2.9
Quality3.5
Difficulty37%
Would Retake299
Reviews37%
Would Retake
299
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
74
4
56
3
42
2
41
1
86
What Students Say
“Terribly unorganized and constantly degraded students for not following his flawed study plan”
BIO353SUMB - 1.0 rating“That being said this class was horrible”
BIO353 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
67%
Textbook Required
59%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.46 avg changeRatings by Course
INTERN
5.0
(1)BIO494
4.0
(1)BIO187
3.7
(3)BIO181
3.5
(86)BIO188
3.1
(88)Difficulty by Course
BIO330
5.0
BIO353SUMB
4.6
352
4.0
BIOBIO
4.0
BIO494
4.0
Reviews (299)
Dr. Capco is a professor that tests on what he teaches. He also makes learning fun. For example he jumps across the tables in the classroom to demonstrate signal transduction.
I have had four previous courses in biology, I am very strong in this subject so my opinion is not biased. He is the WORST at explaining biology concepts! Mossman MUCH better!!
This guy is NOT very good at teaching. He is confusing and disorganized. Not only that he tests you on things that he previously told the class was not going to be on the test. Horrible...
Definately too hard to understand, he teaches in a much more complex way than the number of this course.
This man is a blithering idiot! He spent an entire week crawling around on the floor, trying to demonstrate cell movement. He spends more time ridiculing students, imitating a comedian, than teaching any real concepts. Also, he rambles incessantly on taoism and buddhism. An awful professor!!
I hated this teacher which made me hate the class. He is a horrible teacher who makes things way too complicated for a 100 level class
Capco is totally the best. He could explain these impossible and boring topics (e.g., how proteins get inserted into the cell membrane) and make them lively and interesting (he was really into anthropomorphizing). And he was really helpful during office hours.
Capco's class was definitely a weed-out class for people.He is very very difficult and makes the tests too hard for what it is. With that said, i found a good tutor and I did really well in the lab portion, and I got an A in the class. Study BEFOREHAND to ensure your best grade-it's the only way.
No Comments
Nice person but not good at explaining things.
This class should be considered an upper division class because of the way Capco teaches. Not only are the lectures confusing, but the test are even worst. I studied and even went to a private tutor and walked away feeling as if i knew the material and still bombed the test.
talks too fast and as if we were 300 level students, cusses alot!, crawls around on the floor to explain things. not funny. wastes time talkn abt taoism/buddahism! hard tests, most of it comes from lecture. i barely passed tht class w/ a C no matter how hard i studied!
It was hard to understand a lot of things.
He talks waaaay too much. He's also really hippy in a wierd way, but very cool.
No Comments
this man=confusing and strange
Extremely Hard class. Capco tries really hard to keep his class interesting and does a pretty good job. Unforunatly for him, he's not very good at explaining key concepts and talks like he's teaching a 300+ level class which makes it outrageously hard to learn the material.His tests are even difficult for the bio professors themselves...
No Comments
Good Teacher, sometimes he is unclear but he helps you to remember by using different teaching methods. not an easy class but he gives you everything you need to pass
No Comments
TAKE VERY GOOD NOTES, do study group, study your as s off
sucks
This guy should not even be allowed to teach. He is arrogant, self-centered, and smug. He is very disorganized and goes off on irrelevant tangents while refusing to answer students' questions. He enjoys proving he's smarter than students. Avoid him at all costs. Exams are impossibly hard.
I guess for BIO 188, Capco isn't fun. But for Cell Bio-he rocks! Probably one of my favorite and most interesting classes so far at ASU. He tells you exactly what to expect and teaches you about Chinese medicine and everthing. Most teachers go off on tangents, but Capco's tangents are really fascinating. If you prefer - Take it over summer school!
If you want to learn about biology, this is not the man to learn it from. He goes off on stupid tangents that have nothing to do with the class. He's also a very creepy guy, as he'll crawl over seats to get to people in the audience. If you can avoid him, do so.
he's really entertaining and is a nice guy. take good notes though and definetly get yourself a study group.
Some of his tangents are interesting, but mostly stupid. He sucks at explaining the topics, but is very into what he does. I wouldn't take him again given the choice. Tests are very difficult!!
Capco is a blithering idiot. He just sucks at teaching. Period. He goes off on worthless tangents and he does not get to the point. Nobody knows what to expect on the tests. Nothing much to say about him because he just sucks as a professor. Capco really needs to get another job.
Class Tangents werent that bad, pretty interesting. Gives you a different perspective of Biology. But he lectures at a fast pace, and you cant write down every detail. Would not take him again, unless starts to give notes before hand.
He was a horrible teacher and I he likes when the class has a failing average, makes him feel like he's challenging the students. He is an idiot basically.
Capco is a pretty hard pof. he expects a lot out of you. His exams are based on lectures only so don't bother buying the book. Use a voice recorder. Soemtimes it helps and to get a study group. Go over his notes after class for about 30 minutes and org. your notes so they are clear. This helps. Getting an A is not easy, but it is do able.
his arrogance is the worst part. and then he goes off on tangents, most teachers tangents tell you things that might interest you and help you relate the material...but I bet capco just likes to hear himself speak.
capco may be a little weird, but if you go to office hours, the class is an easy A. You know exactly what is going to be on the test you just have to memorize the stuff
2words-STUDY GROUP. u have to get w/ others in this class & go over ur notes. Book=waste of $$. Also, old tests help out-u still have to know the material (ALOT of studyin), but you have a feel for what he's gonna ask. he lectures really fast. again, study group! BIO 360 is a class where if u work REALLY hard an A is possible! good luck to ya
Capco's exams consist of regurgitating everything he said and/or drew in lecture. The book is not necessary. To get an A, goto every lecture, take good notes, get in a study group, find some old exams, and memorize everything. Overall, the class was enjoyable and I would definately take Capco again.
Dave Capco is not the scary teacher everyone thinkd he is. He is hard and you do need to study with a group of 4-5 people but he will give A's to those that deserve it. Go to class and take good notes. Share your notes with others that take good notes and you will do fine.
Ug! He doesn't care about the material, only that you listen to what he says. You can know everything about biology and bomb his class just because you didn't know the exact wording of something he said. You get an A if you have every random word written down perfectly.
Notes are extremely hard to take in this class. He depends a lot on his own wordings of things, and doesn't care what the textbook says. I personally enjoyed that style, but it makes the class more difficult. I would suggest to go to office hours for help. He's very clear one on one.
THIS GUYS SUCKS!! YOU CAN BE COMPLETLY RIGHT< BUT HE WILL MARK YOU CMPLETELY WRONG< AVOID HIM IF YOU CAN !
He sucks
Awesome Prof! Don't listen to these other ratings, he is an amazing lecturer and very clear on what is to be memorized for tests. Write EVERYTHING he says (use a recorder) and u will be fine. U don't have to read the book or waste time on hmwk! He is hilarious and intelligent maybe if these people listened they would have done better in his class!
Not an easy teacher, by any means, but not as impossible as he is made out to be. There is nothing u need to learn outside of what he teaches in lecture. Just take GOOD notes and review them often. He wants his students to succeed; he's just not going to hand out free grades. Helpful and extremely interesting, but only take if ur willing 2 work
His lectures may be difficult at times but essential to attend. Also always go over MCAT because that is where 95 percent of his test questions came from.
Capco is an easy professor. Study his notes a couple times a week, print out the power points before class (handouts-3per page to allow writing), and you'll be fine. He's very student-oriented and will do what he can to help you. He now practically gives you the tests. Study correctly, and you'll know every question and answer beforehand.
Class is interesting. Lectures are actually fun to listen to, and watch. Just make sure you take notes in some way because all of his tests are based off his lectures.
Let me just say, he's one crazy guy. His lectures are rather entertaining, but completely pointless to attend. He never gets anywhere in terms of covering any material b/c he is too busy teaching us how to breathe properly. Memorize MCAT helper questions & dont bother going to lecture. Also beware that he favors learning community students.
