3.7
Quality2.6
Difficulty76%
Would Retake89
Reviews76%
Would Retake
89
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
40
4
16
3
10
2
13
1
10
What Students Say
“A completely disorganized professor”
BSCI3600 - 1.0 rating“Not the greatest professor”
BSCI3600 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Attendance Mandatory
72%
Textbook Required
73%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Improving
+0.37 avg changeRatings by Course
BOTANY
5.0
(1)FYS115
5.0
(2)BIO218
5.0
(1)BSCI3890
5.0
(1)BSCI2218
5.0
(2)Difficulty by Course
BSCI3600
4.7
BIO218
4.0
BSCI3890
4.0
BSCI3226
3.5
BSCI3232
3.3
Reviews (89)
I took the Human Genome frosh. seminar with her: easiest class EVER.
easy...she tells you what will be on the quiz...lab grade is almost all participation
Very nice! She has been the kindest and most caring professor I've had here at Vanderbilt! I would highly recommend this class to anyone!
Professor Benson is really chill and knows what she is talking about. I would highly recommend taking her.
Probably one of the most unpredictable teachers I've ever had, and the only difficulty in her class is trying to figure out what it is that she wants. She is really nice and very accommodating, loves her subject matter and has her student's best in mind. Yet she mixes up names and twists what people say in class into what she wants to hear.
Certainly one of the nicest, most helpful professors in the department. She is both passionate and knowledgeable about all subjects related to genetics and botany; the interest she shows in her students' thoughts and papers reflects this.
Benson's class wouldn't be hard except for the fact that you never know what shes assigning! The woman makes up assignments and due dates and the class itself is just all over the place. I don't even know what we learned. Brilliant woman but suchh a scatterbrain. If you're thinking this will be an easy freshman seminar, think again
Easy class but not worth taking. Most of the time you will not know what she assigns. The stress is just not worth it.
DO NOT TAKE HER! Seriously, she is all over the place. Major ADD going on. A lot of times she doesn't know what she's assigned and for when. She is a good and nice person but I have no idea what she's talking about half the time. Participation is a big part of the grade so reading should be done but not really necessary. She's whack!
Dr. Benson is so sweet and so interested in her field. The class is graded easily and buying the textbook is a waste, but she's rarely clear about what's expected in assignments and assigned very last minute papers. Stressful if you're the kind of person who needs to work ahead of time.
Botany: Easiest class ever. I don't know what the comments below are talking about. She might be all over the place, but it is so easy and there is no stress in not knowing what she is talking about because you'll still get an A. The class is that easy. Oh yeah, don't buy the book, its a complete waste, for lab assignments go to the library.
Not a very difficult class. Only problem is that the readings are difficult to acquire (they are all over the place). Several papers and a final presentation. Book is not needed at all. Learned a lot and the professor, while not a very good teacher, makes class at least somewhat enjoyable (for an 8:10 class).
Possibly the sweetest teacher I have ever had. Tries to make her classes a "positive learning experience" and it works. She oftentimes is unclear and drops large (10 Chapter) tests on you that can be very surprising. However, if you learn the material and show her you are trying, she will reward you. Almost everyone in this class ended up with A's
really enthusiastic about class and a pretty chill easygoing kind person. In fact, she pushed the class time to 8:40 instead of 8:10 just so everyone could get extra sleep. grades papers pretty leniently. not so clear about assignments sometimes though. still gets my name mixed up. Just attend class. very scatterbrained but intelligent woman
One of the best classes I have ever taken. Dr. Benson is an exceptionally knowledgeable and enthusiastic professor. Her course was eye-opening for me, covering a broad range of fascinating topics that I previously knew little about. She really cares about her students and class discussions were very engaging. TAKE THIS CLASS!!!
Brightest Professor ever, she knows her subject and is very helpful
Dr. Benson is awesome, and you will learn a ton in this class without stressing about your grade. Definitely take this class, especially if you are a science person. Dr. Benson is always helpful and genuinely cares about her students. She is also just a great person to know.
