3.2
Quality3.5
Difficulty52%
Would Retake211
Reviews52%
Would Retake
211
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
211 total ratings5
75
4
33
3
21
2
27
1
55
What Students Say
“RUN AWAY FROM 102 WITH HER”
CHEM102 - 1.0 rating“Steer clear of 102 if you can”
102 - 3.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
64%
Textbook Required
18%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-1.14 avg changeRatings by Course
CHEM403
5.0
(1)CHEM104402
5.0
(3)100
4.4
(8)CHEMISTRY100
4.0
(1)010420
4.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
CHEM561
5.0
CHEM100CHEM102
4.7
010420
4.0
102
3.9
CHEM102
3.9
Reviews (210)
Very passionate teacher. She drops a lot of lower grades to make it easier to get a good grade. She uses a clicker for attendance so you need to go. Outstanding teacher
Gives a lot of extra credit!Explains everything! answers all questions, hw is online,
If you have the opportunity to take Carlson for an intro Chem course, do so! She's a fantastic professor - passionate about her work and helping students conceptually understand. Not to mention, she is very lenient with grading - TONS of opportunities for extra credit and make-up work. Highly recommended!
If Carlson is one of your choices for chem 101, definitely take her. She is very interested in teaching and does a very good job at it. She takes questions constantly which helps the people who are struggling. Her quizzes every Fri are easy as well.
She is a great teacher and really wants everyone to do well. Very helpful and open to questions.
Grat professor, makes sure you understand all material before moving to the next.
great teacher
Dr. Carlson is great! If you are willing to put in the work you can get an A. She gives practice exams, and if you understand those you will be fine for the exams. I found the book very helpful!
Great professor. Cares about her students as if they are her own children. She is my favorite professor so far.
Carlson is by far my favorite professor so far! She loves to give extra credit and really wants her students to succeed in the class. She has a good sense of humor and does not go too fast.
Great professor! Cares about her students, if you follow along and ask questions and do the expired exam you will pass!
Professor Carlson is very involved in class. She does everything she can so you can succeed. I am fairly good at chemistry so it was an easy class for me but if chemistry isn't your thing she gives plenty of extra credit to make up for loss of points. I highly suggest attending class for the attendance points and her notes.
She is an incredible professor. She really cares about her students and gives out a TON of extra credit. She makes Chemistry fun to learn
Great professor, as long as you do the work you should be able to do well. Lots of opportunity for extra credit in her class also!
Dr. Carlson is the real deal! Read the book and ask any questions you have. Get tutors. Her determination is inspiring and it is very hard to find someone with that kind of passion for their work. She is working hard and if you work hard great things will happen. Guaranteed on the box. She can be intense, but don't be scared, she is my favourite.
Professor Carlson is very enthusiastic. She provides A LOT of extra-credit opportunities, but also requires a lot of homework to be completed through an online program. HW is never fun, but it really prepared me to do well on the quizzes and exams! SHE IS EXCELLENT!!!
I loved having Doctor Carlson! She was such a great teacher. She really helped me understand chemistry from the stand point of having no background knowledge. She is very easy to follow. Her tests are fair, there is opportunities for extra credit often so even if you're a bad tester you can still get an A. She really cares about student success.
Dr. Carlson is the best chemistry professor at UWM. She presented the class with an energetic style and she was very clear in what she wanted us to know. Be ready to do Connect homework every week, and don't be afraid to ask for a due date extension. Although the class had many components, Dr. Carlson offered a very large amount of extra credit.
She isn't afraid to take time out of class to answer questions and she would post practice exams and their answer keys on D2L. The actual exam keys would be posted online about a half hour after the exam so you'd be able to check and figure out your score the same day. The SI leader also held some pretty helpful reviews and was active in class.
Professor Carlson is hands down the best chemistry teacher at UWM. She loves what she teaches and wants to make sure all of her students understand what is going on in class. Exams were based off prior exams she post on D2l. Lots of extra credit is given in this class. If you try at every assignment you'll get an A!
One of the best professors I have ever seen, perhaps THE best. Her dedication to teaching the students and helping them pass is hard to beat. She is kind and answers questions in a non-patronizing way. She interacts with the students and has a true love for science.
PERFECT
Doctor Carlson, is by fair the best chemistry teacher I have ever had. Her quizzes are not that long and as long as you come to lecture everyday you easily get an A. Her tests are based on previous exams and very good teacher overall.
the best teacher in the chemistry department. LOVE HER.
Chance for 15 extra credit points the first week. She gives you a copy of the previous semesters exams and keys to study from, show up to class and discussion for homework and quizzes which are every week. Easy if you just do the work!
Chemistry is complex but she made it clear
Best professor I have ever had. She's extremely good at teaching, she goes over things in a simple way and makes sure not to make things too complicated. Always willing to help and seems to only want the best for her students. I recommend her to everyone. Super understand and is extremely well at teaching.
Has very clear expectations for students and will bend over backwards to help all her students meet them. She truly cares about education and it shows. If you have to take a chemistry class and can take it with Dr. Carlson, do it.
Do not expect to learn chemistry with this teacher, the TA's did most of her job, she skipped the most IMPORTANT THINGS! That by the way were in the standardized exam. Even the best students that had straight A's in her class will fail the standardized exam and possibly 102. AVOID HER AND TAKE FROSHL! (BY THE WAY I LOVE CHEMISTRY...)
Having no experience in chemistry, she was really helpful. I left the class feeling like I learned. Tests and quizzes are tough but she offers easily over 100 points in extra credit.
