2.4
Quality3.7
Difficulty26%
Would Retake85
Reviews26%
Would Retake
85
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
85 total ratings5
13
4
14
3
7
2
16
1
34
What Students Say
“I dislike this teacher with a passion”
BIO130 - 1.0 rating“He also seems to have a short temper”
BIOL240 - 2.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
55%
Textbook Required
77%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Stable
-0.12 avg changeRatings by Course
BIOLO28
5.0
(1)BIO250
5.0
(1)BIOL123
5.0
(1)BIO28
4.0
(1)MIRCO240
4.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
MICROBIOL240
5.0
HLTH100
5.0
BIO250
5.0
BIOLO240
5.0
BIO260
4.5
Reviews (84)
His labs r cool, but his lectures arent very good. His tests r scaryyyy!!! for review u r not allowed to ask him "what do we need to know?", its alot of pressure not knowing what specifically to study for the tests. SO you end up spending alot of time trying to memmorize allll the chapters. And when u get his tests the questions r kinda crazy
Horrible teacher/unapproachable/doesn't try to help you when you're confused/makes impossible tests/wants students to teach the class for him/labs are fun but lectures were pointless/complex powerpoints that aren't explained at all/very disappointed with class/ended up dropping it/don't take this teacher unless you have microbiology background/ = (
At leat 4 pages note at each lecture and exam will be from text book. Each exam covers more than 6 chapters plus extra. You need to memorize all structures of glycolysis pathway. Exams are tricky. No extra credit at all. More than half of students dropped during the semester. He has COLD blood. What else do you want to know?
sucks
Read the book and do every lab. Lots of reading though. Don't really learn much from lecture. But to do well read the book and do practice tests online and in the book and you'll be fine.
You absolutely must read each chapter BEFORE each lecture and take your own notes. Then during lecture you can highlight what the Prof. teaches and not be writing everything down. Turn in every lab assignment. Ask questions! Study the book and refer to your notes often and you should do fine on the 3 exams.
He is suck! His lecture is NOT helpful at all. Be aware that your fingers get stiff if you take a note during the lecture. First year teaching and has no idea about teaching.
Patronizing, unapproachable, and best to avoid
Absolutly the worst professor I have ever had! He is unorganized, unprepared, and rude. He will fully admit that he has no clue when it comes to certian areas of the material and the labs, so good luck. Even the test are backwards, but at least they come from the book's data bank of questions. 4 exams multi choice and T/F about 65-75?'s ea.
Lectures are straight off of the book, it is imperative that you read the chapter before class. Don't waste your time asking a question he will say that he has to get back to you since he has no clue what the answer is. Labs are unorginized and the computer ones are a waste of time. He throws tamtrums when he is flustered and can be quite rude!
Lectures are flakey. Horrible manners. I didn't know a single student in my class who liked him as a teacher. On the bright side he is very brilliant.
cool guy. Lectures in the beginning was a little confusing and disorganized, but it becomes more focused & concrete by the 4th week. Pulled A's in all exams just by studying lecture notes. His lectures are fast & no power point. Take GOOD notes & ask questions immediately of you don't understand. Textbook was supplemental material in my opinion.
I thought that he was helpful and interesting. Very conversational. Tests were very straight-forward and reviewed in class. Assignments were not difficult and he was always willing to offer assistance.
Nice guy. A little shaky at first but ended up being interested and interesting. Lots of class participation. He is very low key but seems to genuinely want his students to succeed.
Smith is a very knowledgeable man though he cannot teach the material well. He is short-fused, ill-mannered but if you can get beyond it you will learn. Alot of reading for class, lab was useless.
this professor has barely any exam questions on the lecture. lab is useless, there are barely a couple of student who has a decent grade, more than half the class dropped, he answers questions w/ a question or with sarcasm. im sure his a good person but bad technique
Not very helpful, don't take if you need an A. He is unclear and scattered. I'm a grown up and had a good GPA and this was a very disappointing class.