You will learn a lot in this class without stressing about your grade too much. Highly recommended for science people in particular. Dr. Benson is awesome and will help you with anything.
Horrible professor. She is very confusing when assigning her projects and grades only based on how much she likes you. Avoid at all costs. For people taking a freshman writing seminar anything else is better for your grade. The stress is not worth taking her class.
Benson is AWESOME. Shes very enthusiastic and really cares about her students and wants everyone to do well. She doesnt take points off for grammar or citations which is great. You have to go to class but its only MW, and homework brings up your grade a lot so its very easy to get an A. Also so sweet and helpful outside of class. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
This is one of the best classes you can take freshman year. Dr. Benson is an amazing professor that will show you how to approach scientific literature. It will be a lot of work, but so are all of the FYWS. She is awesome and worth every hour of work that she assigned! she might misspell things a lot, but she is smartest and most interesting person
She is completely scatterbrained and does not know her subject. One of the most unorganized professors I have ever had. We never knew what to expect for the tests and her lectures were not helpful. Take another BSCI class for sure.
She is extremely scatterbrained and makes big project assignments up on the spot. The material is confusing but the tests are graded easily. However, she is harsher on the final and that is worth 45% of your grade so be ready to study for that.
Dr. Benson is still my favorite college professor. She develops great relationships with her students, and this class is fascinating. She loves to play devil's advocate to spark discussion, and while she is a bit scatterbrained, she makes up for it with her enthusiasm for the class. Expect a lot of work. This class is tough, but oh it is worth it.
Dr. Benson is a nice teacher. Although the class requires a great deal of work, the material is not particularly challenging. She is a fairly easy grader and is very willing to talk to you about your grades.
If any of you freshman are thinking of taking this class to fulfill your AXLE requirement, take anything else than one of Dr. Benson's 115F sections. All of her assignments and papers are poorly worded and extremely ambiguous; it is nearly impossible to tell what she actually wants from you. Take my word for it and do not enroll in this class.
Professor Benson is a really nice person and seems to care about her students but she is so disorganized. She sometimes springs papers on you at the last minute with little to no instructions. The daily assignments due before every class period are tedious and unnecessary. 3 papers, 1 group project, 1 final paper. Fairly easy grader.
I had her for the "Genes & Society" First Year Writing Seminar. There was homework 3 nights a week (before every class), which was very erratic, unorganized, and really just wasted time. It would involve 2-3 paragraphs with lots of pre-reading. She tries to give good feedback but really just confuses everyone. Content of class was very interesting.
She is very nice and funny, and I like her as a person. However, she is not a very good teacher. She does not post her lectures online, and you can't ever read the print outs she gives you because the text is so small, so lectures are essentially useless. I had to learn everything from the book. Super unorganized not that knowledgeabl about materia
A completely disorganized professor. She doesnt know the material, so her lectures are incomprehensible abridged versions of the textbook. Her assignments are all busy work, and are graded unfairly (like grading based on perceived effort rather than actual correctness), and you dont know how youre doing until you get your final grade. AVOID!
Not the greatest professor... at all. Shes just really unclear in my opinion, and its stressful as a student. She also doesnt provide her notes, which arent even great in the first place. I definitely would never take another class with her again.....
Super passionate about the course material and very dedicated to making sure that you have everything you need to succeed in the course. Definitely cares about you, even if the class is a little tough!
Dr. B is a very passionate professor. She loves to see her students learn, however she can come off as scatterbrained a lot. I would recommend visiting her during office hours, she was nice and provided helpful feedback.
Dr. Benson is a professor who cares about the students and makes sure that everyone is on the same page before moving on to the next unit. The class is lecture heavy but she does a good job with reviewing the material. There were 3 exams and they were all fair. Benson is an entertaining professor and makes the class enjoyable.
DIsorganized professor who filled her powerpoints useless information. The class was barely about plants, more about evolution. I'm sure she's a nice person if you really got to know her but as a professor, she really didn't do a good job of teaching. Beware, her tests don't really look anything like the study guides she provides. Lab is long.
