2.7
Quality4.5
Difficulty28%
Would Retake323
Reviews28%
Would Retake
323
Reviews
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323 total ratings5
57
4
61
3
56
2
36
1
113
What Students Say
“Toughest class I have ever taken in CCNY”
BIO10100 - 1.0 rating“Extremely hard grader, impossible to pass any exam”
BIO101 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
35%
Textbook Required
53%
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B-
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Reviews (300)
If you're taking Bio 101 and he's the only one teaching it I recommend you NOT TO TAKE THIS CLASS! Unless you're very smart. Very harsh grader for an intro class.
The exams you will be given are easy but the grade will be a nightmare because he grades you on his biological basis. Since his grade and exams are not fair at all, basically you don't have to study. Whether you spend 100 hours in preparing his exams or 2 hours, the results are the same. This means nothing to you. you learn nothing from him.
Talk fast. Shouldn't be a professor. Should not get paid since he did not teach at all. Ruin your GPA and life.
Sets bar high for a 101 course, but anyone who gets an A definitely works for it. Probably less than 10% of a given class will get a grade in the A range. You definitely learn, A LOT. Unfortunately, because of the large class size, people who are struggling do not get a lot of attention.
seriously,the worse professor when it comes to tests: teaches one thing, tests on something else, he could be a good lecturer but the chair of the department should do his job and go over his tests....
SECTs possible to do well in this class if you really put your time into reading the book and attending his review sessions. I don't think that English has to be your first language as it was not the case for me, but you cannot do well in class without doing your reading, analyzing and memorizing. Not impossible to get an A, but it's not easy.
He is definitely hard, expects a lot...and is not merciful on the tests...read your readings before the class, attend the lectures and review sessions..BUT READ!!!
He knows his subject very well and you learn a LOT if you pay attention on lectures. I found recitations to be useless! We had to go over sci-fi movies and relate them to biology. His tests are hard, read everything he teaches or mentions in the lecture. There were 2 tests (mid,final), weekly online quizzes, 2 papers and 1 movie presentation.
His class is hard,but I got an A for Firooznia by doing these things. First, read the text-book b4 class, and print out his slides. Make sure you write down what he says by each slide its really important. Do his review sheet, and attend the review seesions. They do help. And Study, his test are hard but if you know the material you should do well.
By far the hardest, most in depth class I've taken in my 3 years in college. Very bad professor, not worth going to lecture, study every single day before the test. Cramming will not help. God help you new students.
If you are not fresh out of high school with a plastic mind ready to absorb everything like a sponge, you are doomed to failure in this professor's class. Avoid at all costs. Wait a whole year if you have to, and take the Saturday courses. DO NOT take without at least limited understanding of chemistry.
He is a really good professor. I learned a lot during this class, but as many people said in the comments before, it is a hard class. You have to read the text before class, attend all classes, go to the review sessions, and answer the practice sheets. If you do all these you should be alright. Do not procrastinate, it will be hard to catch up!
This class, by far, has been the worst class I've taken at CCNY. I have no words for this professor. He teaches too many things at once, gives too much reading material, and the tests are extremely hard. I did very well in lab, and not even that helped since I got a D in the class. If you take him, READ the book & study everyday.
This class is only difficult if you're not willing to put the time and effort into it. I agree the class covers a lot of material, but Firooznia does a good job explaining the material. He is willing to answer any question and is very helpful. Print out the slides, go to lecture, go to review, and do the practice questions. You will learn a lot!
I only took bio 100 WHICH IS AN INTRO CLASS and got a D. He explains it in such a boring way. The only reason i didnt get an F was because of my TA. The exams are extremely hard and the review sheet isnt that helpful. Take a different prof if you can
BY FAR the HARDEST class I've ever taken and the most I've worked in my entire academic career (and got a B-). HOWEVER, this professor is outstanding in his knowledge. I learned the world from him, it was a privilege and honor. If you're looking for an easy grade though, keep moving. But if you're willing to make the effort, you'll win riches.
this prof is a great lecturer,helpful,knowledgeable individual. with that said he is a tough professor, if you are a lazy student. you will have to work for your grade. for new students i suggest that you record him rather then take notes, his fair in grading, but shows no mercy. i worked hard and i got a B. if u dont STUDY u will FAIL.
there is a reason why lab is 50% of ur overall grade, cuz lecture is BRUTAL. if u dont study u will fail,& wen u fail u will have doubt in urself. he is really gud tho, do practice exams, attend review sessions, do group studies wit ppl who care about their grades,do well in lab and u will pass. emphasis>>read & review. RECORD HIM, he talks 2 fast
Prof. Firooznia explains his lectures with great detail and clarity, and offers many outside opportunities to discuss the material such as very flexible office hours as well as reviews which outlines the types of questions to be seen on the exam. Students have to be willing to put in time for proper understanding and for the good grade!
horrible sarcastic prof. Teaches undergraduate introductory courses at a graduate level.
Firooznia definitely teaches way more in depth than what a 100 level class should be. He talks so fast and I highly recommend recording his lectures. It's not impossible to do good in this class; constantly review his lectures and for tests just study the review sheets inside and out and you'll do fine. Textbook wasn't helpful at all.
I have to agree that this class is very challenging and requires a lot of effort. To be fair, the professor did tell us that in the beginning of the course. The best advice I can give is print out the notes BEFORE leture because he changes those slides pretty fast. Pay attention in class, read read read, and do the review sheets.
Extremely hard. You have to be really good at memorizing the whole textbook, all the articles, do review Q's and study for this class all day everyday till the end of the semester. Tests are all essay and short answers. DO NOT take him. Do epermit or take the saturday class if you really need bio101 because he will screw up your gpa.
He is a GREAT professor but you really have to work to get a good grade. You come out of the class with valuable knowledge for careers in science. RECORD HIS LECTURES, study the lecture notes, and attend the review sections. Don't bother reading the textbook - everything that he wants you to know is in the lecture slides.
Horrible professor not a nice guy arrogant speaks really fast
He is the only Prof. that teaches this course. It is a difficult course, ALL of it is memorization. Reading the chapters before class really helped but it is different from teacher to student interaction b/c there are literally 180 students other than you. You need a c<to pass and while he is Diff he is a good prof. Prepare to be stressed!
His class is really hard. You have to work your ass out to get a good grade. Getting an B+ is hard. so if you need an A you will have to learn his lectures like the palm of your hand. Just study and review the lectures slides, and you'll survive.
He's better than other Bio teachers. Other than his exams, his lecture is great; he explains everything and is a lot more clearer than the textbook. The essay part on his exams can kill if you don't study detailed processes, otherwise great professor.
His exams are really hard. But if you study you will pass, he expect a lot. Memorization is not always the best option, most of the exam is multiple choice questions one or two short answers and the essay (it is 20%) If you are doing bad in class he will talk to you, very helpful professor. You will learn more than you imagine with him.
Lectures very clearly and is helpful during lectures. Lots of interactive learning. Tests cover a lot of material but are doable if you attend lecture and study what he tells you to study. If you show you care, he'll care too and vice versa. Show up to lecture every day; you'll learn a lot and find the tests easier.
He is such a GENTLEMAN. He respects and CARES for his students. Although he is so much CLEAR in explaining the materials, you need to know everything in DETAILS. If you plan to study briefly, not a good idea. He tests you on the concepts, and his concepts are not that hard to know if you the PRACTICE QUESTIONS and attend his REVIEW SESSIONS.
Unfortunately the only BIO 101 professor. His lectures could be compared to graduate level biology. TA's have pointed out that his excessive details are taught in more advanced biology classes. Attend the review sessions prior to tests. They help. Good luck.
Very Knowledgeable and approachable (post class). Lecture notes are essential for passing his exams( I recommend recording them and listening to them while studying or creating a study sheet). Go to the review sessions. Really put in the time to understand and be able to explain the material in a detailed and step by step process. Do well in lab!
His exams are extremely hard. Lab is 50% so do well in lab and youll be fine
His exams are hard, but 60% of your grade is determined out of lecture (lab and online quiz) do well in those and you will be fine. He is an excellent teacher. I got a B- and i didnt even have the textbook. Most students dont know how to study. Bio101 is not a hard class.
