3.5
Quality3.8
Difficulty64%
Would Retake138
Reviews64%
Would Retake
138
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
42
4
39
3
29
2
14
1
14
What Students Say
“I have had a lot of bad professors in my time but he is by far one of the worst”
BIO2440 - 1.0 rating“Don't choose his class”
BIOL1331 - 2.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
12%
Textbook Required
6%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Improving
+0.41 avg changeRatings by Course
MICRO2440
4.2
(12)2440
3.9
(15)BIO2440
3.6
(71)BIOL1331
3.5
(2)BIO1331
3.3
(30)Difficulty by Course
MICROBIOLOGY
5.0
1320
4.0
BIO1330
4.0
BIO1331
3.9
MICRO2440
3.8
Reviews (138)
He is very boring. His slides consist of exact words from the book and he doesn't elaborate much in class, just reads off the slides. His slides are posted online and he doesn't take attendance, so you basically don't need to go to class except for the test days. His syllabus says that he has pop quizzes, but so far, none. Don't choose his class.
Gets 100 page slides straight from the publisher of the textbook and doesn't know what they are talking about most of the time. Completely boring and the final is comprehensive. After 19 chapters, 100 slides in each that he doesn' even cover half of... yeah don't bother attempting to learn anything or be slightly prepared for exams after studying
This professor is the absolute WORST. Avoid taking him if possible. Powerpoints are straight from the publisher of the book. No idea what he is talking about in lecture. Attendance not mandatory. Be prepared to read the ENTIRE book & still fail. Tests are horrible. No extra credit. Changed syllabus a month into class just cause. AVOID.
I didn't like Dr. Abel at first, but soon realized that I was at fault. He will not respect you unless you prove yourself; at such a large university where a lot of students are expecting to be handed A's, that makes sense. I went to SI sessions and into his office once a week. He is incredibly smart and fun to talk to, his slides need work though.
The examples during the lectures are funny, but everything else was difficult. I recommend not taking this class or if you do make your own study guide for the test, I found that my own was more close to the test questions than his, also do the practice test for the chapters.
I feel like he is one of the better professor's for general biology! Super interesting!! Would take again!!
I was surprised I liked him as a professor after all the reviews I have read. His lectures are pretty much pointless because it is not his, but he still makes the lectures funny. Be prepared to read the entire book, the test are pretty tough but other than that the hw is easy and the lab has been easy for the most part.
I didn't like Abel at first, but I think it was bc he was new. I took him for microbio and organismal bio, and I can already see how he's improving as a professor and becoming more organized. His lectures are ok, sometimes interesting. Just read the book and do the modules and you'll be good. He is helpful if you ask for help
Good class, tests are easy if you just go to class and pay attention. Attendance isn't counted. Notes are printed and contain everything needed for test and the masteringMicrobiology quizzes and homework. You can easily make a solid B or A, by just attending and do a little studying before the tests. If you don't try, you won't pass though.
He makes this class easier than it could be which is refreshing compared to other science profs. Attendance is not mandatory, but as always it would be in your best interest to attend every class. He mentions about test questions and what you can skip in the book during his lectures. Test are not difficult & have about 12 points added to each test.
attendance isn't graded ore mandatory, but he does tell you what he puts on the test and what to focus on if you show up. READ READ READ! if you don't read the book you won't pass. Its a fair class and if you try you will be fine! Also do the online home work it helps your grade in the end if you need it
Great professor. Make sure to read the book for the tests and use quizlet to study.
He is a great professor, is very interesting and through out lecture he lets you know what questions to expect on the test. You don't have to go because there isn't attendance, but I'd go because I much rather hear him talk than read the book.
He's a pretty good professor. I would recommend him to anyone taking this class. You do not need the textbook, but you do need the online code. Everything on the test is in the powerpoints. GO TO CLASS!!!!! He says exactly what willwill not be on the test during lecture. Go slow on your test, he likes to use trick questions. but overall good prof!
I was expecting to hate this professor from reviews I read before taking this class, but he is actually a really cool guy and is willing to answer all of your questions. His class can be hard if you do not study. I suggest buying the book and reading the chapters before test as well as going over the reviews that he post.