I absolutely love Dave Capco! He is really passionate about what he teaches and cares about his students. (don’t take his class if you aren’t really dedicated to the subject and aren't willing to work hard). He cares about his students doing well, and will be fair if you talk to him about problems you are having in the class.
He is a very enthusiastic teacher. You have to attend his class to be able to pass. You don't need the book what-so-ever as long as you attend lecture. Office hours are extreamly useful. The tests are clear as long as you took good notes, and the tests are all essay. He talks fast sometimes but is very through with the subject.
He is enthusiastic, but his dramatizations of concepts often interfere with scientific understanding
I love Dave. He is a good guy and his class wasn't hard at all.Just make sure you know your mcat questions and you will be fine. He is really into Chinese Medicine though...I dont think we got through a lecture without hearing about some alternative way of healing. Take this class!
Very honest teacher who leaves his students with valuable knowledge that diifers from the average instructor.
Hate him. He makes the class very political and spends more time telling you how bad western medicine is. Its a very biased class and tests aren't on material in class, they're mCAT questions. Its about your ability to memorize answers, not learn biology. He also thinks he is the greatest teacher there is- far from it.
He's a good guy, but doesn't follow his notes at all and likes to digress. Although his lectures are fun, his tests relate very little of the info learned in class and consist of memorized (given) "MCAT questions." Capco is enthusiastic but often blatantly wrong...he has said that Western doctors will try to remove your organs...a little weird.
Dr. Capco is a good guy, interesting and weird at the same time. He speaks his mind I TRULY admire that, though I disagree with some of his believes/ideas. He is arrogant at times, and not organized. Exams are easy, too much extra credit. FUN and entertaining but not challenging (hated that). I have mixed feeling about it.
This was just a 1 credit seminar class that I took under him. There were no tests or homework, just attendance. He basically just brought in other professors to talk to us about careers in the life sciences. His class was insightful although boring at times. He is a passionate guy when it comes to his field. He is a bit strange at times though.
This class was interesting, but some of his views are a little out there. I was in the learning community which he was also the faculty lead for and he definitely had a bias against MD's and favored eastern medicine. He got off topic a lot but his tests weren't horrible if you studied the MCAT helpers
Honestly, Capco is the worst teacher I have ever had. He harrasses students in class, which is pointless to go to anyway because he can't stay focused for long enough to actually teach anything. He tried to follow outlines during his lectures, but every class he would go off on random, biased tangents. He acts like the class is all freshmen.
I loved Capco! I admired that he was very opinionated, although I disagreed with some of his opinions. Doesn't try to make you believe what he does - he just keeps telling you to think outside of the box, which was funny at times. Assumed the whole class was freshmen. Was very helpful id you go into his office hours, he'll make you some tea! =]
loved his teaching technique, really made it fun to learn
Obviously this guy is a good instructor due to the clear fact of how many times he has been rated. There are two professors at ASU that I would take their exact same class over again, still enjoy it and learn something new. Capco is one of those instructors.
I took Dr. Capco for Bio. 188 and Bio 353. If you are an average student and go to class and pay attention you'll do fine. There is absolutely no point to buy the book for 353, just take good notes. His tests are all short answer for 353, but completely fair. GO TO HIS OFFICE HOURS regularly...trust me.
Capco is a great professor and I would take any class from him again in a heartbeat. His tests are all MCAT questions and he gives them to you before so you can study and memorize the questions. He is very into alternative medicine. He also offers extra credit and his class is an easy A. Loves his Learning Community students. Great guy!!!
Very dedicated to teaching. Likeable when personally known
Possibly the most rude teacher at ASU. Disrespectful to students daily, and often "suggests" that students are not smart enough to pass his class. I DO NOT RECOMMEND this professor.
Completely useless lessons and all his tests revolve around his lectures. The lectures themselves often contain controversial facts and he has a chip on his shoulder against MDs and other doctors. Very into alternative medicines. Avoid if you actually want to pass Bio. Tests are way too hard and a lot of the questions come from the MCAD
He's a good guy, I really think he wants his students to learn. Tests aren't too bad, just study the MCAT questions and his notes, because that's where all of the questions come from. It's hard to keep up with him in class- his lecture style is jumping from one subject to another without a break in between. Overall, not too bad- entertaining at tim
I love Dr. Capco. I agree that he is arrogant at times but he is SO funny! Study the MCAT ?s and you'll be fine. The tests are easy if you study. VISIT HIS OFFICE HOURS!!! TRUST ME. Get to know him and the class will be a breeze. Oh, and forget the book- you don't need it.
The worst teacher ever dont take him
No Comments
A really boring guy with a monotone voice. I really fell asleep every class. I ended up skipping class for the most part and having people sign me in. sad. he seems like he wants to help, and i did get good information, but if you have a short attention span, i suggest you get someone else.
Capco is awful. Do NOT take his class, you will definitely regret it. He is an idiot and a terrible teacher. Tests are based only off his lectures, you are best off by going to lectures to write down all his maddness and then just using Wikipedia to study each topic. MCAT questions are always on the test so pay attention to those too.
Dr. Capco is amazing. Visit his office hours and get to know him. Sit in the front and he wont call on you. Study the MCAT helpers and you will Ace his tests. Do not be afraid of him, he intimidates on purpose the first few weeks and his first test is hard. STUDY!! They get easier as you go.
Capco is crazy. He will run across the room, throw things, climb over seats and much much more. BUT tests are fairly easy if you don't study his notes at all. He recomends not using the book but it has helped me so much more than any of his slides. ALSO memorize MCAT questions as they make up 85% of his exams.
Class requirements include the desire to teach yourself, a deep and undying hatred for M.D.'s and Pharmasists, and ADHD to keep up with his useless lectures. Don't take if you intend to pass BIO 188. Taking him was the worst mistake of my freshmen year.
hippie guy that thinks that plants are abused. not that hard, suck it up and do all the MCAT questions.
what a joke of a class
At first i thought capco was a joke. He was constantly making fun of MDs and went into rants and raves about natural medicine but if you learn to block those parts out the class is fairly easy. i recieved 65 extra credit points, averaged a b on all my tests and got an a in the class. memorize the MCAT questions and you'll be fine. and buy the book.
Easiest class. Memorize the MCAT questions that he post and you will pass the class with a high B or A. I hardly went to class. He is really passionate about what he teaches. He asks the class questions all the time though.
He is a very interesting teacher, but his lectures are very disorganized and mostly not on the exams. First exam is 80% what he talks about in lecture, 20% suggested MCAT questions. All the other tests are 90% MCAT Questions. You could not go to class and just learn those and easily get a B. Plus, there is a ton of extra credit offered.
Don't listen to the negative comments! Dr. Capco is an amazing professor who sincerely cares for his students! He talks alot about alternative medicine and other subjects, but all he's trying to do is broaden peoples' perspectives. Failing this class could only be attributed to a person's laziness and unwillingness to learn/work. i love bio 188!
Fairly good teacher. Offers a lot of extra credit. Lectures are okay but get progressively more boring towards the end of the semester. He is a nice guy and offers some helpful life advice. The actual course material is pretty dry though. Do not get the book, it is totally unused. Test questions are directly from MCAT questions that he posts.
All you have to do to pass is pay attention during lecture and use the lecture supplements i.e. MCAT practices to pass the class with an A. With so much EC and easy tests, Capco gives you no reason to get a B.
I absolutely LOVED Capco!!! His class is more than easy when it comes to points- extra credit is offered a lot. He's opinionated but I never once got bored in his class! If he ever has another class, Im going to be in it.
Possibly the easiest science class offered at ASU. Capco's lectures are a waste of your time so don't go to class. Just study the national helper questions about an hour before each exam and you will do fine. He also offers a lot of extra credit points so the class is an easy A.
Very easy class if you memorize the MCAT questions and DO THE EXTRA CREDIT. Very interesting man and makes the sometimes tedious material interesting.
Capco's class was a complete waste of my time and money. I got a B just by memorizing the National Helper Q's the night before the test and I still know nothing about the topics discussed in class. There was no structure to his lectures or notes which made the whole class confusing and frustrating. I would not recommend him to anyone.
