2.8
Quality4.2
Difficulty45%
Would Retake215
Reviews45%
Would Retake
215
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
37
4
48
3
30
2
40
1
60
What Students Say
“BECOME HIS BEST FRIEND”
1330 - 2.0 rating“I highly recommend if you want to go to Medical or Dental school”
4366MEDMICRO - 4.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
69%
Textbook Required
10%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.49 avg changeRatings by Course
BIO4350R
5.0
(1)BIO4366
4.7
(6)1421
4.0
(1)4366MEDMICRO
4.0
(1)BIO4376
3.5
(4)Difficulty by Course
BIO4350
4.5
BIO1330
4.3
FUNCTIONALBIO
4.3
BIO2400
4.2
MEDICALMICRO
4.0
Reviews (215)
HORRIBLE ACCENT
Lectures are hard to follow. You're going to have to read the chapters and teach yourself pretty much. Doesn't make it interesting either.
Can't understand him. You'll be teaching yourself everything.
His lectures are very hard to follow and he doesn't make them interesting either. He is very helpful and knowledgeable if you are brave enough to ask him questions either in class or during office hours. His accent is difficult to understand which will make you learn majority of the material from the textbook. He does care, but DO NOT TAKE HIM.
Horrible Accent. Be ready to teach yourself. Offers no extra credit. Very Tough class to pass.
If you ask him for help, he'll try to help you as much as he can. Honestly, it is not enough. YOU HAVE TO READ! His lectures do not really cover what you need to know and his accent makes him hard to understand. The lectures are also hard to follow because they are dull and do not help the students stay focused. Tests are hard if you do not read.
Medical micro was a difficult course. However I did recieve an A. It is a senior level course so it is going to be very difficult. If you put in the time and effort for this course there is no reason you can't at least make a B. Quiz yourself constantly, and you should be fine.
Lectures are boring, very monotone, and difficult to understand what he is teaching. Exams are tough and long, the material tested is very specific, you will have to know extremely well to pass. Help? I met one on one several times, all he said was, "be sure to know how everything is a piece to a bigger puzzle." Would not recommend this class.
I really wanted to like Dr. Kumar, but he makes it very hard to do so. I went to his class everyday, took notes, paid attention, everything, but none of it was to my advantage. I worked my ass off, studying every weekend, and made it out with a B. I learned a lot, but not from him. Very disappointing lecturer.
so this is an honest review. . Dr. kumar is a Tough teacher. if you want to pass this class there's 3 things you have to do. 1. BECOME HIS BEST FRIEND. 2. BUY THE BIOLOGY BOOK THAT REQUIRED FOR CLASS AND LEARN FROM WHAT HE TEACHES BUT ALSO TEACH YOURSELF. 3. DO ALL TH E QUIZZES. i manged to get a B in that class because i was SERIOUS.
Within the first week of class you decide if you can learn from a professor or not. I could not. I've had Indian professors before but his accent is tough because he also speaks softly. The amount of random things we were required to know on tests was insane. It was a lot of material. I think he curved on every exam. You're gonna have to read.
Dr. Kumar definitely does not make the class easy, but it is very possible to be successful. The book and youtube were my best friends this semester, because i couldn't learn from his style of teaching. He is not a bad teacher, he tries really hard and truly cares about his student's grades. He also curves and gives a lot of extra credit!
Kumar is a great professor, even though he comes off as rude or condescending at times. It's important to him that you do well, so he encourages going to office hours. He doesn't like side conversations while he's teaching and won't hesitate to ask you to leave if you're being a distraction. TopHat questions every class, MasteringBiology each week.
He really cares about his students and their success in his class. He asks TopHat questions every class and gave us multiple chances for extra credit. Pay attention in class and study for the tests in advance. Sometimes the lectures get boring but he will realize it and try and get the class back engaged.
So I took this course over the summer along with statistics, which probably wasnt the best. I wish I would have known that the lab that came along with this course was going to be an actual class all on its own with quizzes, midterm and final. It was a little ridiculous the amount of material given in one month. Luckily I made a B but it was hard
Great guy, but sometimes hard to understand
Okay, so I'm going to be very straight forward. Functional Biology is an extremely difficult class, but it is not impossible and it is not impossible to get an A. A lot of people don't like Kumar but if you give him a chance, he's a great guy. It hurts his feelings that no one comes to Office Hrs because he really wants to help. Just READ & STUDY
Despite sometimes not knowing what he was saying due to his accent, he is clearly VERY knowledgable in the subject, and he is not out to make you fail. If you need help, it's always there, but you have to make the effort to get it. Keep up with the textbook reading and TopHat questions. Go to SI sessions. Ask questions. Watch YouTube videos.