This professor is by far the hardest I've ever taken. He is not willing to take some time to advise biology students, unless its under his office hours. He is obnoxious and discourages you easily. He reads super fast without caring that you need the time to understand the material in depth. If your a prospective Pre med student please think twice
Excellent professor. Sure he is tough, but he provides you with all the tools you need to be successful. He takes extra time out of his week for pre-exam study sessions and creates useful study guides for every exam. If you apply yourself, you will do well.
You really have to read the syllabus for his class. He is so mean and strict. He is too sarcastic and he really does not like answering your questions.
YO dis DAWG was crazy. Let me be frank, I was one of those kids high on premed, it was premed or die. Medicine isn't for everyone and he made me realize this. I got a B, BTW there is NO curve.
He's an awesome professor, always eager and ready to answer your questions. His class is not a walk in the park, but is well worth it!
This has been the best professor I have had in a long time. He is caring for his students and is willing to answer any questions you may have. Sure he is a tough cookie, but being that way, he helped me realize that premed is what I want.
As hard as the course may seem at first, this professor is amazing because he always has office hours and is always willing to help you. he gives review sessions prior to every single exam and they are veryyy helpful. just one advice: Try to do extremely well in lab just in case you dont pass his exams.
Speaks at the speed of light and discourages questions from being asked. Gives tons of practice questions and chooses the hardest quarter of those questions to be on the exam. Also, quality of lab instructor can make you or break you. Try your best to find a lab instructor that speaks proper English and is capable of giving clear instructions.
this is not an easy class if you're not wiling to work, firooznias a great professor as he actually tries to help you with the amount of review sessions he gives and office hours, along with practice questions, online quizzes and discussion board, **LAB is key so work hard and you'll be fine
This is an extremely hard class. I received a B from hardcore studying. He is a very knowledgeable professor and teaches the material very clearly. RECORD HIS LECTURES.everything he says is important.PRINT OUT HIS SLIDES. DO ALL PRACTICE QUESTIONS that is most important. DO REALLY WELL IN LAB. THERE IS A CURVE! he may say otherwise but there is !
cool prof, thou the toughest dude at ccny. discussion board, office hours, printout slides bring em to lecture and take notes on them, and on top of all before exams just make sure that you know answer for every question on practic question sets. book aint needed always. as a person he is a very cool dude. befriends w him. hes got bitter humor
He was helpful... but it might not be enough. He speaks at the speed of light and mentions unecessary information. His class was extremely hard. Unless you enjoy reading and memorizing difficult terms, take this class with a different professor or at a different school.
The best professor in CCNY. The material is hard, but he is an excellent teacher. You need to understand the concepts to be able to do well on the exams - simply memorizing the book is not enough. Don't miss his review sessions, they are very helpful
He is a good prof. Very hard subject matter. To pass you just need to work very hard and attend his review sessions. The textbook is not needed, he doesn't use it often. Try to get his passed exams be because they really help. Try not to memorize and really try to understand the concepts.
He is so unclear and difficult. His tests are crazy hard and he is very discouraging.
Not the easiest class but the professor is there during his office hours to help fill in the gaps. He also gives review sessions almost every week before his exams. The exams are MCAT quality and not cumulative. Last tip, be prepared to read plenty of articles.
He is hard, but he is manageable and very helpful! Prior to his class I had little to no background information on biology so it was hard for me to catch on. The most efficient way for me to do well in his class was to record him, watch videos on youtube, get old exams to see his format, study his notes & do well in lab! GL guys, STUDY HARD!
Record his lectures! Do not memorize information, you have to understand it. Study from his slides. He is tough, goes fast, but he is fair. Ask questions & go to review sessions. Do practice exams! They're like his test. Post questions on blackboard, he will answer your questions. You have to read and study a lot. Lab is worth 50% do well in lab.
Professor Firooznia is one of the best professors I've taken at City College. He does a lot of things to help students do well in the course: review sessions, songs, and clear explanations of concepts. You have to do the work, but you will learn a lot. One of the few professors who really teaches you to think like a biologist.
If you have him for Bio 101, run the other way! Not only are his test over the top hard, he can be very discouraging. If you take him, make sure you read the book, watch YouTube videos, and spend maximum amount of time studying for his test. He is not easy at all. Print out his slides before, take notes, record him.
Man, i hate biology and Firooznia just made it worst for those who are chem majors. I got a 30,60,80 and in the final i got an 60. As for my lab grade it was a B-. In the end, I got a B-. Hardest class in my life -_-
grammar corrections, powerpoints, exce, articles and just uneccessary stuff for intro to bio. school is inequality dont let this guy and other teachers tell you bio is not for you or that u can't do. there are other components to an applicaton for grad school. you are more than just a number. avoid. avoid. terrible attitude.
Also I studied for hours at a time and he still managed to over power me with his exams which he makes very hard. Heed my warning and take this class with another professor in another school. This guy tormented my life because I tried so hard :. More than half the class ends up dropping out too
Professor Firooznia is very tough. His exams are pretty crazy but I've learned that in order to pass the exams you must must MUST read the book. Going to lectures and reviews is not enough prep for his exams. You need to know your stuff and be able to write short answers and essay questions. Make sure you Ace your lab since its 50% of your grade.
i personally tried really hard to pass his class, he is a bit rude at times and the fact of the matter is you won't know what is going to be on the test. The way the tests are structured is that he will ask you for one question but that question has 50 different parts that aren't mentioned. In this class you are expected to know it like he does..-_-
One of my favorites ever. Crams a ton of information into each lecture, but pauses to make sure everyone's clear on things and to answer question. Wry humor. Tests hard, but prepares hard; puts everything (& more) online; you'll have to work for your grade, but you won't be left behind unless you let it happen. Only lab attendance really mandatory.
He is a great professor, but he go through his lectures pretty fast. So, get ready to cry. His tests are super hard, however say the majority of the class did not get certain question right, he'll drop the question. There to give supports but just a monster when it comes to tests. Lectures is a must even though attendance isn't mandatory.
He is a terrible teacher to say the least. From day one you'll realize that this guy is smart and knows his stuff but he doesnt use his knowledge to help others do well in the class and on his tests which he makes ridiculously hard for an intro level course. You have to read the textbook and study but even that wont help you to pass his hard tests
He is a loving person, but a very tough grader. His test are hard and long. Good luck
This is a very intelligent man. However why his class is so difficult I won't understand. Crushing the hopes of so many. Lab instructors are just grad students who wouldn't want to be there. Try taking it in another school if possible.
He is a great professor. Pay attention to his lectures, study hard( I'm not kidding, if you want an A, work for it), and ace the lab part, because 50% of your grade is lab and the other half is lecture.
Tells you a lot of excess information for the sake of him really wanting to educate you but most times it's confusing and not on the tests. The tests are hard and tricky and no lenient grading. STUDY. Lab Saves Lives (50% of your grade). He posts review questions weeks in advance, DO NOT try to do a night or two crammed study sesh before the test.
You will find this class difficult if you do not study. Most of what he says in lecture is on the test. Memorize everything from lecture and you will pass.
He's really not that bad. If you study the material that he gives you and attend his lectures, you should be fine. He's pretty fair. Lab is really a life saver so make sure you do really good in lab. Also attend his review sessions and do all the practice questions. His tests come right out of those review questions he gives out and his lectures.
Today was my first exam and was so difficult, I went to the two review sections, I though I was prepared but I wasn't. I read the books, the articles, and some of the question of my exam weren't in the review, I don't like the way he made the exams. He made everything more difficult to the students.
Firooznia is by far one of my favorite professors at City College. He holds many review sessions before every exam and gives review sheets. His exams aren't easy but they are doable. You HAVE to study for this class. It's not impossible to get an A because I did. He is approachable and helpful. Also, the dicussion board helps a lot so check it out.
I wouldn't let my worst enemy take this class. He is by far the most discouraging professors I have ever encountered. You could be studying since the day you left the womb and still fail. Nope nope NOPE!!!!!
Tip for taking his class: DON'T.
Intelligent man. But complete DB. Crushing the hopes onmf so many college students. Why because he was ivy while all his students are CUNY. He didn't go to med school yet he feels like he could crush the hopes of many hoping to attend. Look up bio 101 exams for other schools. For instansce Washington states and others easy when compared. Not Fair!!
Mix feelings for this guy. He is extremely tough, but he is pretty much the only 101 teacher so you have no choice. Stuff that we read is actually pretty interesting, and his songs and demo are actually quite amusing. Lectures are detailed despite being boring, and test are relatively hard. But he does this to weed people out so I understand.
