3.2
Quality3.8
Difficulty36%
Would Retake162
Reviews36%
Would Retake
162
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
49
4
34
3
22
2
27
1
30
What Students Say
“He only teaches to sell his book, which is outdated”
BIO120 - 1.0 rating“This class is not for slackers”
BIO120 - 3.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
33%
Textbook Required
94%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
A-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.57 avg changeRatings by Course
ORNITHOLOG
5.0
(1)ZOOECOBIO
5.0
(1)ZOOLOGY
5.0
(1)ZOOLOGY122
5.0
(2)BIO141
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
31515
5.0
CELL103
5.0
ZOO100
5.0
ZOO120
5.0
ZOOL110
5.0
Reviews (162)
Difficult class, but Larry makes it interesting and fun with his added humor.
No Comments
very arrogant and conceited. He is always late and will look at you funny if you come in late. He thinks that he is funny and he is not. He expects you to know too much information on tests and he is an extremely hard grader. Take it at the UC.
Pretty easy online class, meet his requirements on the online papers and you'll do fine.
I went to class six times all semester, blew all of the field trips, bull****ted on the two exams and one paper, and I got an A for my efforts!
Larry's lec are very insightful, lots of information to memorize, gives lots of writing assignments, but is very clear on what he wants and gives lots of time to do it in. LONG LABS! grades on a curve. want an A, you have to work your ASS off.
Now that I am a teacher, I realize how egocentrical Mr. Friesen really is. However, his class was awesome. I have never worked so hard/ learned so much about scientific method, cell bio, and write ups. Great class but Larry has a bad bedside manner.
Online class....was very easy, there were 3 exams (essay format) and one paper. Super easy, grades easy
Probably the hardest class at City. You will work your ass off...start the papers the day you get them. I have never learned so much in one class. Larry is a hard ass but it will pay off down the road.
Only work he really gives is take-home exams, which are challenging. If you see him at office hours he is always willing to help.
online class.... he is probably the hardest grader at city. he was very rude and unhelpful. he makes you feel like you are dumb and that he is superior. very unclear w/ assignment guidelines.
I've heard so much horrible stuff about this class before taking it. Dont get me wrong I took it not because I wanted to, it was my major. And I got a A. Now look back on it, it wasn't that bad. Larry is a old funny guy. Hes nice smetimes. As long as you study, and if you're stupid, u'll do fine.
I loved this class. Larrys a cool guy. He was very helpful and communicative. We wrote like 3 essays related to the material in the book, and a final essay. Thats it! And I learned more this way.
A total disappointment. I was so looking forward to this class. While I did learn alot, and received A's on all my papers, I received a C. His exams are ridiculous, at PhD level. Absent during office hours.
Yikes, be prepared to work. I love bio, but be prepared to dedicate your weekends to this stuff. When a biology exam consists of only essays and your drawings, you have to know the stuff inside out to get a good grade. I heard its easier at UCSB, but that's competion for you.
his papers take some getting used to because he has very high standards and he can be a tough grader, but you learn so very, very much. it's well worth the work. and once he gets to know you he's pretty cool! he'll help you but you have to ask and show
The online class was super easy and interesting. He was more than willing to answer every question I had.
Everything you wanted to know and too much more. Really difficult but the most helpful class I have ever taken. Makes you write A LOT. After Cell you can do anything
Awesome website for the class. I was in the online lecture and also took the lab. Larry's photos and websites are very, very, very helpful. They make the class interesting and easy. Too much writing but I learned more writing than studying for regular exams. He's cool in person.
Took an incomplete, as did about half of our class. Completed the class, earned an "A". An "F" shows on my transcript because he never submitted my grade, as promised! I was the only one who took an incomplete who finished the class, per Larry, when he went through my finished project. I'm totally bitter to earn an "A", but get shafted w/an "F"!
Has alot of spunk but his exams are extremely difficult and vague, additionaly he used his "labs" aka field trips as an excuse to go to Lake Cachuma and indulge in his hobby of photographing birds while neglecting his students who sit around bored watching him.
A difficult class - he presents the material fairly well in class though he does not utilize the text as a teaching aid-a waste of 250$ on texts. The papers are a massive time sink and yield little in terms of knowledge or skills. His exams are awesome as you must study hard. His grading is subjective - so fight for your points. Not-approachable.
By far, the HARDEST class at city... make sure u study for this class and are ready to be deticated like no other. Lab write-ups are really difficult, and really long. Tests are really hard as well... Larry is a GREAT professer though and I loved the class... I have never learned so much in any other class. BUT WARNING: VERY VERY HARD CLASS!