He really knows his stuff, but he can be unclear about some things. He is there to help if you go to his office hours. READ. READ. READ. His tests are very textbook-based. He does not give extra credit. Do the homework! It ultimately helps your grade and helps you learn the information. He is a really nice guy and willing to help if you ask for it!
Loved going to his class. He is funny and has a sense of humor. There is no attendance, but definitely go to class because he gives info that is in the book. If you don't attend class then read the book but other then that it is not necessary.
I'm normally a straight A student, and it was a struggle to end up with my B-. I went to every class, took notes, read the book, and read through the review provided. I still wound up with two test grades in the 60s. His tests cover little details that you wouldn't think are important, so be prepared to memorize everything.
He's not that great of a lecture teacher but he is intelligent. Knows his stuff but I wonder if he prepares his lectures beforehand or just rolls with the power points. His test questions are tough and tricky but each test is worth roughly 112100 points. I missed an average of 6 questions per test and made 100's. Read every detail in the book
The class was the toughest class I have taken in my three years of college. He really makes you use your brain. You will do fine if you attend lecture and read ahead of time. I really enjoyed the class and all his random comments.
Dr. Abel is a great professor. I took Organismal biology with him Spring of 2015. I really enjoyed this class and ended up making an A. How? I READ THE BOOK. My test grades started to slip because I skipped doing the reading. His tests TEST you on your knowledge base of the concepts but final replaces lowest test. Great political opinions too!:)
Loved this class! Tests were fairly easy as long as you read and went to class! He incorporates extra points into the tests so for example you could possibly get a 115; it's hard to fail. Also, there's homework that has extra credit built in too. I would highly suggest taking this professor!
Good professor, but his test were very difficult! You HAVE to ready & understand the concepts because his test are 90% application based! He gives extra pts on tests, & replaced lowest w final. He uses masteringbio so make sure you keep up with the quizzes & hw! He's a pretty nicefunny guy, but sometimes doesn't clarify stuff, so READ & STUDY!
2 homeworks and a quiz every week on top of the reading and then you also have to study the 100 slide long power points for each chapter. each test was 6 chapters long... thats 600 slides + reading. gives a 15 page exam review but it really doesn't help. tests are also very short for all the information that you are given.
He has a monotone voice, and his lectures can get pretty boring. He says what will be on the test and to put a star next to things to study. His rants get pretty interesting in my opinion. The tests are very conceptual and you need to understand CONCEPTS What's exactly on the study guide. The tests are TOUGH.
Dr. Abel is very intelligent and he really is passionate about the subject he teaches. He goes on long tangents however, and they turn political most of the time. It was so prevalent, that friends and I actually look forwarded to his lectures on the environment because he would turn political. I never read, instead only taking notes, getting by.
Good guy, lectures mehh. Extra credit built into test, hw/quizzes but isn't stand alone. I made a low C w/o studying except day of for 3 hours and barely made a B because I attended class, did every hw, quiz, and assessment which can save your grade. Material isn't easy. Do all hw/quiz mods and read the book for an A. Class avg was D/C I think.
One of my better teachers. Not the best at lecturing, explains concepts clearly but his lectures aren't organized well. Test are tough but are weighted where you can miss a relatively hefty amount of questions and still get an A. Read the book, every details fair game but I never found his questions pedantic. Goes on hilarious and informative rants
Gets off topic in lectures a lot which puts us behind on material but he accounts or that on the tests. He's a very interesting talker however. I failed because I just made bad decisions. This class can be easily passed.
Tests are nothing like notes or powerpoint.
Very nice Professor. He is passionate about the subject matter and will go on tangents but enjoyable lecture. Not too difficult just make sure you study the material a little every night. If you cram at the last minute you may not do well. I don't advise missing lecture because he tells you what you should be studying for the tests.
Since I didn't have the book, I had to really try to understand the material. The most important this is to grasp CONCEPTS! he's a huge concepts guy. Just memorization without understanding won't get you very far on the tests. He's very nice and approachable, so don't be afraid to go to office hours and ask questions. And he's funny, which is nice.
