3.5

Kevin Ahern

Biochemistry - Oregon State University

3.5
Quality
4.0
Difficulty
23%
Would Retake
157
Reviews
3.5
Quality
4.0
Difficulty
3.5
Helpful
3.5
Clarity

23%

Would Retake

157

Reviews

Rating Distribution
Official

5

72

4

27

3

11

2

19

1

28

What Students Say

Course is made very accessible

BB450 - 2.0 rating

It's hard to tell what he really wants you to know

BB450451 - 2.0 rating
Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

30%

Textbook Required

43%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

B-

95% confidence
Based on 43 grades
Most common grades:
C (13)
Not sure yet (8)
B+ (8)
Grade Distribution
A(6)B(6)C(18)D(2)F(1)A-/B+(10)
Based on 53 reported grades
C: 13
Not sure yet: 8
B+: 8
A: 6
Common Tags
Test heavy (22)
Graded by few things (20)
TEST HEAVY (17)
Lecture heavy (16)
Tough Grader (14)
LECTURE HEAVY (11)
Tough grader (9)
Amazing lectures (8)
Rating Trend

Declining

-1.59 avg change
Mar
May
Jul
Sep
Nov
Feb
Last 6 months
Ratings by Course

BC45045149

5.0

(1)

BB450AND451

5.0

(2)

BB450451332

5.0

(1)

BI451

5.0

(1)

MOLECMEDICINE

5.0

(1)
+22 more courses
Difficulty by Course

BI450

5.0

ODYSSEY

5.0

ANYCLAS

5.0

BIO350

5.0

028

5.0

Reviews (157)
5.0
5.0
BB451
Feb 17, 2003

Fun Prof! He records and posts his lectures and even makes biochemistry sing!

4.0
3.0
BB451
Mar 8, 2003

Kevin's BB451 course isn't so bad...you just need to memorize the materal.

5.0
4.0
BB451
Jun 8, 2003

No Comments

2.0
4.0
BB4XX
Jun 24, 2003

Kevin and the rest of the biochem faculty need to quit making the courses competitive. Yeah, they do grade on a curve but if the class happens to be populated with a bunch of bioscience majors who skew the curve up, it ruins it for everyone else.

4.0
3.0
BIOCHEM
Jul 18, 2003

he's helpful in office hours and perhaps the most interesting of the whole biochem lot of professors. still hard, though--i mean, he wrote the book, right?

5.0
3.0
BB450
Nov 9, 2003

Very nice guy.

4.0
5.0
BI450
Nov 23, 2003

Good teacher, Tough Tests!! Keep up on the work!

4.0
3.0
BB450
Dec 31, 2003

He simplifies things wonderfully and focuses on the important details only. But his tests are not very well made and rather hard grader. It is no good going to his office!!!

5.0
4.0
BB450
Feb 7, 2004

he's very accomodating, and really likes what he's teaching. Doesnt hurt that he wrote the textbook either XD OH and he has everything automated for those who cant make it to class.

5.0
4.0
BB451
Mar 19, 2004

nice guy. hard tests. lots to memorize.

5.0
4.0
BB450
Sep 2, 2004

Man...this guy is hard, but he knows his stuff. Biochem. is a complicated enough course without a gifted professor, so it helps to have one who is equally good at the subject matter and at conveying the subject matter.

5.0
4.0
BB450
Sep 29, 2004

He's hard but is VERY willing to help you out!

4.0
5.0
BB450
Nov 29, 2004

He speaks very quickly and you must pay attention at all times during lecture, and write notes very quickly to keep up in the class!

5.0
3.0
BB450
Dec 4, 2004

Nice guy. Tough prof but explains things well and makes it interesting. Does ask 2-point questions about minor details sometimes, but 8-point questions are about main topics. Really wants you to succeed, offers to help you, very available for extra help.

5.0
3.0
BC45045149
Grade: A
Jan 15, 2005

I had Dr. Ahern for 4 different courses during my undergraduate years and he is by far the most dedicated professor towards his students that I have ever seen. He truly wants his students to succeed and is willing to meet with students at any time to assist them. A+++ Professor!

5.0
4.0
BB450AND451
Feb 12, 2005

AWESOME! Do anything and everything you can to take this class from him! He is so awesome and just really wants to help his students out.

5.0
4.0
BB450451332
Mar 5, 2005

Great guy, gives you several options for learning the material and is VERY receptive to office visits. Take any class he teaches, you will be rewarded

5.0
3.0
BI451
Mar 28, 2005

Always knows what he's talking about, and ends the term with a song!

4.0
4.0
BB451
Apr 20, 2005

I love that he video tapes his lectures. Difficult exams. Quirky mad scientist professor of biochemistry!

5.0
4.0
BB451
Apr 22, 2005

Best professor at this university. He wants his students to succeed and is there to help. Class is hard but put the time into it and an A is easy. Take as many classes from Kevin as you can, every thing he teaches, he teaches well.

4.0
3.0
BB332
May 2, 2005

straight forward and to the point

5.0
4.0
BB450451
May 3, 2005

If you can take classes from him do, you will learn things correctly and you will be responsible for knowing them but you will be better off having met Dr Ahern. He cares about his students and if you have a problem, he will help you with anything! I'm looking forward to taking more of his classes!!

5.0
2.0
MOLECMEDICINE
May 5, 2005

This class was NOT what I was expecting. It didn't really have much to do with medicine at all. Mostly we just sat around and complained about all the ethically wrong things that happen in science these days. Kevin is a great guy who cares about his students, bu takes himself a tad too seriously.

5.0
3.0
BB450BB451
May 8, 2005

Very willing to help students learn material, even outside of class time. Talks a bit fast and therefore moves through material at an incredible rate. Uses many aspects of learning to reach all students.

5.0
4.0
BB451
Aug 7, 2005

Awesome teacher. One of the best science teachers at OSU. I would say in my academic career at OSU he had the most interest in the success and lives of the students of any professor.