Not really a fan of UWM academics in general. Not a bad teacher, but her tests are a little wack and don't correspond with homework or lecture all of the time. When a chemistry department has an average of 65% (in a school this big with thousands of kids adding into this) I think there is a problem with the department. Happy I'm transferring!
A LOT of work. Tests are hard and don't always correspond with lectures.
RUN AWAY FROM 102 WITH HER! I am a straight A student that is willing to work for an A. However, she makes it IMPOSSIBLE for 102. Over half the students can't finish exams in time even though we try to skip over and just guess at multiple choice questions! Her exams are way harder than she presents the material, which the material isn't hard. BAD!
I'm a straight A student, I work for the grade I want. And this is the first time EVER that I feel like I'll have to retake a class. The whole department is in their first semester of a research trial, and we're the lab rats. Expect to do nothing but study for this class to pass. Also, she's really rude if you ask her questions outside of class.
She's honestly the best Chemistry teacher at UWM, since it seems that she actually cares about students doing well.
DON'T TAKE HER FOR 102! This entire semester we were guinea pigs for research. Her tests are ridiculously hard and expects an average of 63% on exams. The homework is too much and my life was literally chem this semester and I have nothing to show for it. If you're an A student like me expecting a good grade, don't bother because you won't get it.
Steer clear of 102 if you can. The research project ongoing in the chemistry department is absolutely ridiculous and takes away from the class. Show up, do the homework, read the book, study, and hopefully you'll get at least a B-.
The department research is supposed to help students learn the material better! Dr. Carlson is an outstanding lecturer, and the organization of this course is like no other. When else do you have worksheets handed out to accompany every lecture along with practice exams that you help you target exactly what you specifically need to focus on?
tough material, but Carlson is REALLY helpful, &only professor ive ever had that cares whether or not students understand material. Kind of scared to ask questions in lecture because some responses make students seem stupid. Ive taken her for chem 100 and now 104. she's excellent, dont go for anyone else if you have the option!
Clear explanation of topics. Assigns a good amount of work
Dr. Carlson is a fantastic lecturer. She is excellent at explaining the many esoteric concepts of a gen chem class, and manages time well enough that nothing is left out before tests. Her class was one of the most educational I have had at UWM, mostly due to her lecturing skills.
Dr. Carlson is an average professor. In order to learn in her class you have to pay attention, powerpoint slides are useless. Exams are below average. Reading the book is a must! I learned more from reading than her lecture. The only good thing is that she gives a lot of extra credit, so make sure to do those stuff to boost your grade.
I only like her class because of the extra credit but other than that I don't really like how she does lecture because for me personally I didn't learn much. Too much powerpoint slides going on which I felt like it was not relevant with what she was teaching.
I sent her an email asking for help. She emailed back treating me like I was completely senseless. The remarks made from her were rude such as "Clearly, it was mentioned..." Her reply was completely NOT helpful at all. I had to ask the TA for help instead. A teacher with no respect for students who learn slower than others. Do not take her.
She describes multiple ways to solve stoich problems for those who may not understand one way.
She makes you feel stupid for asking questions in class, considering it is an introductory class, she should be expecting these questions. READ the book it is the only way you have a chance.
I'm glad I got Dr. Carlson as my chem professor. She lays out what you need to know. This isn't always enough & she definitely expects you to put in your own work outside of class. As long as you do this, go to tutoring, & pay attention in class you should pass this class easily. (she can sometimes answer questions condescendingly in class)
Christine - I took her because she was better reviewed than most of her Chem associates. She's one of the rudest ladies I have ever met in my life. Sometimes she can be helpful, only when she feels like it. First day had a lollipop in her mouth for the entire lecture. She responds to emails, "Clearly, as explained several times in lecture, ..."
Does go fast in lecture but is very helpful if you ever have questions. She is always clear as to what needs to be done and expects that students are putting in the time and effort to succeed. I would recommend her for anyone who is not the best at chemistry or if it has been awhile since you have taken chemistry.
A hard A, but an easier pass than other teachers. She's rude, self centered and egotistical. Doesn't truly care about her students, just cares enough so the grades are "passing". Hopefully she becomes more human as she works here, not even the other professors like her.
I love Dr. Carlson. She is very pro-student and genuinely cares about her students and wants them to pass. The curriculum of the course is very difficult, that is just the nature of the class but Carlson understands the difficulty and does everything in her power to help you if you are willing to help yourself and genuinely want to learn.
The class itself is relatively clear cut. You need to make sure you keep up with it from the beginning, if you do so it's possible to get an A. Do everything including the extra credit and Tophat! Be careful with who your lab professor is, and make sure you listen when she tells you to take clear notes for labs. And yes, she is INCREDIBLY rude.
Great chemistry professor. Best one I have had yet. She is really interesting and interactive and makes the topics easy to understand on a conceptual level.
Carlson is one of the better Chem professors. The department itself has far too much required in terms of homework and what needs to be covered, and we did end up falling behind. However, Carlson is a decent teacher and you can tell she cares about her students. It is up to the student, though, to do a lot of homework and outside studying.
She is a very kind and caring professor. She sets daily reminders, works through work problems during lecture, and gives out A LOT of extra credit. Course material and exams were pretty easy if you attended lecture and discussion.
She's an excellent lecturer, fair grader, gives lots of E.C. opportunities. Overall, I really really liked her. My only critique would be is that sometimes when you e-mail her with questions, her responses can be a bit short and not very helpful. Definitely better to ask her in person. She cares about her students, loves chemistry, good prof!
Great Professor. Great Lecturer, apparently is extremely kind and friendly when visiting her office hours, I never visited her though. The moodle homework is a pain in the butt but it makes you understand the material. A+ teacher.