Dr. Abel is a really passionate professor who knows his stuff! Lectures come straight from the PowerPoint's and he does not take attendance but his exams are pretty difficult because they cover so much information. MUST READ AND DO ALL MASTERINGBIO HW
Very monotone but funny. Will give hints during lecture to what's on the test, but sometimes those hints aren't even on the test..a little misleading. He knows what he's talking about, but he's not very descriptive. He expects chapters to be read beforehand. He reads straight off slides so going to class isn't super necessary but sometimes helps.
Attendance to this class is not mandatory, and honestly I would not recommend attending the lectures. All of Professor Abel's PowerPoints come directly from the textbook and he skips around so much its honestly more helpful to just read. His tests are theory based, but since he does not cover any of that information in class it is hard to pass.
I didn't go to the lectures and still passed. Lots of Study Modules and quizzes on mastering, & long test reviews. If I had studied more, I would've made a better grade. All notes/lectures are straight out of the textbook. He can be really funny and answers emails quickly.
I was not prepared for this class. He goes off on long tangents that he even says we don't need to know, even though we're already a chapter behind. On his tests, I've sat there thinking "every answer choice is correct". Doesn't count attendance. Make sure you study a lot for every test. Know the material inside and out. Take Debelica
His lectures are SUPER BORING! Makes 50min feel like forever! You have to know literally EVERYTHING on the 20pg study guide to get a good grade on the tests! Good thing he swaps your lowest for your final if it's higher which will save your grade if you stay up all night studying for it! A lot of MasteringBio HW every other day which is annoying!
This is not an easy class, you really have to work for it. in order to pass this class just READ READ READ the BOOK! the reviews he gives out for each exam are more than 10 pages, and most of it is not in the exam. BUT do the quizes, and hw online that will save your grade and bump up a letter grade. Overall great class.
Abel's class if TOUGH. I never skipped a class and the tests were still difficult for me. I never figured out how to study for his test because the study guides were 20 pages long. I recommend reading the book because the power point notes were no help. Attendance isn't mandatory. REMEMBER TO KEEP UP WITH MASTERINGBIO. Very challenging for me.
Lectures are BORING, but I'm not a microbiology major. He is a very sweet professor and very passionate about his stuff. If he tested us over his side conversations I definitely would've made an A. He definitely gives a lot of opportunity to receive a good grade. I'm glad he was my teacher.
This is one of the worst teachers I've ever had. I barely attended class and it was not even necessary too. He doesn't teach about the test only about politics. Everything is about the book, if you want an A you have to READ. Attendance is not mandatory, nor necessary. Annoying teaching in the way he lectures as well, he says um a lot.
Dr. Abel is an outstanding professor. His lectures are process specific and detail oriented. If you don't attend class you often will miss the clarification that he offers in the lecture. Here, you get in what you get out. If you don't attend class or read you won't do well. Period. If you attend class, do the work and try, it will be noticed.
If you have to take micro, take this professor!!! he tells you exactly what's on the exam and as long as you read also, there is no way you'll fail! his lectures are interesting, only problem is he tend to go on rants but he'll let you know when they are not exam material. if you put in the effort, you'll definitely get a good grade.
Great teacher. He truly has a passion for teaching biology and cares for his students. If you are having troubles or have any questions he will gladly set up a meeting and he replies to emails in a timely manner. He is hilarious and keeps the class interested, he also doesnt move on until you understand the concept.
Dr. Abel is very smart and knows what he's talking about! He also genuinely cares for the students success, so don't be afraid to ask questions. He's a likable guy. Homework was a little lengthy and detailed but it helps with the exams. Overall, I would take him again.
Dr. Abel is such a great professor. Organismal bio is easily one of my favorite classes I've taken. His test and notes are based solely off of the book so READ READ READ. As long you read and study regularly you should do fine. I would take him again.
You will be studying all of the slides and reading the textbook to get an A. LOTS of information, but it's not necessarily hard material just a lot of it. He is passionate about science which helps. You do not need to attend class if you study and read a lot.
So there's four exams in his semester with one cumulative final exam. These were the hardest tests I have ever taken in my entire academic career. READ THE BOOK or you will FAIL. He goes off on random subjects a lot so going to class really doesn't make much of a difference.