Dope teacher, dope class
Professor Benson is a fun loving and enthusiastic teacher who is passionate about sharing her knowledge. She can be scatterbrained but that just adds to the eclectic charm of the course. Go to office hours and attend class. You'll love it.
Great teacher. Definitely recommend going during office hours. Really cares about students
Dr. Benson is a really great professor who really cares about each student. Her lectures are really engaging and fun. I would definitely take it again. Go to her outside of class and she is super helpful as well.
Really interesting class. Knew a ton about the material at hand and was enthusiastic to keep you awake.
Dr. Benson is a very nice professor who really cares about students performance. I have taken plant bio as well as this course and both times she was extremely helpful and passionate about the subject being taught. She updates students with current scientific literature about the subject as well, which is really appreciated!
Dr. Benson really knows her material. I took her Biodiversity and Climate Change class and was immersed into primary literature. The class was fun and I learned a lot.
Dr. Benson really tries to make class fun, encourages participation & even though there's daily homework it's really easy. Tests are long, but she gives a study guide before each one and gives a ton of partial credit. Green Earth is a great class to take to fulfill your MNS requirement if you're a non-STEM major and actually want to learn something
Dr. Benson loves what she teaches, and will work to make you love it too. Some of the assignments are tedious, and the tests are a lot of info, but you have a study guide and in the end, Dr. B just wants to make sure everyone walks away caring more about the subject. Kinda quirky, but a great heart, I'd definitely take her again
Dr. Benson is very kind and obviously cares about her students' success. She gives great feedback on papers and is passionate about the material. She is definitely quirky and takes some getting used to, but her classes are wildly entertaining. However, her communication skills via bright space and email need serious help. Overall, great prof.
Dr. Benson is definitely super quirky, but cares about her students and making sure that everyone learns and actually cares about the material. The tests are long but she is not a super tough grader so as long as you go most of the time and do the homework you should have no trouble getting an A, which I think she said at the beginning of class.
Had no idea what my grade was all semester, and guidelines for assignments were kinda unclear. Nonetheless, she really is hilarious, quirky, and wants us to learn as our main goal, and the class was interesting and approachable compared to other bio courses. Had to know 50+ scientific studies for the class, but we really got a deep understanding.
The material seemed a bit random and it was unclear what was being tested. Organization skills were subpar. Having to memorize the name and year of random scientific papers for tests seemed pointless. Tests/presentations were graded without clear guidelines and rubrics. Hard to complain with an A; the class was easier than most biology classes.
Don't get the book, I never used it. Dr Benson was super nice & the lab component was amazing with weekly hikes to learn about plants in person. She's so caring, homework is completion graded, lectures/notes posted online, & the major assignments were 2 midterms & a cumulative final. My fav prof in the bio department because of how she teaches.
This is a MUST class for those needing to fulfill AXLE requirements. It was BY FAR the least challenging science class. The most important thing to do to excel in this class is to pay attention to her lectures and study the lectures for exams. Go to her review sessions before exams. Pay attention to what she emphasizes in the lectures. Great class
Benson is an engaging lecturer but there is SO much material covered in just one class. The lecture slides by themselves aren't helpful-- they're full of typos, pictures, random music videos-- which makes attendance mandatory if you want to do well on tests.
Her only personality trait is that she previously taught at Harvard. Her lectures are erratic and she only cold calls. Her exams are barely legible and oftentimes do not align with course content. Avoid at all costs.
Lectures are all over the place and her slides are impossible to review with. Tests questions are hard to comprehend and draw from random facts. Do not take for AXLE credit.
Took this class for AXLE credit and while I wasn't expecting an easy A class, it definitely didn't live up to my expectations. Crazy amount of content in one lecture, and if you miss a class you're out of luck since you can barely understand the slides. Had to buy a $100 online textbook for assignments that we used maybe twice, which was annoying.