A lot of students have claimed that Dr. Kumar is hard to understand, but he is willing to clarify everything he is talking about. The final is optional and he is extremely helpful if you are confused. MasteringBiology is not needed and he offers a LOT of bonus point opportunities. He uses TopHat almost everyday and uses that as extra credit, too.
Honest review... Dr. Kumar was alright at the beginning of the year, but as time went on, he got more and more difficult. He was hard to understand the whole time and it didnt get easier. His tests are nothing that we were taught in class, so be ready to teach yourself off the book and youtube videos.. would NEVER take again.
Started the year off as a good class, then by the time the semester was over It was awful. He doesn't speak english very well and is very confusing. His tests are nothing like the notes or lectures. Be prepared to teach yourself. If you do not go to class and do not read and study on your own you will not pass. I wouldn't recommend him to anyone.
I would definitely not suggest taking this class. The tests are nearly impossible regardless of how well you study and understand concepts. If I could go back in time I would have dropped the course. However, if you decide to try and defy the odds in this class (like me), SI sessions, tophat questions, and online quizzes will benefit you greatly.
This may be one of the toughest classes you will ever take, and probably one of the best teachers at this Campus manish kumar will not teach you how to memorize words but to actually "think" with your brain. He's Preparing you for real life. Prepare before classes and understand the slides his will help grasp the concept in class
One of the hardest classes and professors I have ever taken at Texas State. Tests are nearly impossible no matter how hard you try. SI leader wasn't good. Had friends who studied less than me make high C's and B's with other functional bio professors. Don't even think about missing class you will suffer believe me. Gives lots of extra credit
I worked my butt off for this class and was never able to pass a test. Luckily he has quizzes often and they were easy. He also gives out points for TopHat, so make sure you go to class. It is a bit hard to understand him because of his accent and he isn't very interesting. You will need to read the text book and I recommend going to SI sessions.
Med Micro is a senior level course so it is going to be difficult. The book isn't necessary unless you really want it. All information comes from slides. Dr. Kumar is super helpful in office hours and you will learn a lot from this class. I highly recommend if you want to go to Medical or Dental school. Quiz yourself all the time and you'll be fine
Dr. Kumar is a good professor! The course in general is hard, but Kumar tries really hard to help you understand the material. He does have a strong accent, but he makes it clear that if you do not understand something he is saying then just ask and he'll try to clarify better. The tests are not tough, you just need to really study hard.
Dr. Kumar helped me so much he gave out so much extra credit, answered my questions, and replied to any emails I sent within 24 hours. Top hat points are saving me, and go to the extra classes he provides because he gives out sample problems and some are on the test you also get top hat points there too. Honestly, I am so glad i took him.
He is very hard to understand, and does a poor job at explaining the topics discussed in class. However, he offers extra class opportunities for better clarification, and he posts a summary of each chapter. Overall, if you are willing to teach yourself the material, and really understand how to apply it you might survive this course.
DO NOT TAKE THIS PROFESSOR. He is very hard to understand, office hours don't help; and neither do SI sessions due to the number of people that attend. If you already have him be prepared to teach yourself. The tests are incredibly hard to comprehend, and there is always more than one correct answer. READ CAREFULLY.
It's hard to understand him at times due to his heavy accent, but he is passionate about the field of biology. Go to every class because just showing up you get TopHat bonus points (they help at the end of the semester). Do the readings and taking the homework seriously because some questions pop up on the exam as well. Overall good professor.
This class I feel could've been much better understood and learned if it came from a different professor. He explains things more trickier then it has to be and feels you should understand from his perspective. It helps to read outside the class but it won't help you too much. Find a different professor for this class if you can, it'll be worth it
Can be a little difficult to understand but he is a very good professor. He cares about his students and wants them to learn. His class is not easy but he tries to make the subject matter understandable. He really prepares you for more difficult science courses. I don't understand the poor ratings. He just expects you to earn your grade.