During his office hours he literally reviews the lesson in detail so if you don't understand him during class see him and he will review again. Don't miss class and study.
omg. I am only writing this to WARN other people. Bio 101 should be an intro class. I was considering science as a major and this class made me question my life purpose for one whole semester. My FIRST semester to be exact. It was extremely tough and I would never take again but if you must, take it later on in your academic career.
Make sure you go to class and try to record him. He talks fast and what he says and explains will be on your exam. You have online quizzes that have to be done, you also have articles to read, which are also part of your exam. Make sure you are prepared. Be also prepared for the essay part of your exam, 20 points given. DO VERY GOOD IN LAB!
Although attendance isn't mandatory, skipping class would only hurt you. He explains stuff well and is pretty clear during office hours, but the problem with this professor is that his exams are so so SO hard and he is VERY a tough grader. The only thing that saved me in this class was lab. He is also a little stuck up and rude.
You need to go hammmmmmm to pass this class at least with a B. Like seriously, you need to study every day all day to pass his exams. 4 exams. I have not met anyone who has passed any of those exams with a 70+. The average is around a 50, so imagine that. More than half the class dropped. You wanna save your grade? ACE YOUR LAB SECTION GRADES!!
The first weed-out course many encounter. Exams are a shock at first. Have heard them compared to grad exams. Like others said the lab is a pad for your grade (I got 100 on one lab exam). Plus you also get the online quizzes. So exams are hard but you dont need to get As on them. I got 2 75s and 2 85s and got an A-. A vy gd. foundational course.
DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS I REPEAT DO NOT!!!!! LISTEN TO ME HE WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE VERY MISERABLE. His tests questions are so hard when people say its a tough class their not kidding. Only a very small portion passes. I took this class i studied every single day and night for every exam and i didn't pass. He's the worst professor in this school!!!!!!!
Be ready to dedicate a lot of time to this class. He does not play. Exams are tough, but he provides a lot of practice questions and review sessions before the exams and if you attend them and do the questions, then you should be fine for the exams (try to maintain a B- on lecture exams). Do extremely well in lab and read the textbook!
Make sure you get 90s in the lab. His exams are extremely tough for no reason. After study for the class, passing was a miracle. Lectures make it look easy but his questions are on another level. For each exam try your best, and to understand what he is asking. Each exam and final is worth 10%. Try to get a study group as quickly as possible.
Coming from a straight As student and who works hard to earn the grade, my advice to you is save some stress you already have by not taking him. THATS ALL! Btw this is an INTRO to Bio and I witnessed the load of students Fardad discouraged during the course of the semester. CCNY needs to hire another biology professor. NOT GOOD!!!
He is a good professor, also spares his time for the students who are struggling with subject. BUT his exams are extremely hard, they are almost impossible to pass. I never passed his exams. his class was my retake class(previously got c- from other college), but here i got D only because my lab grade saved me. take in other college if possible(((
He is a great professor. Weeds out the weak quickly. His exams are hard and it is recommended that you read the material before hand. He gives a lot of opportunities. He also speaks fast, but makes sure you got the information needed. Labs a big part of the grade, so pass them.
Make sure you have a lot of background knowledge in bio beforehand, because he is very specific in his exams, and takes off a lot points for minor mistakes. Lab get at least a 95, and 65 average on lecture exams to get at least a B. Speaks fast, so record his lectures. Really difficult class but if the work is put in, its possible to do well.
By far the worst professor in ccny. He is not helpful at all. His exams are extremely hard. Even reading the textbook and studying his lecture slides will just get you a C in his class. DO NOT TAKE HIM.
He is by far the worst professor at cony. No matter how hard you study he will just give you a C. Also his Lab TAs are horrible. Most of them do not know what they are doing. DO NOT TAKE HIM. Take it with another professor or in another school.
He thinks he knows everything when he does not. His exams are brutal for no reason. He should not be allowed to teach anymore!!!
You have to work really hard to get an A in his class. He challenges his students to learn the material. But, I personally do not think that he is a bad professor. He does talk fast and his exams are tough, but his expectations are clear. Study from the slides, read the book, and do well in lab (80 and above). Exam wise, maybe 65 and above.
Firooznia is a great professor. The workload can seem relentless at times and almost overwhelming, but in the end it really is a great experience. Lab is 50% of your grade so make sure you take that portion of the class seriously. As for lectures, I would recommend recording them as many of his questions are answered directly in lecture.
Hate to see these people give firooznia a bad rating just because he is hard. Just don't be lazy. One of the best but hardest teachers out there. Study, read and do the practice problems he gives you. They are similar to the ones on the test.
Worst professor ever!!! He has no idea how to each and mounds on tons of tests and reading as as if his class is the only class we have. Ex: test the 6, lab exam the 7, bio lab report the 9. And other classes and essays on top of that. It's insane!! Doesn't know how to teach, I learn more from the textbook. City college, get a new bio101 professor
He is extremely intelligent and knows the material well, however he cannot teach it to the class. You're supposed to make a class enjoyable and fun to learn. His teachings do the complete opposite. I wish I took bio101 at a different school, he is so bad at teaching and his tests are extremely difficult. DO NOT TAKE HIM IF YOU CAN AVOID IT
He speaks way too fast in lecture. Still go though, cause examples from lecture end up on the exams. Lab is intended to support you because your exam grades will suck, but the TA's are a mess. Deadlines are set so quiz+lab+exam are due within a single week. STUDY YOUR TEXTBOOK! It'll be your savior when you know nothing.
Way too much is due during the same week. Although exams are 10% they can either make or break you considering the ta's are just as terrible. or, from experience mine is. no one is there to help assistant you and firooznia doesn't care for his students. extremely hard course for a 101 class and firooznia cannot teach.
People say he can't teach but honestly he can it depends on how much you actually put the effort in to studying. He may seem cold but go to his office hours. He is a completely different person very sweet. When I forgot to hand in the quiz he was willing to still take it. Great person/prof. Only wished I studied more. If you fail that's all you.
Terrible! Terrible! Terrible! Worst professor ever. Extremely hard grader, impossible to pass any exam. He is very mean and unhelpful. He teaches plant physiology in Bio 101. He speaks at the speed of light. He discourage student and makes class very boring. He makes your entire semester miserable. I would not let my enemy take his class.
can someone please tell him that its a bio 101 class and not a 300 level course? because that's how he treats it and how his exams are. extremely difficult, and the ta's aren't all that great from personal experience. they don't care enough to help you get a good grade and no matter how hard you study, you still fail. take anything else! :(
I failed the first exam and got an 82 on the second one at the expense of doing poorly on exams for other classes. Had to study intensely and ended up ignoring my other commitments. Rationing your time + studying the textbook thoroughly will help you a lot. Prepare yourself for some tough nights.
I don't know why people think he's any good honestly. Exams are long, you have to write 1-2 detailed essays. Does not curve. He has review for the test which helps but teaches you way more than what you need to know for bio 101. He should not be teaching honestly. Pulled my GPA.
If you want to pass you have to pass all four tests including the final, hes lies about how lab counts but it really doesn't improve your grade at all. Honestly if you want to pass this class you have to read the textbook, because his lectures are way to fast and only he knows what he is saying. Worst professor and only he teaches BIO so unfair.
There are a ton of negative reviews for Dr. Firooznia, but the fact is that these people did NOT put in the effort necessary for a college level course. The exams are based on class discussions and the tough quizes are meant to get people to work together. Lab is 50% making a good grade within ones grasp. Getting a 90+ in lab is super easy.
If you are a person who can study on their own, has no job, came straight out of high school with no extra curriculum activities then this class is for you. if expect to get a refresher i suggest you to e-permit this class, he expects you to have the knowledge already + really harsh grader. best of luck
there's no way you can avoid him. his class is insane. prepare to work your butt off.
I find dr Firooznia very knowledgeable,and yes this course really is hard. I can't believe I only figured out my success strategy towards the end of the semester - DO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE PRACTICE QUESTIONS HE GIVES YOU EXPLICITLY AND IN DETAIL! That will prepare you for the test well. Do pay attention in class - he answers the tricky questions
Firooznia is an educated man. But I feel like this is all he wants to flaunt. I will hand it to him-- he gives students the unlimited resources to pass the class. It is the only way I was able to get through. But it does NOT mean he is a good teacher himself. He is very fast-paced and has a condescending tone once you engage in a conversation.