Christine Carlson's class was a breeze, although she didn't cover much detail in the lecture. She would often say we should already know this or we need to learn this on our own. Ended up with an A in the class, however, she is not a good teacher in class. She is reasonable if you go to office hours and talk with her.
Dr. Carlson literally just teaches to the front of the class and treats the rest of the class like they don't exist. She tries too hard and gives too many sob stories about how she is the only one that supports her family and just TMI. One time I asked her about something and she wrote the nastiest e-mail back. I don't get her.
She really does care about you doing well. You have to do tophat and aleks for participation but it really supplements your learning.
Her lectures are really all over the place and her commentary is even worse. She is not very conscience and her lectures can be really confusing because of this. She spends more time on caveats than the general concepts themselves. Horrible instructor!
There is something off about her, I can't put my finger on it. The way she talks and her laugh, it's a little psycho and in her own little world. Extra points on the exams all the time because her key is always wrong. Not too bad of a class, there is a lot of buffer points from discussion and tophat. Go to office hours, it helps.
I personally like Carlson's lectures. To be honest, I didn't have to spend a lot of time outside of class looking over the material, because I was able to go to lecture and grasp the concepts based off of her lectures. I rarely read the textbook; I used it merely as a reference every now and again. I hope my future chem profs are as good as her!
Her lectures were a joke. Everything I learned I learned from my TA and ALEKS explanations.
Dr. Carlson is one of the most caring professors I have ever had. I had her for Chemistry 100, 102, and 104. She is intimidating but if you approach her in her office hours she is very welcoming and will go out of her way to ensure you do well and understand the class. Getting an A is very manageable if you put in the work in her class.
BEST profe for chem 100. If you put the work in you will succeed. That being said, it is a very hard 100 level class.
Her lectures are a mess.
Sure made all the difference in passing this class. She really does try to keep people engaged.
I went into office and she was so rude and treated me like I was stupid. She needs to learn how to be professional towards students. She was rude to my friend too. It's like she doesnt like girls.
One of the rudest professors I've ever had. Lectures are extremely disorganized and hard to follow. Seems like shes just trying to get through it without caring about if the students are learning
Lectures are hard to follow, she tries to follow the book, but sometimes skips around. During one on one interactions she can seem rude/condescending.
Dr Carlson showed me that hard work is important
By far one of the best professors this university has to offer. Class is tough, but if you stay on top of your assignments and prepare for exams, you will pass.
Carlson treats you like you're wasting her time and uses time during office hours shes supposed to be helping me and the other student that stopped by chitchatting with her TA, laughing. She is so rude and I won't have to go see her if she didn't make her lectures so confusing. Just please teach straight forward!!!!! Uhh! So glad I'm done.
Honestly, your best chance of passing Chem 102 and getting a decent grade is with Dr. Carlson. I really liked her and she seems to really care about her students. I also think she's pretty funny. Not going to lie, the class itself is hard, but from what I've heard from others and my own experience, Carlson is your best bet.
LOVE CARLSON! She is by far the best chem professor at UWM. The material is tough, no doubt, but if you keep up on ALEKS and do the textbook problems, you will be fine. She can be intimidating but truly cares about students and is always willing to help and answer questions (ask questions in lecture!). Will only take chem with her from now on.
Lectures are tough because we have to cover so many topics. I had to study all meaterial for exam, no study guide. But if you really understand the concepts and really know what youre doing then it will be easy.
Talks very fast and unclear, don't rely on lecture to get you to an A in this class.
Professor Carlson is a solid choice for a Chem teacher. Lectures are easy to understand. I only looked in the book to check answers in the back (never to read, myself personally at least). Exams are multiple choice with sections of fill in the blank and math calculations. Although not an easy course, material taught is understandable.
Chemistry is a tough class but Carlson is a good professor. She does have to cover a lot of material in one semester so she talks fast but she is still clear. She is really nice during office hours and answers emails usually before the end of the day. It isn't an easy A but it is possible and there is a lot of extra credit, plus dropped scores.
Great lectures
Bless this gem of a professor. When I failed chemistry (took it with Murphy-BEWARE!) this angel from heaven helped me pass this super awful class. Shes a hoot and incredibly knowledgeable and doesnt BS you. I even waited to take CHEM104 so I could have her as a professor again!
She is really nice lady once you get to know her but she has absolutely no idea what she's doing and won't take responsibility for it when she makes a mistake to our detriment. It's kinda annoying and hurting our grade.
I had Carlson for both Chem 102 and 104. I wasn't a huge fan of her at first but she's actually a really great teacher. She understands students struggle with Chemistry and gives out tons of extra credit opportunities and drops lowest grades to make it incredibly easy to pass.
make sure to do the review packets for each exam, they'll help tremendously. You HAVE TO WORK FOR YOUR GRADE! but she gives you every option under the sun to pass the class. She teaches in a organized manner and as long as you give her the same respect you would want yourself she will be super accommodating and respectful to you.
Honestly one of the best professors out there. Explains concepts very well and seems to generally care about her students well being and success. Tons of extra credit points available, lots of drops and her exam material is always hinted at in lectures!
She's the best chemistry professor you can have at UWM
A great professor and works hard to explain in many ways so everyone understands. If you put in the effort during lecture and your homework will not have an issue passing her classes. She makes herself available and is understanding of other responsibilities you may have.
She explained the topics very well. She didnt make the class boring by adding humor into her lecture.