I can see why he has bad ratings. Not helpful, apathetic, condescending tone. Some of the questions on tests were not covered in the material and he did not seem to care. Avoid him if you can. I am in the process of filing a grade grievance with this guy.
I can see why most reviewers think he's a hard professor to have, but I also see why some students fail at understanding him. From my experience, he was clear & helpful but you really need to put your time in & it will pay off. Overall, I loved learning micro from him.
This teacher is easily the worst I have ever had. He puts alot of things on the test that he never went over...and seems to think it's funny. He loves making the class impossible and laughs when people are confused. I am contemplating going to the college and filing a formal complaint against him. DO NOT take him, even if he's your only choice.
I really liked him! I think people are a bit extreme when saying he is rude. Yes if you ask stupid questions over and over again in class, any teacher will a annoyed. Go talk to him during his office hours and he is willing to help! He even takes the time to have study sessions on the weekends! I think thats pretty impressive!
He is a dedicated teacher willing to give you all the help you need to learn this difficult subject. He held weekend study sessions and used many resources (utunes, webaccess, glossaries,etc) to help support the learning process. This class is hard and you have to put in a LOT of work and if you do, you will find Chris Smith is a great teacher!
Microbio is hard alone, so you have to go into it with a hard- working attitude. Professor Smith did all he could to help his students clearly understand and grasp those concepts and was very approachable and willing to make study sessions on his own time. I enjoyed learning this subject from him and You must work hard to get the grade you want.
Good, solid teacher. Cares about his students getting it, but doesn't put up with stupidity. I recommend him
He is one of the worst professors I've ever had. Does not clearly explain expectations, is a horrible lecturer, has a defensive and condescending personality. I would never recommend this class to anyone unless it's the only section that fits with your schedule.
Microbiology is a hard subject. However, this professor expected every student to my biologists and know everything already. He hardly taught just went through the motions. He was overextended this semester with teaching at multiple colleges,etc.
Very difficult subject but he did go out of his way to hold weekend study sessions that most did not show up for. You had to do a lot of work on your own to keep up with the material. You had to read the book. Lectures were very high pace which made it difficult to take notes. All in all I think he was a very good teacher but you had to work hard.
He is an awesome professor. Yes, he is tough, but that's because he expects you to read the book, and come to class. I really liked the fact that he had weekend study sessions, and was always readily available during office hours. All-in-all if you attend class, take good notes, and go to lab, you will most likely get above a B.
Worst teacher ever. Loves to put stuff on exams that you had no idea about. Makes rude comments when asked questions. Doesn't seem to know alot of the answers himself.
Like him as a person, but not a professor. Very unorganized. Literally said in one class "I don't know what I'm going to do today." Won't tell you explicitly what will be on the exam. Gives smart ass answers when you ask a question. I'm glad he liked me.
He loves the subject and likes to answer questions. He does know what he's talking about. I would recommend getting on his good side because he does play favorites. Will help you out if you give him the opportunity. Hard subject so no matter what its not easy.
I may as well have taken this class as an online course. I learned all of the material from the texts, the masteringmirobiology software & Google & very little from him. You'll get out exactly what you put in, but you'll definitely have to put A LOT in. If you've previously taken any biochem course, this will certainly play in your favor.
I took this course during the Fall 2011 semester and enjoyed it. Lots of work involved and I found the class and lecture overall interesting. I liked that the professor offered extra credit points with the iClicker. He is military friendly too and allowed me to reschedule exams around BA and AT training. Tough to get an A but not impossible.
Great prof,explains very well.Super organized w webaccess.Lab asks for reports,notes etc but be organized and you'll do great.Many opportunities to get your grade up: online quizzes,lab work, iclicker in every class, exams,etc. Notes from lecture will be on his tests.Asks to memorize some silly stuff that we'll forget fast but tells u what exactly
smith wants you to do well in his class. he expects respect from his students and in turn he will treat you kindly. he's more than willing to clarify topics if you need help. he records his lectures but sometimes writes on the board so if you skip you miss out on that. tests are pretty straightforward. lab is fun and easy. i recommend him!
