Dr. Cooke is an amazing professor, he makes an 8am worth going to. He is very helpful in OH and is clear in his explanations of the course material. I recommend him for BIPN 100 and any other class he teaches.

I love Professor Cooke! He's very helpful and his main goal is really to make sure students learn. There will be a lot of in-class group activities, but honestly they weren't bad at all! There were also pre-reading quizzes and homework which really helped me understand lectures better. He also reminds me of Freddie Prinze Jr. for some reason

Amazing and funny lecturer! NOT AN EASY GRADER! He has high expectations for his exams, but if you attend his office hours or really listen to his lectures (PODCASTS!) you can get a good grasp of what he wants. He gives online weekly quizzes, gives group and individual exams! He is always willing to help and I would definitely recommend his class

Great lecturer! I had him for an 8 am but falling asleep was never a problem because he's really funny and energetic. He's great to go to during office hours but usually crowded. The only issue is that it was hard to understand what he's looking for when grading and he doesn't curve. Tests are really long and difficult so don't fall behind studying

Cooke is awesome! He's one of the best lecturers I've encountered. His classes were always interesting and engaging. His test are REALLY hard because they require a thorough understanding of the material and an ability to think about it and not only just know it. I worked hard but getting an A wasn't impossible, even after failing the first midterm

LISTEN TO THE PODCASTS AND MAKE SURE YOU KNOW/UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING HE MENTIONS IN LECTURES. an A is definitely doable but you'll have to earn it.

His lectures are very interactive. Jim expects everyone to pre-read and has a pre-reading quiz per week which are very helpful during lecture. His teachings methods might be confusing at first but they worked really with my study habits and also kept me from procrastinating. Jim is an excellent professor if you are willing to be a good student.

For his first quarter teaching here, Dr. Cooke was funny and a great lecturer . He takes a flipped classroom approach where you are expected to learn before lesson and do probs in class. But tbh, I enjoyed it more during the parts when he just lectured. Tests were based on prob sets and midterms were part individual and group test.

Jim is an interesting professor. He is extremely helpful in that he keeps everyone awake even with early classes. He is fairly clear in his lectures and what he wants you to learn, but in the end of the day his exams are difficult like any other BIPN I suspect.

You will either love or hate the reverse class room method, but no matter how you feel about it he gets you to actually learn and struggle through the material before he just give it to you to word vomit on an exam. His tests are challenging, but I did not come to UCSD to float through my classes. Definitely worth taking him.

WHAT A PROFESSOR! I'm telling you, I loved James because I ACTUALLY learned, not just memorized and forgot. His method of open class discussions are very useful. The weekly quizzes helped me keep up with the readings, which I recommend if you want to keep up with class discussion. I also loved his humor. This guy sets the bar for college teaching.

Jim is an extraordinary professor. If you really buckle down and try and understand the concepts that he emphasizes in class, you will have no problem getting an A or even an A+ in his class. Make sure to attend office hours and really get into his head in terms of how he will test you.

Dr. Cooke is a hilarious professor with a great personality. It was his first time teaching this course so things were a little hectic but it was definitely enjoyable. Highly recommend him for any class you are preparing to take although his "reverse classroom" strategy is something you'll either hate or love.

HUB HUB sexy professor that makes me want to go to class, he is fantastic professor, has a reverse classroom model loves joking and making classroom light

I loved coming to lecture! Dr. Cooke is hilarious and keeps the class engaged. 1 midterm, 1 final, 2 article-based assignments. None were too bad. Exams require critical thinking, but your grade on the assignment really depended on which TA you had.

His exams are fair if you are willing to put in the work. He provides you with more than enough material that you could study from and learn his exam style. Some ppl here are giving him bad ratings bc they thought this would be a memorization class like most ucsd bio classes. It's not. Always be ready to explain yourself. Def a must take prof!