5.0
2.0
BIOCHEMISTRY
Aug 31, 2005

No Comments

5.0
4.0
BIOCHEMISTRY
Oct 3, 2005

Awesome Teacher..challenging..but its worth it!

4.0
3.0
BIOCHEMISTRY
Oct 5, 2005

No Comments

5.0
4.0
BB450
Oct 8, 2005

Amazing instructor! Smart and entertaining.. and for once you actually WANT to attend class. His exams are challenging so make sure you understand the lecture outlines he usually provides and you need to keep up BUT he's more than helpful. Just stop by his office and let him know who you are. I wish more instructors were like him

5.0
5.0
ODYSSEY
Oct 19, 2005

good guy

4.0
4.0
BB451
Oct 22, 2005

No Comments

3.0
3.0
BB450
Oct 22, 2005

No Comments

5.0
4.0
BB450
Nov 26, 2005

No Comments

5.0
4.0
BB450
Dec 4, 2005

He makes a very hard subject very enjoyable and has a great sense of humor. his tests definitely aren't easy but he's ALWAYS available for extra help and loves to meet his students. this guy makes you feel like your tuition is very well spent. =)

2.0
4.0
BB450
Dec 12, 2005

Very rude teacher. Horribly mean to me when i went to his office hours. Tests werent' that bad if you studied but I couldn't really stand to go to lecture since the highlights covered everything you needed to know.

5.0
2.0
BB332
Mar 14, 2006

This class was very good. I recomend that if you can take a class taught by Kevin. Someone mentioned that he wasn't very helpful durring office hours and I found this to be false.

4.0
3.0
BB451
Mar 20, 2006

The amount of material to learn in this class in insane, and Kevin expects alot from students, but he is enthusiastic about the topic and it can be a really cool class. But you will study like you've never studied before.

5.0
3.0
BB350
Jun 16, 2006

Kevin is awesome!

5.0
3.0
BB350
Jun 19, 2006

Great teacher, he help us understand the whole 23 chapters of the materials. He makes the classes not that hard. He is great teacher, easy to understand... KEVIN AWESOME.......

5.0
4.0
BB450
Jul 25, 2006

Excellent teacher!!! He makes you enjoy the subject

5.0
3.0
BB450
Dec 11, 2006

My favorite class of the term, always fun. Kevin has a great sense of humor and tries to make biochem fun/easier. It's a hard class, and he curves it, which helps a lot, and he's almost always available in his office hours. It's always worth your time to attend lectures - every once in awhile he offered extra credit to the people there that day.

5.0
2.0
BB450
Dec 16, 2006

He is an amazing teacher/person. But holy crap, this class has a lot of material. It's hard to believe how much stuff we covered when i was studying for the final. This class is a mother^%$&^%, hence the title. He is the best one to teach it though, hands down. I'm happy that he also does 451.

5.0
4.0
BB45X
Mar 23, 2007

Whether or not you like him as a person, the guy is probably the best professor on campus. I know of NO other professor who truly critiques how they teach as much as he does. Everything he does seems very well thought out to best help the student learn and enjoy the material. Start studying on day 1! Posts video of previous lectures online :)

5.0
5.0
BB350
Jun 24, 2007

He is lovely. The material is very hard, but he does an excellent job of presenting it.

5.0
3.0
BB450
Nov 26, 2007

This class is hella easy in compared to bb490 series. the professor gives you everything that you needed, but the grading by TAs sucks. Kinda annoying when he kept using professional points against student. He got the enthusiasm towards some students and not others. you may feel rushed when u talk to him. short question test, so write fast & clear.

4.0
4.0
BB450
Dec 6, 2007

I think he is the best biochemistry prof out there - he is a great instructor and interesting to listen to. I actually wanted to go to class. He also videotapes his lectures which is wonderful - they should all do that. The class is hard but if you put in the time it is not that bad.

3.0
5.0
BB450
Dec 17, 2007

Taught well in class, however his tests were ridiculously hard, I'm not looking forward to his class next term.

3.0
3.0
BB450
Mar 11, 2008

Professor Ahern is a good professor, but be warned: if you aren't one of his chosen favorites then he will act like you are wasting his time, and won't help you any more than he feels obligated to.

4.0
3.0
BB45X
Mar 27, 2008

Kevin will not disclose how he calculates final grades, and he leaves 10% open for "professionalism points." Since TA grading is unreliable, you have to be skilled at demanding corrections without hurting Kevin's ego, or he'll dock you prof. points. The subjectivity kills. This guy makes me think twice about recommending OSU BI/BB to new students.

3.0
3.0
BB450
Jun 17, 2008

Good teacher but bad advisor. Whenever I tried to talk to him, I was able to get the feeling that he think it too much trouble to do, as if he is very irritated.

4.0
5.0
BB450
Jul 23, 2008

Seems very enthusiastic about the subject, but not terribly helpful towards e-campus students. Gives us the same syllabus as the in-class students (which is very confusing, since half of it doesn't apply) and occasionally some of the exam material seems to be covered in recitations...which we don't have. Wouldn't recommend taking it online.

5.0
4.0
BB550
Oct 29, 2008

Awesome teacher. He is really enthusiastic about the subject and does a great job making sense of it all. You get the feeling he could teach it without any visual aids or notes or anything. He really cares about his students. He has hundreds of them, but if you bother to establish a relationship with him he is very helpful.

4.0
2.0
BB450
Feb 26, 2009

He can be helpful but does often give off an irritated feel, which makes him hard to approach. You can skip class because he put the lectures on video, but it's all around easier to go to class.

5.0
5.0
BB350
Mar 11, 2009

One of the hardest classes I've taken, but one of the greatest professors I've had. He is dedicated, and provides many resources for your success (tapes lectures, posts powerpoints, provides list of key points, and sings in class!). If you need to take biochem, take it from Ahern!!