DO NOT I MEAN DO NOT take this class. HIghly recommend an E-permit. I understand the concept of there are a lot of biology majors in this school so they are trying to weed out kids BUT that should not be happening in an 101 class. Extremely difficult( for kids with not AP Bio knowledge), thinks this class is the only class we have.
HAVE TO make sure that you read the textbook and do the practice questions. only way to pass. He goes through material quickly to cover everything in time and he assumes that you did your part and read before class. He seems mean so i was scared to go to his office but he was pretty friendly. Still the hardest intro class i ever took.
i don't know how to put into words how difficult his class was. im so happy its over
Dr. Firooznia is very clear with his expectations. He provides practice questions, outlines of what to pay attention to, and offers ample review sessions to go over material. He does expect that you learn how to write succinctly on exams. Do all of the practice problems! Pay attention to language on exam keys. Do the work, you'll learn a lot.
Excellent professor. He seems like a tough guy but very knowledgeable. He also drops questions on the exam which most people got wrong. The course material has to be learned thoroughly though and do the practice questions!
His lectures are clear and great. If you have a question he'll stay after class to answer it. Must read and understand material, memorizing won't help. Do practice exam and go to exam prep. some multiple choice mostly short answer and 1 long essay exam. Check your Bio LAB TA! Some are real tough. Buy textbook bundle if taking bio102.
He really cares about teaching his students about Biology. He's very ardent and expects you to take the class seriously. Go to all the lectures and reviews, study in advance, and YOU MUST do well in lab. Tests are tough, but manageable if you study well.
I've never gotten anything below a B+, this guy was beyond difficult to the point of being unfair. Sadly he's the only Bio 101 professor. Half the class dropped, and half of that failed.
This class is hard if you only took living environment in high school. You need to know some chemistry (general) and should know AP biology beforehand. Only take this class if you are confident and are willing/able to dedicate more than 8 hours per week just studying for this class. It is a dense course so make sure you have classes that are easy.
He wasted half the class time on the first day talking about class etiquettes, which was totally useless. He is a very harsh, cold and insensitive person and Professor. I went to his office hours once to clarify a topic but he told me that he is not my tutor and I shouldn't have come to him. He does not drop any grade. All grades count. Avoid him
Dr. Firooznia makes learning Biology a very painful experience. Although it seems like he encourages students to ask questions, he is almost aggressive when we do.. Soon you begin to understand that if you don't ant to be looked down at you should not speak up. Nasty, unfriendly, pissed and cranky. I love to learn but he makes it very unpleasant!
Okay, the people who are giving professor Fiooznia horrible ratings are the people who are fresh out of highschool, meaning they are freshman and dont take this class seriously. In order to do well in this class, you NEED a good basic chemistry background. So my advice is, stop complaining and start putting in the work and go study.
He is really God Awful. He is so intimidating and kind of sarcastic. He really doesn't like stupid questions and will make u feel small if you don't know something. Good news, the class is 50% lab so even if you fail all exams with 40s and 50s, no less, than you can still pass w.a C or more if u get close to perf lab grades.
To be honest he is a fair teacher, gives you everything that you need to pass the class and it is up to you to work hard for the grade you want. The class is a very difficult one with a lot of material to cover, READ before lecture! If I can give you one advice would be to ace your lab section, it will make your life 100% easier.
Be prepared to work for your grade. To do well, you need to read the textbook material before lectures. Also, for the lecture exams, do not cram. It won't help at all. But the good part is the lecture section is only worth 50% of your grade. If you do well in your lab section, then you should pass.
Look, Biology has never been easy. If you pay attention in class and read the chapters, you can literally ace this class. During review sessions, he stays as long as you need him to and answers a question as many times as you need him to! And he's funny! Intimidating though. The lectures can go fast but you can catch up with the textbook. READ it.
He is a great professor, provides you with everything you need to do well: The PowerPoint slides, the practice questions, and he is very helpful in his review sessions . Its up to you to put in the work. Go to every lecture, go to some review sessions, and for the exams just make sure you understand every slide and if you don't then read the book.
You have work your butt off if you really want to pass and learn stuffs! if you are just freshmen thinking it's going to be easy like those highschool bio classes then I must say you are WRONGGGGG!!!! You have to study and really understand the material in depth to really do good.
RUN AWAY from this class. This course is REALLY HARD, and almost half of his students drop his class.
BAD TEACHER I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE
BAD TEACHER I HAVE SEEN IN MY LIFE
He's a very nice guy but his tests are very hard. I went to tutoring, studied very hard and still didn't do well on the exams. One exam the highest grade was probably 60-80. His lectures are good as well as slides but they don't help on the test. Tests are way too tough. Lab exams are very tough as well depending who you have.
When I took the class, I thought Firooznia was terrible. However as a senior in biology, I appreciate the fact that he took the time out to actually teach us the material. And he went out of his way to ensure we understood the material. Was his exams difficult, yes, but looking back now it truly represented the foundation of the entire field of bio
Dr. Firooznia is just a great man! Def. take this class. Easy A
Not an easy A. But, if you read the textbook you will def pass, do not be stupid and lazy like I was, READ THE TEXTBOOK AND DO THE PRACTICE QUESTIONS!!!
Take this class if you actually care about learning biology. It's not an easy A, but you have the tools you need to learn the material and do well if you are willing to put in the work. Attendance is not mandatory, but the lectures are extremely helpful. Tests are hard, but there are clear expectations about what material you are responsible for.
This is my first time rating a professor. I think he is not bad, just the grading is tough and lab exams are exceptionally unexpected due to being created by TAs. If you take good lecture notes and read the textbook (even though you are not held responsible for reading it), you should be fine. It is a hard class for sure, so you have to earn your A
First of all, I have to say, this bio class is really challenging, however, if you do work on it and try hard, you can learn way more than you expected. Before I take professor Firooznia, a lot of my friends warned me that his class is really hard, but I enrolled anyway. It turned out to be great, I highly recommend this class if you're bio major.
Was really worried coming into Firooznia's class and although his exams are tough, he really tests your knowledge. Read the textbook, it helps a lot, go to his office hours, do really well in lab, that will save your grade! Got between 70s and 80s on all my tests but did pretty well in lab and passed with a B+. Overall tough class, must work hard!
You truly need to work for an A. Definitely attend lecture and memorize the diagrams in the textbook. Read the extra readings, some of them may pop up on the test. Lab work was pretty easy as long as you had a good TA. Only difficulty with this class was that lecture exams. Tests were extremely difficult and I never had enough time to finish them.
This isn't an easy class, but if you put in the time by going to class, reading the textbook, going to the review sessions, and doing the practice tests you can do well. He wants you to learn the information and will spend extra time on a topic if he sees the class is confused. I highly recommend this class because I learned so much from it.
Get e-permit or take Saturday class. Workload for this class is highly unrealistic for a Bio 101 course. Your semester will seem unmanageable, especially if taking other sciences like most students have to. This class will wreck your GPA. MOST students drop/get Cs/fail. Even with high lab grades, exam averages are 40's - 60's. Good luck.
He is not a terrible professor, given all the other comments. However, he was one of the hardest professors I have ever had. I know that I am not a bad student, if anything I will say that I am a great student. You can do all the work like a good student is required to do but don't expect a good grade. Unless you give your all, you will fail.
Didnt learn anything from lecture slide
Firooznia is not a bad prof, he show that he cares by asking if everyone understands the material and even does reviews. His lectures are boring and he talks quick, you have to study hard to pass his exams and he expects everyone to know so much information in an unrealistic amount of time even though most students have other difficult courses.
As said before, definitely read the textbook (before lectures might help you), do the practice questions, and read the extra readings provided. I can't make out what he says in his lectures usually, since he talks quite quickly tho he's somewhat entertaining; it won't help if you daydream easily or anything.
Toughest class I have ever taken in CCNY. Don't know why he makes the exams so hard when its just an introductory. Please, if you're reading this, for your own sake, do NOT take this class.
I think Professor Firooznia is truly a great professor. If you do everything he asks for you'll do great. Read the textbook, do the practice set questions every week and record his lectures and print out slides so you can take notes on them in class and at home while listening to the lectures. It is a lot of work but trust me you'll get an A
It's not that u can't get a B or A in this class, but minor mistakes are detrimental to your grade. U can work smart and often, but at the end of the day u really need to have a good understanding of what you are reading, writing and doing. This class is no joke. The exams were hard. Labs were fine if u don't make mistakes in the reports.