Jim is a breath of fresh air after years of STEM classes taught by boring researchers. He's hilarious, and genuinely interested in students actually learning. His tests are HARD but fair. Not much memorization, all application. Not only is he physically attractive, his humor makes him really hot! Got an A in the class & I want to TA next quarter!

Jim is a great professor! He is really smart but also not afraid to admit when he doesn't know the answer to something. The practice problems are almost exactly like the midterms so definitely do them. Engaging lecturer, plus podcasts If you're not ready to laugh don't take this class, its 50% stand up comedy

He is one of the first professors in my 3 years here that has made me want to write a rating. He is one of the funniest professors ever & I have really enjoyed my time in his class. He is very funny and his lectures are engaging. Tests are fair and representative of the class material. Pretty sad he only teaches two courses at UCSD :(

Exams are definitely pretty difficult. He is a funny and engaging professor though and very understanding and fair! I didn't do well on the first midterm but neither did other students so he changed the syllabus so that if you do better on the final, it would count for more of your grade. Studied my butt off for the final and pulled up my grade

I liked him, hated the class. No matter how much I thought I understood everything, could never get an A on the exams even though 80% gets you an A, ended up with a B+, guess I am just stupid. He is hilarious, very clear, easy to understand and follow. 2 small quizzes, 2 exams, 1 final. 80% gets you an A, 70% is B, etc. Tests are hard and LONG!!

Within the span of one quarter, Professor Cooke taught me more about biology than any other teacher. He genuinely cares about his students and goes out of his way to host many office hours. His class is challenging (definitely study lecture notes and go to office hours) but you will gain a lot from it.

This professor is an amazing guy. Super energetic and knowledgable about the material. Approachable and cares about his students success. That being said this is the hardest class I have ever taken. There are SO many details that you have to know. Don't take him unless you have to

Cooke has a sense of humor and shows it in his lectures. He's a fun guy that shows actual interest in the material. Other reviews say the free response exams are vague, which is kind of true. There's a lot of detail in class material and the exams involve applying/working off concepts from it, so podcasting lectures and doing problems is a must!

Great professor. Extremely strong command of the material, and also is an entertaining guy. His format can be annoying at times (online pre-reading quizzes) but it definitely helps you learn the material better. Optional discussion section but if you go it will absolutely help a ton. His final is an absolute monster compared to the midterms.

Amazing prof who will teach you EVERYTHING there is to know about the repro system, but you will have to work for it! Class is very detail-oriented and covers a lot of material, so expect to study at least 5 hours a week (outside class). That being said, he truly cares about his students and provides lots of office hours/problem sets/practice exams

Great Prof. He is really funny, which will help to keep some people awake through lecture. 2 midterm and 1 final. midterms are okay, you get to redo one question with a group. Final is a killer and worth 45%. Very long and tough. Sections are not mandatory, but they supply worksheets that are really helpful. Class is podcast. Isn't an easy A.

There's a lot to remember but if you go to section and lecture you'll do fine. He has a nice curve and he's pretty funny.

I took him for BIPN 100 and now BIPN 134 and he is hands down my favorite professor at UCSD. Funny, engaging, and caring are only some of his best qualities. He's really focused on teaching students and not just lecturing at them. Go to class, attend sections, and understand the concepts. That's all it takes to get an A.

I took him for summer and had a 3 hour lecture he's such a great professor he's funny which kept a 3 hour class interesting. He podcast, post test practice & discussions are optional but he gives out practice sheets that are VERY similar to the exams. I got an A didn't really use the podcast because i feel like he covers material fairly well pace.

One of my fav profs at UCSD, he's hilarious, super chill and is def very knowledgable with what he's teaching. I learned a great deal and really enjoyed everything. He just spoke a little fast for me, ended up having to review the podcasts a lot. tests were moderately hard.

Lectures are pretty entertaining and informative but are very fast pace so I always re-watched them via podcast and took very detailed notes. Exams are quite hard and require not only lots of memorization but also a good understanding of the material. I would definitely recommend taking prof Cooke; he's good at teaching and is super attractive.