This professor is terrible in my opinion. If there was no extra credit, I would have failed. The lecture book is very hard to follow and unhelpful. If you want to ask questions, be ready for a rude response. Also, the final exam is not written by her and the material is not what she taught.
Difficult course w/ no chem background-she makes sure to show ideas in different ways to help. Many complain that she's "rude"-all I heard were students being initially rude to her(I wouldn't be nice to someone speaking to me that way either). Practice the exam reviews/material she focuses on/look up material you don't understand- you'll do great.
I was a struggling student in general, transferring into UWM from a smaller school was taking it's toll on me, and if it weren't for Dr. Carlson I would have dropped out. She is very easy to talk to during office hours for general questions, makes sure that her TAs are being helpful to the students, and generally cares about what shes teaching.
She was a good professor and made the chemistry easy. There were a couple topics that were quite difficult but she and the TA were willing to help. Exams were not super difficult, and the quizzes werent either. No curve, but the dropped quizzes+ makeup exam helped. Lab portion was fun as well; TA was a gem. Textbook was not super helpful.
She isn't bad at teaching the course content and is relatively organized. The lecture activities book could be used/distributed in a more effective manner and the textbook is practically useless. Also, she encourages questions left and right, but will offer nothing but condescending and rude responses. That makes approaching her difficult.
Like a lot of others have already said, she claims to be very approchable while in lecture but the minute class is over and you have a question, expect a quick rude answer like she has something better to do than answer your 5 second question. She also makes every student buy TopHat just to make taking attendance easier for her.
She's pretty good, better than some of the other chem professors supposedly. If you don't have chem background, you'll have to learn study well on your own. She's good with just lectures and such, but if you have questions or need extra help, she's pretty condescending and discouraging. Easy to pass though if you put in some work.
Not surprised when I viewed other responses and seen that others agree that she is very rude and condescending. Whenever you ask her a question she gives you quick short rude answer. Kind of makes you feel stupid like "Why are you asking me this" Even when attending office hours she is this way as well. Not open to questions as she claims. Rude.
Just feels like she thinks her students are children. Does not treat you with the same respect that she requires you to treat her with. Lectures are generally informative but she talks a mile a minute without pausing to breathe. Definitely a struggle to stay tuned in.
Speaks for 20 minutes without catching her breath. Wow. Prove her wrong, and you will regret it. Chews you out for having a different opinion, but gets annoyed when no one wants to participate in her lectures. 10/10 will give you PTSD and make you question if 2+2 really does equal 5
Honestly, the real reason I gave her a 5 was to even out the playing field. She's really not that bad, she gets the job done and there's a lot to teach in Chem- it's tough. I don't know why she gets so much hate, she's a slightly above average teacher in my opinion (3.5/5 at least). Just make sure you keep up with the material and do your work.
Teaches very fast in lecture but knows what she is talking about when teaching.
Talks very fast, but there's a LOT to cover so it makes sense. Reminds people when the next homework is due/exam takes place and what is covered. Answers emails very fast. Offers extensions on homework due dates (as long as you ask before the day it's due)
Although course is lecture heavy and she speaks fast, her exams are realistic and she provides a lot of extra credit and lowest grade drops as a buffer. I found CSI (Chemistry supplemental instruction) outside of class to be very helpful and it helped me get A's on exams instead of C's. Best chem teacher if you want a good grade.
Dr. Carlson clearly knows what she's talking about, but she's horrible at presenting new ideas. She presents the information as if you already understand it, and seldom elaborates sufficiently or does many extra examples showing how to solve various types of problems. I would highly recommend using the chem walk in tutoring to supplement lecture.
I had Dr. Carlson last semester for Chem 102 and absolutely loved having her! Her tests were very fair and based solely on lecture. I would recommend going to CSI every week. As long as you study, you should be able to succeed! Dr. Carlson responds to emails almost immediately and has an amazing memory. Beware that she talks very fast in lecture.
I had Dr. Carlson for Chem 102 last fall and I have her for 104 this semester. She does talk very fast and if you look down at your phone for one second & look back up she will be on the next page, BUT she is an amazing professor. She cares a lot about her students success & is always open to answering questions. I truly enjoy having Dr. Carlson!
She is very inconsiderate about things that happen in your life. Unless you have a death certificate for your mother you are not getting excused from anything EVEN WITH A DOCTORS NOTE!
I had Dr. Carlson for both chem 102 and chem 104 and I have nothing bad to say! She is a brilliant woman and knows exactly how to run her classes. She made chem more understandable and discussion and lab allow you to fully understand the material.
Dr. Carlson is a great lecturer, she makes the lectures interesting even for someone who has 0 interest in chemistry like myself. The course itself is very difficult and requires a lot of studying and practice problems. The exams are difficult but you can make up points elsewhere and there are many extra credit opportunities.
Although I dreaded the weekly quizzes and the tests weren't my favorite, Dr. Carlson made the class fun to be in. She's a very intelligent and fair professor who I was fortunate enough to get to know. She's easy to talk to and very understanding. I would 100% recommend her as a professor for both Chem 102 & 104!
Dr. Carlson is the most fair and amazing teacher. She is extremely knowledgeable and nice. Highly recommend. Please dont listen to these rude comments about her panting. Tests are hard but make sure you use the exam review PowerPoint questions because those are similar to the exam.
Carlson is the best chem professor I have ever had! She speaks fast but definitely knows what she is talking about. To succeed in her class, READ the textbook and do all the moodle practice problems she provides. Her exams can be challenging but they are definitely fair. There is no curve, but she provides LOTS of extra credit on the exams.
Very intimating and not nice. Doesn't care about students with ARC accommodations at all. Definitely my least favorite professor.