It's true that this class is difficult,but I think it's not as hard as everyone says.Try and get old tests and lab reports-very helpful.Larry is slightly sadistic, it's true-and he knows it, just get used that the fact that you'll be his slave.If he gives you a list of test questions-know ALL of them, no matter how random they seem.
Definitely the hardest class I've ever taken. You WILL be challenged, but stick through it. Read the book, attend class/lab. Good notes are necessary. Ask questions. Get OLD TESTS!!! His tests tend to be the same year after year. He can be a jerk sometimes but keep asking questions anyway.
I took this lecture class online with larry. I thought this class was hard while my friend said she god 100% on the last exam. I think it's cuz grade is all depands on his TA, so its a luck. On his exam, stick to his style-guide(I lost big 3pts cuz I put wrong title...) and get the info from his course website. Have FUN!
He is very funny and tends to drift off and tell stories but he will never expect you to know anything that he didn't cover. Stick to the study guides because they're basically the test. All in all he is a good teacher, helpful, funny, and there is hardly any work besides papers. I got an A+ and would love to take him again, just not for cell bio.
I took the online bio class and it was really hard. I have never written so many long essays! But, it was a rewarding experience overall. I got an A+. Take him if you want the challenge.
extremely knowledgable about wildlife, and A great supplementary website. The class consists of four open note/book/website-papers. All you have to do is read the text and the website relevent to the essay questions and write the answers in your own words. not easy but rewarding. NEVER plagarize and write as much as possible, and you'll get an A.
ecology, zoology, animal bio. he is by far the most knowledgable professor at the school, but plan on writing papers, many papers, and bring coloring supplies because his lectures are drawings and constant note taking, his tests are exactly what he gives during lecture, very very fair teacher, do the work study hard and get the grade
Very nice and funny man. Extremely hard. You need to study for weeks for the test or you won't pass. The tests are a bit ridiculous. It's very hard to take notes. I don't recommend taking this class unless you're very good at science or are really interested in zoology.
Larry is the smartest biology teacher I've had, but this class is SO HARD!!! You don't have a life when you take this class. Lab Reports are hard, but follow the style guide and you'll get an A on them. Tests are insane, you basically memorize everything he said, make sure to know the details! He grades on a curve.
Just avoid this class. Larry is really into himself and likes to spend the whole class showing us pictures he has taken that really dont have much to do with the class. This would not be a problem but he expects you to compleatly understand stuff that he never goes over. He just cant teach, but he does know his stuff.
I'm a former student & have transfered to a UC. I took animal and cell with Larry and now that I have taken classes at a UC I am SO HAPPY I TOOK HIS CLASSES. If you plan on transferring = take Larry. You will be well prepared and you actually learn in his classes. Now I look back and he was by far one of the best prof's I've ever had!!
Very difficult to deal with, not helpful at all, and not very nice either. DON'T TAKE HIS CLASS!
Weird Class
A hard class where only paper margins matter.
VERY DIFFICULT. you need to be serious if you want to take one of his courses. his papers take FOR EVER and they are extremely hard. he grades very specifically on the structure of the paper you turn in as well as the vocabulary. he is my least favorite teacher i've EVER had.
He is very nice person, who is really smart and knows his material. but he relies heavily on online sources and grades really hard. I found going to class not helpful at all. He was never very helpful when I asked him questions. Going to class was tedious.
Larry is the man, he is one of the best teachers I have ever had. He knows his material very well and makes the class fun with his hip humor. The only flaw is that he assigns 2,000 word exams which take forever. Other than that he is the best
ouuuuuccchhhhh. worst semester of my life. larry is the devil, hilarious, but still the devil.
Larry is a nice person, but his class is ridiculously hard to pass. He waited until the last month of school to give us 3 of the exam papers that we should have done throughout the semester. The papers are long [2000 words to be exact], and the material is very hard to research online. I don't recommend taking this class unless you're a bio major.
Amazing web site to support our papers. Larry is one of the best photographers in the world and brings his field work to life on his web site for this course. Incredibly knowledgeable about almost everything biological. Don't miss the field trips, they are the best!
Extremely difficult class because of the emphasis on writing but the lectures are superb and the exams very comprehensive but exactly on what was lectured about. It is a "must take" class as bio major. I stayed an extra year in order to take this class. Friends at other universities said this class made their lives much easier after transfer.
very good teacher, extremely knowledgeable and detailed, but moves very fast in lectures. Grades are solely based on 4 exams consisting of 4 extremely long and hard questions, must be 2000 words mandatory or ur marked down. VERY HARD TO PASS AND KEEP UP
the worse biology teacher i have ever had!!