This class was the hardest class I have ever taken, orgo was not even that challenging. But he is an amazing professor, ever ready to answer any question and makes sure everyone understands before he moves on. He even holds review sessions and stays as long as the students need him. You need to work really hard for your grade though.
Professor Firooznia goes very fast but he is willing to slow down. Participate in the group discussions; they are very helpful. Read the textbook before lecture. Stay on top of the practice sets and make index cards of the lecture. Not an easy A but not impossible. You will learn A LOT of cool material, if you're consistent.
He does really want you to learn the material but his exams are very hard for no reason. He doesn't give extra credit, He doesn't curve, he also doesn't give HW. If you want an easy class don't take this class. Getting an A is possible but you have to work for it. like really work for it.
Before you take this course ask yourself: are you ONE HUNDRED percent certain you want to major in a field where this course is required ? Do not take this course if you can avoid it. Very stressful experience. READ A LOT, DO THE PRACTICE QUESTIONS. Tests are obscenely difficult and for a BIO 101 course he expects you to know A LOT. Good luck...
He's actually better than some Bio professors at the school, but sometimes he'll go way too deep onto a topic, even though we're only taking an intro-level course. He's a solid choice if you are required to take Bio, but you should avoid the class completely if it's an elective.
Worst college experience. Dont take him if you have a life. He expects you to learn all the material as if you dont have other classes. Its as if he assumes that everyone is a bio major who needs to know all of this stuff. Just avoid this man
Three hard exams literally overwhelming. Entry level bio shouldn't be that hard. Stay away if you don't wanna destroy your GPA!!
A benevolent professor. This class is no cake walk, so expect to be challenged like you've never been before. Whatever he says is on the test, literally.
Hardest class I've ever taken. It challenged me to the max, but you have to pull through. Getting a C in this class is like getting a full A. If you are used to getting all A's this class might shook your core a little but just be prepared to study a lot.
He obviously is a smart man, but a TERRIBLE professor. He gives you study guides for the exams and then very little of that is even on the exam. Unfortunately, he's the only professor available for this course. He doesn't even provide enough time to finish the exams, so you won't be able to go back and check your work.
Please don't take him. He does not care if you are a freshman or if this is your first bio class. He starts his lecture with organic chemistry and expects you to memorize all the carbon chains without even EXPLAINING OR GIVING A BACKGROUND. There is no extra credit, and his first lab is based on CHAPTER 6 OR 7. He won't explain the concept.
Never take him! He is the worst, doesnt matter how well you do on lab, if you mess up on his exams you are done! His exams hard as a rock!
How he still has a 3.0 rating is beyond me. Over 200 students start the class, around half have to wiithdraw and majority of the remaining gets Fs, Ds and Cs. Hes smart but will destroy your gpa, tests are extremely hard, he speaks lightning fast and has a sarcastic attitude. Many retake the class many times, others change their majors bc of him.
His goal is to weed out as many students as possible. Tests are extremely hard, he speaks way too fast and you end up teaching yourself. Courseload is equal to like 4 classes and no guarantee you'll pass. If you dont ace the lab section which depends on your TA, you're done for the class and wont pass. Its true most students drop, fail or get C's.
One of the hardest classes you will ever take. Many have been known to take this class a second or third time. He speaks really fast and the information is very bulky , so if you don't read the textbook be ready to fail. If you have a choice to take e-permit DO IT ! THIS CLASS WILL RUIN YOU !
To pass you need to record lectures, read textbook, review slides and do practice set questions. It definitely isnt the easiest class but with hard work, you can pass. He is very specific on wording and exam questions are similar to past exams. Curves grades as well. Do well in lab to help boost your grade. heavy course load; good reality check
I have changed my major from Bio to English because of him
He gives you every opportunity to do well in this class and has realistic expectations of his students. Put a lot of time into study guides and go to EVERY lecture! If he spends a lot of time explaining a question in lecture it will definitely be on the exam. Lab reports will save your grade so don't put them off until last minute.
Fardad Firooznia, the GPA Crusher, the destroyer of Med School Dreams. I'm retaking this class because i didn't believe he was really as tough as they said he was. STUDY off his slides and his practice questions.
For a man so anal and meticulous about even the smallest detail he does not ever communicate what exactly is his expectation for the class assignments. He needs to do a better job at picking lab instructors that are competent and knowledgable. He needs to update his lab manual and make it clear. Pros: he does make himself available for office Hours
This is a class for biology or Premed majors. If you're in any other science, avoid it. Even if it is the only possible co-requisite for your math level. You should be passionate about becoming a professional in this field or it will be a waste of your time. I only studied hard for the sake of my GPA.
Without a doubt, Firooznia's class is going to challenge you regardless of the kind of student you are. Many students go into the class with the energy and thought that because it's a first-level Bio course it's going to be easy. That's far from the truth. The concepts taught in this class are pretty advanced and require you to put in the work.
So heres the deal with this class.... It takes up a lot of your time, but its not impossible to get a good grade. For me reading the textbook was not as useful as for some other students. My tactic was going to every lecture and recording his lectures and then taking my own notes at him because he goes at a fast pace.
Honestly, just don't take this guy. I do not understand what he wants from the students. He gives you set questions before the exams and you have to find the answers yourself. And the amount of questions he gives is crazy, I wasted so much time doing the problems and guess what barely anything from the sets was on the exams. Just epermit .
Horrible guy, very belittling and absolutely disrespectful.
firooznia is a great professor but makes you work for your grade, you'll do well if you just study, majority of people that take his class are incoming freshman and aren't usually ready to work as hard and thats why they're so many bad reviews, he's really not as bad as people claim
Honestly, it is not about if you are a freshman or not. It honestly just depends how active you are. Active by coming to lectures, taking notes, doing the readings, studying, asking for help if needed. He does speak fast, go back and forth between slides quickly, & rushes through explanations. Some of the things I read werent even on the exam.
Find another professor or e-permit. Your GPA will crash if you take this guy- trust me.
just don't even bother with this professor
This class will kill your GPA if you are not careful. The problem with this class are the tests. Too many questions multiple choice, select all that apply, short answer and a 20 point essay. You will not have enough time. He is good at explaining if you pay CLOSE attention! I don't hate bio after this class, but the work is a lot for this class.
His tests are not the worst but he is a harsh grader. However, I learned a lot from him and he does not mind his students answering the same question multiple times for them to understand the material. Advice: go to his lectures, focus on labs quizzes, read everything and take notes, be accurate in your answers on exams, and attend recitations.
Firooznia's class is definitely one of the hardest classes I have taken so far. His tests are rock solid hard. There are way too many questions and adding a 20 point essay definitely doesn't make it any better. He rushes through his lectures to the point where you just get lost. The only good thing is he is available for office hours.
The worst professor hands down in ccny. He speaks so fast , for a minute I thought he was auctioning a product. He rambles and talks to much. Constantly rushes and never gives you a chance to speak your mind. The worst part is you cant pictures in lecture. I dont know if hes self conscious or what, but taking notes is impossible when he rushes.
This professor is horrible. I came into his course ready to learn and left feeling as if I had dumbed down as if I had never been to college. His class is difficult but its like he wants to make it more difficult for the people he does not like. I give you a clear warning to avoid him if you can.
Has a horrible accent. Class is way more difficult than it should be. He has this preconceived notion that all students are PhD level when this may be there first Biology class. >60% of class was failing. The school needs to fire him, if so many students are doing bd then they need to look at the professor because clearly something is wrong.
Work hard on the review sheet he posted and pay attention to the very long explanation about certain mechanism he repeats over and over again in class, these will be in the exam for sure. You could definitely pass if you work hard, but the grade doesn't really worth your hard work.
Worst prof I've ever had. Very inconsiderate. Most students had to take him 2+ times because he fails anybody no matter how much you show up to his office hours and try... Made my friend switch out of her science major because she just couldn't pass his class after multiple attempts. Avoid him, get an e-permit if it's possible !!!
Been one of the hardest, or even the hardest class I have taken. He is a harsh grader, but you learn a lot from him. Expect you to know the material or have an idea of what the topic is about before the lecture. He curved the overall grade at the end. If you gonna take him, expect a harsh grader but you will learn ALOT from him.