I found her to be extremely rude to people asking for help. She'll snap at you and tell you to read the textbook, but that doesn't always help. Thankfully Khan Academy is free so that really helped me out in the end.
Having chem online is something no one wants to do but with covid that's just how it has to be. You would think she would be considerate of students' workload and other classes but instead, there's tons of homework, so many lectures, and very difficult material. Would not recommend her class to anyone!
Be prepared for illogical, vague, unspecific teaching, as well unrelated quizzes and exams in regards to a chapter; quizzes that unnecessarily focus on one section of a topic while the rest of the (also important) chapter gets ignored; snarky answers to questions; getting blamed when servers go down and HW can't be done in time. TLDR: Avoid
Reached out to her about issues behind struggling in her class, she ignored it and never responded. Snappy when asked questions pertaining to coursework even after specifying that I read the book. Managing to get a good grade by doing the best I can and building a relationship with he TA. You cannot count on her to be understanding.
One of the worst teachers I've ever had in my college career. Keeps lying about class averages in exams(she claimed that the class average was a 70% when canvas clearly showed a 60%) very inconsiderate with the amount of workload she assesses(especially during this pandemic) her class schedule is very time consuming and unnecessary. AVOID HER
If you have other options, do not take her. When you have a question, she always has a slick and snarky response that is unnecessary. She is inconsiderate of the online school adjustment and does not curve tests and also makes reviews that have nothing to do with your exams sometimes. if you are doing school online, do not take her!!
This prof doesn't deserve the hate she gets here. The online lectures are just fine - they are in bite size, easy to watch/understand & she lays out her expectations very clearly. Responds to emails within minutes sometimes, & gives TONS of extra credit. You have to work, but if you do all the assignments you will pass.
I regret taking her class a lot. If it's possible, I really want to go to past. If you have other choice choose that, please. I regret taking her class not only meeting her. DON'T EMAIL HER. I don't know how she is like because I haven't met her in person. However, if you email her you will never get any solutions that you needed.
She knows the subject she teaches well- the problem is you need to be on the same 'wavelength' as her to understand what she's talking about or you'll get lost. Subtly mocks students for not understanding subjects. Exams are incoherent and cover an extremely wide variety of topics. Some of the TA's are helpful so if you have to take her, use them.
Professor Carlson knows her stuff but she's not very good at explaining and lectures move fast. Be prepared for the hours of work that come with this class because between lectures, labs, homework, weekly quizzes, and test this class is a lot of work. If you keep up and have good time management you will do well plus take advantage of the EC.
do not take her class. She is very rude when responding to emails and doesn't help at all. She makes her Taste do all of her work when I am paying thousands of dollars for her to do her job. the only way I passed this class was from YouTube videos. She lacks empathy and literally talks to everyone like they're dumb but wants respect disgust.
She is the most insensitive professor ever. I have never taken a class Ive hated more. She will not help you out. Expects everyone to have the same amount of prior knowledge and if you ask her something youre unaware of she will be rude and unhelpful. Tests are hard and unimaginably long. Dont take her if you have an option.
She teaches chem which is obviously hard, but she grades extremely tough. She is impossible to get help from if she made an error (ex: wrote the problem wrong). I was specifically told her mistakes were "clearly mistakes I made" even though I had screenshots of her writing. Don't get on her bad side because she teaches chem 102 also. GOOD LUCK.
While we are all in a pandemic this professor doesn't seem to understand that. We all want to get back to normal life again but all of my professors have been making sure that their students safety is first. Well this is the only professor that has decided to fill big lecture halls with students and do exams in person.
Legit dont even bother trying to think the review is even remotely close to the exam. Its not. You basically have to remember every single detail even if its briefly touched on in order to pass the exam. Shes great at Chem 102 but strict on Chem 104. She responds kind of rude to emails. Make sure to not ask many Qs or she gets tired of you.
I have taken three chem courses with Dr. Carlson and she is a much better teacher than other chemistry professors. She is easy to follow and makes sure to explain things in a manner that is easy for students to understand. She is a little rude when you ask questions, but the questions that are asked are usually dumb. Listen to lectures.
Good at Chem 102 but hard af in Chem 104. In a pandemic, she decided to fill big lecture halls with kids and did exams in person. I had an emergency to attend and she basically told me that I wouldn't be able to make up the exams or labs and said "oh well." She lacks empathy and literally does not care about you or your grade lol. Good Luck
Does not care if her students succeed or fail, test average in this class is below a C for the past two exams. I understand being online is tough, but her course load seemed to have increased from what peers previously having her said. Despite COVID. Not impressed by her character or way of teaching.
Despite what most people say, this class with Dr. Carlson is manageable. Lots of self-discipline is needed to succeed in this class but it is very doable. Certain topics are a little confusing in lecture, but overall there are plenty of resources to succeed.
She is a little rough around the edges but I feel she is good at her job. Exams are always fair and if you study, you can do well. But the quizzes can be tricky. She gives lots of resources for studying/to get help, and gives MANY opportunities to receive extra credit. Her class is time consuming, but I think its manageable.
I would really advise against taking this class if you have the option. I have never met someone more insensitive towards her students. She is super rude and wont ever take the blame for any screw ups she makes. You can go above and beyond trying to get on her good side but it will not work so good luck. One of the worst people I have come across.
This is definetly the worst professor at UWM. She is the polar opposite of what a professor has to be. She is a harsh grader , does not like answering students questions , talks fast , rude , nothing good comes out of this class , DO NOT TAKE CHEM 102 WITH HER OR ELSE YOU WILL BE DISSAPOINTED!