Don't take him, back out while you can! I'm in this class for my nursing major and Kumar is making it impossible. His lectures are very unorganized and he is hard to follow. Kumar often makes jokes about American schooling compare to his "superior" Indian schooling, and uses this as an excuse to bash students. Horrible experience.
Very very hard to understand. DO NOT TAKE THIS GUY!!!! He is smarter than he can teach and moves way too fast.
He drops the lowest test grade. He knows his class is hard but really wants everyone to have the opportunity to get an A. Go to office hours.
Kumar is hard to understand and lectures are all over the place. Definitely read the chapters because they help and attend SI sessions. I would not suggest this professor as a first choice.
He makes you feel stupid when you ask questions. Everything is accessible online but if you don't come to class its hard to know whats going on. He has a heavy accent and its difficult to understand him.
He is lowkey really sassy and makes you feel dumb but he is definitely one of the better bio professors here. Read the chapters because his lectures are kinda confusing. And get as many top hat points as you can, helps so much.
Be prepared to teach yourself the material as he is an ineffective teacher. Accent aside, he is unable to adequately explain the material. He attempts to cover this inability to instruct with humor, thinking this will make up for his shortfalls. When the majority of the class doesn't grasp concepts or material, he blames the class.
This professor doesn't help you even when you go to his office hours. He expects you to learn the first time he teaches it and not everyone can do that. He can't teach very well so be prepared to read the book, look up videos, and go to the SI sessions.
Kumar cares for his students to make a good grade in his class by giving extra credit on test, through top hat questions, and he even gave a random extra 16 points at the end of the semester just cause. He does explain things in a difficult way but he is more then willing to break it down. He also makes you work for your grade.
He's very explains the simplest topics in the most diff possible. Hes Indian and has an accent but you can still understand him. He says attendance is optional but it isn't because he takes off points for in class questions that you have to answer so ha takes points off for attendance if you don't answer them.
Dr. Kumar is great! I hear negative things about all the BIO 1330 professors but I really like Kumar! He makes you work for your grade. Download his notes and write on them during class, it helps. He explains things very well and answers any questions you may have during class. Uses examples ALL the time which really helps! Overall great professor.
Kumar is very caring about his students and gives you every opportunity to pass his class!! Reading the textbook is very helpful when it comes to the exams. it is definitely not an easy A, but it very possible.
Dr Kumar has a thick accent so he can be a bit hard to understand but he is open to any questions and asks if everyone understands before moving on. The tests are difficult and he didn't curve any of them but did add 10 bonus points to everyones grade at the end of the semester just because. This is a hard course but take good notes and you'll pass
Worst prof I have ever had. He says he cares a lot about your grade and wants you to do well, this guy is all talk. His tests very wordy and not how he presents the material in class. Definitely the type of prof that tires to trick you on tests. Lecture is unbearably boring and there's times when you can't understand him. Do not take his class.
Hard to understand
Best professor. I took him for Functional Biology a year ago and is the reason why I switched to biology major. I heard many complain about his accent, but I never had a problem with it. Go to class, READ THE BOOK, and understand the concepts and try to connect them. I'm really hoping to get him for any of my future bio classes.
Biggest suggestion is going to the SI sessions! Read the textbook before going to class so you're not completely lost. The tests are pretty straight forward if you understand the material. If you don't show up to class, like lots do, then tests will be difficult.
best Prof ever!! Kumar is hilarious and offers lots of extra credit and second chances. The class is definitely difficult but if you do your part to pay attention in class and study, you'll do fine. 10/10 if u don't like Kumar it's because you didn't study enough, got a bad grade, and are now butthurt.
Kumar is a very great professor. He shows that he actually cares and wants you to pass. The material is extremely hard but if you show up to class and read the book you should be fine. If your lucky, he even offers extra credit.
Dr. Kumar gave us so many opportunities to succeed in this course. Attendance isn't checked but always go to class, TopHat is a big part of your grade and many EC opportunities are in class only. His exams are difficult, so read the book! Many students who complain about him simply didn't apply themselves, he's very kind and wanted us to succeed.
While the man does have an accent I could understand him just fine. He acts real tough at the beginning but offers tons of extra credit opportunities. It is obvious that he cares for his students. I am not a science major, but I felt fine in this science major's biology. The lab isn't too bad either.