This class was so frustrating. I would under no circumstances take any class from him again. His notes were useless and unorganized. He has these crazy analogies that are kinda funny but are not helpful in understanding cells or anything and only distract you from what it actually has to do with biology. Don't listen to the ppl who say he's good.
I took both 188 & 189 from Dr. Capco, and worked with him personally as an aide to his Learning Community for 2 yrs. He is an awesome person & a great Prof who really cares about what & who he teaches. He interjects personal opionions bc it's unlikely anyone else will challenge you during your med career, & challenge is essential for growth. A+++
I recommend going to class as he usually puts a few questions from lectures on tests. Also, completely memorize the MCAT questions he puts on blackboard because those are a majority of the tests. He is quite funny and interesting but he goes pretty fast through lectures so be prepared.
Don't listen to all the bad comments! Dr. Capco is an amazing teacher. Yes, he is very outspoken but there is NEVER a dull class. He is just trying to broaden perspectives The class is very easy to get an A in with extra credit and the MCAT helpers. GO TO HIS OFFICE HOURS- seriously. If Dr. Capco ever has another class, I will be in it!
Dr. Capco's bio 188 class is hands down the best. You're an idiot if you do not get an A. He offers nearly an entire letter grade of extra credit and his exams are geared to help those who are preparing for the MCAT. Questions come from MCAT helper come exam time. I'm a 3.0 GPA student and got an A.
Capco tries to scare people away from this class because it is hard, but if you attend lecture, take good notes and actually study you should be fine. He holds reviews before class where he stresses potential exam material. He is very interesting all around and takes time out in class to give good life advice. Best teacher so far in my 3 years here
Terrible teacher. while getting down on the floor and wiggling limbs is entertaining, it tells me nothing about cells. His constant anthromorphosizing and use of asides is annoying. he speaks chaotically and is very difficult to follow. i would never reccomend his class. his methods are appropriate for only one kind of learner, not including myself
Absolutely the worst teacher I have ever had. Although it was a seminar class, he wasn'y helpful in anyways whatsoever. I would never take a class from him again. Put it this way he calls people out during class about them leaving for PRECISELY 7 minutes and 34 seconds, then presume to ask (in front of the class) if they had diarhea...
Even though this class was a once a week seminar class, I hated it. The speakers were great if they were talking about what you were interested in. But Capco was just extremely rude all semester. he would interrupt speakers to literally yell at kids and humilate them. I wouldn't reccommend him to anybody.
Terrible teacher. The worst I've ever had. I have never had so little respect for a teacher until him. He calls our kids in lecture and makes fun of them, he is rude, and ineffective in teaching. Aviod this teacher at all cost. Completely useless and a waste of tuition dollars.
Absolutely horrible professor. Rude, arrogant, makes fun of students, doesn't answer questions--tells you to go find the answer at test reviews instead of helping you. Tells the class that they are going to fail repeatedly. Material reviewed in class was not on Exam 2. Syllabus does not match with what is being taught in terms of book. Avoid him!
Dont listen to all these horrible reviews. I took this class first semester of my freshman year and liked him so much that I have taken 3 clases from him since then. He is really outspoken and hilarious, the class is never dull or boring. He makes the material really interesting. Esay to get the grade you want. Take him, best teacher here!
Keeps class interesting by harassing students and using ridiculous metaphors. Borderline inappropriate with the amount of political bias thrown into lecture. Class is very easy study MCAT helper plus he gives about 10% extra credit. Even though i dont agree with his style i would take another class with him because he gets the point across. EASY
He was a great teacher. Sure he humiliated people but at least it was entertaining, and it was their fault for leaving class early or falling asleep. He taught the material very well with examples and by running around in front of the class. He helped me to think out of the box a little bit as well. Overall my favorite class in college so far.
Very easy to get an A if you put in the hours and do the extra credit. He gives enough extra credit to boost your grade about 8%. All test material is taken from his lectures so going to class is crucial. 3 exams and 1 comprehensive final. Yea, he's got a huge ego but easy to get passed it when you get an easy A
Absolutely an AMAZING teacher!!!
Capco is a very good professor yes he can be a little unclear at times so be sure to rewrite your notes after class to fully understand. Be sure to study more than just mcats becuase just memorizing those wont help. DO THE EXTRA CREDIT it helps alot. He hates mds and biochemist. OHH and he is obsessed with membrane bound and free polyribsomes.
Although Prof Capco is a fine teacher and his class is quite easy I do not recommend going to him for outside help or asking any questions during lecture. The class is easy but Dr. Capco is extremely rude and patronizing to students. In my three years at ASU, I have never been in a class where the students were treated so poorly.
If you can't handle Capcp you wont be able to handle med school...which everyone in his class is planning on attending. Do the extra credit and go to every class and you will do just fine.
Good teacher. Dont like him. Mocks God by dialing 1800GOD to answer questions he does not know! However, most of you dont care about that, so like most classes if you go to class pay attention the whole time no computer, just pen printed pwr points and take notes you will do fine. questions are tricky if you know an exception, none of the above!
Capco is an amazing professor. He is very opinionated and not afraid to tell it like it is so if you can't handle that, you might be one to say he is a bad prof. Bottom line- if you fall asleep or talk on your phone- you're going to be made an example of... just don't be stupid! You don't need the book-my advice would be to study the mCAT quesions.
Memorize MCAT questions + do extra credit = A. Fairly entertaining teacher for the most part.
My favorite professor at ASU. He says whatever is on his mind, which makes for great discussions. He made the class fun and interesting. Make sure you see him in office hours, he loves to help
HAHA. That's all i have to say. He's quite the character, but if you study study study the class notes and MCAT questions and do extra credit = A. You don't use the text book at ALL in this class!
HAHA. That's all i have to say. He's quite the character, but if you study study study the class notes and MCAT questions and do extra credit = A. You don't use the text book at ALL in this class!
If you really want to learn the material, and about life in general, take this guy. Come with your big boy pants on though, the class is no walk through.
Do the extra credit, study the MCAT questions, and study the powerpoint slides and you'll do fine. Don't bother wasting money on the textbook.
Very great teacher! I actually learned about how cells walk, communicate and eat. Good class.
Amazing professor. If you show up, take notes, and form a study group just like he suggests you will be fine. You should probably record the lectures as well just to go over them. Its a TON of work but he is very interesting and funny. If you LOVE Biochemistry and have no sense of humor however be prepared to be insulted he's not big on biochemists
Previous students told me this guy is good. Im currently in his class and Im asking myself why? His material is not the issue, his exams are. No curves are given. Biased instructor with just about anything. He is rude to students and is not any help at office hours. I have never had a professor in my life that belittles students so much. Avoid.
One word: Why?? Instructor is inconsistant and rude. No curves and useless at office hours. Exams are difficult due to inconsistancy. Avoid if possible. If not study exam helper, mCat q's, notes etc. Have lots of time on hands and do all exc. Trust me you will need it. Be prepared and show up early. He reviews before class starts.
Do not take him! He is SO random during lectures. You have to go to every class & take notes like crazy. He asks the most miniscule questions on his test that he may have barely mentioned once in class. Its ridiculous. The first test only 7 people got an A (out of 300) & he said that was good! He even once told our class to go to hell! He is crazy
Out of all the Bio professors in ASU Capco is probably your best choice! His exams are right out from lecture and MCAT's. He is not a sensitive guy and at times intimidating. He tries to make class entertaining but he can be mean at times. Office hours, eekkk ask good questions thats all I have to say.
This is the class you want to take if you want an absurdly easy B in, and an A if you want to put in a little effort. However, be prepared to put up with Capco's pompus attitude and virtually pointless lectures. Lectures are awful and he's rude. (50% material/50% Capco's opinion of the world). Study MCAT questions and do the extra credit, that's it
He has an offensive attitude, but he explains things well. Exams are almost all based off of MCAT questions. 60 extra credit points available. Office hours help a lot.
Just memorize the mcat questions and do the extra credit. There is no way not to get an A if you do these 2 things. Capco is a great professor who makes biology easy to understand. I would defiantly recommend him to anyone.