I don't recommend taking Dr. Abel at all. His lectures are boring and unorganized, and he often loses track of time so he constantly skips through the slides, making it difficult to understand most concepts. The study guides are just an outline of the textbook, and the exams are extremely difficult for a freshman class. Avoid if possible.
He is a good man and professor, I went to every class even though attendance isn't mandatory. Basically read and study mastering micro and you will be fine. Test are hard, but the lab is soooo easy. Interesting subject and you can tell he really loves what he teaches.
This class was interesting: the lab was tough for me. But for lectures, I never went to class. I read the book (every darn pg) and kept up with mastering. That is how I aced this class. Too many people didnt realize many of test questions were on given hw assignments!
Dr. Abel is entertaining and you can tell he loves microbiology. This class is all about the text book, so you have to do tons of hw/quizzes on MasteringMicro, but a LOT of the test questions come from there. Take a look on quizlet. Attendance isn't mandatory, but he gives hints for the upcoming exams, so it's much easier if you go!
Dr. Abel is awesome! His lectures are long and he tends to go off track every once in a while, but that actually helped me since it broke up the information a bit. He's also very helpful when you ask for it. I hope I can get into his Micro class.
Great class with entertaining lectures.
Lectures are not mandatory, and textbook reading is highly suggested, but not required (but I would recommend it as he does not cover everything in lecture). Lab was usually pretty interesting, and the midterm and final in lab were very manageable. The lecture tests were not too difficult if you put in the work to do well on them. Loved this class!
Amazing professor! Provided all info for class on TRACS. Class was always enjoyable and he gave helpful life tips as well. He gives his students every opportunity to pass.
class is very lecture heavy but still have to read bc he doesn't cover everything in lecture. solid prof. but he tends to go on rants that don't pertain to the class. tests are hard. they get harder as they go final is crazy!
The class itself is a lot of material to learn in such little time but he tries his best to point out the key ideas and what he is looking for when grading exams. He doesn't give extra credit but he gives extra questions on the exams for cushion. Dr. Abel really knows his material and can interpret it for better understanding. Reading & hw help!
Amazing professor! By far one of the best professors I've had. This was definitely a challenging class, but he was extremely helpful.
Dr. Abel is a very nice guy but makes this class harder than it needs to be for a 1300 course. I found his exams to be a little unfair given the level of the class. Exam two covered nearly 400 powerpoint slides of material, and was 75 questions (for an hour and 20min lecture). Over 70% of the class received less than a 70% and he does not curve.
overall his class isn't very difficult i just recommend you read. His lectures are very boring and hardly anyone ever shows up. His tests are crammed of 10+ chapters and he expects you to know them in great detail. It just sucks that he's one of the best and his way of teaching isn't too great.
ALOT ALOT ALOT of information. His exams are difficult for a freshmen biology class and his lectures are extremely boring. Most of the exam questions are on quizlet/masteringbiology but they are difficult to find. Keep up with HW because he wont remind you of it. This class is a HIGH maintenance where you'll always have something to study.
Showing up to class is zero help (I went to all so I know). His "hints" are rarely on the test and the stuff he focuses on in lecture is not what is on the exam. I would just memorize every slide and read the textbook because he is absolutely no help. I have had a lot of bad professors in my time but he is by far one of the worst. Teach yourself!
Theres always that professor that youre amazed has good reviews and this is the one. I must have had great professors because I dont understand how any student could find him helpful or to be an even decent prof. Terrible attitude. No guidance. I went into every test feeling prepared & left them feeling like I could have any grade in the world.
Apparently a lot of people had access to his pasts tests, due to this, he decided to make an impossible test on purpose at the end of the semester & laughed. Some people, like myself, spent days studying for this test. He decided to punish all good students and bring grades down by whole letter grades. Just so childish. He should not have this job.
He is a good professor, he makes lectures funny and interesting but he goes off topic every single day and we did not cover everything on the syllabus due to this. If you can teach yourself and love to read definitely take his class. Attendance is not mandatory and you can pass his class as long as you read the book
Lot's of material, I spent more time on this class than any other of my classes. The homework was not hard, just tedious. The exams were... hard, to say the least. If it weren't for one of my classmates having taken the class, there was absolutely no way I would have passed.