Defensive and condescending personality are exactly the words to describe him. I wish I didn't have to put up with him as a person let along a professor. Horrible when it comes to asking him questions. Always try to put you down for asking him lecture or lab related questions. Short tempered, often takes it out on his students. DO NOT TAKE HIM!
Terrible. Always angry. Will yell at you in class. Snobby, won't talk to you if you're not 'cool'
Learned the material through the textbook because his lectures aren't helpful. Unclear when it comes to the tests and expects you to know EVERYTHING. You can't even ask what is going to be on the test - he'll just reply with "oh, i haven't made it yet." The only positive thing is the lab section.
Excellent professor.Micro is boring but not his fault.he's organized and explains things very well.Classes are big and many students are rude and rush things before he even gets a chance to explain anything.Expect a fair amount of work but nothing crazy.with so many students in lecture we spent a long time listening to plp complaints about work
I received an A in this course because I put in a lot of effort and time. Read the text prior to class, take good notes especially the ones he writes on the board. Go to the study sessions if you feel lost and you will do well! Also, form study groups!
Do NOT TAKE THIS CLASSS!! If you had question about the subject he will tell you to look it up online.
Almost 90% of the time if a student asked him a question, he'd either say "I'm not sure", or "look it up online". He also seems to have a short temper.. He likes to cut people off before they finish what they're saying, or just raises his voice. A lot of my students & I realized that he can't handle pressure very well.
Challenging class but learned a whole lot. He is a good teacher (a bit sarcastic) but you do have to do a lot on your own to pass this class. Take good notes, read the chapters, research topics you aren't clear on (ie: Khan Academy). For tests, study EVERYTHING since he doesn't tell you what's on them. Labs are fun and interesting. Good luck!
Worst teacher I have ever taken. I was excited for this class and ready to put in work. With a teacher as unorganized and awful as he is I feel very cheated from what should have been a great class. Also, there are mandatory Sunday study sessions before tests and he "forgot" to show up on a holiday weekend. Incredibly disrespectful of students time
Long story short: He does not care about his students. Does not care if they understand, fail, or have questions. Horrible classroom experience. Not sure why he even teaches since it seems as though he hates all aspects of it. Not at all an asset to the CSM science department.
He guided me through the honors project and helped em a lot. If you show him that you are serious about his class and that you want to study and improve yourself he will guide you and help you out wherever he can.
His course covers some basic bioinformatics, which I don't think is covered in any other BIOL240, so if you're not interested in bioinformatics, take another professor, as it is a tough unit. And honestly, I think he's happy to answer your questions as long as you're really stumped and not just looking for free homeworklabexam answers.
horrible grader I felt cheated on points that I should have received and when I asked him about it he avoided the whole question and concluded that I needed to add more information for full points may I mention his questions did not say nor are specific.
He is very passionate with Microbiology, esp. Bioinformatics. There are a lot of group projects given during the lab, and it can get frustrating when your group member slacks off. He has a good sense of humor, but definitely a tough grader when it comes to exams. Don't ask too many questions. If you put the effort in, you will definitely succeed.
His lectures are quite engaging and fun. He assigns very simple and easy homework, which are there to boost your grade. His labs are really fun, but remember you are dealing with bacteria so wash your hands often because I got a stomach ache once. His exam can be hard, but if you know someone who took the class, ask them for the tests. It helps.
He's okay but probably not the best choice for Microbiology. Exams tend to include tons of irrelevant or very detailed questions, which was very frustrating. Doesn't grade anything until last minute, but he's easy to get along with and is VERY helpful to students if you ask for help.
I dislike this teacher with a passion. All he does is read directly from the slide and I really suggest not taking this class IF it's with this teacher. He's confusing, unorganized, and knows nothing about Canvas. Me, along with my other classmates are completley lost, and he fails to give us adequate help when we ask for it.