Never take this class! Her slides are barely legible, and she expects you to know extremely specific information on the test that doesn't support actual learning. On the final test, it appears she graded a lot harsher than the other tests. 10/10 would not recommend taking this class at all.
Super nice and not impossible to do well but the class made no sense and the exams were brutal. She just pulled random facts that she might have mentioned in class and most of the study guide does not match up.
this class was way too hard for a baby bio course. there was so much content and she didn't link it together well. the exams had questions that didn't make sense. class was graded based on homework and 4 exams. you have to go to class to do well. it wasn't impossible, but there are probably easier baby bio classes.
1 quiz; 3 3 paragraph essays; 2 5 paragraph essays; 1 partner presentation; little easy hw assignments (5 min). SUPER EASY. Disorganized; she is confusing at times. Leniant on due dates. Understanding about life complications. Gave us food in class.
I LOVED her. As a non-stem major I was worried, but if you try in class it helps a lot. HW not hard. The final was for 42% of your grade, not fun. She's not perfectly clear about what you'll need to know on each exam which can skew what u study for. Despite perfect HW and attendance, I didn't get an A, but it was fun and my grade was good enough
While the class was disorganized and the tests could be a little random overall it is a good choice for a science credit. Just pay attention in lecture and study her slides for exams. Also if you can get into the lab take it! It is hiking field trips every week and she wants you to get an A so much better than all the other lab options.
Dr Benson is not caring and is plainly rude. She cares more about her class and the plants than she does about the students. God forbid you come to her with a personal problem, she doesn't give a single f. Beware of this professor, find another baby bio course!!!!!
Dr. B is great. Her class is wild but in a good way. She simply never grades the homework- they're only for completion, so the only place you can lose points is attendance and the tests, which she grades leniently. She is super knowledgeable and relates the class to real-world problems like climate change. It's impossible to get below a C.
Awful. Do no take
Participation is MANDATORY! All homework is graded by completion. Tests are very specific but come straight from the lectures posted. She does cold call in class but you just have to try to answer. Have to buy textbook to do part of homework. Final is 42% of grade but you're fine if you study. Highly recommend if you need a science credit!
Avoid if possible! Would not recommend this course or professor
She is the best teacher I have ever had. She plays music in class and is very understanding if you need to miss class for any reason. Homework is my completion and she really helps with exams.
This is the best professor at Vanderbilt. She really cares about the well-being of her students and even plays a song in the middle of class everyday. Benson makes it hard not to learn the material. With the homework and lectures I feel like I've learned so much and I didn't know anything about this subject before. She seriously is the best ever.
This truly has been my favorite class at Vanderbilt. Dr. Benson is an incredible professor and provides a positive for all students whether they are more science-focused or less STEM-driven. I learned about INTERESTING science! She is kind, engaging, and teaches meaningful science. The workload is very manageable and the exams are straightforward.
Really cares about her students. Highly recommend for a science class if you are non-STEM.
Dr. Benson is awesome! If you genuinely want to learn take this course because Dr. Benson has a plethora of resources to help you. Attendance is definitely mandatory, but Dr. Benson makes it a fun and caring environment so that it is a beautiful space to learn. Definitely take her class!
Dr. Benson is an incredible professor who strikes the perfect balance between challenge and support, making their science course both engaging and rewarding. The mix of lectures and hands-on components ensures a comprehensive and memorable experience. Would recommend 100% for anyone looking to gain a deep understanding and appreciation for science!
Dr. Benson is kind and you can tell she's passionate about what she teaches. Homework is due before class which is a doc with questions and sources to refer to for the answers, the workload is definitely manageable. Exams are heavily weighted in the class, with the final being worth 42%. If you study you should be able to do decent on these.
Dr. Benson truly cares about this class and her students. She encourages learning in engaging ways but also emphasizes the importance of taking care of yourself. Dr. B is very funny and keeps lectures light and fun. I learned a lot!
This has been my favorite class I have taken at Vanderbilt. This course is a science that makes it easy to understand for non-STEM people and science students. The class is engaging and interesting! I would 100% take it again and cannot stress how amazing Dr. Benson truly is.