I took Larry's class before transferring to UCSB and I have to say this is the only class from which I have benefited. I find myself using my old Bio 103 notes for my current UCSB course work. He is an excellent lecturer and an artist. I loved this class but be prepared to do a lot of work and study hard. I definitely recommend it for Bio majors!
I will admit that I did badly in Friesen's class, he's harder than the average SBCC teacher but he prepared me for the UC system and the content of his class is the basis for a lot of my current classes (evo bio as the groundwork for physical anthro). If you plan to transfer and be a science major, he's really worth it.
I am an international student, this class could be really hard to international student because you need to write 4 long papers to answer 5 questions for each paper. It was really hard to me, but i have learned alot. I don't think he grades people strickly, because I got an A in that class, and i still can't believe lol
I actually finished and took his online course, BIOL 140. My advice: There is NO ONE to hold your hand! With that said, this is probably the best class for those going to UC campus HANDS DOWN. This is a no joke class... and life is no joke neither. So if you want to prove to yourself that you can succeed in college + life, take this class!
Larry is a great instructor even though he demands a lot from his students. Make sure to never miss classes and write down everything he says, it may all be on the next exam. Better to take this class with some ochem background. Reports are long but focus mainly on format. You only need an 85% from the top of the curve to get an A. Set the curve!
Larry is by far my favorite teacher at SBCC and one of my favorite teachers I have ever had period. The exams are as everyone else has described very difficult and time consuming. But as long as you understand what he is saying in class and write EVERYTHING down...you will be more than fine. I love his humor and so did the rest of the class. :)
Cell is a lot of work, but you end up learning skills that you will need if you are transferring to a UC. It's a rite of passage at SBCC. He won't read your papers (so don't bother writing a good one, he doesn't care) and the grading is uneven on the tests, though he will correct it during his limited office hours. I don't like him personally.
Took on-line class. Uses his own e-textbook which is full of his own pictures and low on actual content...lots of typos. Completely unorganized, gives assignments at the last minute, changes assignments. Hard grader, 4 extremely long essays requiring LOTS of research. Graduate level expectations with very little assistance. Can't stand this guy.
I took Larry for Principles of Biology and Animal Diversity. 122 was in class lecture and was amazing. 140 was online and was again, totally satisfied. The 4 essays aren't all that difficult and all the info can be found on his website. Go to class, he goes over answers thoroughly so you can go home and do it yourself. Definitely a college course
Taking BIOL112 online & it's horrible. I've had 4 other classes from Larry and he's great. Yes, the essay tests are hard, but if you're going past community college you will find that's the way it works. My complaint about this class is zero teaching - the guidelines are "read the text & answer these questions." Even online I expect some teaching.
His online ecology class is ridiculously hard. He seems to expect graduate level work. The textbook is a waste of money & his e-textbook is 25% complete with a lot of typos. The class is basically him giving you 2k word essays & you have to dig really deep for answers not easily found, if at all. The class structure is vapid, don't recommend it
An amazing class for my eighth online class and by far the best every. The textbook is more than comprehensive, tied directly to the course lectures and Larry's photographs:incredible-the best nature photographs with high consistency-brings the class to life. Exams are tough but if you enjoy natural history this is definitely worth the effort!
this class was all online, which was difficult. if you research well and thoroughly answer each part of all the questions on the essay exams (mine always ran upward of 4,000 words) then you will do well. i didn't study for the quizzes at all, eventually got a D in that category, and still got an A in the class.
Well organized lectures. Gives out exams 3 weeks before due and you finish them and submit them from home. Worked with me in office hours and I got an A. Exams submitted thru turn it in--don't cheat! 22 got A, 23 Bs, 10 Cs out of about 60/70 who finished. Not easy but fair. If you miss class, OK, all lectures posted online. Great class!!
Took Bio 110 online last year and it taught me to write and to love science. First time I understood chemistry after two chemistry classes! Struggled but Larry answers emails within minutes day or night and very helpful-got an A!
Fast-paced detailed lectures; exceptional notes on board. Photographed the boards after every class and still use them and my notes in upper division biochem and bio. Essential class for my bio major; don't know how I would have done without it. It lays the foundation for everything. Most important class ever. Highly recommended, be ready to work.