Technically you don't have to read the book but reading it puts you ahead of everyone else since he uses things from the book in his tests as well. He definitely gives a lot of chances for extra credit but don't ask for any either. He does his best to prepare you including giving Sunday morning review sessions the day before the test.
Dr. Kumar gave many chances for extra credit, including in class questions and extra questions on the exam. His extra Sunday classes and online lectures were very helpful before exams and if you pay attention in class and go over your notes, you will do well. Reading the textbook isn't necessary since all the information is in his lecture.
Dr. Kumar is an awesome professor! I would definitely recommend taking BIO 1330 with him. He really makes you work for your grade, tests are hard but if you go to his office hours and ask questions during class you'll be fine. He doesn't curve test grades but he does give extra credit opportunities. Read the book!
This is a tough course but it's definitely a lot better with Dr. Kumar, attendance isn't mandatory but he does in class quiz questions that count towards the final grade. If you go to class and take decent notes you should get an A
I do not recommend taking this class if you are not a pre-med student, since many pre-med students take up class time by complaining and requesting they have their hand held through the material. They don't like Dr. Kumar because he won't just give them the information to memorize. You will have to apply micro knowledge to practical situations.
Get ready to read and not understand him. Doesnt understand what it like to teach to people who do not understand biology. Very hard exams. Avoid if at all possible.
Very difficult teacher. He doesn't explain at all. Be ready to read chapters and powerpoints before class. If you try and take notes in class, you won't know what's going on if you don't read before. 4 tests and final in comprehensive. Avoid him if possible.
Great teacher, explains things clearly and is INCREDIBLY nice. Only improvement he could make is leaving out his politics in class.
WOW! Just amazing! Apply yourself and you will pass. He gives so much extra credit its impossible to fail. He is the definition of compassionate! He wants you to succeed and won't try to trick you. I loved this man!
I have taken Kumar twice if I get a chance before I graduate I will take another class he teaches. Study all the material he post and study with other people
Does not present the material on test how he does in lecture. His goal is to trick you on the tests so would not recommend this teaching if you have testing anxiety. The way he presents his material is above the level of this class.
He is a caring prof but bio is really hard.
He is super hard teacher.. he obviously cares greatly for students but is not a good teacher didnt offer any extra credit doesnt curve grades
I took Dr. Kumar's medical microbiology class and really enjoyed it. Dr. Kumar is passionate about his work and students and cracks jokes in class, which makes it enjoyable. This is not a blow off class, you do have to study a lot but overall, a great class. definitely take!
really hard class and teacher
Kumar is an ok professor, he looks out for his students and gave us a lot of wiggle room concerning our grade. Its up to you to either take advantage of those opportunities or ignore them. But bio is a really tough class, and you will not benefit from his lectures unless you do your part outside of class (read, study, hw, quizzes).
This is a really hard class. The hardest class I have taken. He uses tophat for attendance and he knows if you answered questions outside the room. He tried to help us out but you have to know every little thing about everything. He's blunt but he doesn't mean to be rude. He gave people lots of chances to raise their grade and held extra classes
lectures fast but takes time to answer questions. gets offended easily and absolutely hates when you talk during his class, will call you out. extra credit opportunities and holds extra classes before tests. tests are not easy, you have to know every little detail. reading the book helps. homework every single day before class and every weekend
Kumar is one of the most caring profs! I made an account just to rate Dr. Kumar and give him the credit he deserves. Most students don't like him because he is a bit hard to understand and a tough grader, but he's an amazing person and an amazing professor. He makes you work for your grade but also understands that you're just a student. TAKE HIM!
Kumar uploads lecture slides, lecture powerpoints and a voice over video of the powerpoint to give you multiple ways of studying. He truly cares about his students and has held extra classes before tests that are optional for students who need it. Definitely find a study group though because it's a lot of material covered in each class.
He isnt very good at teaching relevant things, half of the time during lecture he would talk about things other than biology. Avoid if you are not willing to read a lot and spend time outside of class learning things yourself.
Dr. Kumar really knows what hes talking about and is very kind and sometimes funny. This class is reading intensive so if you dont read you most likely will not do good. Make sure you do all of the homework and quizzes and go to class to get points for top hat. This class is challenging but if you put in the work, you will see the results.