All you really need to do is come to class, study mcat questions, and get all the bonus points. I didn't get an A on any test the whole semester but got the 60 e.c. pts and pulled off an A in the class. Very interesting way of teacher, kind of cut throat (he loves to tell you, you will fail) but is very pleased when you don't. Def. recommend!
My favorite professor at ASU
Great to see a professor who's still so enthusiastic about TEACHING after so many years of doing it! Tangents are a bit hard to follow at times, but if you go to class and write down as much as you can, you can use the slides or book at home to make a more linear and clear picture of the material. You won't fall asleep-he keeps you very involved
Very refreshing to have someone tell it like it is to students and not try to coddle anyone. He knows his job is to educate, not to befriend everyone in his class. For the first time in many science classes I actually learned some science instead of memorizing facts that would soon be forgotten.
Relatively hard for a bio 181 class. Very hard to follow during lecture when taking notes. Test are hard although about 40% are all mcat questions. Study the mcat questions and notes. Doesn't give any study guides. Can be rude at times. Also gets class very involved so be sure to be ready to answer in depth questions on the spot. Other than that a very educated guy that loves biology and loves teaching it.
Capco's class is funny.You don't need the book, just make sure to take notes or be prepared to be put on the spot.Very knowledgeable guy, his lectures actually stuck in my head. Tests are 80-90% mcat and rest lecture. I would recommend his office hours. Cool dude for sure. I will most likely take another of his classes.
He is awesome. He wants to teach and gives great advice. Seems to be a rarity around campus.
He is engaging but very hard. Study the lecture notes every night, make friends for study groups and just try your best, but if possible try not to get him as a professor for BIO 181 at least since it will be your first class.
He knows his stuff but is very condescending and rude. He can be humorous sometimes, and you learn a lot in the class, but he is his own biggest fan and is very arrogant. You have to focus on what he's teaching and not on his snide comments when he gets a question.
If you are really interested in learning about Biology and want to have a very clear understanding of how things work, DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS. He has no book, goes 100% off of lecture and even then there were things on the test that he didn't ever mention. Save yourselves while you still can!
I don't know why Capco has such low ratings. Sure, he can be somewhat rude and condescending, but tests are easy, and he offers a ton of extra credit. Those who poorly reviewed him didn't study. Tests are mostly taken from national exam helpers, but going to lecture is extremely useful. It's an easy B, or actually do work/study and it's an easy A.
Dr. Capco is a teacher that really cares. He wants to prepare his students for future classes. He wants his students to learn and retain what he teaches them. Don't take this class if you are lazy. The point of the class is to learn and retain.
You either love him or you hate him...i personally love him! He is fun, has a great method of teaching, gives lots of extra credit, and takes lots of him exam questions right off of the national exam helpers that he posts. Putting in some effort will result in an A.
He is a very good professor.
CAPCO IS AWESOME. I took him my freshman year and as a senior he's prob the best prof i've had. Tests are super easy as long as you study the National Helper q's. Had over 100% in his class @ the end of the semester. He was super interesting and made things easy to understand. Take him! He is also opinionated but I found it hilarious.
Honestly, had i figured it out sooner i could have done better.Rule 1:do the extra credit.Its easy 40 points to pad your test scores. Rule 2:read at the nat'l exam helper questions, its where MAJORITY of his test questions come from. He does not use the book. I could just use the nat'l exam q's without anything else and do fine on a test.
1. Don't Buy the book. 2. Study the national self help exam questions relevant to his material. 3. Do the extra credit. 4. Don't be lazy or an idiot. This 4 step process is the best starting point for an A in his course.
He would be an awesome professor if he wasn't so rude. Go to lecture and take notes and you should be able to receive an A. Do the extra credit
Do NOT buy the book. You won't use it once. Capco's lectures are very confusing and hard to follow, and his test questions are based on the lectures. If you can take this class with ANYONE else I highly recommend it.
Very interesting professor! No book use, but it is helpful if you get a cheap, older edition and use it. Lecture attendance is mandatory as all test material comes from what he says or writes on the board - no PowerPoints! His office hours are very helpful and should always be attended. If you aren't stupid you will learn a lot in this class.
Study from the start and understand each concept. He builds off what he goes over for each exam. Look over Nation Exam Helper questions, it's a useful tool to study for his exams. He really knows his stuff. If you lack the study skills or interest, I wouldn't recommend taking it.
I LOVED professor Capco's class! I would recommend him to anyone. He explains everything clearly and I learned a ton. Best professor I've had in college!
Professor of the year for a reason. If you are Pre-Med you have to take Capco. Tons of extra credit. EASY A if you study.
I had him for 181, so I decided to take him for 353 - completely different experience. He is extremely unorganized & jumps from topic to topic without any warning. He doesnt use powerpoint, so class is mandatory. His tests are relatively easy given that you study. All in all, I learned a lot in his class, but struggled with the organization aspect.
Capco is someone you love or hate. Kinda hippie-like if you ask me but EXTREMELY helpful if you pick his brain. Can be very spacey and will talk on a million different tangents. Did I learn? Yea. A lot? Eh... Did I get an A? Yes. I'm more-so writing because of a personal level- I took this class three years ago and we still talk medicine today!
I took cell bio with him last summer, and it continues to be one of the top three classes I've taken. It's a class where you will remember what you learn once you leave it. So much of the material taught will be brought up in other classes. Capco is an AMAZING professor, sometimes sassy, but overall very kind. You can tell he loves what he does.
This was one of the hardest classes I've taken so far. At the same time it was very rewarding and enjoyable. Capco had no assigned reading, and everything was based off the lectures. I found that my grades significantly improved once I made regular visits to office hours. I suggest taking this class alone since it's only offered during the summer
He is a great teacher who is passionate about what he teaches. Record the lectures so you can listen again, as there are little details he says that will be on the test. No extra credit over the summer but he still wants you to succeed. Tests are not difficult if you take detailed notes. Make study groups to fill in gaps.
He doesn't care about his students nor does he like to help his students. The class is easy if you study and you should be a fast writer because his exams are short answer question with detail meaning you have to write a lot. If you don't write what he wants you will FAIL? No QUESTION!!!
He makes tests based off his lectures, really interested in biology as a science, rather than as a course. Doesn't use the textbook much. He does definitely go off on a million tangents. If you're interested in the class, it's a fun course. He can come off as kind of pretentious, but he really is actually pretty fun to talk to.
He taught half of our class. If you attend class and take decent notes you'll do fine. He is an interesting lecturer, and while he does go on tangents, he's more than happy to clarify things in office hours. His tests emphasize processes and conceptual short answer-type things. Minimal textbook reading required. Probably my favorite bio teacher
Second half was taught by Dr. Capco. He's a terrible lecturer with a habit of going off on tangents about material. His supporting material is very lacking. He doesn't use the book that the class uses, and refuses to provide any reference material. Powerpoints are garbage, exams are almost purely from whatever lecture material he rambled on prior.
Started in the middle of the semester. The first professor was so much better than him. His lectures are disorganized, also the slides. He can be funny when explains some topic during the class, but most of the time didn't help at all. I used to record the lectures, even this has not helped because he was always confuses himself. and the class.
I took this class over the summer. He is brilliant. So much to learn from this professor and he's actually inspired me to change career paths. The class is not something to take lightly. He is a great professor pushing students to learn and make a difference in their lives. To best take notes in any of his classes WRITE DOWN EVERYTHING.
BRILLIANT MAN, amazing professor, & very inspirational. I feel like I get my tuitions worth with his teachings. I learn the most from his classes but they require work. Take notes on everything he says, even when he says its not important it will help you understand the material. Record his lectures (voice only) and review your notes after class
I took his BIO 181 class and the BIO 353 (with another professor who was horrible) but Dr. Capco is brilliant. I couldn't be happier with a professor. His intelligence is intimidating (because it's off the charts), but go to office hours. No matter how dumb you feel, ask the questions you don't understand. TAKE NOTES & DONT MISS CLASS EVER.
