certain people would find him intimidating; I think he has a very strong personality. I think if people are serious about their academics, I think he's definitely one of those individuals that motivate you to achieve and attain whatever goals you have.

I think he gets an unfair bad wrap. It's a hard course, it's a lot of work and it's easy to fall behind. But if you do your work and keep up he's very eager to help you learn. He is a bit eccentric, but give him a chance. I went in thinking he was gonna be tough, but the more I get to know him the more I like him.

he knows alot he has alot to share with students but i feel sorry for him it must be hard to be that negative and moody.

Heart of gold on the inside, but refuses to show it for more than 5 seconds at a time. He is a seriously unstable man with unbelievable mood swings so if you have thin skin I suggest you take someone else. He is brilliant though, but NO one is safe in this class so be warned...

He's no joke, but you will definetly learn a lot from him. His test are hella straight foward, no tricks. They're actually kind of easy. He wants you to be successful. Last semester hardly anyone dropped his micro class. He's one of the best professors I've ever taken. He may have a temper sometimes, but most of the time he's extremely funny!

Dr. Buchanan is great. Took the class over the summer which was very intense. He knows his stuff and he makes it very interesting. His tests are fair. He tells you what is on them. Just study and come to class. If you miss class you will not do well. Maybe he is different over the summer. Interesting class and i learned A LOT.

Really great teacher.Very helpful and shares some funny stories. Took it over the summer and it was an intense class but at the end of the day it was worth it. Only take this class if ur serious about it. Attend class everyday, drink lots of coffee, do all the labs, study for the tests, keep a positive and happy attitude, and you will be fine.

I took this class last spring...it was one of three classes i took at SMC. I think he is the best teacher i have ever had in my life. I love Dr. Buchanan. EVERYONE should take his class. He extremely smart and he just wants to pass on his intelligence to others.

I just took his class and i loved it(apart from the tests, which i did bad on. only because i procrastinate.) you just have to attend, and listen/take notes in his lectures. anyway, he makes it so homey. he's a cool guy who knows what he's talking about. just study the materials, and i guarantee you will earn that A

I took this class 4 years ago and I'm STILL disturbed by his antics. Brilliant, hilarious man with so much potential as a professor, but unfortunately all his good points are cloaked in hostility and inappropriate comments. I wanted to like him so much and couldn't do it. I actually feel sorry for him, he's a sad man.

I've seen the two sides of him over two different semesters. It appears as though he has made a substantial effort to change. There were students in the class who really could not believe all the negative commentary written about him. I can handle diificult personalities if you're good teacher. My criticism has never been about his personality, but that I think his lectures should be more organized.

awesome Professor!

He really cares about quality learning preperation for future careers of students. Very helpful takes work- well worth the effort. Great Teacher. Would take again in a heart beat - good sense of humor.

One of the best professors I've ever had the opportunity to learn from. His teaching style is one of a kind in that he incorporates clinical relevance in all of his lectures which is helpful since we all want to be healthcare providers. He is very intelligent and brings a different aspect to the table as he has first hand experience as a clinician.

Greatest professor ever. Dont listen to all the bad reviews. This man is the nicest man you would ever want to meet. If you really want to learn micro take him. He loves his job and he doesnt tolerate nonsense so if youre a smart ass, are known to make stupid comments, and cant take a joke, dont take this class.

AMAZING TEACHER! At first I had a little trouble with his accent but after a few class periods I was able to understand. He is really nice. He offers extra credit! The final is not accumulative. I love how organized he is! It wont be a walk in the park but if you just show up and read the material 3 times before the tests then you can do it!

AN AMAZING TEACHER!!! I learned more from his class than from any other class i've ever taken! I am thankful for having the opportunity to learn from such an intelligent professor. all nursing students do not take micro with any other professor! True dedication is required for an A, but the class is so interesting it's worth it!

This guy is the man! filled to the brim with knowledge, and extremely witty. there's no reason to get on his bad, if the book says something that is contrary to what he's telling you, then he's the one that's right. do your own research before using the book as a definitive source of knowledge. the type of guy that will make you a better person.

ok i was seriously worried after reading his ratings. and honestly, he was an amazing teacher. fullll of knowledge, great freaking class. i mean if your a really disrespectful student he will get you for it. but guys, these ratings are REALLY exaggerated. ridiculous. buchanan is really chill! and i swear everyone in my class loved him!

Dont believe these comments!Took him a few years ago & almost changed my major to micro.Labs are fun you pretty much just draw pictures the whole time.Test are hard but pay attention,take notes & don't be a smart ass & he is great nobody in my class had issues w/ him.I would highly recommend him especially for medical majors.He was really funny too

i took buchannan 2 years ago. and i already left a comment, but i just wanna say that he deserves better comments than these below. he's a cool guy, he still says hi to his former students when he happens upon them. he's just cool.