Do not take this class unless you absolutely need to! Make sure you study hard and DEEPLY understand concepts, TAKE LAB SERIOUSLY (it really helps your grade), and SPEND A LOT OF TIME STUDYING. This professor is knowledgeable, gladly answers questions, and will help you if you put in effort, but may also come off as passive-aggressive or cranky.
This class is truly ridiculous. Slow TAs and a prof who rules the ball. Not nearly enough time on tests. Over 1/3rd of the q's from the 1st test was "guess a chem st-re by a picture". Students who had a chem class had a huge advantage. In this class you have to put everything down he explains (he does it well) .A textbook is useless. Best of luck
If you don't need this class I suggest that you do not take it. Genuinely not worth it. Took this class and I feel like an idiot.
Terrible professor and person. Very rude and does not care about students.
Firooznia seemed like he just really hated teaching. Even though it was a Bio 101 class, the coursework and questions he gave on the exams were significantly more advanced. This is supposed to be a beginners for biology but he made us leave hating the subject.
He used to give us 40 multiple choice questions per exam including 5 essay questions and 10-15 short answers. All this in one hour. The multiple choice questions were also "choose all that apply" and for a beginners Bio 101 course, that is ridiculous.
If there were other bio101 profs at CCNY, I'd say take literally any of them over him. This guy is the perfect example of a teacher who should not be a teacher. Extremely monotonous. Hard to follow. Tough grader. Makes you do work that arguably doesn't even pertain to the course. He's so smart but he is not meant to teach.
He is very smart and gives you everything you need. Just like other classes, dedicate some time to this class and make sure you write down all answers to the practice questions he gives, as well as questions you go over in class. For tests, his short answer questions are based on stuff you did in class so just pay attention!! Not as bad as others.
Read the textbook before lecture, go to lecture (teaches you things that are not in the text), and hone your note-taking abilities. If you keep up with the readings and participate, you can get an A. This is not your run-in-the-mill introductory course. He makes you think critically and analytically as opposed to basic memorization of terminology.
If you will take this class, don't cry or maybe a little, because it gets harder every class. But you got this. Do not miss any labs, that will help you a lot! Or maybe, just take this class with another professor.
For an introductory class this was a lot. You will spend A LOT OF EXTRA time outside of class to prepare. He made videos almost weekly that we needed to watch out side of class, articles and chapters for the textbook that we needed to read. If you can take with a different prof then do so, but if you need to take him just do very well in the labs
He definitely knows his material but goes WAY too in-depth for an introductory class. Take extensive notes on the videos he posts and in lecture, stay on top of weekly articles, and do the practice questions to prepare for his tough exams (30-40 q's). He did end up curving by at least 6 points for all 3 exams.
Professor is really knowledgeable and knows what he's talking about, however it's a little too much for an introduction class. He goes into such detail on some things that it becomes confusing. He does not post lectures, but he does post videos outside of class on youtube which are really helpful, but time consuming.
Honestly Fardaddy is a hard professor. Lab is what will save your grade!!!! He ended up curving my 70 to a 74 so I could pass with a C and not have to retake. If you take this class be prepared to WORK for your grade.
Professor Firooznia honestly is not the worst professor ever. He is pretty fair. The class is very hard but he gives enough opportunity for you to pass. Focus on lab because lab really saves your grade and make sure to do his readings and watch his youtube videos. Ask questions and attend office hours! He is not the worst and he is very kind.
This class is HARD for an introductory courseor just a course in general. He makes you work for your grade, and his lectures and exams are definitely not light. However, he is pretty fair and provides you with all the resources you need to pass: it is your choice to use them. Make sure you do well in lab, it will eventually save your grade.
Prof Firooznia is a really awesome professor, he is real with you. Just make sure you meet him half-way. He will do anything to help you excel at this class. This class requires lot of your time so do not slack off. Make sure you stay on top of your assignments. Pay lot of attention to his lecture. Audio record it as back up. Do the practice sets.
I wouldnt say his class is hard. As long as you study the concepts, you should be fine. Hes not the worst either. You do you have to work hard to get the grade you want. Lab would really help your grade. Pay attention to his lectures. His exams come straight from his lectures. DO NOT use outside sources. Good luck to whoever taking his class.
He speaks fast because there is a lot of materials to cover in this course. Take notes and read articles or whatever he tells you to read before class. The lectures are actually interesting and fun when you're prepared but the exams are tough. He is a nice professor and you learn a lot from him.
not bad
Too difficult for an introductory class. DONT TAKE HIM. JUST E-PERMIT THE CLASS.
His class was quite difficult for a beginners biology class but he's not a bad professor. He definitely knows all the material and tries his best to answer all our questions. Kinda harsh at grading though.
Too many questions on the exams with not enough time. Questions we never went over, so hard. Horrible professor, very rude. Students worked so hard all semester and he did not care. Lab does not help your grade, the TA said we are not allowed to help with any lab assignment or even answer any questions so wtf are they there for. Get an e permit.
It was a large class but he still gave us the freedom to speak whenever we wanted. I used to dislike him but after taking other biology professors at CCNY, firooznia is definitely one of the better ones. He explains relatively well. The only thing is his grading on the exams are very harsh. He tries his best though and he's genuinely not that bad.
He passed me even though I wasn't supposed to so I really appreciate him. He can be strict but these comments here made me think he's the worst professor when he's definitely not. He's chill and gives us his all.
Even though he was very clear in his grading and tried his best to teach us in a way where we would retain the information, his exams were very difficult. He would give way too many questions for the time given. His reasoning was that it was to limit cheating during online classes but he didn't realize the pressure he put on us. He's not bad though
Taking this course with this teacher online was horrible. Huge breakout rooms of silence, moves too quick through lecture, belittles you if you don't understand something, snarky, and rude. Only good thing is that he knows what he's teaching but seems to hate teaching.
He is the worst professor out there. His teaching is like he is talking to the wall, only he understands what he is teaching. If you get the wrong answer for an exam he assumes you have cheated since what he asked for you does not know the right answer but you have tried to get some partial credits. DO NOT TAKE HIM.
Do yourself a favor, don't take him.
Unless you are a Biology major and you absolutely have to take this man's class, DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS. It's an extremely difficult class, with a horrible professor. Impossible tests, very difficult labs, and a terrible professor. You can't ask him a question without him being agitated. This class is more biochemistry than biology. Worst professor
Hands down the best biology professor in the department. He is very difficult but he will always help you and answer all questions. Go to lecture and read the material before lecture. Hands down the best professor ever.
Why is he the only professor teaching Bio 10100? DO NOT TAKE HIM. He quickly reads from slides during lectures in a robotic way. If you have any questions good luck getting a response without attitude. He is inpatient & condescending. He does a poor job creating a healthy learning environment. Tough grader. Overall He does not like teaching.
His tests are very roundabout, with him phrasing questions in difficult ways and then grading them harshly to ensure the minimal amount of points. He also does this with the labs, subtracting points for details as minute as misspellings of words. He's even gone as far as to get mad at a TA for grading too easily. Avoid at ALL costs.
The way that he teaches is complicated. Given that I am a visual learner and his lectures are mainly just slides I tend to lose focus fast. He doesnt give quizzes which is also a downside because that means you will have to drill yourself hard on every topic because you wouldnt know what you succeed at and fail at until the test.
Don't get me wrong this professor is a great person. However, the way he teaches or grades is NOT it! He is a geniune person but he needs to switch up his teaching style.
He's not as bad as everyone thinks. He is pretty fair with his grading scale and provides good feedback. I think he gets flack because of the massive amount of information given during the class which is almost incomprehensible. This class is no joke but it will help your study habits and get you ready for future classes.
This class is not something you should take. I thought this class would be pretty easy but man was I wrong. This class is hard because the professor makes it hard for us to understand. He moves his slides and goes through lectures way too fast for us to understand. I HIGHLY DONT RECOMMEND TAKING THIS PROFESSOR.
DONT TAKE THIS CLASS, apply for an e-credit to take it somewhere else. idk why this class was so difficult especially since it was a intro to bio im thinking im gonna learn about cells and stuff. he had us doing chemistry and everything. Even my TA for the class was such pain the behind. I hated this class but needed. If you are join as many study
Personally, I think that Fardad is a fine professor. I cant find anything strikingly negative or positive about it. I think that the course itself is just tough given the amount of topics especially for a 101 class. There is a lot of material in this class and you have to keep up with the readings and videos or youll be really behind.