Unorganized and expects you to figure it out based on whim. Personally he is a good person but his lack of clarity for preparing one for success is sub-par. Expects more than what he is able to deliver. Is helpful when you ask him but not enough.
GO to class. That is his main point since you may be paying for it or someone else, he will make a point of it and remember your face if you have a question. Just record on your phone and re-listen, all of his test are based word for word on what he said in this split semester. Is a stickler for phrasing when asking questions.
Most disorganized professor I've ever had. Ppt slides are full of figures from another textbook randomly put in in no order. No study guide. Lectures are hard to follow and take notes because he jumps from topics to topics. Definitely not recommended.
He was extremely unorganized in his lectures. He has power points, but they consist of mainly pictures, he sometimes writes on the projector, but his handwriting is pretty much illegible. He is an entertaining lecturer, however if you ask questions he will make you feel stupid for it. Not very aproachable.
Overall: I would not recommend, but It could probably be worse. he taught half semester with Dr. Chandler. You HAVE to go to class. record his lectures or write down everything he says. He is very disorganized, jumps all over his PPs and there are only pictures and figures on them anyway. tough tests but there is a curve. 3 HW assignments.
This course was absolutely amazing to take. I'm extremely glad I took it. So informative and applicative information all through the biology field. This course is for those who are prepared to study at a graduate level, it is a combined graduate class after all. I'm so happy I took this course. Right now I have an A but the semester isn't over.
Hard class but worth it
Dr. Capco is an absolutely brilliant and amazing professor. He's easily in my top 5 favorite teachers in my life. So far, I've never had a science class as interesting and engaging as his. He genuinely cares about the students LEARNING and RETAINING the material. His class will leave you with the building blocks required for advanced biology.
Sent an email after the first test insulting his students. Apologized a few days later, but obviously has a temper. As an online class, lectures for the day can be anywhere from 12 minutes to over an hour.
Please record the lectures. You will need to write down everything he says. About 70% of the class did well. He's funny and he does jump around a bit. Only had exams but the grading was fair. Do not skip class.
Really funny but knowledgeable professor. I had him for second half and he was by far the better professor. He prepares you very well for tests during his lectures so there are no surprises at the end. He does call on random students to answer questions during lecture but more so to make sure we knew the material and not to call anyone out.
First of all, Capco is probably the most disrespectful professor I've ever met. He expresses favoritism, and doesn't give other students the time of day. His exams are extremely vague, and don't even bother trying to ask him a question during exams. He'll just get short with you and walk away. Simply cannot level with his students.
Taking this class online during the summer was super easy! He lays everything out for you and basically gives you the answers to the tests. The drawings are a little hard to remember, but the multiple choice and short answer are easy! I highly recommend taking this class online during the summer. Was waaaayyyy easier than when I took it in spring.
One of the best proffessors I've had! He really cares about his students! He also makes his lectures entertaining and engaging!
Take online! Watch the lecture videos Study the self check questions The last exam has 10-15 questions that arent apart of the selfcheck so be prepared Other exams 1&2 have drawing portions He really is a good teacher! explains things in his videos well and tells you HOW to study to pass
He is a great teacher who really cares about you getting a good grade, not just passing. In his lectures he tells you EXACTLY what you need to know for the test. He also has practice reviews at the end of each module which make up the questions for the exam. It was a lot of information to learn in a 7.5 week span, but he made it super easy!
The teacher is so smart that it is hard to get on his level of thinking. PAY ATTENTION AND WATCH ALL LECTURES. The test are directly from the pre quizzes so use them as a study guide. Never had to purchase the book or read. Make sure to stay on top of the lectures, labs and quizzes because there are a lot of lectures but are pretty entertaining.
Dr. Capco is very knowledgeable about biology, maybe to a fault when it comes to teaching an entry level course. I took his course over the summer of 2016, and it was very intense. I spent a lot of time going over recorded lectures and making flash cards. Make sure you attend lecture, and study outside of class, and you will pass with an A.
Great teacher, I took him over the summer for BIO 353. He doesn't use a textbook and bases his tests over what he talks about in lecture. He is very clear about what to expect on the test. He will often draw pictures that WILL BE on the test or emphasize certain points. He only had three exams so study. He really cares about his students!
Took online over summer. About 70-80 percent of test questions are directly taken from the quizzes. Do the quizzes and learn the drawings from lectures and you will pass with no problem. He has great explanations and enthusiasm for the subject. He was timely answering student questions on BlackBoard.
About 70-80 percent of test questions are directly taken from the quizzes. Do the quizzes and learn the drawings from lectures and you will pass with no problem. He has great explanations and enthusiasm for the subject. He was timely answering student questions on BlackBoard.
3 exams. That is your grade. Taking an exam in this class is ridiculous. He talks on-and-off through the exam and it is so distracting! His power-points are disorganized information strewn all over random power point slides. However, the exams were not too difficult. He is kind of rude, but he is helpful if you need it.
His lectures are pretty much required to do well for his portion of the class because his powerpoints are mainly pictures that he spends a lot of time lecturing about in class. His exams are challenging but an A is pretty easy to get if you go to lecture and take good notes.
GO TO CLASS. Capco's exams are everything he says in class. The course contains a ton of information but if you go to class, listen, and take thorough notes, you'll make it. Perks: looks like Uncle Tito from Rocket Power.
I heard mixed things about Dr. Capco going in, but absolutely loved his lectures and learned a ton. You MUST go to class and take good notes to pass, his slides are mostly pictures and he lectures on everything that will be on test in class. The grading system is based off of 3 tests, 100 points each and that's it so it's challenging but doable.
I have had only one professor that I disliked more than Dr. Capco. It's not that Bio 181 is a hard class. He just rambles so much. He'll lecture for hours on a topic that could be succinctly taught in 20 minutes. It's easy to get lost because he corrects himself and the textbook so often. So many extra words. Makes it hard to pick out what's useful
I have nothing good to say about this professor. He is snarky and rude. He told me he didn't have time for me and that I clearly didn't watch the lectures when I asked him a question. (I did and spent at least 4 hours EVERY DAY studying his course). He talked similarly to other students.
The lecture videos are so LONG! He could clean it up quite a bit, and goes on rants of corrects himself quite a bit, as well as fixing his messy hand writing. Do the self checks. Every quiz and exam question comes straight from there and you can pretty much pass his class. I ultimately think he's too smart for his own good....
Lectures are VERY long, but you will get a very thorough foundation of knowledge. Tests are based directly on lectures and self-checks, so there aren't any surprises. Capco puts a lot of effort into his online lectures and there are several hilariously perfect moments. Loved the class, but it was really challenging.
Took his course during summer B online and I'm not so impressed about his teaching method. Definitely watch the lectures and take thorough notes. All practice questions are on tests but the essay questions were hard and worth a lot on the tests. He was very unorganized with the power points and didn't teach some things that were on test.
He overall is very smart and knows the topic very well. However, the lectures online are often much longer than they should be because he goes off on a lot of unnecessary tangents. You have to watch lectures, everything on tests and quizzes comes directly from them. Biggest complaint is that he can get a little condescending when you ask questions.
Informative, knowledgeable, and is provides insight to many applications of cell biology. Acute attention to lecture videos was necessary to do well on exams. Sometimes helpful, many times very verbally abusive. Sends emails saying "you are being stupid" and "obviously you don't pay attention." Coped by focusing on how awesome cell biology is.
No study guide for exams. More than half the class failed the first exam which was 100 points and theres 3 of them. On top of that we have weekly quizzes. His lectures are way too long and there is about 8-10 ten minute long videos for EACH chapter. He goes over way too much and is very confusing because he goes off on tangents and mutters a lot.
Great at responding quickly to questions, even though the responses can come off rude. Self checks are great for studying for exams and quizzes. Lectures are long and information dense. Not very clear guidelines for assignments. Check hallway conversations often! He funny at times because he's so passionate about biology.
Capco Is fairly nice, and can be seen as lenient, but Ive seen other have a problem with this purse if they are busy people. This class requires more time than it does hard work. Lectures are long and there are plenty. As long as you have time, this class seems fairly simple to pass.