He is not a cell bio professor by any means. Like many other said already his lectures are just not going to teach you anything, basically you have to read your book like crazy and even then you are not guaranteed to do well since he doesn't tell you whats going to be on the test. Don't take him even if you have no other choice, take Staples.
His lectures were confusing and all over the place, grading was alright, but I wouldnt take him again only because hes lectures are crap and you basically have to study on your own.
Professor Smith cares for his students and really want everyone to pass. I understand some of the bad reviews, but microbiology is a DIFFICULT class. Labs are super fun and easy. He dont give a lot of hws so you really have to do good on exams. Youll need to do 4hrs on TBAs before each exam. There would be 3 lab reports and 1 grp presentation.
I really enjoyed taking Professor Smiths class. I was afraid to take microbiology but he made it straightforward and easy. If you do the work, pay attention, and show up you should have zero issues passing this course. He doesnt try to trick you on tests and he wants his students to succeed.
He tests concepts, not memorization. Papers need to be well-written, 2+ drafts. Group work is about working with people, not just the project His goal is to prepare students to work in a lab or similar environment and all his teaching and assignments go towards this goal. Not an easy A, Microbio isn't easy in general
lectures are unorganized and fast-paced; be prepared to rewatch lectures on your own time. test-worthy material is unclear. take writing exercises seriously; it's for your benefit. slow grading turnaround time. smith cares about students a lot but has a short-temper if he has to repeat himself. pay attention, be respectful, and you'll do fine.
He is the worst teacher I've ever had. I got a B, so it's not because of the grade I got. He goes back on his word countless times. He stated that we don't need the textbook, but then said we do right before a test. He doesn't teach and then penalizes our grades when we don't learn. He is so condescending and easily overwhelmed by simple questions
Clearly cares about his students and their well-being, doesnt know how to teach online. Doesnt give clear instructions ever, online essay exams have prompts that are all over the place and then he lectures you about not answering questions that he never even asked, claims youre supposed to do more critical thinking on your own.
Easily one of the worst professors Ive ever had. 0 clear criteria, makes many mistakes which he penalizes students for, slow grader, and overall very condescending demeanor. I dread every communication with him, and he REQUIRES them for you receive grades for work you ALREADY DID.
Prof Smith is a very caring professor. The bad reviews discuss unclear criteria and content. I think in college its more up to the student to do their own reading and note taking. As long as you read the chapter corresponding to the lectures of the week you'll be fine. He really cares that students made an effort to do their best.
Professor Smith is the worst professor I ever took. He literally one of the new professors in my first semester in Skyline. He is nice, his lecture is super boring. His assignment make no sense. Especially the final is the most nonsense test that I ever had. It doesnt even related to what I learn the most. Never take his class!!!
Professor Smith's teaching style is not for everyone. He lectures for the whole class and at a fast pace. He waited until the last minute to grade in the grade book leaving no time to ask to make up work to try for some extra credit. He also makes you schedule an office hour after every exam to explain your answers. Exams are essay-style.
Professor Smith is passionate about what he's teaching and seems caring towards his students. The lab consisted of a handful of labs, assignments, and labsters almost every week. Class felt more like busy work rather than actual learning. Overall, okay professor but wouldn't recommend. Note: this review only reflects the human biology lab portion
Professor Smith has been the worst professor I have had in the last 3 years at CSM. He is very disorganized when it comes to his canvas page. There are many times he would assign homework or quizzes just for the assignments to be locked. In person, he is very friendly, and if you do all the assignments you'll get an A.
I did not like him, you have to make uo your own notes, bc his stuff doesnt make sense, he was rude, and didnt help at all,
If I'm gonna be honest, Professor Smith can care less of the student. He is impulsive, condescending, arrogant, and annoying when it comes to grading student assignments. I turned in my report in the beginning of the semester; It is now a zero because he's still hasn't graded it (along with a handful of other assignments). DO NOT TAKE
He haven't graded anything the entire semester, so we have no feedback on how we are doing in the class. He expects you to know everything. There was a lot of lack of explanation and information regarding lab reports, group projects and lab procedures. You have to figure out most things on your one.