4.0
5.0
BB45X
Mar 20, 2009

Took him for 450,451. Probably the hardest class I have taken at OSU mainly because there is just so much information. The material is interesting though and Ahern is effective at teaching it. If you have to take Biochem he's the best option.

5.0
5.0
BB350
Mar 21, 2009

Dr Ahern is a great professor. I truely enjoyed taking heis BB 350 class even though it was probably the harder classes that I have taken in college.

3.0
5.0
BB450
Mar 27, 2009

Took 450 and 451 from him. It is hands down the hardest class I've ever taken, but I learned more in these two classes than I have learned in my entire college career. Ahern plays favorites and will be short with you if you try to ask him questions. ALWAYS look over your tests, all of mine had a misgrade. Request corrections gently, he has an ego

5.0
4.0
BB450
Apr 7, 2009

BB450 and 451 were extremely information-intensive and owned about 3 straight days and nights of my life before each test. However, Kevin gives students so many resources to learn from and I always found myself smiling during songs. Rewatch all the lectures, make notecards and get a study group. Extremely legit class and prof.

2.0
5.0
BB450
Apr 10, 2009

&451 Very hard to talk to/you're a waste of his time. Grading is not well defined/strict curve base on if he likes you. 2-3 midterms, 1 final, no extra credit. There are always errors on the answer key that he wont fix except for the few that point it out/waste his time. But who has time in 3 days to verify all of his answers that are not online?

3.0
5.0
BB350
May 12, 2009

Great teacher, makes biochemistry easier than it is (it is not easy material). He plays favorites, if he doesn't think you're worth his time he will show it right away with rude behaviors or the way he talks to you. Office hours feel rushed, he's always busy. Grading of tests have many mistakes, some critical ones too. Still a great teacher though!

5.0
5.0
BB450
May 13, 2009

Kevin Ahern is a wonderful professor. This subject is HARD. Kevin tries very hard for students to understand and care about this subject. He makes lec videos if u missed 1 or want to refresh, has lecture outlines, lecture highlights, and sings metabolic melodies. How may professors u know that does all that? Just STUDY STUDY STUDY STUDY!!!!!!!

5.0
4.0
BB450
Nov 18, 2009

I couldn't help but notice the sour grapes comments below. There's no way this guy plays favorites and there's no way he'll rush anyone through office hours. For Pete's sake, he keeps more office hours per week than many professors do in an entire term. A great prof, in my opinion.

5.0
4.0
BB350
Jun 15, 2010

Best professor I've ever had at OSU. Period. Kevin is a breath of fresh air compared to most stuffy science professors who don't really care and insist on teaching in a monotone, uninteresting and non-beneficial manner. He is fantastic.

5.0
2.0
BB45X
Jun 18, 2010

Kevin is the most committed person to teaching that I have ever met. He roots for every one of his students not only in their performance in his class, but also in their other endeavors. He seems like he knows every students name also! He is no push over though-his tests are very fair, consistent and HARD (they will cover everything he talks about)

5.0
5.0
BB450
Sep 9, 2010

Awesome....best professor I have had at OSU. Difficult class but interesting and fair. Kevin is available for help more than any other professor I have met. He even gave us his phone number to call him at home with questions. Be thankful that he is the one teaching biochem at OSU.

5.0
1.0
BB111
Jan 10, 2011

The class is just a "get to know the college/major" class so no homework/tests and only met like 5-6 times the whole term. A few guest "lectures" about travel aboard and things like that. I've had other interactions with Kevin that influence my opinion of him but based solely on this class he was good.

5.0
5.0
BB45X
Feb 11, 2011

kevin's awesome, he gives you so many resources to study from that you have no excuse to say you had no idea what to study for. but make sure you do cause the subject is HARD and he WILL test you on every little thing he says (even if he just talks about the subject for a minute). study hard and you'll be fine! plus you sing in class!

2.0
4.0
BB45X
Mar 22, 2011

Overall I was really disappointed in the Ahern's ability to teach. Lectures are unorganized and confusing. Much of tests draw on very specific words and phrases (so know everything). Displays clear favoritism to some students. Short and disengaging almost to the point of rudeness in office hours. Frequently "talked around" student questions.

5.0
5.0
ANYCLAS
Apr 14, 2011

Great teacher, great mentor. Ahern challenges you to become the best student and person you can be. He may seem kind of intimidating at first but if you have confidence in yourself to do well and show it, he will help you succeed in school and in the world like no other advisor/professor can.

5.0
5.0
BB450
May 3, 2011

Kevin is a very entertaining lecturer. He records lectures and posts them online, posts highlights and supplementary notes, and will NEVER ask you anything that he hasn't said in class. However, the sheer amount of material is painful. Go into this class expecting it to be your hardest class ever and you'll be prepared.

4.0
4.0
BB350
May 24, 2011

Great teacher, but a little weird. Likes to use songs to teach the material. Hard class, and you definitely need to study. He is great about adjusting the material to the speed of the class, he will outline what will and won't be on the test.

4.0
4.0
BB451
Aug 3, 2011

Didn't touch textbook, didn't attend required recitation but still got an A-. Ahern a is great professor, but his exams are pretty tough, especially during the summer when 10 weeks is crammed to 4. I can't speak for during the year, but during summer it's hard - it's not complicated to get an A, but it requires a lot of hours memorizing everything.

4.0
5.0
BB450
Dec 2, 2011

Very entertaining professor. Really enjoyed his lectures. Some of his personal policies seem a little silly but still a cool professor.

5.0
4.0
BB450
Dec 2, 2011

Kevin is the best professor I have had at OSU. He is very clear on what he wants you to learn and presents the information well. I suggest attending class even though he posts the lectures because is is easy to get behind. He is goofy, but it makes the class fun and interesting.

5.0
3.0
BB450
Apr 25, 2012

Everything I hope for in a professor: crystal clear, frank about what you do and don't need to know, and doesn't assume any background knowledge. Over-the-top in the effort he makes to provide a variety of resources and assistance. It's rare to know without a doubt that a professor wants everyone to succeed in their class.