Dr. Kumar knows the material very well, and I felt that he transmitted it well. His class is structured to let you succeed if you do it thus: read chapter and watch video before class, do homework, go to class and follow the slides. You will do well if you do that. Just don't expect to be spoon fed a very difficult topic.
Professor Kumar was a tough professor, his lectures were very unclear to me. Theres s homework and quizzes due every week. He does a lot to help you pass but I wouldn't recommend him to anyone who isn't already strong in science.
Great class and professor. He really knows what he's talking about. The class is very practical and interesting. His exams are part multiple choice and part short response, but if you pay attention and do the reading you will be fine. The class met once a week and the rest was online.
Kumar is a really nice person and is very passionate about what he's teaching but his test questions are very in depth. If you are used to a studying style where you just know vocab and basic concepts- don't take Kumar. In my opinion he takes an easy concept and makes it 10x more confusing than it should be.
Took this class as a hybrid class. His tests are based on the slides. Gives extra credit. I would take a class with this professor.
I took microbiology with Kumar. He is extremely smart and understands the material thoroughly. He answers difficult and nit-picky questions with ease. My issue was that the test questions were incredibly hard and relied on complex understanding of the chemical interactions, while the slides did not go much into depth on that.
Hes not the best. Definitely take someone else if you have that option. I had a 79.8 and he would not round my grade up to a B. He can be funny at times but also moody.
DO NOT take him for functional biology. The lectures are confusing and the homework is heavy. If you are not a science major or skilled in this topic, don't take him. I held a 3.8 GPA for three semesters until I took this class. The exams are overwhelming and in the exam review guide that fact is admitted. "A" students fail this course. Be careful.
compared to the other bio teachers, he is pretty good
Hes nice & funny, but honestly dont take this class. His tests are hard and quiz due every week. Attendance isnt required but theres in-class ?s for a grade. Its as if the test questions are based on how well HE knows the subject instead of based on how well he taught, theyre also all subjective. His lectures make the material more confusing.
could not hear him clearly. sit in the front
Overall this class isnt that bad. I manage to get a B on tests and as long as you do the homeworks and quizzes, it will boost your grade a lot. Attendance isnt required but he has questions on top hat during class that count towards your grade. Those questions bring your grade up ALOT. Not as bad as people say, compared to other profs.
Kumar's class takes a ton of studying but overall he gives so many tools to succeed. He posts power points and notes for every lecture along with reviews for every test and helpful videos. The homework is straightforward and doable. He also gives lots of bonus points on tests and is very responsive to questions in class.
Really nice person and tries to do his best to help you if you get bad grades. Make sure to sit in the front to understand him more clearly. Makes lots of jokes and is funny and has 1-2 online assignments a week that can improve your grade. Tests are really difficult but may give you options to make your grade better if most of the class does bad.
The textbook may be helpful when taking extra notes and studying for test. No actual textbook work is required but since it is already paid for you should use your resources. He lectures the entire class so it is hard to pay attention. He gave lots of bonus points and even though attendance wasn't mandatory, showing up is how you earn bonus points.
I personally found this class very hard and I know many of my peers did as well. He has his moments when he was funny and caring, however when I would go to office hours he made me feel dumb. His tests are very hard, however he does give extra credit. Be prepared to actually study and read for this class. I switched my major after taking this class
Dr. Kumar was one of my favorite professors because he would give extra credit , give multiple opportunities to raise grades, and always tried to make the students laugh. He would give extra credit and opportunities on a whim and they are not really distinguished in the syllabus, but the opportunities are there.
Dr. Kumar is a nice man, but not a great professor. He lacks ways to engage a class, and makes things way too difficult for a basic biology class. I have seen his stats for previous semesters, and has 75% failure rate. Class space is limited for this particular class, and a lot of us got stuck with him, would recommend someone else.
1. Very rude 2. Not helpful 3. Makes you feel dumb 4. Did not take people lives into consideration 5. Unrealistic amount of work 6. Does not communicate well (emails) 7. Used Examity - terrifying with other people looking directly at me and gave me test anxiety. Downloads and more steps/extra things that caused stress!!! Had to get laptop.