Truth is, Firooznia is definitely an intelligent professor and knows his content. He absolutely cares about his students and whether they retain the information. He gives us all the content we need to know for his exams and labs, you just have to put in the work. Manage your time. Only critique is that he should be more social with his students.
Do yourself a favor and e permit this class
He is very detailed on what he wants you to learn and is also very specific on his tests about the topics he covers. Read the textbook, do your best in labs, and if you can rewatch the lectures to catch every word he says.
Failed this class once and retook it just to get a C+. He makes bio 101 a lot tougher than it needs to be. He speeds through the slides during lectures and does not record them. I was lucky I had a great lab TA which really helped. I can tell he's very intelligent and cares but he is also very rude and has very high expectations for an intro class.
I don't know why he gets such a bad rep. It's true the class is hard and you have to do a lot of reading, but there's a lotta other positives. He's a fair grader, curved 2 out of 3 exams, and did review sessions before each exam which was suuuper helpful. Asked him for a letter of recommendation and he was happy to write me one.
Firooznia is a fair professor in my opinion. Its obvious he cares and is so knowledgeable about the subject. BIO 101 is a weed out course so I understand why it was difficult and material heavy. I personally didn't do too well. Barely passed, but I wanna stress that I never studied. If you dedicate a couple hours a week, you should be fine.
do not take bio 101 from him, its not worth it especially if you're not a bio major and have to take the class.
He’s mad sassy I can’t!
He’s terrible! If you can avoid taking this class please do. He’s also very sassy (in a bad way)
He’s clearly a very knowledgeable man, but the way he conducts his class and transfers information isn’t the best. Listen to the majority. His class will truly stress you out. I would recommend watching YouTube videos on lecture material they will help way more.
just get an ePermit. Students manage to get A's when they spend up to 8 hours/day studying but if you don't, this professor will make you rethink your career choices. He talks too fast in all his content, if you don't understand he'd literally repeat the exact same statement over again (as if it's supposed to help). WAY too hard for an intro course
He is far better than I expected based on the reviews. He's fair and clear on the requirements. Do practice sets, attend lectures and pay attention( even if he says lecture isn't mandatory), and submit labs based on requirements( he posts examples of good lab reports). He also teaches with real-life examples, which makes lectures engaging and fun.
Way too much to learn, and he speaks insanely fast. He's very rude and intimidating. As if Gen bio 1 wasn't already a lot of material, he'll give you an insane amount of articles to learn too. If you have no option but to take him, focus on the practice questions he gives, they're what will come on the test & record lecture + use khan academy.
Tons of reading from the textbook to articles, barely got by with a C. you have to study so much for this class daily. Exams are impossible to do if you haven't studied enough. Labs feel like it's a whole different class. I personally wouldn't recommend taking BIO 101 at CCNY, try and get an epermit.
If you're taking 102 because of degree requirements, and you're not majoring in biology, stay away. He expects WAYYYY too much from you for a 100-level class. This class will eat into the time of your other classes. Unless you're extremely disciplined or interest in biology, it's not worth fretting over this class. Just find another science class.
Do yourself a favor and e-permit this class!!!
He is a smart man. But that's about it. It's a 1000 level course but realistically is at least a 2000. I would recommend you to avoid at all costs. I had my first academic-related mental breakdown over his course. The course is also quite disorganized, with new grading policies and guidelines being added and removed throughout the semester. AVOID.
Don't be fooled by the term "intro course", you must put in the work to get the grade you want. Firooznia helps with that by holding his own recitation, always posting review questions, holding review sessions (in-person/zoom) for almost all exams. Little intimidating at first, but definitely cares about his students.
For Bio 101 it was torture but for this class he was so chill. It is so adorable how passionate he is about plants. Gives a few exams but they are take home and he allows you to work with anyone you want as long as you write that you worked with them. He was busy with Bio 101 so he was lenient with us. Took in Spring 2022
This prof is extremely tough. You will learn from lectures dont get me wrong, but they do not even begin to prepare you for exams. Exams are extremely hard, it is very hard to feel prepared, extremely long practice sets, that do not give you the answers, so they are also not very helpful. Genuinely way too difficult for an introductory class.
If you think "It's just biology, how hard can it be?" then you're wrong, go take chem if this class isn't your major study area because for this school chem is way much easier!
BIO101 is a weed out course so it makes sense that it is somewhat difficult. However, it would seem that Firooznia goes an extra distance to ensure students cannot pass. Get an e-permit if you are a biology major or on the pre-med track, or avoid completely/take another science elective.
Avoid. He himself is 100% superbly knowledgeable, but has made his class a deterrent for stem majors. His slides are incredibly simple and fail to elaborate on most concepts. He goes very fast and oftentimes skims over small details he would otherwise think is simple. This class essentially does FAR too much for "intro level bio" Take an e-permit!!
Firooznia does not deserve the hate he gets here. Is he the most exceptional professor? No. Does he take pedantic to the next level? Yes. But he does explain concepts well during his lectures. There are just so many we have to learn in BIO 101 (or re-learn from high school) that it can be overwhelming if you miss a beat. Would take him again.
He's a good lecturer. If you go to office hours or see a tutor, you can get the information you need to do well. You just have to actually study.
If you don't know much about bio or chemistry prior to taking this course, it will feel overwhelming. This professor expects way too much and goes through the topics extremely fast during lectures. You have to do A-LOT of reading/studying the textbook to understand. The exams are very difficult, and most of the questions require written responses.
I don't get how we are expected to remember all the information given in such a short amount of time for the difficult exams. If you are taking other classes, this course will feel very stressful. How is he the only professor for BIO101? IF YOU CAN, GET AN E-PERMIT! If for whatever reason you still choose to take this course, may God be with you.
This man expected us to read over 200 articles when only 1/200 will be on exam. Bio 101 is too much. I recommend you get an epermit so you can learn bio 1 properly. Fardad should be let go of the teaching position. God have mercy on you if you decide to take bio 1 at CCNY. I wish ePermit instead of CCNY
THIS MAN WILL MAKE YOU PULL YOUR HAIRS OUT, HES SASSY AND ARROGANT EXPECTS YOU TO KNOW EVERYTHING. HIS QUESTIONS ON THE EXAM R THERE TO SET U UP FOR FAILURE!!! HIS GRADING IS TERRIBLE HE TAKES POINTS OFF FOR GRAMMAR!!!! DOES NOT DROP OR CURVE. IDK HOW THIS IS A INTRO COURSE WITH THE AMOUNT OF MATERIAL HE GIVES. NO DROP, NO CURVE AVOID!!!!
It's a really interesting class, and the professor is very knowledgeable about the content; however, if you don't find biology interesting, don't take this class because you will need to study a lot to ace the exams.
If you're not a science major, avoid this class!Even for science majors, it's one of the toughest intro courses.Professor Fardaad Firooznia assigns a whole book of articles that feel unnecessary but are tested heavily.Ask past students they'll confirm it's harder than advanced classes.If you want a lighter load,consider another course or professor.
Just take an e-permit for this class. Save yourself the stress.
Ode in-depth for intro course. The guy is chill if u get on his good side but does get ticked off easily by a few things. Definitely a difficult class that requires A LOT of studying and tests don't make that any easier. Heavily based on his practice questions. very tough grader not an enjoyable experience but manageable if u stay on top of things
When i signed up for this course a while ago i have not checked his ratings , after i did i was like let me give him a chance, but when i tell you this professor is not normal, he is really arragont and want to make sure that you fail in any way, does not like his students and i do not know how city college are letting him teach after all of this!
Avoid if you care about you're gpa. This man will make you question your life choices He is a walking textbook and is very smart but a bad professor and an awful grader. He will not curve or drop so dont even try. No matter how much you study you will get worse than u thought. E-PERMIT AND AVOID IF YOU CARE ABOUT UR GPA!!!!
class had me stress so hard I wanted to rethink my decision if I really want to peruse biology
A very hard class. Even as someone with a lot of biology background, his questions are mostly conceptual rather than memorization. Slides are bare minimum forcing you to get down every word he says in lecture. Tests are very harsh especially the open ended questions. In general don't take. He's not a bad person, but just a very harsh/strict teacher
He is a decent guy during office hours. During class, however, he is very rude, sassy, and his exams are extremely hard. Most people who take his class will tell you, he is no joke. Please read the textbook. He says not to watch YouTube videos bc they give out the wrong info. Do yourself a favor and E-Permit or take another prof.