5.0
2.0
BB350
May 26, 2012

One of my favorites. Loves what he does and it shows, he goes out of his way to make learning engaging and fun for every type of person. Nice that he records each of his lectures too! His lecture style reminds me somehow of an old-school preacher pacing up in front of the room.

5.0
4.0
BB350
Jul 1, 2012

EXCELLENT prof! He makes difficult material easy to understand, provides ample learning techniques, and is always available for help. Class is never boring, always interesting and even very fun!

5.0
5.0
BB450
Mar 8, 2013

Kevin is a GREAT PROFESSOR; however taking his course online is NO NO. The final grade is composed of 3 HWs (5%), 2 midterms (25% each), and a final (45%). The exam questions are VERY easy to screw up. Weird because I knew the material but failed a test. No way I could get an A or B so I withdrew.No room for error in his course..beware if you dare

4.0
5.0
BB450ANDBB451
Aug 18, 2013

Helpful and EXTREMELY passionate about the course material. Very challenging courses to take over a short amount of time (7 quarter units over 7 weeks, essentially a test each week with ~2 lectures per day). Would only recommend taking if one has 100% availability to focus on these classes over summer and no other academic commitments.

5.0
3.0
BB450
Dec 7, 2013

Kevin Ahern is a wonderful biochemistry instructor that goes above beyond any professor that I've ever seen. He will post all his lecture on Youtube and sing wonderful biochemistry songs with the class!! If you're interested in biology and chemistry he will not disappoint you!

5.0
3.0
BB450
Dec 14, 2013

Dr Ahearn is great! He records all his lectures and posts them on Youtube so missing class or needing to go over something again is not a problem. His tests are hard, but not unreasonable. He spends a lot of time clarifying difficult concepts and answering questions in each class so it's not like you are getting an overload of material.

5.0
3.0
BB350
Feb 22, 2014

I was lost in biochem before I listened to his lectures online. He made it fun & I actually learned something useful. Very talented professor. He's extremely organized, has a lot of free material and makes learning fun. I'm taking graduate level biochem at another university but used his lectures to learn & pass. My fellow students use him as well.

5.0
4.0
BB450AND451
Mar 12, 2014

Kevin Ahern is a great professor and if you are interested to see what he is like go to Youtube and type in his name. He wrote his own textbook and he sings songs in lecture. My only complaint is that he is very busy. His office hours are whenever he is in his office but when you see him in his office he seems very busy.

2.0
5.0
BIO350
Jul 31, 2014

Very dissapointed! Kevin, very knowledgable about biochemistry, seems as if he could care less about his distance students. Vast majority of material on the text was very vague, and even included topics not in the assigned reading. Recieved answers like "READ THE SYLLABUS" when asking questions. Way too much content crammed into 4 weeks. Stay Away!

5.0
3.0
BIOCHEM440
Oct 25, 2014

I did not take his class, so I can't comment on his exams. I am from a different university. My own biochem prof are horrible and mean. I watch his youtube lectures and they are really helpful. Way better than my professor can teach.

3.0
4.0
BIOCHEM450
Grade: Not sure yet
Dec 4, 2014

I like the class and I like the guy, but there's an incredible amount of information you have to take in. Just be prepared for sometimes absurdly specific test questions and to study your booty off.

4.0
4.0
BB450
Dec 5, 2014

Ahern definitely loves biochem and tries to make his students interested. However, I often found it hard to take notes in class as he went fast and the material was tough. He posts his lectures online which is very helpful to go back through and pause to get info. Tests are fair, but the class material is just hard in itself.

2.0
4.0
BB450
Dec 9, 2014

Rude, annoying, dumb jokes. Tests on super specific stuff that he mentioned one time in class. Goes off on tangents or shows irrelevant things in class. Is very knowledgeable but is disinterested in helping because he is so busy.

1.0
5.0
028
Dec 9, 2014

If you are not getting an A in his class and you go to get extra help he tells his students to drop the class. He has told many students this, he is very discouraging and he is extremely hard grader.

2.0
4.0
450
Dec 21, 2014

I took the online class - he posted lectures that were 4-5 years old. He would not respond to questions asked in emails even though email was the preferred line of communication.

5.0
4.0
BB450
Feb 23, 2015

Kevin is a very skilled lecturer. He tends to have very fast pace Course,but the material is fair. He does provide various types of extra material like video and voice recordings of the lecture. If you want to ask questions I suggest you do not mention difficulty you are having in class but go straight to material related questions,

5.0
2.0
BB350
Grade: A
Mar 22, 2015

Really enjoyed this class! The lectures are engaging and Kevin is very knowledgeable. The material is tough, but biochem is a tough subject. If you watch the lectures, read through the lecture highlights, and dedicate time to familiarizing yourself with the material then you'll suceed in the class.

4.0
4.0
BB450
Grade: A
Mar 23, 2015

Let just say you better be well prepared for this class. You have to have mastered the concepts to do well on the exams. The multiple choice format is not like you would expect, but he has to make it this way since there is no paper pencil. You cannot put in medium effort and still get an A, unless it's your second go around!

5.0
4.0
BB450
Apr 3, 2015

Throw away your book, he does not lecture or test from it. THE HIGHLIGHTS ARE THE KEY TO YOUR SUCCESS. Not in the highlights? 95% chance it wont be on the test. Class goes way too fast to take good notes. I took 3 hours to watch each lecture video after class, and wrote down extremely thorough notes. I got an A both terms.

4.0
3.0
BB350
May 9, 2015

I took biochem at another school, but I used his online lectures a lot. They are great lectures and helped me so much when reviewing for tests. Glad they're public, they are very detailed and easy to follow, I'm sure I will use them again.