Unspecific exams, tons of material that is given out rather unorganized, examity was used and intolerable. his lectures were everywhere, homework was not too bad and the quizzes were ok but it did not really reflect the level of questions that would be on exam. he does not set you up to get an A in his class, rather difficult,
He will try his best to help you with both the materials and any struggles that you are facing. Will definitely take again!
Never responded to my emails, dreaded asking him anything because he makes you feel dumb. Personally, I feel like he isnt very understanding. Would not take him again.
He always made everyone feel dumb. Got mad when we did not know an answer. He consistently yelled at us when we asked questions, and told us that we should know this information from high school biology. He made everyone feel like we needed to know the information before we got into the class. Very rude to students
Personally, I feel Dr. Kumar's reviews are an acute viewpoint of lazy highschoolers unwilling to put in the work. Science is hard. Biology is a lot of info. Questions get asked 5 times about the syllabus is week 4. Some didn't even know there was a textbook. I dont think Dr. Kumar is the best but he is not the problem. The lack of effort given is.
I'm taking his class during covid times, but I don't think that is too blame for how ridiculous his course is. He spends more class time reprimanding students than actually teaching, feels like high school again. His lectures are all over the place, its hard to determine important material, and test seem to be purposefully confusing. Don't do it!
DO NOT TAKE! I took him Fall 2020 during covid 19. He does not answer questions, he is condescending, and randomly will grade something as a 0 if you didn't get a 100 on it. He is clearly very passionate about it but is not good at teaching the subject matter itself. This may just be because of it being online but I would not recommend him.
I took Kumar for Functional biology and I can tell you he is the WORST professor I have had my past three years. I made a D, I have retaken the class with another professor and she is 100x better than he is, I made an A. He literally made fun of me while I asked a question in class, he completely embarrassed me. DO NOT take him. He deserves a 0.
Not a good teacher. Dr Kumar is very smart but rushes through notes and already expects you to know everything. Very rarely responds to emails. Trust me, do not take this class with him
Getting a lot of hate but genuinely not a bad professor. Test grades account for a large portion of grade BUT lowest is dropped and we were offered a retake on a test. Some questions are taken directly from the review material given and past quiz questions. If you understand the material you should do fine. I currently have a B with minimal effort.
Horrible. Sets you up for failure. Gets extremely rude during class time and gets upset at students when asking the simplest of questions.
Dr. Kumar receives a lot of hate from freshman thinking their highschool study habits will work in college. If you are struggling, reach out to him. He offered several sessions on the weekend for additional help, even worked with me on review questions to change my approach to questions. It is not the material but how much time you spend with it!!
Great guy but horrible professor. Extremely unclear and all over the place during online zoom lectures, and starts the semester by saying how this class has a high percentage of drops/withdrawels, as if its something hes proud of. He does not set you up to pass this class. Pretty sure my class average for this fall 2020 semester is around a 55.
Kumar seemed like a nice person, but he was not the best professor. A lot of people say that reading the textbook helps ( somewhat ). Also his voice in lecture is quite monotonous and it is very difficult to understand him. His tests questions are too specific and the grammar on his tests is poor. I would not recommend taking this class with him.
While Dr. Kumar is very funny and very kind, he teaches a very hard subject and does not give many opportunities to improve your grade. He is extremely difficult to understand, especially over Zoom. I found myself completely lost in his lectures, and when you ask a question, he gets irritable as if you werent paying attention.
Dr. Kumar is probably the worst professor at TXST. Tests are stupid hard and almost everyone would fail. He doesnt give extra credit because he doesnt believe in it (ikr, annoying). Dont even bother asking questions during class time because hell get mad and say you could care less about the class. Trust me, save yourself the hassle
Wonderful guy clearly so smart but terrible at trying to teach learning styles different from his own. There is no extra-credit, no retakes for exams unless he likes your class, extremely lecture specific however, it is really boring and sometimes hard to follow. In general I learned nothing from this class except very little. He cares at the least
Professor Kumar definitely had a hard moving to online learning and I do not think he really gave us any slack during this unprecedented semester which really sucked. The tests are hard and you really have to read to pass. Be prepared for a majority of the class to fail. He has the pick the weak out of STEM mindset which I dont agree with.