Very knowledgeable, organized,and a funny guy which makes lecture more fun&interesting.U will know when its funtime/serious time. I took it this Summer2010 and did not regret! He'll explain whatever you dont understand 5x if he has to. He is very resourceful&book was barely used. Micro is easy to understand bt a lot of material. U DO NEED TO STUDY!

he is very smart and can be fun at times. hes mean in the beginning and loves to pick on students ...he does this to test you weak spots. he was sooooooo mean to me and then he started really liking me out of the blue. quizzes are easy and test are effing hard! like wtf! come to class prepared puts you on the spot!

he is sooo awesome!! i learned so much! he is very much into keeping his course as clinically relevant as possible. the test are pretty fair. he may come off a harsh, but he is truly an awesome professor! definetly recommend him!

He's more lenient on labs (& probably nicer) if you take him in the SUMMER. tough,but knowledgeable. kinda mean if you try to question his grading. def has favorites in class. need to study to get a B. need to study AND be one of his favorites to get an A. either you'll love him or hate him. took him in summer & he was ok. welcomes questions asked.

He is an amazing professor and really tries to get to know his students. Tests are difficult, make note cards and ask questions! Working as a team definitely helps. Definitely recommend, especially in the shorter semesters! Keep up with the labs or it will be a pain at the end of the semester.

Brilliant guy, a former clinical microbiologist who still consults for the CDC. Highlights what is relevant for for future health-care providers. By now you know these classes are difficult, so STUDY. Don't blame the teacher. Dr. B answers any question, no matter how rudimentary, and he slows down if you ask. He has a sense of humor; so should you!

This professor is absolutely brilliant and an entertaining lecturer. It was an honor to learn from him, he can made a previously dry subject exhilarating! He has an incredible wealth of knowledge that he is more than willing to impart upon those who will listen. It's unfortunate that people misconstrue his intelligence and passion for arrogance.

He's a great professor, he can be a little moody, but all in all he's a great professor and will answer you questions as long as you read the text and don't repeat something he's gone over a few time. Study hard and study the lectures you should get an A.

He is a great professor! I was hesitant to take his class because of his reviews. He really does care for the student's success, he just has a tough exterior and does get a little moody. Go to office hours for help, he really likes to know you care. Easy A if you study and take great notes. I recommend recording the lecture; very helpful.

This class was something else. Our class became a really close group and the professor was funny and helpful. Learned a lot about microbio relating to clinical labs.

Dr. Buchanan is an outstanding professor. In the beginning of the semester I had very little interest in microbiology and by the end I was obsessed. Dr B encouraged open conversations and took the time to explain every question. The material was difficult but, if you stay focused and don't let your self get behind you'll do great. Bravo Dr. B!

I took Professor Buchanan's intro to microbio at SMC this past summer. He is probably one of the best professors I have ever had. He is so passionate about his work and the students learning the importance of microbio. Some people said he was mean, but he doesn't mean to be, have tough skin and ask your questions. You will do well.

Rude? nah he just loud. you might came across prof who explained to you 1-2 times and when you still dont get it they kinda annoyed by it but HE WONT. He makes it clear and I mean CLEAR what will be on the test! He doesnt left students figure on their own on what to look inside the microscope. He walk to the back to ck if stdent can see the board.

If you want to learn something relevant to your clinical practice, take him. He's not an easy A, but you'll learn a lot. He gives up to 75 pts e.c. 1) Don't buy the textbook, everything he tests you on is from his lecture 2) Take good notes and rewrite them 3) don't take what he says personal, he's really nice to all the hardworking students

It is this simple: Follow directions, ask questions, don't get offended easily and be interested in the topic and discuss the material in class to understand it. He will like if you do all these things. Also, don't say " I thought" or "I think" he will get offended. He has a wealth of knowledge and is great! The tests can be tricky, pay attention

He's a good professor. It sucks that a lot of people are just so quick to call him awful things. Dr. B knows a lot. He has a big heart and does a lot for students and the school but he's just unappreciated. Read the material ahead of time so you understand and won't get lost. Thanks, Dr. Buchanan!

A lot of people don't like him, but if you put in the effort and come to his office hours for help to show you really care about this class, you will be on his good side, however if you want to actually learn the whole material of microbiology you should take another professor, because this professor will most likely cover only half the book.

Do not miss his quizzes, same questions are likely to be on the tests and final! Its not hard but DONT miss his classes because a lot of the questions that are on tests he'll give in class. Read the book and take notes on his class. He can be rude so dont argue with him. Its not hard to get an A.

Professor Buchanan takes his job very seriously and wants future healthcare workers to really understand what they are doing. He is not here to be nice to people so if you have thin skin I would avoid this class. However, I enjoyed his humor a lot and his lectures were funny and informational. Class is very end-loaded so do not fall behind.

Dr. Buchanan is the best professor I have had as a pre-medical student at SMC or at LMU (where I did my undergraduate degree). He will certainly make you work but he relates everything you learn to clinical applications. Put your head down, be respectful, and work hard! This will be the most rewarding class you take in pre-health.

If I'm being honest I think the bad reviews are just people who are too sensitive. Great professor, super-nice, entertaining lectures. Again, don't take if you don't have thick skin but you should probably get some because the world isn't a nice place. PAY ATTENTION IN LECTURES! Gives extra credit. 20-page group paper/presentation.

I don't know how half these people write that he's such a bad professor. His lectures are straight forward, tells you what to study, and as long as you pay attention in class and take notes based on what HE says you are more than fine. He doesn't use use the book and there's one annoying group project but just do it, it's not rocket science.