I had to drop the on campus Animal Diversity class due to travel but later took it online. great class-interesting prof-marvelous website for both classes. everything you ever wanted to know about animals from sponges to monkeys. freisen is always online for both classes to answer emails-i don't think he sleeps enjoyed inclass and online lectures
bio 110 is a rigorous class compared to Animal Diversity (which i just rated) but is sooo interestng because it explains the -how- of life. recommended for someone who needs a simple introduction to chem and physics --and again an awesome website to help you learn A+++++++
TAKE THIS CLASS! Awesome intro to natural history It covers EVERYTHING from the origin of the universe to ecology of coral reefs. Four essay exams helped show relationships of all the material covered. Exams are tough but interesting. Lab exercises that can be done in your yard or kitchen got me thinking about the science of what I do and see e
This is not a class you can slack in. Might as well just take the online class because his lectures are boring, he doesn't take role, and you will end up spending 15 hours on each test anyways. Easy grader but test are TEDIOUS. However you take every test and quiz online and he is very accommodating in that he will give you extensions if needed.
I am shocked that Prof Friesen doesnt have a higher rating, because in my opinion he is one of the best professors at the school. After i took bio 112 online for a GE i took all the rest of his classes because hes: reasonable about onlines, so into the material that it rubs off on you, and yes AN EASY A! Everyone should take him, online or at cc
This guy is the greatest. I have him for Zoology 122 & he is such a sweetheart. But there are weekly quizzes, and there are 4 online essay exams. ALL the information is in his online textbook. Just dont plagarize and you'll get a 100% on every exam. He's so funny & so i love in with animals which makes the class more interesting!
Coolest, sweetest, most intelligent guy ever. He is super nice, but kind of a push over. I attended almost all classes because i felt bad that no one went! He has so many useless, funny facts. A class is always good when the teacher loves what they do and he definitely does. I totally recommend him as a teacher, I'll definitely miss him.
I took an ecology class, most of the grading was done by a TA. It was sort of a right every fact you can find on the subject for each test situation. Never really clear what was expected, just put everything in it. My upper level classes were easier. Wasn't my worst experience, but it was really rough.
Online section. This class is a lot of work for an A. It's a lot of information in one go unless you're already a bit familiar. Biggest complaint- No spell-checking on the online text. Typos are rampant and seem to be breeding...
A lot of reading and writing. I ultimately wrote 30+ pages, single spaced. It's fun but a lot of work. I would recommend this class but you should know what you are getting into when you enroll. It was fun, interesting, and entertaining.
This is already a difficult class as it is. He grades very unfairly and gives you as little of his time as he possibly can. The papers are very time consuming, yet he doesn't care to read them but instead marks off points for structural errors. He is a very inefficient professor and has made my semester unnecessarily stressful.
Extremely difficult grader.
I dont know where to start. All I can say, is get through this class without going crazy. He is arrogant and does not help students, even if you reach out to get extra help. I worked hard in this class and I learned things, and I got the grade that I deserved, but I finished with a horrible impression of him, the bio department and his giant ego!
I cannot understand why people constantly complain about this guy. Yes, Biology 103 is a very difficult class. However, the tests are very fair, the papers, even though graded mostly on format, are also still graded fairly. He puts people in their place and gives them the grade that they deserve. Most people don't study enough and get C's.
I took his Summer class (online), and I took a Zoology class with him as well, also online. Deffinently a lot of work. He expects his student to write like college students. Not middle schoolers. So yes, it is very important that spelling is correct and your answers are well written. I would take another class with him for sure! Be prepared to work
Don't let the other reviews scare you. Put in the time and you'll do fine. You can either complain about how hard the class is and waste time, or buckle down and do the work. I guarantee you'll get an A if you study hard, no question.
Like others have said, this class can be difficult. The professor makes you work. But I definitely learned a lot more than I had expected. He doesn't seem arrogant to me, and I think he's great with lectures and clarifies things when needed. Also, he isn't a harsh grader. Good class =]
I took the online lecture class b/c I know I'm not very good a science classes and I actually did really well, high A's on all three essays. However, this is a class where you have to step up as a student and actually learn some things in order succeed (shocker, I know). Great UC prep! Take this class if you can!
Hard class. Over saturation of facts. 4 massive essay exams. Boring lectures. There are better science classes out there.