Try your best not to take him. Lots of information on PowerPoints but not good at explaining in class. Does not respond to emails. Gives unnecessary political opinions. Tests are not like the lecture. Must read the textbook AND PowerPoints to get a decent grade on a test. Some extra credit on exams.
Abel is a cool guy.... but he makes the class harder than it needs to be. Havent passed a single one of his tests and believe me, I studied! and doesnt look like Im gonna pass the semester. I would recommend taking a different professor
goes off on tangents, power points contain useless info that doesn't pertain to the exam. each powerpoint are about 60-80 slides per chapter, and 4-6 chapters per exam. never made an overall grade below an A til now.
This class was weird! He honestly does not know how to teach, he is a very nice guy, but gets off topic a lot. Homework were confusing because they were some due multiple times a week and sometimes they were some due once a week. I would not take this teacher again, personally i would not take Organismal biology at Texas state again.
Tests are solely from Pearson online readings, even though he says they aren't. VERY difficult and confusing. AVOID HIM! He is rude and will never respond via email. Not helpful in office hours. Talks about irrelevant political stuff... in a science course. Has mentioned that he will fail you based on your political stance. SO MUCH READING.
Dr. Abel is a very nice man, he's a little scatter brained but overall it's a fun course. Lab is a joke, but if he likes you he'll ask you to be a lab instructor so that's cool. He really cares about what he does so it makes the course fun.
Prof. Abel is a very knowledgeable guy with a passion for science. He's definitely a good teacher, but i wouldn't call this class an easy A. I pulled off a B in this course by finally annotating the notes and reading the textbook before the lectures. Good luck! (P.S. he goes off on political tangents, so beware if you aren't a big fan of that.)
He is a smart guy, but he could care less if his students pass or fail. He tells cool facts during lectures (that won't be tested on) but its interesting! His exams are WAY harder than they need to be. He will tell you "exam questions" during lectures, and also claims to pull questions from Pearson quizzes. DONT TRUST THAT 10/10 don't recommend
Incredible teacher, loves teaching, annd goes In Depth for lecture. Class is definitely a challenge but thats what learning is for! Dont let these other reviews sway you! One of the best professors I have had in a long time!
Dr. Abel is a solid choice! His lectures help you to understand the material, and his powerpoints are awesome. Honestly, I usually just throw away professors powerpoints and outline the textbook. However, Dr. Abel puts in the effort to make his powerpoints an understandable, useful, resource. The class is tough, but Dr. Abel is fair :)
best prof i had at txst, get to know him & go to office hours- he is actually really nice and will help you IF you prove you have really been trying in his class, micro is NOT an easy A but with Abel, he makes this class interesting, and fun to learn. i never used the textbook but it could have helped, STUDY for the exams, they are hard its micro..
4 exams, lab grade counts for lecture grade, online hw &quizzes. he doesnt give EC, but you have to work for a good grade, counts attendance but was not strict, be careful he warns classes about sending out codes! but its bio you can't complain on the workload/attendance, skipping class will hurt your grade, he gives test questions during lecture!!
Dr. Abel was one of the best professors I have had a nursing student here at Texas State. If I were you, show up to class because although you have to read a lot for the test, he does give quite a few test questions in the class. I am usually not a good test taker and pulled off a B in the class.
Abel is awesome, but his tests are intense. But guess what? Thats what happens when you take a science course :O I would recommend reading the book and writing his powerpoints. Im horrible at taking tests and I made a B in the class. I enjoyed lab as well. Its very possible to make an A if you put in the effort!
Dr. Abel was one of the best professors I've had at Texas State. He really is passionate about the material and offers some life lessons during his lectures so GO TO CLASS. He's hilarious and a very grounded professor. Make sure to read the textbook if you're having any trouble or go to his office hours. Study until you understand the concepts.
Dr. Abel is so nice and I really liked the way he lectured, which was in-depth but not off topic. If something was on topic, he would make it brief or use it as an example for the topic covered. He never made you feel like you were wrong or stupid like other professors if you went to office hours. Theres a lot of online homework but it helps.
Probably the best professor Ive had at TXST. Always made lecture very intriguing and always allowed students to share their opinions or questions anything. It is a tough class but if you read the book and go through the power points before class youll have a better understanding during lecture. Made an A!