4.0
2.0
BB450
Jun 1, 2015

Really useful

5.0
4.0
BB350
Jun 15, 2015

Amazing teacher, made me really enjoy the class. However, tests are really hard. You have to put in a lot of study time to do well, but it is definitely do-able. He gives everyone a ton of time out of class to get help, and he wants everyone to do well and understand the material. Funny too! The tests are based off of posted Highlights not textbk

5.0
4.0
BIOCHEM451
Grade: A
Jun 22, 2015

These classes are full of difficult material. I feel that Kevin did a good job at selecting the important stuff and structuring the material so it has better continuity. The exams are multiple choice, but do not be fooled they are extremely challenging. I had to study more than ever before to do well. Best of luck!

2.0
5.0
BB450
Grade: D
Jul 1, 2015

Save your money and do not take this class online. The tests are multiple choice but even if you study the material like crazy, he words them so hard you get confused. I made a 20100 on this exam and dropped and had to pay the whole class. Stupid mistake. I should say I'm normally an A student, even in both organics. Save your money.

5.0
4.0
BB350
Grade: B+
Jul 10, 2015

Kevin is very receptive to how the class is feeling. He tells jokes if he can tell that people are zoning out and tries different methods of explaining things if you don't understand, he is also very helpful in office hours. He provides videos of all his lectures and a free textbook online. Beware though, is tests are HARD!!!!

4.0
4.0
BB450
Grade: A-
Aug 14, 2015

I cannot imagine taking this class from anyone other than Kevin- amazing job. All lectures are filmed, live youtube videos so you get the entire class experience. He films his review sessions and homework discussions. The textbook is great and FREE. He responds quickly via email. Expect A LOT of time watching lectures and studying for tests.

3.0
4.0
BB350
Grade: B+
Jun 9, 2016
Wouldn't take again

I took his class online. The lectures are very clear but test are hard but doable. A lot of information and test were only 25 questions, the final had 50 and asked very SPECIFIC questions. Class is pretty much self paced. Must manage time well! Didn't use his book at all. All test were based on his highlights.

2.0
5.0
BB450
Grade: B+
Jun 16, 2016
Wouldn't take again

I took his class online, and while he is a very good instructor/lecturer, his online tests are ridiculous. He is also not receptive at all to questions; his syllabus is full of "ask me about X, you will lose points." Overall I learned a lot from him, but I did not get the grade I feel like I deserved because of his poorly worded mc exams.

1.0
4.0
BB450
Aug 14, 2016
Wouldn't take again

Course is entirely based on grades. The multiple choice exams are tough, he has quite a few typos that make it difficult to tell if he is trying to trick you or just messed up. Responds to emails quickly. Learned a lot in the course, but, if you take it, hope you don't have a personal emergency. He has ZERO sympathy and will not be accommodating.

Tough Grader
TEST HEAVY
5.0
4.0
BB350
Grade: Not sure yet
Nov 3, 2016
Would take again

Am currently taking BB350 online from Ahern. I have to say, I am very impressed. The lectures are incredibly engaging and fascinating. He has a unique ability to break down the info so it is easily understood the first go 'round. The MC tests are challenging, but they are curved. Only take online if you are self motivated, because you MUST keep up.

Hilarious
TEST HEAVY
Amazing lectures
5.0
4.0
BB450
Dec 4, 2016
Would take again

Kevin is an amazing lecturer, if you can keep up. He goes way to fast in class to be able to take notes effectively so you are better off just listening and watching the videos later. Don't bother looking at the book since he posts what he wants you to know in the form of highlights. One of the best profs I've had in terms of teaching quality.

Tough Grader
Hilarious
Amazing lectures
3.0
5.0
BB450
Grade: C
Dec 6, 2016
Wouldn't take again

Too much information to remember. There should be points and pathways that we should stress on knowing, but after the lecture I find it hard to find the focuses of the classes, as everything seems important to remember and is a fair game.

Tough Grader
Get ready to read
2.0
5.0
BB450451
Grade: B
Jan 31, 2017
Wouldn't take again

It's hard to tell what he really wants you to know. Doesn't provide practice questions or anything useful to study with besides a list which is pretty much what he went over in lecture. He spent 3 days going over the citric acid cycle when a 5 minute youtube video explained it much better than he was able to. Not sympathetic towards students at all

Tough Grader
TEST HEAVY
LECTURE HEAVY
5.0
4.0
BB350
Feb 14, 2017
Would take again

Kevin is a great professor and is incredibly intelligent. He may have heavy lectures, but he has to give us the material and I'd be hard pressed to find someone who can do it better and more enjoyably. My god does he have a lot of students sucking up to him though. Makes class go by a lot slower than it needs to.

Tough Grader
Amazing lectures
1.0
4.0
BB450451
Mar 24, 2017
Wouldn't take again

Kevin is an incredibly exhausting professor to have for biochemistry. Lectures are really disorganized and basically cover a range of special topics. The lecture slides are atrocious, error-prone, and so are his lecture summaries (highlights). His exam questions are the definition of ambiguous. Take BB 450 and BB 451 with a different professor...

Tough Grader
TEST HEAVY
LECTURE HEAVY
2.0
4.0
BB450
Grade: B+
Apr 5, 2017
Wouldn't take again

Great lecturer. Very knowledgeable and presents material thoroughly and clearly. Course is made very accessible. Terrible person. Very arrogant and assumes that the intension of students is to cheat and "fish for points." Doesn't handle feedback well. Very discouraging personal interactions. Prioritizes favorite students in office hours.

Participation matters
Skip class? You won't pass.
LECTURE HEAVY
3.0
3.0
BB450
Grade: Not sure yet
May 3, 2017
Wouldn't take again

I wish to know how Dr Kevin Ahern does grading for BB 450. I am taking online class and gave my first exam today. He shows the lowest marks, highest marks and mean value. How does that relate to actual marks??

TEST HEAVY
GRADED BY FEW THINGS
Amazing lectures
2.0
5.0
BB350
Jun 13, 2017
Wouldn't take again

Hard class! Ahern is pretty disorganized and hard to follow.