Hardest class i have ever taken, and that's not the reason for the bad score, I've take hard classes before that required a vast majority of my time but this was just ridiculous. Long lectures where he goes off on tangents A LOT so its hard to focus on what was relevant and what wasn't. He's rude he told me to tell my 2yr. old how she was conceived
EXTREMELY lecture heavy. He spent a ton of time on his lecture videos & they are long & jam packed with information. It is impossible to pass w/o watching them & there are A LOT. If you only have a few hours a week to commit to this, don't take him. Tests & quizzes follow study guides exactly. He's super quirky. Not hard if you try & can keep up
Capco is really passionate about teaching Biology. He wants his students to succeed. There are a lot of lecture videos, but that should be expected in a 4 unit class; I enjoyed them. If you do every self-check for each assigned module, its extremely hard to get less than a B. Exams are more than fair. With 15 points E.C., I received a 100% in class
Took this class online for my degree in Biology, super easy I thought. Majority of the test questions are from the self checks at the end of the lectures. Study those and you will pass. Does have a lot of video lectures, but he kind of makes them entertaining. He loves tea! I would definitely take this professor again!!
WATCH THE LECTURES! He's quirky, and some are long, but he's fantastic at explaining things, even through his side-bars on the lectures. Although a few were lengthy, he breaks the lectures down into manageable portions which is great. Take good notes, too, as he doesn't just read off of the powerpoint - he adds information to them.
DO NOT REFER TO PAST REVIEWS FOR CELL BIO. He changed his entire format from lecture videos (which I was excited about) to almost only text format. It takes about 2 hrs to finish one module and theres 5 weekly in summer. Also you need great internet because it loads slow. Only grades 3 quizzes/3 PROCTORED tests. What I would give for those videos!
As someone said, do not refer to past reviews. He now expects you to memorize his entire text which is impossible and difficult to understand since he wrote it, not a textbook company. Only grades 3 quizzes and 3 exams!! DOES NOT tell you what he wants for essay Qs, so prepare to fail those. Gives you 50 to study and tests you on 3. No curve, no EC
Be prepared to teach yourself. He will tell you he is too tired to answer your question. Very condescending . Tests on what he did not teach. He wrote the book which has many mistakes in it and criticizes you if you correct him. This class is a waste of money. I paid a lot of money to read an unedited book
Worst class I've ever taken. Terrible teacher, terrible grader. I took this class previously with a different instructor but had to withdrawal from it for personal reasons. I took this over the summer so I can graduate on time. Probably gonna fail anyway. This class seems completely different from the one I took previously. Different content even!
Hard work does not pay off in this class. The textbook is so indecipherable, due to grammatical errors, that it inhibits learning. On the exams, your answer will be docked points for not including information that wasn't requested in the question. This is a memorize and regurgitate class, not an apply and understand class.
Tests on things he taught during the year but not in this semester. Simply horrible
Three exams & three quizzes make up your entire grade (the quizzes add up to be worth one exam). The exams are proctored and longer than necessary. For the summer B session there are only roughly three days between the last two exams and each exam covers a bunch of material (10 chapters). His textbook makes learning the material a challenge.
He will not answer questions, answers by mocking you, but does not address the questions being asked. I just do not understand why he is allowed to teach. You are the editors of his first draft book. Frustrating
I have never had an instructor who is so degrading of his students. He is very snarky in his replies, making comments like "you clearly didn't read the material." There are 3 quizzes and 3 tests that make up your entire grade. You have no room for error. Incredibly strict grader when it comes to tests
Absolutely the worst professor I have ever had. Maybe he is good when he has an actual book and lesson plan, but for this summer session he has nothing put together. Even made a comment that he couldn't finish preparing or editing materials for this class because he has too much else to deal with for Fall. DO NOT TAKE. Probably won't graduate now..
The entire class is based off of 3 exams and 3 quizzes. The semester is very unorganized and test are spaced very poorly. He supplies study questions for the modules and a spot to turn in our answers, however they are not worth points and he doesnt bother to give feedback so you could be studying the wrong answers the entire time.
Worse professor I have ever had. He does not teach. If you asked a question you were belittled and your question still was not answered. I used an online high school tutoring service to help. 55% of class failed first exam. We got no further grades, so have no idea what final grade will be. Avoid at all cost.
Not a good online teacher. Avoid the online class if possible. Like others said, most of the class failed exams. Grades are based off 3 quizzes and exams. Grades are not posted until after the course ends. Questions are never answered. Instead questions are met with snarky comments. I did learn in the class, but it was one of the worst classes ever
Just got final back and as usual there were questions with fill in the blank answers that are not in the book or his lectures. How do you answer them? He needs to stop posting breathing videos and teach Cell Bio. That is what we paid for. Gives no feedback. Total waste of time.
I received an A. That being said this class was horrible. It was hard because there was no instruction. You had to learn on your own. He did not answer questions even when asked by multiple students. Total waste of time. As a senior I have never experienced this before at ASU. Take with a different professor who is not degrading
one of the worst online professors. Will not answer questions, has disorganized ' lectures' an unedited 'book' and provides zero feedback. Promised a curve, got a 0.025% curve, not enough to really do anything. Avoid this professor. This was the first online version, so it could get better in the future, I hope. Bye Bye med school..
Terribly unorganized and constantly degraded students for not following his flawed study plan. The class was dependant on individual learning, as like previously mentioned he doesn't exactly state what he wants for essay questions. Although a majority of the questions were from optional self checks, the essay questions did not have answer guides.
The only reason I did well was that I had taken a similar course before and knew the background to what was supposed to be presented here. This class was disorganized, and the worse part was there was no feedback, and minimal instruction. Would still like to know how to make a lipid packed hairpin. The teacher was not available for students
I LOVE CAPCO.... Pretty easy course. Tests can be tough, but if you study you should be fine!
This professor does not provide feedback. Will not answer questions. We pay too much in tuition to not have an actual TEACHER. He does not teach, mentor, help. He is snarky, rude. He does give inofmration, but not enough to even answer his test questions. Would be a great teacher is he just answered a few questions.
In past years there was a cell bio text book students could learn from. This year there was not and his online students suffered. The cog book was incomprehensible and he would not answer questions. Unbelievable that a paid teacher would not help you to understand. Asked questions on test that were never taught and were not in cog book. Hugh waste
Teacher was degrading, disrespectful and did not teach. Avoid at all cost
Horrible teacher, horrible honors advisor. He should only do research and not teach
As others have said he doesnt teach. He belittled and degraded me for asking a question. Avoid, Avoid, Avoid!!!!
Worse class I have ever taken. The man does not teach. Do not waste your money. Extremely condenscending if you ask a question. Berates you for asking valid questions, and then doesn't answer the question anyway. Avoid at all costs.
he was awful at explaining things, he also said at the beginning of the class not to buy the textbook, but we ended up needing to read from it every chapter
Tells you not to buy a book when you actually do need one. Get ready to watch a ton of lectures.
Did well on every assignment he gave, but the exams trumped all of that. Two exams brought my grade from 100%+ to a 77%. Horrible at explaining the material and does not make himself available. Horrible professor, never would have taken this class if I had knew about him before.
Not awful, but he was really mediocre at best. I felt that the expectations for this class and assignments were not clear. It seemed like he would disregard some questions about content. Class and material was not too difficult; most, if not all of the test questions are based off the "Self Checks" at the end of every module.
The class is tough but the grading and class rubric are crystal clear. No homework or assignments, you're only graded on quizzes and exams so the class is very self-driven. If you don't have the discipline to keep up and study daily, you probably won't do well. I spent an avg of 3 hrs/day on this class alone, lost alot of sleep this sesh for sure.
He is very rude
This class was average at best. A little unorganized, and isn't clear on where assignments are supposed to be submitted at. BE PREPARED to watch tons of lectures, and make sure you study!
If you study and do the work, you will pass. I had no issues with Dr. Capco.
I really enjoyed this class. Professor Capco is such a science nerd which was so fun to watch. His lectures could be long some weeks so just make time to stay on top of your work. As long as you do that and know the answers to the self help questions then the class should be doable for you!