I was extremely disappointed in the quality of teaching presented in this course. Professor Smith was extremely (not to mention constantly) disorganized with his Canvas page. I found it very unprofessional, considering this was an online course. He was rude when reached out to, and extremely unhelpful. He didn't grade anything through the semester.
He is all over the place, never opened his modules and after telling him so he did nothing and said oh yeah they're supposed to open automatically? Lectures are kinda boring and confusing sometimes and his tests sort of reflect the lectures. He can be kind of rude sometimes, depending on his mood that day. If he's the only option you'll live.
He doesnt put any grades on canvas. Even if you study for the exams don't count on getting a good grade the questions are niche His labs are very fast paced and hard to follow. He doesn't allow lab makeups even if you're sick or hospitalized No study guides He marked everyone 5% off exam 2 because the lab fridge wasnt getting cleaned out.
Prof. Smith's Immunoassays class was pretty fun. It's nice sitting in a room with a few strangers and getting to know them well while putting some sushi into a centrifuge. My only complaint is that he opened a lot of assignments last minute. They were easy, but I wish he opened them sooner. All in all, I would take another biotech class with him.
He gives us a textbook but hardly responses to emails if he does its a few words answers. He yells at students even if you're confused. He skips around in the book so even when hes teaching you could be on page 30 but he's also on page 90 as well as 155 he's the most confusing professor I ever had.
This class isn't for the weak or the lazy. Professor Smith is passionate about Microbiology and he has high expectations. Don't miss lab, don't submit late work, study using the questions at the end of chapters, and you'll survive. Don't let the bad reviews deter you, go and talk with him for yourself. STUDY THE CHAPTER QUESTIONS, noexamstudyguide!
Very rude and unprofessional professor. I have no idea why he still teaches if he treats students like a burden when he's approached for feedback on assignments. Don't take if you want to have self confidence.
He teaches you how to take your own notes in class, doesn't assign much homework but the grading relies heavily on exams. Just pay attention to what he teaches in lecture, bc its gonna be on the exam.
His tests are simple and easy to complete if you have payed attention to lectures and studied beforehand. Hes nice with grading. Has barely any homework which was great. Doesnt like people to ask questions before or after a class aswell as an email sometimes. He gives 20% extra credit just by scheduling a meeting with him for 10 min after your test
In all my years of education he is the worst professor I've ever had. Not sure if he realizes this but his attitude and behavior is light weight destructive. To treat people the way he does is not okay. If you're new to biology I would advise to not take this class.
After reading these reviews, I was afraid to take his class. But it was the easiest lab ever. He would even come over and do the work for us sometimes, would cancel class at least once a month, and always let us out early. I can understand why people would find him rude, but just don't be sensitive. He can be a little sassy, but it's not personal.
This class was really fun. It was just some lab work related to electrophoresis and DNA sequencing for a couple hours every Saturday morning, then we would break (and, conveniently, the farmers' market would be right outside). The only real assignments we would have were some Labster assignments but those were not very time consuming.
Professor is rude and does not like questions. Ask a question, and he will want you to figure it out yourself. Rambles during lecture and sometimes includes information he discussed on tests. Doesn't post grades or exams, gives assignments randomly, but you have a week to complete. Will put you on the spot in front of class and make you feel dumb.
Worst professor taken at CSM. Lectures are meaningless and you must read the chapters or you'll be lost. He lost his mind at this kid early in the semester that I'm pretty sure had a mental disability, then had the audacity to complain the class wasn't talking enough. I'm going to Canada just to take the lab from another professor. DO NOT TAKE.
I wouldn't wear my seatbelt driving to this class
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
55%
Textbook Required
77%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Stable
-0.12 avg changeRatings by Course
BIOLO28
5.0
(1)BIO250
5.0
(1)BIOL123
5.0
(1)BIO28
4.0
(1)MIRCO240
4.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
MICROBIOL240
5.0
HLTH100
5.0
BIO250
5.0
BIOLO240
5.0
BIO260
4.5