RUN AWAYYYYYYY!!!!
RUN AWAY. DO NOT TAKE.
RUNNNNN do not take. His exams are so difficult and he's extremely sassy. If you have another option, take that option. Anyone is better than this professor.
For an intro-level course, it's quite intense. Attendance isn't mandatory, but missing a lecture can leave you lost. There are few homework assignments, mainly take-home quizzes and lots of reading. Exams are specific and focus on understanding concepts rather than memorization. If you're not dedicated to the sciences, consider dropping.
Firooznia is a tough grader, but his lectures are interesting and engaging. Attendance isn't mandatory, but GO! The textbook won't help, you need to know exactly what he says in lecture for exams. He's accessible and answers all questions, just go to office hours, its vvv important and you'll get a better sense of what he expects on the exams.
He is the only professor that has both chapters and articles on his exams.The articles are always the short responses but he will take points off for the smallest things. I wish I listened to everyone when they said to e-permit. I'm telling you e-permit or take the other professor that has his classes on a Saturday(not sure if he teaches in spring)
I liked Proffesor Fardad. His lectures are interesting, and he's funny. He speaks quickly, so record lectures and review after class. Make sure you're constantly staying on top materials. If you're unfamiliar with biology, start preparing now. Do the practice questions as soon as they're posted. Study as much as possible and go to tutoring.
No, just no
Mannnnnn…. he's cool during office hours but his course is just.. hard. When you study for the tests, you practically have to study every single slide and break it down and study every article too. There's only 3 tests and a few quizzes so only that will make up your lecture grade. However, lab could help ur grade if u do well. Good luck!
The course itself is absolutely no joke. This is by far the most difficult beginner bio class you'll ever take and i am not exaggerating it a single bit. He is not a bad lecturer whatsoever. He is just very very strict on his grading. You'll struggling not because the professor cannot teach but because the course load is very heavy.
Professor Firooznia is a tough grader, and this class is one of the hardest classes I've taken. Tons of studying, but lab grades really help you out. Attendance isn't mandatory but you should go to just record the lecture, skim textbook, but the taking notes while reading his slides & listening to the audio is all you need to pass this course.
His teaching style is messy and confusing. He jumps between random topics and lectures are hard to follow.
His lecture confuses me. But his lecture is all you need to pass the class. So get ready to record.
horrible. its ruining my life, literally. unless u can memorize everything hes able to give you in a span of less than 2 weeks (time between each exam) in a machine like manner don't even bother cz summarizing his words won't take you anywhere.
Pretentious professor that's unavoidable if you need to take Biological Foundations I. Weedout course design. Far from foundational, and the most excruciating 101 course I have ever taken. A professor averaging 40's on his exams should not even have a job.
I enjoyed firooznia's class. Difficult material, but its all there in the slides. he allows you to record everything. exams are not easy, but they are on the material provided.
Bro just no... no. I almost became sui..... yea well... no
If you really have to take this class, no point in worrying about the lecture exams. Trust me like 85% of people fail his lecture exams. Put most of your energy and effort into the labs and lab exam because those count the most and better grades. HE IS THE WORST BIO PROFESSOR TOO HARD AND EASY TO FAIL JUST DO VERY GOOD ON THE LABS PLEASE.
Slides lack detail, expects students to read textbook and videos. He attempts to make the class fun, but students are afraid to ask questions due to attitude. In depth discussions in lecture are often questions on exam. Detail/Conceptually heavy course. Taken IB Bio HL before, questions are oddly specific and worded weird. Good luck.
Fardad definitely understands biological concepts well. His class, though, is hard and very lecture/reading heavy. It's definitely possible to pass his class, it just requires a high amount of dedicated studying time.He posts practice exam questions, so be sure to do those.More generally, be sure to take advantage of your resources. Good luck.
Honestly this is your best chance at passing BIO 1 at cony during the spring and fall semesters. Definitey come to lecture, pay attention to what he asks about and topics he emphasizes in lecture they almost always appear on tests. He doesnt curve but does adjust tests based on how well the students respond to a certain type of questioning.
Reviews reflect students more than the prof. Had him last sem, hes very intelligent & a gr8 lecturer. His course isnt a joke, take it srsly. Do not be lazy. If ur premed, take him bc his class is gr8 prep (in terms of getting proper study habits and discipline) for mcat. take a light course load when taking his class, and be on top of EVERYTHING.
This professor is not understanding at all and not helpful and makes the class difficult for no reason. As a professor instead of making students life easier considering he is there to teach he makes it harder and even if you genuine reasons will not accommodate.
Other ratings are exaggerated. His exams are exactly like his lectures and slides, but you MUST understand. I can admit was a bit too much for intro but he wasn't unfair. gives extra credit based on a random fact he brought up in class, which is partially why lecture is important. You CAN pass w/o lectures, but very difficult. Take excellent notes.
Run. Run and never look back. Lab is worth 50% and it can be pretty managable and that is the only thing that saved me. his exams are application heavy and many average 40% on the exams. You need to do a LOT of studying on your own. GO TO TUTORING AND GO TO HIS OFFICE HOURS AND DO THE PRACTICE QUESTIONS. hes very caring and kind but its sill HARD.
Reviews are VERY dramatic. I hate bio, but he makes it so hard to dislike. This man is EXTREMELY smart, the type you have to appreciate. Even if I fail, this class is so worth taking. It is so hard to not appreciate this professor for his care for biology, his students, integrity, etc. He genuinely loves biology and it's very evident. Great prof.
He's a very good lecturer and is extremely clear about how to prepare for his class and exams. Very good at explaining things Gives plenty of extra materials like practice questions, office hours, and hosting review sessions before exams to help you prepare. The bad grades in his class are more reflective of the students taking this class than him.
While his class might be harder than other intro classes, it really prepares you if you're pursuing something science-related or pre-med. Make sure to understand the readings and experiments he talks about, and you'll be good. His pace during lectures can be intense, so make sure to take advantage of the fact he allows recordings.
For an introductory class, it was extremely challenging, and I had to study multiple hours a week to pass. It is possible to pass, but you must be prepared to put in the work.
He is definitely tough & very hard, but he is not unfair at all. He's clear with grading and breakdowns, he isn't unfair as to what is on exams, though that being his exams are def hard. He tries balancing it out by making lab 50% of your grade, so even if you do medicore on every exam, you can save your grade (maybe C or B-) if you do well on lab.
Before I started this class, the other reviews scared me and I thought I was doomed. He is actually an extremely knowledgable professor who cares about his students finding a deep understanding of the topic. He does like things in a very particular way, so pay attention to that and his lectures and you should be fine.
The other glazing reviews are misled…. he actively makes things hard for you with harsh grading and run around wording on exams. His lectures are informative but sometimes not what you need to actually learn, you have to teach yourself. Take this class only if it's a last option.
Firooznia is exceptional in his field of biological science. However, he's over qualified for this course. Lectures are not always relevant for what we need to know for exams, and too fast paced for most to study. Resources dont help for exams since he wants explicit details on every short response. Great man, cannot teach. Take another professor.
He is bad. I used not to sleep because of how hard his exams are. he doesn't give any extra points if you try on your exams, he doesn't curve in his exams at all, he made me hate biology in general, of I felt that there was no way I could pass that class. It's totally not fair as a first-year student to experience all of that.
Honestly, the class itself is doable. The professor, however, seems to run on two very different personality. During office hours, he's fine. In class? Rude. Condescending. Like learning from Medusa. Also, a large portion of the class and exams are focused on articles, which doesn't really help with learning the actual concepts of biology.
He is very knowledgeable, but the class is much harder than it should be for a Bio 101 course. Paying attention in lecture alone is not enough; you also have to listen to recordings and complete all of his practice sets to keep up. It is possible to earn a good grade, but it's too demanding for what should be a simpler, straightforward class.
He isn't a bad professor. His exams are SOLELY based on his lectures. I never touched the textbook and finished the class with a 98. Make sure to attend lectures and participate cuz if you have >80% participation, you get extra credit. Record his lectures and take notes on them the next day. Lab is a big part; do amazing in lab, and you'll be fine
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Textbook Required
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