Dave Capco was one of the best instructors I have ever taken. You can tell he loves Biology and he is enthusiastic about his work. The exams are extremely easy if you go over the practice exams (exact same questions). This class was easily the easiest class I took as long as you study. He tells you not to buy a book, I did and never opened it.
It is true what I read before. He is extremely condescending and rude if you ask questions. This class was not hard but he really did not teach. Way more concerned with research than teaching or helping students.
I love Capco. He's snarky, but most of time its warranted. Read the syllabus. Almost all of the exam questions came from practice quizzes, all of the drawings for exams were discussed during lectures. It's lecture heavy, but I listed at 1.5x speed and they're super high quality. He's the best bio prof I've had so far (by a long shot).
He is EXTREMELY condescending & rude to questions. His lectures ramble, jumping to whatever comes to his mind with no real continuity. Exam questions come from self checks & quizzes. The self checks are your only practice & he refuses to give answers to things he didn't say in lecture, but also says he doesn't know what to tell you to read
The professor is confusing when he speaks. He does alot of backtracking and it gets confusing when he can not clearly speak or write what it is that we are to understand. Maybe he should provide a book so students have something to reference instead of his confusing lecture videos.
I agree with most everyone else. Hes condescending and rude. The lectures are all over the place. His questions for the various papers you must write are not clear and if you ask for clarification youll get a snarky response that still doesnt answer your question. AVOID this professor!
Takes forever to get thru lecture. Tangents galore. Recommend he get vyvanse to stay focused. Doesn't require book, but I recommend it. Just dont ask him about it even tho he mentions it in lectures. He is rather rude and snarky and thinks his lectures should be all you need to pass. Without the book...I would have not had enough information.
This is one of the best courses I've ever taken in my college career and it was my first Biology course. Dave Capco is so passionate about Biology and makes the lectures so clear and concise. The exams are exactly like the practice quizzes and I was able to get over a 100% in the course. Watch the lectures and read the syllabus, you'll get an A.
I took as an online class. I understand he can be a bit everywhere, however I will say I have never met a professor who has broken down the material the way he does. i would repeat the videos over and over and it just clicked. He is able to build a solid foundation and understanding for you. I have a deeper appreciation for bio now.
There was no book required but there were weekly lectures. As long as you watch the lectures and do the chapter self checks you will do very well in the class. The exam and quiz questions are taken straight from the self checks. This class just requires a lot of time- I worked an average 4 hours a day.
Very knowledgeable professor, but expects you to study the material very closely and work for your grade. Listening to the lectures is very important but DO THE CHAPTER REVIEW QUIZZES!!! They're basically study guides that he is providing for you.
Capco is a classic professor, his class BIO 181 was very well taught in my opinion. The class is Lecture heavy. At least 3 hours a week. 10 hours a week of work in this class and you can probably squeak an A. Capco himself is very likable and passionate about science.
Clear and manageable homework criteria, class was a bit lecture heavy so take the time to watch his videos and then take the self quizzes. you can retake the labs till you get your desired grade. graded quizzes every week and an exam (using RPNow) every 3 weeks. He loves the material and it makes the course much more enjoyable. highly recommend him
There was no textbook required, all of his lectures are from powerpoint(printable as well) and videos of him going through the lectures. He cares about your well being such as giving you breathing exercises and drinks a lot of tea. The self checks are important! Don't take those for granted because they will help you pass.
Prof Capco seems to thoroughly enjoy biology and teaching. He slowly builds a foundational understanding of different systems and how everything works together. He seems to have figured out how students actually learn and tries to implement that. This class is easy. Exams based on self checks. Watch videos, take notes on powerpoints he provides.
The content of the course is NOT difficult. What is terrible is the professor. He is rude to students and stares at the chest of a female student in his lecture videos. His tests are not written well. He does not specify the level of detail he's looking for, and then he penalizes and scolds students for not adding suffiently detailed answers.
Capco is very condescending . He wrote the book, which jumps between topics, is not concise, and is full of errors. Students did (free) copy editing for extra credit. He barely lectures; the videos posted are rambling and rarely on-topic. Expects expert level of detail in essays. You will have to teach yourself the material via the internet. AVOID
Condescending. Wrote the ebook--jumps between topics, full of errors. Very few lectures, those posted are off-topic &rambling. 47% of class failed Exam 2; he doesn't curve. Expects expert level of detail in essays. Blames students, not his teaching, for their lack of understanding. Material is dense but not hard, but you'll have to teach yourself
Capco is very rude to students! He has been the worst professor I have yet to come across. I'm a biochem major and barely got a C in this course because of the insane amount of small detail he requires for his essay part of exams. Seriously avoid at all costs.
Dr. Capco has such an obvious love for the subject that it is impossible not to be drawn in and mesmerized by his lectures. You can tell he really wants you to pass his course and he provides good direction on what to focus on along the way. I hope to take many more courses with Dr. Capco at ASU.
Thought this class would be easy but, he throws you into his lectures thinking that you know all about science. Plus, he RAMBLES A LOT in his lecture vids. 10-15 min long videos w/ only 5 mins of info. Quizzes are easy, his concept questions make NO sense, tests are not that hard but his short essay answers are VAGUE. Easy if you put the effort in.
Capco is not rude but he can be tactless in dialog with students. He is an expert in the field & expects students have a firm grasp on concepts & devote a significant amount of time to his class alone. Exam essay Qs require small details & make up most of the grade. I found him funny but many get infuriated with him. Overall good class but not easy
Taken online; no book--information is covered in lectures. Lectures are lighthearted and informational, you WILL know what is important for the exams. The course is well structured to build upon previously learned concepts. Do the Module Self-Checks & watch the lectures at 1.25-1.5 speed, you can pause/rewind as necessary.
Professor Capco really knows so much about biology his lectures are interesting and sometimes fun, and he really likes his tea, in order to pass this class do the self checks everything on those will be on his quizzes and exams, you can really get an A in this class just study hard and do all assignments
Capco was a good professor and you can tell he really cares about his students and enjoys teaching biology. This class had a ton of lecture videos and weekly assignments. His exam and quiz questions are taken word for word from his practice quizzes called "self-checks" that he gives you the opportunity to do. Do those each week and your solid!
Professor Capco is wonderful for lower level classes, but avoid at all cost once you get to higher level courses with this guy. Worst professor I have had in a while, and I still managed an A. Unorganized, requires you to regurgitate information which is nearly impossible when he doesn't even give you the proper resources for learning.
Fairly easy class if you utilize your resources properly. Professor is pretty arrogant, and does not care too much about his students. However, if you take it online that won't matter to you. Free response questions are graded extremely harsh, however you can fill out as many score discrepancy forms as you need. That easily bumped my grade by 12%
I think this guy gets a bad rep on here. I managed to get an A while taking 12 other credits and working. If you don't put in the time, you won't pass but if you do, you'll be fine. He curves tests like crazy and gives really helpful hints before exams open. Just ignore the condescending emails, other than that I thought his class was interesting.
I don't understand why everyone puts this professor down, he's really easy to listen to, applies most of the knowledge to everyday life and things we know. Watch the lectures, take bullet points here and there, DO THE SELF CHECKS, it's literally an easy A.
Capco doesnt seem to teach because he wants to inspire students. He throws information at you and wants you to robotically repeat VERBATIM what HE wrote in the online textbook. Sometimes, his lecture videos in the cogbooks doesnt adequately line up with what is written so you are told writing is law. I tell everyone to stay far away from him.
The class is exam heavy. The multiple choice is a breeze, but 40% of the exams are essays. He no longer gives a heads up on essay questions, extra credit, nor curves. This would be fine for a normal class but his essay questions can come from any 70 potential topics and he expects details. This is my last class with a 3.97 and I may not even pass.