Difficult class, but he does tell you exactly what to know for the tests during the review sessions...if you study you can do well! He will NOT help you outside of class because he is useless and does not care, but i learned everything on youtube videos and got an A:)
All I have to say is that I was unhappy in this online class. Due to this class, I do not like an online book (you know...the kind of textbook only the teacher has control of posting online!!?) :-(
He has a lot of knowledge to share. the information can be a bit overwhelming at times but you just have to keep looking at the exams and essays which he posts ahead of time to know what to study for. Great class
Great man with a lot of information to share. this class requires critical thinking and you have to write in depth essays (4) with a lot of information; however, he will give you any help you need if you ask for it. if you go to the class lectures then the essays are easy. bring colored pencils to class!!! he teaches by drawing
Everybody is scared of this class... DON'T be! It was actually one of my favorite classes at SBCC and Larry is hilarious. Do your work on time and you will be fine. Don't procrastinate. Also, if you have time, memorize all 21 amino acids BEFORE taking the class. The first exam will be so easy!
Difficult
He's hillarious! Very good professor and he really gives everyone the chance to succeed. If you fail it is entirely your fault. His grading is fair, tests are pretty much taken out of the lectures, quizzes are weekly but they are online with use of the book. The only way to do badly is laziness.
I took this class online to get my science credit out of the way. It is extremely difficult. There are 12 quizzes, 2 essays, 2 exams (essays). The book makes no sense and goes into detailed biochem and molecular biology. He is good at responding to emails, but if you are trying to complete your science credit this is not the class to take!!
really knowledgable and funny at the same time, be ready to learn a lot
Probably one of the most intelligent people I have ever met. Class was difficult, but you learn A LOT.
I took this class online to get one of my sciences out of the way...Bad idea. I'm an A student and this was hard. If I could go back in time, I would've chosen something else!
I thoroughly enjoyed this class. Dr. Friesen writes his own textbook and online lecture note, which are very well done, and writes all of the questions for his own exams - all of which are essay based. If you have the good sense to read through the lecture material in order to answer the exam question, you will do just fine in this class.
What people have stated about difficulty is somewhat true. I have taken Ecology and Natural Science with him, both online. He has his own text which can be kinda funky in working with, but if you do the work, put forth the effort, the class is simple. It is not a class to learn for the duration of the class and forget, you will remember it :)
He is the most arrogant person I've met. He is not even responsible with the due date of our exams. One time I submitted my final exam before be changed the due date to add a section in the etextbook, had to update my essay, and he critized me for cheating. What kind of a teacher does that?
This is one of my first online courses. I really have to read and reread the material, but the payoff is understanding what I think is some very interesting information. I've never done well in the sciences, but I'm doing so now because of how the information is explained in the ebook. Larry is very clear about what is expected of his students.
I found this class really straightforward, and basically pretty easy. the assignments can take some time, but all are open book/open notes/open everything, so there's no reason not to get an A. the professor is very clear and fair-- there are no tricks here. taking it online is a big timesaver in my opinion.
Make sure you turn your labs, quizzes, essays and exams on time, FOLLOW HIS FORMAT GUIDELINES, cite your sources, & don't plagiarize or you'll be severely penalized. Start the labs early as many are deceptively time consuming. Dr. Friesen's online text is terse, easy to follow & has superb visuals. Overall, I'm very glad I took the course.
Prof Friesen was very clear about his expectations for assignments/quizzes, essays, and exams, and the format with which we were to complete those things suited me well. I love to write and found much satisfaction in it with his course. It really isn't difficult to complete everything if you don't procrastinate. An enlightening endeavor.
Larry's style is casual and you can tell he's an expert. He gets back to students over email in less than an hour. Brilliant man. Fun to go on field trips with!
Prof. Friesen is perhaps the most communicative professor I've had. My gripe with him is about the awful textbook. It is very much a work in progress with numerous typos and repeating paragraphs, and worse, it did little to help me understand the material. Thankfully, the research for each of the 4 papers we submitted did. Internet saves the day.
Assigns MASSIVE essays. Took summer Zoo 122 and he gave us 3 days to write a 2000+ word essay. His textbook and prompts are very difficult to understand and I'm only passing the quizzes by googling the questions.
The material in the course is difficult, the concepts are definitely advanced. But prof. Friesen has a pretty relaxed personality. He wrote the textbook so he knows exactly whats in it. I got A's on the papers because I used the text and defined EVERYTHING that was in the prompt. The essays are really long because they are also the exams
Larry is a great professor. His assignments look daunting but if you read them thoroughly, and then read them again, you will be able to complete the work. He is always readily available by email if you still have questions. I had him for two classes and he was great!
Larry's class is very tough and it doesn't help that he is unorganized. There was set dates for our exams all of which changed. He claimed that we would have no final just a paper and we ended up with both a very difficult final and paper on the last week of school.