I had Abel during the online shift because of COVID. He suspected everyone of cheating on his online tests so he tried to give us the least amount of time for our exams. On the final he got reported to the Dean for cutting our final exam time short. He then decided to add more questions onto the final. He did everything to make it difficult .
The class is test heavy and are all based off of many lengthy chapters. I was able to get a A+ in the lab as well as through the quizzes and homeworks of the lecture, but could not pass the lecture no matter what I did. The professor would not acclimate when more than half the class was failing, very difficult to get him to understand.
He's a passionate professor, but his class is very tough. Attendance isn't mandatory, but it's highly recommended so you can ask questions and he'll drop hints for exams. One test consisted of 8 chapters, so you need to stay on top of the readings in the book to better your chances at passing his exams. It's not an impossible class but goodluck....
Honestly its a tough class BUT you can pass as long as you read- PLEASE READ. Mastering hmk/quizzes but its all on quizlet, the book isn't required but it is very helpful. Said attendance counted, but he gave up after the 1st week lol. Required to take lab and the IA I have sucks which has been more stressful in my opinion.
The lecture is very interesting, he does tend to get off topic but it keeps the class more engaging than just going over the slides. His slides are very long so mark notes on the slides he talks about heavily or refers back to frequently. Tests are hard so make sure to study in advance. Doesn't answer email but accessible in office hours.
Loved the prof, struggled in lecture. Covers a lot of info that can be overwhelming and definitely requires daily studying. Some test questions can be confusing, but he'll make time out of class to go over it w/ you. Interesting stories in lecture and tries to form personal connections with students. Barely scraped by with B.
Dr. Abel is overall a good teacher. He explains things well and is very enjoyable to listen to. His philosophy regarding the course seems flawed however. He was constantly behind in teaching the material, yet still expected us to learn it on our own time (and even tested over it!). I managed to get by with an A but mostly bc I taught myself.
Dr. Abel was an amazing professor! I only attended lecture the first two weeks of the semester, and then never again. If you read the chapters and go over his lecture slides, you are set! Overall, was a lot easier than I had expected.
Dr. Abel's lectures are super interesting and his slides contain basically everything you need for the exams. The class is well organized with the lecture being 60% of your grade, homework 10%, and lab 30%. He is very knowledgeable and is very willing to help his students!
Dr. Abel was an amazing professor but the class was difficult. His lectures were always pretty interesting and he always showed he cared about his students. Homework was due basically every day we had class and one quiz every week but they're easy if you use his PowerPoints. Tests consisted mostly of quiz questions and lab was pretty fun.
This is the second time ive taken this class from him as he is the only microbiology professor at Texas State. The highest grade I got on his exam was a 65. He provided a study guide for the final which he asked maybe a total of 10 questions about. a lot of questions he didnt go over in class or the book. i only got a good grade bc of lab
Dr. Abel is amazing, of course, the class is difficult. He makes you work for your grade. Make sure you go to lectures because he tells you what to focus on for the test, also pay attention to the quizzes he gives you. His lectures were always interesting and fun! He's a cool person if you get to know him. This class was by far one of my favorites.
I took Dr. Abel last semester and I had to come back and give him a rating. He is literally so amazing. At first, he seems a bit intimidating but if you talk to him and ask questions you'll find he's so nice. He really does care about students, just go talk to him. Go to office hours with your friends and you'll see improvements in your grade.
Really enjoyed Abels attitude this semester. His tests were a bit on the heavier side but he did a good job communicating information about what was expected in the course
Dr. Abel is an amazing professor and cares about his students! For exams, just pay attention to the quizzes you take and his lecture powerpoints and you should be good. The labs are pretty fun and easy. Quizzes and homework are time consuming, but you will learn a ton from them.
Dr. Abel is a great teacher but lecture is something else. Lecture tests will make you cry if you dont study the right material. Lab was way easier than lecture in my opinion. There have been many students that barely passed with a passing grade and had to retake this course for the 2nd time. But overall he will answer any question you have.
Dr. Abel is by far the BEST science professor at TXST. He truly cares about his students and wants them to succeed. He responds very quick to emails and is always accessible outside of class. His lectures are fun and cover mostly everything you need to know to do well on exams. Lab is also very fun! Put in the effort and an A is very possible!