Prior semesters were given extra credit, curved grades, or gave heads up for essay questions. NOT this semester. The multiple choice in the exams were easy. (self checks ). But the essay questions were not. They were picked out from around 40 or more questions and they needed to be in detail to receive full points. I would not recommend this class
one of the top five worst professors I have taken at ASU (this was supposed to be one of the final classes I have to take) I have given many the benefit of the doubt. I don't even have words to say how much I dislike how the exams or even the class is set up. There are nonsensical essay questions which makes up most of the score for the exam
Basically all memorization. Essay questions on exams require high amounts of memorized information, announcements and emails/communication can come across as rude and condescending. Often had a 50% fail rate for exams
Have I taken harder classes? Absolutely. However, seems like any sort of short answer questions expected in this class need to be VERBATUM without plagiarizing - if even possible...? Grade discrepency forms are a waste of time. Professor seems nice and seems like he cares about his students, the class is just not well structured.
Capco has unrealistic expectations for his students. On one of the exams I took for this class, the majority of the class scored below at 59.9%. I personally wouldn't take any of his classes again knowing what a strict grader he is. It seems like he does send out multiple announcements daily to keep us students informed, but overall not great prof.
This is not a hard class but this professor makes it seem more difficult than what it is. The level of retention of information is extremely unrealistic considering he wants you to memorize over 40 possible essay questions and answers that may be on each exam. AVOID THIS CLASS
I have never given a review on RMP. This class was the hardest class I've taken thus far (including organic, human event, A&P, etc). Expects you to memorize and regurgitate the entire cogbooks to him on exams (60% of exams are essay response). Got to the point where I wasn't learning cell bio, but instead memorizing tiny details to get an A.
Capco is condescending, long winded, and unreasonably hostile in how approaches the class. The material is standard issue cell biology, but his essay questions in the exams are vague. One must give the exact answers, with the exact same words, he expects, leaving students frustrated. His announcements are so wordy that it is easy to miss the gist.
I really enjoyed his lectures
3 tests and Yellowdig discussions are the bulk of points. Exams are 50/50 essay and easy to remember Quizlet questions. Essays have no rubric and you'll get dinged for missing specific words. You're expected to memorize his descriptions and what the text says. I've taken Orgo, anatomy, etc and learned more. Terrible grading system. AVOID.
95% of this class is memorization. Capco is by far the harshest grader I've encountered when it comes to the written portion on exams. You're expected to memorize his lecture descriptions, verbatim, and regurgitate them on exams. WORD FOR WORD. If you so much as say something "spins" instead of "rotates", you're getting points marked off. AVOID.
I am a senior, if that tells you how many professors Ive already had- Capco is by far the worst: He expects you to know the textbook word for word and regurgitate it on his exams (no notes, nothing). He also doesnt have office hours. Cell Biology should be a piece of cake, with another teacher. Do NOT take this professor for your own sanity.
This class was co-taught. Dr. Shaffer led the class & Dr. Capco did the video lectures. Dr. Capco is extremely knowledgeable in his lectures and would insert extras useful tidbits. He would also sometimes pause to say something will be on the test. He was funny, but you MUST watch the lectures at least 1.5x speed! Trust me. Otherwise it's boring ;)
This professor was completely un-helpful when contacted and made me feel like a burden for reaching out for help. Felt super discouraged, would not recommend if there's another professor available. Took the time to type out an extremely long email that was completely negative, instead of putting in that same effort to help me succeed. Disappointed
Its my freshman year of college and Im doing it online. Definitely was nervous to start but Im so glad my first biology class is lectured by David Capco. He knows what hes talking about and is really great at making it easy to understand at a basic level before explaining something in detail. And hes supper fun! Gonna miss him
Avoid taking Dr. Capco's courses at ALL COSTS. Do not be fooled by his BIO 181 lectures, he seems like a nice guy, but he is horrible at running a course. He tells students we are annoying, condescends all our questions/concerns, doesn't hold OH, and grades RUTHLESSLY. Prep to memorize the textbook. 50% of the class failed an exam, no curves.
He was truly a great lecturer. I had him in conjunction with Prof Esqueda and it felt more like her taught the class since he was lecturing. Overall, really enjoyed and I hope to have him for my lectures and other bio classes in the future (I'm a Jr. so don't have much left to go!)
Very lecture heavy but the lectures are thorough. Clearly states what will and will not be on tests and exams.
Do not be fooled by pre-recorded lectures of Dr. Capco from BIO 181 & 182. This class was test heavy and exams graded ruthlessly. You are expected to be able to regurgitate long segments of Cogbooks verbatim. No OH are provided and no help is provided. You will be told "this is a junior level course" as justification for this toxic class.
I have never been spoken to by a professor the way he speaks to his students. I am a full time student, full time employee, and it was very difficult to keep up with his demands. Studying for the tests involve learning small details for essay questions than anything else. Extremely condescending. If you can avoid taking this class, please do
The course is sloppy. Questions on exams will come from old material that is not currently in the course. Short essay format with unclear citeria. Made this course worse than O chem and Biochem. The 357 component has quiz questions that are sloppy and have multiple correct answers. I think he hates the online format and wants to make us suffer.
Great professor! Very passionate about his work.
Tests are heavily focused on micro details, so you'll need to memorize everything (impossible) to make the cut. Test questions are vague, lectures are long winded and impossible to take effective notes for because he jabbers on about the microdetails I already mentioned. My notepad ended up looking like I wrote a research novel on biology.
Capco is an enthusiastic, passionate smart teacher, but he is not the greatest at explaining things simply. I feel he lacks the ability to truly make his point made and therefore his lectures were extremely, extremely confusing and I had to rely on other methods to learn the material because I did not understand his.
I can't believe I survived this class! I did learn many things from this class. The lecture itself was not difficult, but the grading criteria were unclear in the essay questions.
I agree with most of the people here. More than 50% of students failed the first and second exams. The lecture itself was not difficult, but the contents were too heavy. You just can't memorize so many "micro details" in this short period of time. It is very unreasonable.
I took him previously 3 years ago for BIO 181 and I really want to know what happened to him. He has lost his passion for teaching and only cares about you being able to memorize every little detail and regurgitate it on the exams word for word. The funny thing is he says not to plagiarize when that basically all you do. Don't bother with his class
This was the most unclear, stressful course I have taken. If you want to be miserable- take this course. Grading is NEVER clear and is expected to be word for word from the textbook. Take a different class. As your advisor about this instructor, even they know how he is!
HW easy. exams aweful. exams are multiple choice (cogbook & HW quizes) & some fill in the blanks. other half is like10 essay questions from the study guide which you have to find the answers to. i only did my homework portion & memorized the multiple choices & the fill ins for the exams & skipped over majority of the essay questions. Got a B.
Condescending attitude and expects you to basically memorize the textbook. Would not recommend.
I find it difficult to follow what he's talking about in his lectures. If you learn material mostly by listening to things being said then you should do well in this class. Also the course is organized horribly with many of the modules having overlapping due dates which makes it very difficult to space out the coursework appropriately.
Asshole who gatekeeps biology
His feedback isn't clear and neither is grading. No rubrics are provided on assignments. Essay questions are at least 30-40% of the overall grade so memorization is essential to passing the class. He wants verbatim answers on the essay questions to get full marks. Very frustrating class. Not worth it! I'll change my major before I take another one.
If you like memorizing text books, unclear grading criteria, and being spoken to like you're 5, he's the man for you.
I'm just getting into BIO 181 and when he started drinking tea and dropped himself into cells I nearly lost it. I laughed so hard I was crying. This professor makes learning BIO 181 an absolute JOY!!
Prof Capco's lectures for this class are amazing. He's entertaining and insanely knowledgeable. I love how he reminds students to eat/drink between studying. I learned so much from him outside of the course (deep breathing tutorial for reducing stress/steamed broccoli recipe). Thanks for making the class so enjoyable, Prof Capco!
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
67%
Textbook Required
59%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.46 avg changeRatings by Course
INTERN
5.0
(1)BIO494
4.0
(1)BIO187
3.7
(3)BIO181
3.5
(86)BIO188
3.1
(88)Difficulty by Course
BIO330
5.0
BIO353SUMB
4.6
352
4.0
BIOBIO
4.0
BIO494
4.0