Tough Grader
TEST HEAVY
LECTURE HEAVY
5.0
4.0
BB350
Grade: B
Jul 21, 2017
Would take again

I took the online 4 week summer version. It was definitely intense & you have to manage your time well. Not an easy class, but if you work hard, it is doable! Kevin was a great lecturer - he even has songs for many of the topics that help you learn things. I thought he made most things relatively easy to grasp considering the difficult topics.

TEST HEAVY
Amazing lectures
1.0
5.0
BB450451
Grade: C
Sep 12, 2017
Wouldn't take again

You have to be a master of time management or this class will be impossible. Grades are solely based on exams, so if you do poorly on one, you have to REALLY study to make up for it. Incredibly rude in emails. Only study the highlights, trust me. This is the hardest I've ever worked for a C. Tests are entirely MC but are VERY specific. Good luck.

TEST HEAVY
GRADED BY FEW THINGS
LECTURE HEAVY
5.0
5.0
BB450
Dec 2, 2017
Would take again

I took the online class. As long as you keep up with the lectures, you'll be fine. The lectures move really fast so make sure you pay attention. All the resources you could possibly need are on his page (which also means he isn't very receptive to questions). Specific tests but it's all information he directly covered in the lectures and highlights

TEST HEAVY
GRADED BY FEW THINGS
Tests are tough
1.0
5.0
BB451
Grade: C+
Mar 17, 2018
Wouldn't take again

Course graded completely on memorization of enzymes and molecules. Tests cover your ability to interpret vague questions and recall the exact molecule. First term of Biochem with a different prof I got a B+, with Ahern I was lucky to pass.

TEST HEAVY
LECTURE HEAVY
2.0
5.0
BB450451
Grade: Not sure yet
Mar 22, 2018
Wouldn't take again

Very hard grader. Very lecture based. only thing this class consist of is exams, NO extra assignments for points.

Tough Grader
TEST HEAVY
LECTURE HEAVY
5.0
4.0
BB450
Apr 23, 2018
Would take again

I appreciate his style, although many find lectures and tests to be challenging. He genuinely cares to deliver material that is understandable and by making his lectures, text, and other course materials all free and open he should deserve credit for accessibility of education. I had him for BB350 and am currently taking 450/451 online.

TEST HEAVY
Amazing lectures
LECTURE HEAVY
4.0
5.0
BB451
Grade: B+
May 26, 2018
Would take again

Phenomenal instructor! I had him for BB451, it was a very tough course but I have never learned more in my entire academic career! Tests are challenging, keep up with the material and ALWAYS look at the highlights and provided readings if you care about your overall success! He loves to teach, you just have to be willing to learn.

Tough Grader
ACCESSIBLE OUTSIDE CLASS
TEST HEAVY
1.0
5.0
BB450
Grade: C+
Jul 25, 2018
Wouldn't take again

awful professor, all exams were multiple choice and vague.

TEST HEAVY
GRADED BY FEW THINGS
2.0
5.0
BB450451
Grade: C
Jul 26, 2018
Wouldn't take again

I took 450 online and worked my tail off. Very tough tests that are not specific, tough to interpret and will mislead you. Lectures were posted on Youtube. Average test scores were around 60% with grades solely dependent on tests. Had a tutor for the final and still did poorly.

Tough Grader
TEST HEAVY
LECTURE HEAVY
2.0
5.0
BB450451
Grade: Rather not say
Aug 17, 2018
Wouldn't take again

I took the online course, so much of this review is based on that. He's a great lecturer about the topic and you will learn a lot about biochemistry, however his exams on the other hand are simply just confusing and vague. There's a large disconnect between his lectures and the multiple choice exams that's extremely frustrating.

Tough Grader
TEST HEAVY
LECTURE HEAVY
1.0
5.0
BB450
Grade: C
Aug 21, 2018
Wouldn't take again

Took the online class, lets just say with any other biochemistry professor an A is a C in this class. Worked extremely hard, read the books, read the book, re watched lecture videos, and with the difficult exam with a class average of 55% it was hard to get up anywhere close to a B let alone an A

Tough Grader
Skip class? You won't pass.
5.0
5.0
BB450451
Grade: A
Oct 16, 2018
Would take again

Kevin was by far the best prof I had in my undergrad. He absolutely lives for biochemsitry and you can tell. He puts so much detail and effort into all his lectures. As difficult as the topic was, he made it enjoyable and relatable. A lot of people dislike him because his tests are extremely hard, but that's how you retain the info. 10/10 professor

Tough Grader
Inspirational
Caring
3.0
4.0
BB450
Grade: B+
Nov 19, 2018
Wouldn't take again

I would not recommend this professor. When it comes to teaching, it is clear that he has great knowledge about the topics. However, when it comes to asking questions through email, his responses tend to be VERY ignorant and ultimately useless. He comes across as a very arrogant individual. Not an enjoyable person to be influenced by.

Tough Grader
Skip class? You won't pass.
LECTURE HEAVY
4.0
4.0
BB450
Grade: C
Dec 9, 2018
Would take again

Dr. Ahern is knowledgeable of the material he presents. Though the class was hard, it is manageable if you read and watch the videos. There are few assignments and 3 tests amounting 95% of the grade. He does not grade on a basic 100/90/80, so there is curving. If you ask questions that are covered in his lectures or syllabus, he will not respond.

Get ready to read
TEST HEAVY
2.0
5.0
BB450
Grade: C
Jun 17, 2019
Wouldn't take again

Good lecturer, great lecture slides/highlights, I felt like I understood the material well. He just gives impossible tests (ecampus students). If you knew 90% of the answer, you knew nothing. I had taken BioChem 350 already, start med school in the fall, I'm no scrub and I struggled with his tests. 50% was the class avg for all tests. Beware.