Chem 104 is a pretty difficult course but Dr. Carlson does a great job. Definitely read the book and keep up with homework assignments. Even if you don't do amazing on the exams you can make up for it with labs, homework, and extra credit.
After having Dr. Carlson this semester I understand the mixed reviews, she's definitely not the warmest person, but I do think she is good at her job and fair. She gave a lot of extra credit opportunities, & made it known that reaching out to her in any sense is ok. I took her up on this and, yes, she can be a bit harsh, but was never unwilling.
I think that Prof. Carlson was a great teacher. As some students have said she is not very warm, but does really well at teaching the course. I had taken 102 and 104 online this fall 2020 and spring 2021. I loved the course and I would definitely recommend her. Reading the book helps also.
I think that Prof. Carlson was a great teacher. As some students have said she is not very warm, but does really well at teaching the course. I had taken 102 and 104 online this fall 2020 and spring 2021. I loved the course and I would definitely recommend her. Read the book.
Ive had Dr Carlson for both 102 and 104, and while shes not my favorite person, I do think that shes at least good at her job. The class is a lot of work, and if you arent willing to put the time in, you probably wont do well. She does give extra credit with each exam, and while she may not be very warm, she does provide help if needed.
Dont let the reviews scare you, her class isnt hard. It is a lot of homework but that is to be expected with a 5 credit class. Go to the lectures- she explains everything in a way thats easy to understand. She doesnt do make ups for exams, but you get drops and theres LOTS of EC. Exams and quizzes not hard if you do your work. TAs are great.
I disagree w claims that Carlson was mean or unfriendly. She allowed a lot of time for questions and offered a lot of extra credit. Having great TAs definitely helped too. Would 100% recommend her for Chem 102, youll be fine
Dr. Carlson is really great at explaining and putting really complicated concepts into relatively simple terms. She is very accessible at her office hours and easy to approach.
If you get her on a good day she's super nice and understanding and might offer extensions. If you get her on a bad day she'll make you feel dumb for asking a question. Most of her classes are hard but it has to do more with the class itself and not her teaching. Average teacher, really a coin toss on how she feels that given day.
She’s really mean to her students during lecture when they ask a question because they don’t understand. She also writes extremely hard exams and Thursday quizzes. AVOID at all costs
She wants you to ask questions but makes you feel dumb for asking questions. Its best that you ask a TA or go to CSI or supplemental learning for help. She sometimes follow the lecture activity book but she jumps from question to questions and lectures fast. The power points are usually not helpful if you do not attend class.
The amount of extra credit given in the course can boost and help your grade. The lectures are very helpful during the hourly exams. But I wish she'd updated her lecture slides properly with more information on them. Overall, a great teacher.
For those that will take her in the future BEWARE of the expectations, she not a professor who's patient, she will continue the course without hesitation if you fall behind tuff, the class is designed to fit 12 chapters in 16 weeks per 3 days, also Labs matter be mentally prepared for what you'll walk into especially if chem isn't your strong area
Dr. Carlson taught the same class as Proffesor Pacheco (amazing). The other professor was grading quizzes online (open note), giving more drops, credit too. I would study with student from the other class and I knew topics better than any of them, scored higher on all my exams but somehow they ended with a 10% higher grade. NOT FAIR.
Almost never followed the course manual so it was pretty hard to take good notes in the lectures. Sometimes she explains the most basic concepts in the most complex way. She often assigns reading from the book, I never once touched the book, its not worth the time. Just study the quizzes and discussion work for exams and you'll do good.
Extremely knowledgeable in Chemistry and teaches it in a fun and understandable way. Lots of extra credit which helps make the class a little easier. Lectures and fun and she delivers information well.
Dr Carlson is the worst instructor I've worked with. She's incompetent at teaching and inconsiderate of students time. She expects us to be available to be on campus 4-5 days a week and regularly makes us come down to campus to take quizzes in person, *THE DAY AFTER AN EXAM*, on the same material that was on the exam. Avoid for your own sanity.
Answers questions in class precisely; but talks a bit fast. Professional & slightly intimidating. Offers to answer questions but prefers not too many questions bc lectures have lots of material to cover. She responds to emails quickly & outlines objectives and grading for the class clearly. Pay attention & attend help sessions for a decent grade.
Compared to the other chem profs, carlson is going to be your best bet for 102. She's pretty good. The way this course was setup really made me struggle, but that's just the curriculum. I would've ended with a B- if it weren't for the final ACS exam. Please take it from me and STUDY for that if you're not very good at chem like I am! DO EC!
DON'T TAKE THIS GIRLS COURSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She's a poor teacher, an awful person, single handedly ruined my school year. She never offers any solutions to problems, is rude when answering students' questions, and is a sub-par teacher in general. I'm a straight A student, but was unable to keep up with her outrageous expectations.
Awful teacher, awful person.
Dr. Carlson is an amazing teacher. During lecture she stops and asks if there are any questions or if we want anything further explained. Lots of extra credit opportunities, and drops lots of things to boost your grade. She seems slightly intimidating at first but she is very easy to talk to, and responds to emails promptly.
Very lecture heavy and Dr. Carlson does not explain topics well in lecture. I had to self teach myself this entire course.
Class moves at an accelerated pace so lectures often feel rushed. However, I noticed that Dr. Carlson often assigned problems for homework that were similiar if not identical to the test problems. She gives a ton of extra credit and is a fair grader. If you put in the work you should fair okay in this class.
Dr Carlson was great! She clearly loves teaching, and really enjoys her students succeeding. She does make them work for it, but if you show up, pay attention and do the work you can do really well in her class.