I took natural science 110 online with Larry. Awesome teacher! Just try as hard as you can on the weekly quizzes (some were pretty tough) and follow all the essay guidelines and you'll do fine! 10 quizzes, 2 essays, and 2 exams. The material is kind of tough to write about sometimes but I'm a polysci major so this subject isn't very interesting.
Prof. wrote the book, his questions and essay prompts have to be re-read multiples times. Difficulty trying to do outside research because his book and outside sources do not coincide. He is available to answer questions by email, which was the only positive about this class.
Good teacher- a lot of quizzes and a few big papers but as long as you're following along with the reading you'll be fine. Nice guy.
Wouldn't suggest taking a course like Biology online. Much better professors and more interesting classes on campus.
His online book is very clear and organized. There's a quiz about once a week, but they only take about 15-20 minutes, and there are 2 essays and 2 essay-like exams. He provides where the answers are found for both. He responds to emails very quickly and is helpful with his answers. If you're comfortable with essays, this class should be an easy A
He only teaches to sell his book, which is outdated. Instead of using either moodle or canvas, which work wonderfully, you have to use different 3rd party sites to check in, buy the book, access the material, and turn in assignments. Class is easy though, as long as you don't want to learn anything and don't mind funding his vacation.
Only take Larry's class if you're interested in science or fine with writing essays. His book jumps right into sophisticated scientific language, so not easy for someone just trying to get the science GE done. No need to do the weekly reading, you learn everything by searching for the right information through the text for the essay exam questions.
Very tough online course. Weekly quizzes are open book and easy. But 4 long essays on science topics were deadly uninteresting to this non-science major. But it was one of few GE science courses available online. Several people failed course for copying too closely to original text, not putting really hard concepts "in own words."
The course is very well set up, clear due dates, professor gives plenty of time for essays, and exams, is aware of other classes and encourages to start early. He responds to emails quickly. Class is time consuming I will say, the hardest class I have ever taken, but got an A. If you want that A you have to work hard, but then again Im an ECE major
Tough online course, but one of few GE science courses offered online. Weekly quizzes are open book and easy. But four long essays require tons of reading/research on dry subjects. Several people failed b/c essays included too much material not "in own words."
This class is not for slackers. This is probably the only class that does not require dissecting, so that's why I took it (online). The papers are definitely difficult, easy quizzes, and the labs - start EARLY on them. I managed to finish the class with an A but it was not easy. Just plan ahead and remember it's just a class! You can do it!
Thought exam questions were fair and interesting. Provided a comprehensive understanding of the material. Could see how this class would be difficult for somebody who has never taken college level biology courses . I thought the text was interesting, most sections are good and have great photos but some sections did not come to conclusive point.
Took the 6-week online summer course. This course, in particular, is essentially writing a paper every week. It was incredibly time-consuming. However, he lays out exact guidelines of how to write the papers and they consist of essentially re-wording his lectures/textbook. Weekly quizzes were open book, but surprisingly hard.
Larry is the reason I switched from being a culinary arts major to a Zoology major! Courses are essay heavy, but the text is so fascinating (especially if you're into science) that I was excited to write my papers because of all the cool stuff I was learning. Did you know that birds are dinosaurs?!
His online textbook you use is terrible and outdated. His papers are well laid out but the material and requirement make the essay difficult due to lack of materials you can use.
Very educated teacher with an amazing online site for course work. I literally have learned so much from this class that I have actually obtained in memory. The essays make me think and challenge myself I love it. Everything is open notes/ resources so no reason to fail. I love how all the pictures are his own on his website and very facinating.
It was quite difficult in the beginning, but I would improve my scores each exam until finally earning a 97 on my final. You definitely have to spend a few hours per week on this class, however as long as you are good at scanning his online textbook (he made it himself) and using ctrl-F to find what you need, you should be okay. Lots of writing!
Dr. Friesen was an amazing online teacher. He was so clear and responsive, and overall super knowledgeable. His whole class was based off of his own textbooks and website that he developed. However, you are definitely going to LEARN that information. I would definitely recommend this class for people with bio/zoo majors.
This class is all about reading and getting things done on time. The professor is very generous and his readings are interesting. His exams require a lot of typing but are doable and the labs I thought were kind of fun. I enjoyed this class overall.
I will never take a class taught by him again. I worked my butt off and barely got a B. The exams are graded unfairly and extremely rough. I wrote amazing and thourough essays and never scored above a 70. You cant quote a single sentence or you get knocked down. I do enjoy how the class was set up. I was able to learn a lot but he SUCKS.