Graded by few things
Test heavy
Lecture heavy
5.0
4.0
BB450
Aug 26, 2019
Would take again

Kevin is what all Prof at a college level should be like. He really knows his stuff and really wants you to learn it. Its not just memorize the material, its understanding why it all works the way it does, which is the real reason we want to study it and utilize it for future discoveries. Yes, it is a tough class but it is well worth it.

1.0
5.0
BB450451
Grade: C+
Oct 22, 2019
Wouldn't take again

You really don't need the textbook, rather, his notes should suffice and lectures. Regardless if you know the material, one may do better if they have AMAZING reading comprehension. And then for those of you that do know the material, you're really expected to know every little part in order to solve the questions.

Graded by few things
Test heavy
Tough grader
5.0
4.0
BB451
Grade: A
Feb 15, 2020
Would take again

Kevin is a great lecturer and his exams are very fair and representative of the information in his lectures. I was told not to take biochem with him but chose to anyway and think the class was really great. I love his lectures, and though your grade is only based on three exams, they are curved and I believe it is very fair.

Graded by few things
Clear grading criteria
Amazing lectures
1.0
4.0
BB450
Feb 25, 2020
Wouldn't take again

There's really no way to know what exams are on and they make up 95% of your grade. Exam questions are extremely vague. Nearly every one starts off like "With respect to" and there are 6 possible answers rather than 4, so your chance of getting it right goes from 25% to 17%.

Graded by few things
Test heavy
Lecture heavy
1.0
5.0
BB450
Mar 17, 2020
Wouldn't take again

Professor Ahern constructs very vague exams and the course is exam heavy. There are 3 exams, the final being comprehensive. He grades on a curve and because of that, it is almost impossible to know what your current grade is in the course. I asked him what my grade was before the final exam and he said "its hard to say"... like what???

Graded by few things
Test heavy
Lecture heavy
5.0
5.0
BB450
Grade: C+
Mar 26, 2020
Wouldn't take again

Great teacher, but really hard exams that phrase questions like this, A) this B) this, and this other thing C) this, this other thing, and another thing D)this, this other thing, another thing, and one more thing E)this, this other thing, another thing, one more thing, and this extra thing

Get ready to read
Test heavy
Tough grader
1.0
5.0
BB450
Grade: B
May 21, 2020
Wouldn't take again

Kevin Ahern says everything said in lecture is fair game. His lectures go 1000 miles per a minute. He is the only professor that teaches biochem online, so there is no one he has to consult for regulation of material. I took this class in spring 2020 and his online lectures are from 2016 and it's only him talking the whole time.

Skip class? You won't pass.
Graded by few things
Lecture heavy
1.0
5.0
BB350
Grade: C
Jun 9, 2020
Wouldn't take again

Took the course online because of Covid-19. First and only C I have ever gotten. The material isn't that hard, it's his teaching style. He words questions poorly, tests on obscure things, and ignores entire pages he puts in "highlights". He posts 4 year old lectures, and scribbled notes as study material, then hopes you retain it for the 3 tests.

Graded by few things
Test heavy
Lecture heavy
1.0
4.0
BB450
Grade: C
Jun 16, 2020
Wouldn't take again

Dr. Ahern is honestly a trash professor. He provides recorded lectures but you only need to look at the highlights. The material is easy but his exams are difficult because they are oddly worded and he focuses on the most random piece of detail. Class average was a 58%, I had a 54% in the class. He curved the exams and I made it out with a C.

Get ready to read
Test heavy
Lecture heavy
1.0
5.0
BB450
Grade: B
Jul 17, 2020
Wouldn't take again

Provides "highlights" (summary) that u have to memorize word for word to pass. Exams are very badly worded and is very tricky. Every exam contains all of the above/none of the above choice. Doesnt provide ans key for mids and you can't revise it for finals. he says finals are 75% new and 25% midterm material but its a lie. Everything of equal %

1.0
5.0
BB450
Grade: B
Aug 14, 2020
Wouldn't take again

Kevin Ahern actually hasn't taught this class in years. When you pay your 900 dollars for the class, he gives you a link to his youtube videos and a link to ProctorU. If you email him a question he takes off 10% of your grade and a free personal insult. The class average was 55%. Horrible instructor, no contact and only grades on 3 tests.

Graded by few things
Lecture heavy
Tough grader
1.0
5.0
BB451
Grade: B
Aug 14, 2020
Wouldn't take again

Find a different teacher. Ahern is a ghost. Youtube teaches the class and proctor U grades your 3 tests. There is no contact or feedback from him at all. If you send him a question you lose points. The questions are all worded extremely vaguely. The average is in the 50s and that is not acceptable teaching. You are just buying a grade. No teacher.

Graded by few things
Lecture heavy
Tough grader
1.0
5.0
BB451
Aug 14, 2020
Wouldn't take again

This class is taught by Professor YouTube and the tests are graded in canvas, so I'm not really sure what Ahern does besides set the huge curve in his class at the end of the term. Since he grades on a curve, it is impossible to know what you'll get as a final grade until he posts it and slaps you in the face. Make a bomb notecard for the final.

Graded by few things
Test heavy
Lecture heavy
1.0
5.0
BB450
Grade: C
Oct 14, 2020
Wouldn't take again

Worst class I have taken at OSU. Even with a 5x8 both sides notecard for the final I still got 60% on the exam. By the 2nd midterm, only 4 people in the class had A's, which is totally up to him b/c the entire class has an insane curve. Never made it out of C range. Lectures are 4 years old and the canvas page wasnt even updated for summer session.

Graded by few things
Test heavy
Tough grader
1.0
5.0
BB350
Grade: C
Oct 26, 2020
Wouldn't take again

By far the worst professor I've ever had. He doesn't respond to emails when you ask questions about the class or your grade. The whole class is just Youtube videos and exams. Not worth my money, I'd take this class elsewhere if I could. Save yourself the torture.