I took this class an upper division elective but now I may want to continue taking physiology. He is SO ENTERTAINING during lectures that it is a breath of fresh air compared to many other professors in the stem departments. His tests are HARD never the less just take good notes you will be fine! He's easy on the eyes too ;) Will def take again.

Jim is a hilarious professor and really keeps the class engaged throughout the entire lecture. His tests are hard and can be somewhat long for the amount of time given, but as long as you read through and answer the questions you know first, you will be fine. Relisten to the podcasts and take notes.

Hands down the BEST professor Ive had at UCSD

Prof. Cooke is my favorite professor at UCSD thus far. His lectures are informative and he keeps things interesting and tries to make a lot of jokes. His exams can be challenging but most of them align exactly with the lectures so make sure to watch all of the lectures and attend discussion where you will do practice worksheets that will help you.

Very engaging & a clear lecturer! Does a lot of group work during class which can be super helpful with a good group. Tests are pretty difficult but the TAs are very fair about grading and Cooke is super accessible outside of class. Lectures aren't technically mandatory & he podcasts but they're too helpful to be skippable.

Take him, you wont regret it!

All-around wonderful professor and person. I took this class just because I had him for bipn 100 and knew he was great.. I ended up really enjoying the class - human reproduction is so cool! His lectures are fun and hold my attention, while also conveying the material clearly. Definitely recommend taking this class with Cooke!

Cooke comes from a teaching background. Gives clear and simple lectures. His enthusiasm and occasional jokes make the more dry and boring parts of the class curriculum much bearable. Has given group exams in the past and it is possible he will continue to. He is nonetheless a generous grader.

I have taken a couple of classes with Professor Cooke. Overall, great professor! One of my favorite professors at UCSD. His exams are based on applying what you have learned in lecture in like clinical type problems. Before COVID, the exams were individual and also group-based. Either way with the group exam, it helped your grade.

LOVED this class! super inspiring content, has opened my eyes to so many aspects of endocrine physio and pathology! Dr. Cooke trains us to think critically rather than purely memorize content. Tests are challenging but if you work concepts and details will do great! go to office hours, lots of useful questions are asked. engaging lectures!

Good and interesting lectures. Explains the information very clearly and concisely. Take clear notes because concepts often flow together. BEWARE of the FINAL. the tests during the quarter were 3-4 pages of multipart questions. the FINAL was 15 pages long of 10 multipart questions.

His lectures are really engaging and he would crack some jokes at the end. 90% of the grade is weighted on exams but his grading scale is very generous. His exams are fair but can be challenging. Attend discussions, do the practice problems, and thoroughly understand the learning objectives.

Professor Cooke is so nice. Always greets us hello and says goodbye. I basically handed myself a B- by missing half of a midterm, but I think that his lectures really do prepare for the midterms and final. I won't lie, the final was thick. However, somehow, I still really enjoyed the class and I learned a lot.

This is my fourth year of college and he's one of the best professors I have ever had. He explains things very well and incorporates a lot of humor which makes the material easier to understand. His exams are very conceptual so you have to really understand the material to do well. He's also very cute so that's another reason to attend class lol

honestly the greatest professor I have ever taken. you would never expect physio to be a class you look forward to but he really makes you enjoy being in the lecture and is extremely knowledgeable. he is a very fun professor and knows how to teach in a manner that is both fun and engaging for the class. I highly recommend taking any class with him.

honestly really liked cooke. hes a great lecturer. he made physio. interesting and easily digestible for me. his tests are tricky and dense, but i managed to get good grades on the first 2 midterms. the final was terribly difficult but i still ended with a B. the canvas grade thing sucked, and he should def. fix that, but hes still a great prof.

Funny, organized, concise lecturer. Discussion worksheets reinforce the knowledge that you will need to tackle his conceptual exam questions. They are much easier than his exams which are difficult and tiring, but if you understand how everything connects you will do well. Midterm reviews were not helpful as there was no practice. Rewatch lectures!