BEST TEACHER EVER
DR. BENSON IS LITERALLY AN ICON. I LOVE HER SO MUCH. PLEASE TAKE THIS CLASS IF YOU NEED AN EASY SCIENCE. You definitely should study for the tests, but she loves giving credit even if you only kinda got the answer right. I am not a stem person, and she made this class very enjoyable -- she's also just hilarious.
THE BEST FOR THE SCIENCE/MATH CREDIT! . She made class amazing, and she cared so much about us students. The homework was all completion. You have to study a little bit, but it does not stress you out. Great to have in your schedule because it honestly is a mental break from your other classes.
I absolutely adored Dr. Benson. The textbook is online and you don't even read it but you do need for assignments on there. Participation is a must and HW is all completion. 3 exams BUT she is such an easy grader and good about awarding partial credit. She is so understanding and believes in learning more than earning grades and being fearful.
Prof Benson is hilarious and cares a lot about students. the class is mostly completion grades for homework along with three cumulative exams. attendance is definitely mandatory and there's a decent amount of work, but the content is not difficult. good for an easy science credit.
This is a must-take science class to satisfy AXLE. Stay on-track with weekly (very easy) assignments and pay attention in lectures and it's an easy A. She's also very caring and truly wants to see her students succeed and understand the material. Also take the lab! We went on hikes and learned to ID trees; very unique class indeed!
A must-take for non-stem majors needing sci credit. Easiest and most fun lab out there (zoo field trip)! The class itself is manageable; some content is involved if you have no bio background (lots of memorization) but exams are predictable and fair. She's kind of a mess organizationally but an engaging lecturer. Homework graded for completion.
The Lab was so much better than the lecture (fun fields trips and activities). She's a really easy grader but all of the exams have little to do with the lecture. Quite the eccentric teacher, but definitely the better science course to take at Vandy if you're not into science stuff
Dr Benson is incredibly passionate about what she teaches, and is very encouraging towards her students. Brings us sweet treats every class! You can get an A if you do all the homework, participate, and take the feedback she gives on your essays.
Literally ignore those negative comments. This class is totally worth it if you want a fun baby bio course as a non-science major! She's quite wacky, which I loved, and you learn a lot of interesting facts in a low-pressure environment with easy exams. Also, if you need the lab credit, no reason not to take this if you love hiking and nature!
Dr. Benson is by far my favorite professor at Vandy. She is extremely passionate about plants and her passion is infectious. She truly prioritizes student well-being and learning over grades - once she even moved an exam bc we were overwhelmed. Classes are discussion-based, so come prepared and do the short readings bc she calls on people
She is literally insane, cold calls and treats this course like a discussion when it is a 100+ person lecture, the exams are often fill in the blank with random details that were barely discussed, homework is tedious. She makes you buy an expensive textbook that you barely use. Not a hard class in terms of the content but difficult to survive
Tbh very odd class. Benson is a really sweet lady and super caring, and the material is so free. But at the same time it's very unorganized. Felt like I was always doing smth for this class and most of the time just busy work. The lectures feel like ur learning nothing, but if youre fine with that as long as you get an A then it's whatever.
For the lab section, you go on hikes every week which is pretty fun and you're guaranteed to get an A. However, grading criteria is so unclear and she strays from the schedule like crazy so you have no clue what you're supposed to do. You just gotta trust you'll get an A and not tweak. Moral of the class: now I can identify like every tree!
Dr. benson is amazing and makes every class enjoyable. The assignments are often hard to follow but most grades are a completion grade or a test. Would take again
Class Info
Attendance Mandatory
72%
Textbook Required
73%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Improving
+0.37 avg changeRatings by Course
BOTANY
5.0
(1)FYS115
5.0
(2)BIO218
5.0
(1)BSCI3890
5.0
(1)BSCI2218
5.0
(2)Difficulty by Course
BSCI3600
4.7
BIO218
4.0
BSCI3890
4.0
BSCI3226
3.5
BSCI3232
3.3