Fine teacher, but has the course set up in a weird way. He uses student's personal emails to contact them/ run the course, which I find a little strange. However, I learned a lot in this class. Just read the course material and you'll be fine. Tests aren't overly hard, but the way he shows grades can be confusing.
I have taken BIO 110, BIO 140 AND BIO 141 all with Professor Friesen online and all were absolutely great. There's going to be a lot of typing, but his requirements are clear and easy to follow. Your "textbook" is online and the only main thing is the papers you have to write, but he gives you the questions/statements on what he wants answered.
Larry Friesen is the faculty head for Biology at SBCC and by far one of the best professors that I've had in the 4 years I've been taking classes here. His paper topics are very easy to write about, and most of your research can be easily done just by reading his book for the class. You literally have to make an effort to fail his classes.
Larry is very difficult to contact. He does not put quizzes out until a few days before they are due. Very frustrating because I have a busy schedule and don't like to wait till last minute. Larry if you see this please change your behavior.
Please do not take him. I have not learned anything this entire class, he doesn't send emails and doesn't even have a canvas course set up. He makes you use your personal email rather than your pipeline email... weird? And the book is like 60 dollars TO RENT. There is a total of four papers and at least 2,000 words each. You are not taught EVER!!!
He's accessible out of class and responds to emails quickly. The class is all online and you only read his textbook. He does not teach or send out any videos to watch. It's all reading and I have not learned much, but if you prefer reading then take it. Need more video lectures. Exams are written papers but the feedback given is mediocre comments.
This class is in a textbook written by Dr. Friesen, and it is chewy. Get ready to test your knowledge and read and research a lot. Dr. Friesen gives 20 pts EC, replies to emails, and gives extensions on tests but while evolution is an amazing topic, this class doesn't inspire passion and only works for a specific type of learner.
Professor Friesen seems like a great guy, but he needs to make some changes to his class. Everything is done through a separate website using your personal email which makes things much harder. I work for days at a time on my essays and have never scored above 60%. Each essay is 2000 words and so hard to write. On my last 2500 word essay I got 28%.
Mr. Friesen is a really knowledgable professor, and I am really glad to have learned from him. The class is super reading heavy, and the exams take a fair amount of brain power. You will definitely work for your grade. The best advice I have to give is take your own notes, do outside research, and ask questions. He is accommodating & available.
This professor has a very weird class and has zero sympathy for students struggling. This class is not with taking if you're considering it, you will most likely fail this class.
Do not take this class. He has his own textbook that's absolutely ludicrous. The man is obviously a biology genius but when it comes to writing? Complete gibberish making it incredibly difficult to get any conclusive information from the textbook. Exams are incredibly long and require a lot of writing, textbook quality doesn't help.
Ive taken ecology and natural science from Professor Friesen and I really enjoyed the material he covered. The information was provided through his own textbook, which is well written and very informative. I highly recommend his classes if youre passionate about science and want to be challenged. I learned so much I highly recommend his courses
No lectures, no information other than his "textbook" which is his own poorly written website. Half of the class failed the first exam. Waste of money and time.
Don't take this class or anything with Prof Friesen unless you want to hate your life. No lectures, the only assignments are quizzes and exams. Exams are 2000 word papers graded harshly. No lectures or any resources besides his own terribly formatted website/"textbook." I failed the first exam, dropped the class, and changed my major.
This guy refuses to be incorrect about anything and does not care enough to spell check or reread his "textbook". While being not only unsympathetic, unapproachable and narcissistic, the man makes students purchase his own (self-published, I assume) textbook. TAKE AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Prof doesn't use canvas everything is on this terrible outdated website you have to pay to access. He puts NO effort in the class, not a single recorded lecture. In a nutshell you're handed a bad textbook and expected to teach yourself enough to write 4 specific and detailed papers on the material or you fail. Save yourself <3
The Textbook is very confusing, it is written by him. The only good thing is that he answers emails fast but gets ready for a lot of writing, quizzes, and labs. Not going to lie his class is hard.
All this class seems to be is reading off of his textbook website that is both outdated and written at a level beyond a beginner to the subject, and you are expected to comprehend 4+ subjects for each written exam with said website. The way the text is all shoddily clumped together and presented gives me no passion for this subject.
This class was insanely tricky due to the course being extensive in material and the way everything was organized. I found myself consistently getting confused. Exams are very lengthy, and the textbooks (that the professor wrote and forced you to buy to even participate in the class) do not help.