He is a great professor with very engaging lectures. BIPN 134 is honestly such a fun class only because he is teaching it. His exams are understanding based, but if you watch the lectures and go to OH you will honestly be fine. One of the best lecturers in the biology department.

This is my second time taking Dr. Cooke, and he is hands down the best bio professor here. Lectures and the overall class were well-structured. He provides a LOT of worksheets and practice problems that are extremely helpful for the exams. The exams are no joke (lengthy and difficult). They are all free-response and clinical applications.

Professor Cooke is the best professor I’ve had at UCSD. His lectures are super interesting and hilarious, to the point where an 80 min lecture is never boring. His tests are tough though; all free response and very long. As long as you pay attention in class and rewatch the lectures you should be fine.

Professor Cooke is clear on what he wants you to know. Create life-like scenarios with the topics because that’s what the exams will reflect. Create a self test and be able to describe processes. Not a difficult class if you put in the time. What he says in his lectures are on the exams. Good luck!!

Exams are long for the amount of time given, but Professor Cooke is one of my favourite lecturers. Very passionate about the topic and answers questions clearly. Weekly pre-lecture quizzes graded for effort. Discussion worksheets & exam reviews are super helpful, too.

Tests are exactly what you'd expect if you take the time to look at discussion worksheets. He got his PhD in pharm so expect a lot of drug-related questions. TBF, I found this class to be 80% memorization and 20% application. There's no padding so make sure you do well on exams; the rest of ur grade comes down to how fast of a test-taker you are.

Prof Cooke's lectures were quite heavy and midterms were tedious but he provided lots of opportunities to practice concepts, either in the form of practice q's during lectures, or end-of-week practice problems. He also provided practice exams which were great study tools for the midterms. Overall, class was enjoyable and the lectures were fun:)

This is the third time I have taken a course with Dr. Cooke. Although his exams are challenging, his practice exams, weekly and discussion worksheets are true representations of his exams and are a great source of study. I love how Cooke makes the content applicable in a clinical setting. Encourages you to learn beyond memorization.

study all the practice test, question, or what ever practice material you are given. If you master the study questions you'll do fine. Finally, do not be discourage if you don't know a concept, just youtube it until you grasp concept. The professor response quickly if you e mail him. good luck

Entertaining lectures, he gave practice exams with basically the same questions that would be on the exams. Discussions weren't required for attendance but they also gave a lot of help with what to expect on the tests.

I love Professor Cooke! I have taken him 3 times at UCSD and have enjoyed each class. Not only is he hilarious, he is a fantastic lecturer and ensures that he talks about everything that you will need to know on the exam. His exams are fair and consistent. Thanks Dr. Cooke!

i think all BIPN courses will be difficult, so for what its worth Cooke made it significantly easier than I expected. He really tries to give you as many points as he can on the tests, and everything is exactly as expected. Its a super interesting course and Cooke is super funny and explains everything really well. one of my fav profs ever

cooke is so straight forward during lectures, his lecture practice q's are nearly identical to the ones on the test, i got an a- by watching all the podcasts the day before the test, he tells u what the question topics are b4 the test so u study the right thing, literally everything is in his slides, such an easy A if u watch podcasts on 2x speed

Very engaging professor. Does an amazing job explaining tough concepts. Tests are fair. Graded 95% 2 midterms and final.

Hilarious professor, I like how he lectures but his tests and finals really Cooked me....

Hands down one of the best professors at UCSD. Hilarious lectures that are very straightforward at communicating content. If you do not enjoy the subject matter the tests will be long and difficult but if you have genuine interest then he is the best professor to take and tests will be like fun discussion activities. Makes you excited to learn.

One of the best lecturers I've taken; he made three hours go by quick. Clear learning objectives and if you study/ memorize his slides, you'll do well. Exams are ALL free response and can be very specific regarding grading rubric. Make sure you understand the concepts well as his exams require application, not just rote memorization.