Dr. Abel was a really good professor! His exams were a little difficult but if you study the PowerPoints and quizzes you will do great! This course does require you to fully know the material but the actual concepts are not difficult to grip if you attend lecture and study. Would highly recommend Dr. Abel!
Professor Abel seems like a nice guy, and he really knows his stuff. The lectures were very informational and helpful in understanding the material, even though they're not mandatory. However he spends too much time going on about vaccine politics and covid related soapbox speeches. Often he doesn't finish going through slides due to these tangents
Dr. Abel is definitely passionate about the course. He lectures from the textbook and makes the lectures enjoyable. If you want to pass, go to class. Do good in the lab portion of the course, the higher your grade is, the more it helps with poor test scores. His tests are formatted a lot like the quizzes and reading the textbook is helpful.
Abel was a good prof overall. This class is hard so yes you will need to dedicate time to study for the exams. If you study the homework/quizzes then you will do fine on the exams bc he uses the same questions. Attendance is not mandatory but he will tell you if something on the powerpoint slides is on the exam, so it is worth going.
Overall good professor. Make sure to study homework and quizzes because he uses a lot of repeat questions. Going to lecture is also very helpful and he will tell you specific things to remember for test.
Professor Abel was such a supportive and encouraging professor throughout the year. He wanted nothing more than for his students to succeed. He tells you what to pay attention to in lecture for the exams and even though the final was cumulative it wasn't any different than the original tests. I would recommend him to anyone!
Dr Abel is so awesome , the class is hard so you have to dedicate time . Do good in the lab portion it's easy and that can get you a higher grade in the class. Do all homework and quizzes i promise it helps and please attend class
Class is hard if you've never taken Microbio before with lots of new and detailed concepts. No attendance required, but he will give out test questions during lecture and tell you what to focus on. He posts slides and goes over them in class, explaining the more difficult topics. Very approachable and nice during office hours. Lab was very easy!
Call him a capitalist the way he inflates your grade
Dr. Abel is actually a great professor. This course was difficult but he was always accessible and easy to talk to during office hours. I thought I would need to take this course again to get a grade I would be happy with but he curved the homeworks so much I got a grade I was very happy with! I would definitely take him again!
I LOVE Dr. Abel. You should attend his lectures because (at least when i took it) attendance was not mandatory but VERY helpful as he would give lots of prep for tests and extra credit for showing up. He is passionate and smart and will stop to answer questions and discuss the topics.
Abel is a great professor. Learn the concept/glance over the textbook before lectures because it will help with understanding. He's really nice and is quite funny as well, during lectures and office hours. Attendance is mandatory but I highly recommend going because he explains and covers a lot during them and even what's going to be on the test.
This was my hardest class yet, you really need to study. There was lots of home work, like 3-4 lengthy assignments a week. Tests were pretty specific which made them difficulty. DON'T TAKE A THURSDAY/FRIDAY LAB (you will have to come back 24 hrs after lab to check on stuff/run tests). Other than that lab was easy. Abel is a good professor overall.
Dr. Abel is an amazing professor! His attendance isn't mandatory but I suggest going because he tells you what will be on the test. The lab is really easy and is 30% of your grade which really boosts your grade up if you do good. He curves the homeworks and the test has built in extra credit. He's funny and he wants his students to succeed.
Lectures consist of speaking about vaccines but he gives test questions. Study the mastering biology quizzes and the dynamic study models. I recommend you do all the lab extra credits. DO NOT do lab on Fridays because we have samples we have to check after 24 hours, for the unknown project some of the tests need to be checked 48 hours after lab.
While the class itself is a lot of material and requires you to read, Dr. Abel provides great explanation over the chapters and makes lectures interesting. He's super easy to talk to in office hours and is more than happy to help with explaining. Do not slack in this class, try to read the chapters ahead of time, and you'll be successful
He is an amazing person, but not the best professor. He goes on tangents that have nothing to do with the class. Also, don't bother doing the study guides, they aren't even on the exam.
YALL STUDY THE MASTERING MICROBIOLOGY QUIZZEZ THAT IS WHERE MOST TEST QUESTIONS COME FROM WORD FOR WORD!!!! I DIDNT LEARN THIS UNTIL LATER AND REGRETTED IT.