The whole class is 5 quizzes and 4 exams with many opportunities for extra credit. The exams are not in a typical test format: 1 exam a month, 2000 words each, writing answers to each question. You don't even have to read the entire textbook! Just read what is required for the exams. It's easy to get an A as long as you try.
I took bio 140 as a dual enrollment highschooler. The class was a lot of reading and notes. I took online notes, you need to stay on top of it. There is some extra credit which is nice. For the exams write way more than you need to. I got 89 with 2600 words, 98 with 4716 words, 100 with 5947,100 with 5714. The minimum word count is 2000 btw -_-
Wackest teacher on the whole west coast. Never heard his voice or saw his face the whole school year. The whole class material is based off of his personal textbook website. I'm sure he's a smart guy but he's definetly cut out to be teaching at any level. Don't take his class.
Just shouldn't be a teacher. I'm sure he's a great science guy but teaching is just not for him. He grades insanely difficult on his exams which are 2000 word minimum papers. Feedback is of a fifth grader proof reading your work. Save yourself time and money and don't take his class.
This class taught me how to pretend I understand biology without learning anything. Be prepared to write 20,000 words with your main source being a confusing typo-ridden $60 online textbook; I would suggest taking literally anything else. Not even my UCSB bio major roommate could decipher this professor's wording.
I am generally a good student but DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS. When there is a normal asyn
Had to drop because of how rude professor is. I had a few emails where I asked clarifying questions and was belittled by him. I am a good student, I've taken other difficult biology related classes with professors that were poorly rated and deemed "difficult", however, the exchange I had with him made my decision very easy. Please quit already.
Get ready to write 8,000 -12,000 words (four exam papers). Every detail counts! The class is self-guided. Pretty intense workload but I learned A LOT and the professor was nice + responsive! If you're a bad writer or a slacker, don't even bother...you will not do well!! But, if you're motivated and keep up with the work, you can totally get an A..
He doesn't know how to use Canvas You cannot do this class unless you buy a $70 notebook to get into his website and do the work Also, he only uses this website for everything, so you might miss something if you don't check it every day It is very messy as well he does not know how to clearly describe what needs to be done and how or where to do it
DO NOT take this class! He asks you to write four 2,000-word essays (expects them to be longer) based entirely on his textbook.There are no lectures, and nothing is on Canvas. He is wildly sensitive to any possible use of AI. He gave me a perfect score in every category, then gave me an F because AI was detected (I only used it to edit for grammar)
You have to be very good at writing. Even if the entire class gets a quiz question wrong, he will not add a point. Expects you to deal with his crappy textbook. You won't learn much.
AWFUL CLASS! I am a straight A student and I would never recommend this class. Save yourself and don't take it. It was a semester of tears and confusion. Ineligible textbook, unclear instructions, and god-awful essay exams. DON'T DO IT EVEN IF YOU THINK THAT YOU'LL BE FINE BECAUSE YOU'RE A GOOD STUDENT. THAT WAS ME.
Class was hard and time intensive but super interesting. Prof responded quickly and seemed helpful to students who put significant effort in. But this class did take SIGNIFICANT effort. Also, baller move to make us use the textbook he wrote. Seems genuinely interested in bio, very clear rules to get an A.
But the teaching style is 100% detached, there is no canvas, the grades are on a (code names tho not real names) spreadsheet which I did not like because it compares the students against each other. Its all reading and writing sadly. The teacher seems kind but i would not pay to take another of their classes if its like this.
Principles of bio 140 is easy peasy. 4 essays one each month… granted the essays are massive. Set one day aside before the exam to do about 15 hours of writing and studying and you'll get an A. Would take again
Must buy his books for his classes because everything is on his website. Website is a hot mess, his book doesn't make sense and is hard to read, his exams are hard -- you literally have to re-read the book to answer the questions (basically writing 4-5 essays per exam). Doesn't give clear directions or advice. Worst class/professor ever. He sucks!
All his classes are the same format: 4-5 quizzes and 3-4 essay exams. Doesn't post grades on canvas. Quizzes are hard because his book (required to purchase from his site) doesn't make sense. Can't do this class unless you pay $63/book. Not very clear what he's looking for when he grades so it's tough but doable. Pewpew 2 my head, might take again
If you're truly interested, a strong writer, and not just trying to pass, IGNORE the negative reviews. Larry is brilliant & funny, replies to email well - it's truly refreshing to learn from him. Some essays are tough, but you'll come away with a deep understanding. Strong scientific vocabulary recommended. Write more than the word minimum, ~3-4k
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