The lectures move fast and Dr Carlson makes it very clear that she does not reteach material that you are expected to know fron previous chemistry classes. That being said I think she is a fantastic instructor and provides tons of study materials to prepare for quizzes and exams. Just make sure to study hard for the final.
Professor is very passive aggressive. Is awful at explaining topics and is annoyed when students ask questions. Do NOT take her class.
Lectures are very fast and hard to keep up with. She is completely passive aggressive when students ask questions and even makes them feel bad for asking in the first place. Tests are very difficult and there is not enough time to complete them. Would not recommend!
She is a good professor and knows so much about chemistry no one can refute that. However, she is not for everyone and can come off rude and condescending when answering questions. She is just very technical and kinda makes you feel dumb for asking the question. She also talks really fast so if you want her to slow down you HAVE to speak up!
Carlson makes it clear at the start of the semester what is expected in the course and provides many opportunities for success throughout the semester. The only down sides are that she goes through topics very fast and appears annoyed anytime someone asks a question.
Mid because of her attitude towards students sometimes. Nevertheless, I did do fine in the class with medium effort. So, yeah I'd take her again.
She replies to emails very fast. When students ask questions in lecture she acts as like the question was obvious making the student feel dumb. She is very sassy towards some students. She doesn't really do much other than teach lecture honestly. All of your grades for this class are done by TA's.
I have had to retake this class twice now all because of the final. She requires you to get a certain grade to pass the class despite your grade. The final is written by the ACS which she does not prepare you for by any means. I would have passed the first time if it weren't for the final and her lack of giving solutions to problems.
I have never felt hesitant to reach out to professors for help until taking this class. Anytime someone asks her a question she makes you seem dumb and is so condescending. She will not post an answer key for the LA book and instead you have to go out of your way to email her for solutions. Only positive thing I can say is she gives a lot of EC
She knows what she is talking about and I assume
Dr. Carlson is an exceptionally knowledgeable professor committed to student success. While she may initially seem intimidating or assertive, she genuinely aims to support her students. At the semester's start, she clearly outlines her expectations, facilitating student achievement. Minimal effort was needed for me to succeed in both CHEM 102/104.
Best gen chem professor at UWM. There is a lot of negativity, but that's the subject not because of her teaching. She is reasonable, knowledgable and approachable. Just put in the work and you will be okay.
You can't ask her a question expecting her to be happy about it. Even after lecture if you go up to her and ask her anything she has to make you feel like garbage. How she teaches is okay but a little fast.
Professor Carlson is an alright teacher. However, she is very passive-aggressive and sometimes rude to students who dare to ask questions during lectures. It's almost like she takes pleasure in making you feel stupid. She was even brave enough to give out the class average for the first exam, and it was 60% out of almost 200 people in the lecture.
Grading is pretty hard in Intro Chem, I'd call it a weed out class but with her extra credit system you should do fine if you're trying. It's an intro class that covers a lot of material so you should expect lectures to go fast. She's good at explaining material imo and really does care about the teaching aspect of her job.
Professor Carlson is a knowledgeable instructor, but can come across as a bit intense at times. The lectures move quickly, so be prepared to stay engaged. Using unstuck AI and the provided study materials helped me stay on top of the material.
The gen chem series is a challenge (feels like a weeder course to test your rigor/commitment), but luckily Dr. Carlson and the TAs give you all the tools you need to succeed. Lectures go by quickly and it is definitely challenging to catch up if you miss one. Attend CSI and take all of the extra credit you can get. Works well with accommodations.
I've had Dr. Carlson for 102/104. She doesn't explain topics well in lectures & can come across as condescending, making it hard to ask questions or reach out. I had to teach myself most info for both classes. There's a lot of extra credit, which helps, but be ready to self-teach. She may be unavoidable for chem depending on your major.
Her lectures are just that; she talks at you and expects you to just get all the content with 60 seconds of it being first introduced. Exams are disproportionately weighted, so if you don't test well, you cannot pass this class. I reached out several times for help, and I received NO support. Expect lots of quizzes on material you only kinda know.
I commuted to this class and didn't wear seat belt hoping I would die on the way to class
I felt like I was being lectured in lecture.
Absolutely one of the worst professors I've ever had in my life. Doesn't teach properly or explain any concept but just talks to you like a robot and expects you to learn it. talks fast and when you ask a question is very rude. Demotivating to learn from her.
She moved way too fast. I really don't think teaching is her calling. She seems like she takes joy in making the tests hard and nothing like she said they would be. She encourages questions but seems to belittle the student when they ask. Comes off a bit rude to me and ruined chemistry for me
Worst professor ever. In lecture, she moves way too quickly and rarely states where she is in the given notes. Lectures are unclear and poorly taught with her passive-aggressiveness when students ask questions about material. As for exams, the exams are worth a good portion of your grade so if you bomb one good luck. Overall, too fast and unclear.
If you don't have a religion, pick one and start praying. Nothing I did in this couse could have adequately prepared me for the absolutely detrimental, disastrous, and pernicious exams in this course. Never have I felt less confident, less motivated, or less ambitious than while taking taking this course. Wouldn't wish this on my enemy.
She can come across as blunt, but she's nice. She speaks rapidly and formally in lectures and is often unclear about our place in the note packets (however, she is receptive to questions). Exams are hard, but are mostly reasonable with generous extra credit opportunities. I appreciate how she gives an accurate list of content on upcoming quizzes.