Very caring and smart as hell professor. only thing is he gets very behind in lecture because he answers students questions. With the nature of how much content there is in this class, it gets easy to fall behind. Other than that DO NOT think this is a blow off class. People say his tests are easy but you NEED to put in the work if you expect an A
If there are studies that he gives you the opportunity to do for extra credit, DO. THEM. they improve your grade by so much. Don't do the studies for your other classes if you can only do it for one class. If you expect an A you need to put in the work. Pay attention to homework and QUIZ questions as he uses them on tests. DO NOT SLACK OFF
Love this guy. He was a really good professor and his lectures were VERY interesting it's just that the content and tests are hard. I went home everyday knowing so much but it wasn't reflected on the tests and that was a little annoying. DO THE EXTRA CREDIT AND HW AND DO WELL IN LAB. I was on track for a C but those bumped me up!
I loved professor Abel! Very knowledgeable and kind, the content is difficult but if you go to lecture and study you will be just fine! The lab definitely helps bump up your lecture grade!
DON'T TAKE MICRO AND ANATOMY AT SAME TIME UNLESS YOU HAVE TO! Did that the first time and got a C in both originally now an A. If you want an A you gotta read the textbook. The lab is easy and a grade boost. The work you put in reflects your grade. this class material isn't hard it's just time-consuming. lecture is boring though. STUDY QUIZZES
Professor Abel's class is no walk in the park, but if you put in the work, it pays off. Lectures are engaging, and he's happy to help during office hours. Leverage tools like Mastering Biology and Unstuck study for study prep - they really make a difference. Definitely attend class, do the assignments, and you'll crush this course.
HARD. personal Dr. Abel is an amazing professor, i just suck at Bio. Labs are easy, but studying for the test needs to be done weeks ahead of time! Be prepared to retake the class, 1/3 of the students in his class are.
Great guy but this class is unbelievably difficult. I am a A/ B student&this class took all of my time away. Barely any grades go in (primarily 3 exams + final) & if you don't do well on exams you're going to have a hard time. The study guides are never what is on the exam. He needs to give more of a guideline catered to his exams&specify in class.
Abel does get behind in lecture, but it is just because he's so thorough. Read the textbook before class and fill in your notes with his lectures; he gives test questions in lecture. Exams are based on the Mastering quizzes, and test reviews are just basic concept outlines you should understand for the exam. Loved the class! Just pay attention.
avoid this class at all cost. take at community college. despite effort this class was damn near impossible
just terrible
This class is hard but if you put the work in and take time to study you can do good!! Attendance is not mandatory but I think his lectures are pretty interesting. You have to be willing to read the textbook as that's where he gets test questions!!
I would say this class is very tedious, but you do have to read to be able to understand better what is going on. The homework assignments and quizzes are helpful for better understanding, so don't just use Google. He does get behind on lectures because he can yap about certain things.
This class and coursework is very hard but he cares about his students and makes sure he goes and depth and is passionate about what he is teaching.
Good professor, I just f'd up an exam so it tanked my grade. He gets really behind in lecture, so prepare to self-teach. Memorize quiz/hw questions since he uses them for at least half of every exam. Overall a challenging course, but if you keep up you're alright. Also, lab boosts your grade a lot so do well in lab.
I really loved having Abel. He really cares about this subject and clearly wants his students to as well. He can get off topic and behind in lecture but I would always listen because I thought the material was interesting. Exams are 60% of lecture grade and they mostly come from Pearson assignments. About 3% of our class got an A, so it's not easy.
Overall, the class wasn't too bad I'd say 50/50. I definitely recommend going to class because he gives out test questions, and STUDY the Mastering quizzes plus the study guide. If you do those, you'll definitely be good.
His class was test heavy and they were super hard. I usually strive for A's but sadly got a C but I am just grateful to have passed. Abel is a really great professor. He is organized, funny, caring, and is overall a great professor. I believe it is just the subject that made this class so difficult. Study his slides and his hws/quizes!!!
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
12%
Textbook Required
6%
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MICRO2440
4.2
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3.9
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3.5
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