Test heavy
Lecture heavy
Tough grader
4.0
4.0
BB350
Grade: B+
Nov 2, 2020
Would take again

I liked his class b/c you have the ppt/outlines while watching the videos. You have to work though and you have to keep up. This is a hard class! Everyone got low grades on exams, but its like a sliding scale not curved but a weird way he grades it. I got the same mid D on all four my exams and came out with a B+ If you have self control youre ok

Graded by few things
Test heavy
Clear grading criteria
2.0
5.0
BB450451
Grade: B+
Nov 14, 2020
Wouldn't take again

He provides good resources to teach yourself the material. Exams are multiple choice and are very specific so you really have to know EVERYTHING in order to get a good grade. If you study hard, you'll do okay. He curves the grade in a way that makes it really easy to get a C and very difficult to get an A. Class average was below 50%.

Graded by few things
Test heavy
Tough grader
1.0
5.0
BB350
Grade: Rather not say
Dec 4, 2020
Wouldn't take again

Outdated teach material and technologies considering this is an Ecampus course. Grading based solely 4 exams that cover a vast amount of material and wants minute details not covered in lecture. Very unapproachable when inquiring about grades. Unfortunately he is the only instructor for this course.

Graded by few things
Test heavy
Lecture heavy
5.0
3.0
BB450451
Grade: A-
Dec 26, 2020
Would take again

he's great

Gives good feedback
Respected
Accessible outside class
1.0
4.0
BB450ANDBB451
Grade: C-
Mar 21, 2021
Wouldn't take again

The entire course grade is exam based, all multiple choice questions designed to trick you. Exam averages are ALWAYS in the low-mid 50s. Even typical A earning students end up with Cs in this class. This class is a joke. Save your time, money, and sanity and take it elsewhere since OSUs other BB451 prof has even worse reviews. Good luck.

Test heavy
Lecture heavy
Tough grader
1.0
5.0
BB451
Grade: D-
Mar 24, 2021
Wouldn't take again

Ahern is one of the worst professors that I've encountered. Not only is he incredibly rude and blunt towards his students, but he barely interacts with his online course. All you do is watch his YouTube videos, and then take a proctored test that is on super obscure topics he covered. Do not take waste your money with him.

Skip class? You won't pass.
Graded by few things
Test heavy
1.0
5.0
BB350
Grade: Not sure yet
May 26, 2021
Wouldn't take again

Do not take this professor. The averages for all of the exams (the only thing you graded on) so far have not been above 60%. He curves the exam grades but still, the majority of people end up with a D or C. There are no practice exams or worksheets or anything other than lectures so it is very hard to see if you actually know the material or not.

Graded by few things
Test heavy
Lecture heavy
1.0
4.0
BB450
Grade: Not sure yet
Jul 9, 2021
Wouldn't take again

I took the 4 weeks accelerated course with Ahern. Worst. Decision. Ever. If you can't dedicate 6+ hours a day to this course DO NOT take it until the fall. The content is relatively simple but the professor thinks it's cool to have 25 question midterms worth 100 points. If you take this class... Godspeed.

Get ready to read
Graded by few things
Test heavy
1.0
5.0
BB450
Grade: Not sure yet
Jul 13, 2021
Wouldn't take again

This applies to the Ecampus version of the course: You will never once actually interact with this professor unless you explicitly email him, as all his lectures are prerecorded from 2016 from when he actually taught the class, no recitation, no office hours. There is no feedback aside from the grades you get back from midterms.

Graded by few things
Test heavy
2.0
5.0
BB350
Grade: Not sure yet
Jul 14, 2021
Wouldn't take again

WORST tests i have EVER seen. horrible! it speaks to OSU's horrible standards as well, since they accept it. they think this is "educating," but they get ur $ while u get a YouTube link & a curt prof who replies w/ 1 word emails. The prof is a great lecturer but ABSOLUTELY no support. Intensive courses MUST provide support & this class FAILS.

Test heavy
Amazing lectures
Lecture heavy
1.0
4.0
BB350
Grade: C
Jul 31, 2021
Wouldn't take again

Not necessarily the hardest, but definitely the worst class I have taken due to the lack of structure for studying and the structure of the exams. There is no homework to help you work through what youre learning and the exam questions are tricky as over half of the answers include all/none of the above. The lectures are old and on YouTube.

Graded by few things
Test heavy
Lecture heavy
2.0
5.0
BB450451
Grade: C
Sep 30, 2021
Wouldn't take again

He is very knowledgeable on the subject of Biochemistry and is well spoken and articulate. He was not available to help me with questions when I emailed him and the tests were very hard and had very specific questions over enzymes and intermediate products of biochemical pathways.

Test heavy
Lecture heavy
1.0
4.0
BB350
Grade: F
Nov 19, 2021
Wouldn't take again

Instructions were unclear

Graded by few things
Test heavy
Tough grader
1.0
1.0
BB350
Grade: C
Feb 8, 2022
Wouldn't take again

I graduated from OSU 10 years ago and I still remember Kevin Ahern as being the worst professor I've ever had the misfortune to encounter. Not only is he an egomaniac, he's also completely heartless. A decade later and I would do anything I could to vote this monster out of class.

Class Info

Online Classes

100%

Attendance Mandatory

30%

Textbook Required

43%

Grade Predictor

Your expected effort level

LowHigh

Predicted Grade

B-

95% confidence
Based on 43 grades
Most common grades:
C (13)
Not sure yet (8)
B+ (8)
Grade Distribution
A(6)B(6)C(18)D(2)F(1)A-/B+(10)
Based on 53 reported grades
C: 13
Not sure yet: 8
B+: 8
A: 6
Common Tags
Test heavy (22)
Graded by few things (20)
TEST HEAVY (17)
Lecture heavy (16)
Tough Grader (14)
LECTURE HEAVY (11)
Tough grader (9)
Amazing lectures (8)
Rating Trend

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5.0

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5.0

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5.0

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5.0

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