Dr. Carlson is a very experienced chemistry educator. She tweaks her content based on things students have struggled with. Doing extra credit surveys all semester boosts your grade by quite a lot. The exam that you need to pass at the end of the semester is focused less on equations and more on a general understanding of concepts.
I wanna preface Dr Carlson is obviously very knowledgeable able in what she does, but how she teaches is mediocre at best. She goes through lectures Way too fast to actually retain even 50% of the work and the way she responds to questions in lecture makes you feel stupid for even asking. Go to CSI and do every extra cred available you'll be alr
quizzes are super easy, and they fool you into thinking exams would be as well, but they are much harder and have tough grading. Lab work is very unnecessary, with a lot of writing, the lab manual is simply not allowed in the lab. So, everything from the lab manual has to be copied in the lab notebook, for absolutely no reason (this takes > 6hrs).
Grade is exam heavy, and the exams are nothing like what you practice
In terms on content, she knows exactly what she is talking about and is a very educated person. Although her lectures are hard to understand and you need to buy a booklet, so if you miss a lecture the slides aren't helpful and you need to fill in that information on your own, options for extra credit but its very content heavy on exams.
Decent professor, but can go really quickly at times and not be super clear. The class will be hard if you don't study and do the online homework. It was a step up in difficulty from my previous chemistry class, but it wasn't impossible. Do not underestimate this class, and study lots.
I was a straight A student. Nothing prepared me for this course. I seriously considered changing my major after this course. Good weeder class, if you can't keep up it's just not meant to be. She's the only one that teaches chem 102 at uwm. Unavoidable
She talks way too fast and doesnt explain things well. You have to already know everything she teaches to understand what she is saying.
She values student effort & is always available, but she's not a great teacher. I took 102 w/ her too & still don't learn much during lectures. Lots of extra credit opportunities tho. I go to CSI & use The Organic Chemistry Tutor (YT) to study, which is how I'm passing. Plan on spending lots of time outside of class w/ lab homework & self study.
Super smart professor, but lectures move way too fast/are overly complex. Quizzes are brutal. They aren't a check for understanding more like puzzles designed to trick you rather than test what you know. It's really frustrating/discouraging. Exams are fine but the quizzes make this class stressful & they're short so one wrong will tank your grade
Super smart professor, but lectures move way too fast/are overly complex. Quizzes are brutal. They aren't a check for understanding more like puzzles designed to trick you rather than test what you know. It's really frustrating/discouraging. Exams are fine but the quizzes make this class stressful & they're short so 1-2 wrong will tank your grade
Her class makes chemistry seem impossible for the average person. Please take this class elsewhere.
She runs 102 like 800 level. Exams are 63% of grade. All the work we do for lab is only 18%. Lectures hit you with more info than you can process. According to her, "discussion going over lecture is redundant". Study guides don't accurately prepare you for exams. Exams are 60 minutes for 40 questions, no notecards. Might be my first dropped class.
Dr. Carlson is very obviously passionate about chemistry, teaching, and other school-related topics. However, teaching is not meant for her, and she is not meant for it. She moves very quickly through information heavy lectures. Exams make up ~60% of the final grade and hours a week are spent on labs that are only ~18% of the final grade.
Textbook and moodle helps with the exams. Don't miss anything and you will be fine. Attendance is only mandatory on Friday when there is a quiz. Textbooks and CSI help more than the lecture itself.
Carlson runs 100 level chem like it's an 800+ class. Very heavy on what you learn in lecture which she goes through very quickly and does not like taking questions. Exams are impossible if you're using her study guides to prepare. I would heavily recommend taking the class elsewhere if possible.
This professor is the reason I drink, she gives study guides for exams that have very few problems that even have the same concepts as the actual exam. Curves absolutely nothing so you should either be a chemistry whiz or find a different professor. She has a bio degree yet teaches chem, it explains her inconsistent and confusing teaching style.
exams are nothing like the Hw or exam practices
Honestly, students are so ungrateful these days. Dr. Carlson is an awesome professor, and the only people complaining about her are those not putting effort into the class. I promise you guys, as long as you don't skip lectures and study a little, this class will be a breeze for you.
Dr. Carlson is very committed to ensuring her students do well. The exams are tough time-wise, but this is to prepare you for the ACS Final Exam. She gives many extra credit opportunities and if you do them, you will be fine. She can be hard to follow in lecture. Do the practice problems, go to CSI, ask questions during discussion.
The reviews are scary for no reason. Dr. Carlson is an amazing teacher and very helpful. She is always trying hard to help students succeed in this course. If you follow lectures, attend CSI, read lecture activity book and reach out to her for any materials, it's very easy to get good grades. She gives tons of opportunities to get extra credit.
Dr Carlson is definitely one of my favorite professor. I am so excited to take her for my Chem 104 course
Don't let these reviews discourage you, I think Dr. Carlson is actually an amazing professor. The General Chemistry courses are designed to be difficult, but Dr. Carlson handles it very well. There is a lot to get through in one semester so expect the course to move fast. Just attend lecture, read the textbook, go to CSI and engage!
Lectures are with workbooks so its easy to follow along in class, but if you miss a lecture it is extremely difficult to catch up on material since the information isn't in slides and she goes through 10-25 pages a lecture. If you aren't good at multiple choice your final grade may drop a lot so be ready with good grades throughout the semester.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
64%
Textbook Required
18%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-1.14 avg changeRatings by Course
CHEM403
5.0
(1)CHEM104402
5.0
(3)100
4.4
(8)CHEMISTRY100
4.0
(1)010420
4.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
CHEM561
5.0
CHEM100CHEM102
4.7
010420
4.0
102
3.9
CHEM102
3.9