Dont take this class with Dr. Kumar. Save your GPA and mental health
Dr. Kumar is very intelligent and funny. Be SURE to take notes, and I mean good notes. If biology is not your strongest subject go to office hours. It will really help! He is good at explaining so ask for help if you need it. Pay good attention because he can move quickly. If you are confused, try reading in the textbook about it.
My entire class is pretty confused as to why the reviews are so bad. Maybe he changed his teaching style, who knows. Dr. Kumar posts lectures online for self-learning. Attending online zoom class is for practice problems, applying concepts, and asking prepped questions. Once you get that, you'll be good. He's wholesome and flexible. Multi C exams
HORRIBLE! We meet M,W,F & after being in his lecture for 2 hrs, he makes you watch ANOTHER lecture on canvas of him. Then on T,TH you watch lectures. Tests are proctored on top hat ($30) but test are NOTHING of what he teaches you bc he DOESNT MAKE THE TEST/KNOW whats on them. He says you dont need the book but you do. I learn more from the TA
I took this course in the Bio 1321 ecology & evolution don't need the lab handbook don't buy it. The instructor's accent is heavy hasn't master english language. If you study the review and quizlets for the exams you will be fine. Take a pic of the top hat questions and study them he uses most of them on the exam too.
He does not need to be teaching lower level biology courses. Don't take this class with him if you don't have to.
Kumar is funny, caring, and helpful. That said, he wants students to pass and he helps with that as much as he can. Biology itself is difficult, students just have to try and not ask for things to be handed to them, its college not middle school. Study, write notes, try, and it'll be fine. (I took this during summer 2)
This class is hard no lie but I feel like if you study and work hard you should pass his classes. Oh and listen in class for the topcoat questions cause his exams are exactly like that
A bit of an accent but very clear when you LISTEN & STUDY. So knowledgable...
Dr. Kumar is a great professor but his classes are tough! He really cares about his students and wants them to succeed. He loves to pump you up before tests and always wants to help. I would definitely take Kumar for Medical Microbiology!
Accent is not that bad everyones trippin, y'all were probably lazy & didn't pass. Listen, study, & read your textbook if you are struggling.
Overall Dr. Kumar is a pretty good professor he explains biology concepts in a clear manner and relates them to something in the outside world for we can get a clear understanding in our heads. Also makes funny jokes in lecture which makes the environment more fun. Accent is minuscule, I would definitely take his class again!
Honestly, this was the WORST professor I've had throughout my entire college experience (I graduate this semester). He gives very in-depth/ concept heavy exams but does not do well communicating this information in the classroom. He makes attendance a major part of the course and regularly shamed students for getting answers incorrect. AWFUL!
He does have a accent but its not very hard to understand him if you pay attention, he is very sweet and can be super funny during class. He tries his best to explain things but people tend to talk over him, he isnt a bad professor but bio is a hard subject. definitely read the textbook and lots of study
The way he teaches is way far more complex and confusing than the subject itself. He's very rude towards individual students, will call you out and yell at you for having an opinion or even a question. Treat his students like high schoolers, called us "ignorance and stupid" the other day. And with the accent, you wouldn't understand if you tried.
Professor Kumar is a very sweet and funny guy, he gives multiple chances to correct wrong answers on Top Hat, always answers his emails, and provides plenty of office hours to go over tests. Although other reviews say he gets upset, he only does so when provoked by talkative students who never give him time to talk or are disrespectful.
He is such a great professor, yes this class can be hard but only if you make it hard, but his recording lectures helped me a lot, in my opinion. His lectures are outstanding, and yes, he will " call you out" only if your a disrupting him as he is speaking. Other than that, he is very cool, hilarious and he is quick at answering emails.
He obviously cares for his students, tries to help them understand, & does want them to succeed however the grade must be earned! Although he does give a good amount of homework, if you watch the pre recorded lectures, take good notes & pay attention in class they wont be as hard. Be respectful and he will be respectful in return.
Learn how to teach yourself! Most exams are broad so be careful to study concepts and not small sections. Study material ahead of time because he will answer any questions you ask! Treat him well and have patience (he has a thick accent). He will do the same!
I took Dr. Kumar for medical micro after having has kakirde and getting a D. And wow this class was a world of a difference, Dr. Kumar is an understanding and awesome professor. He gave us multiple opportunities to succeed in his class, and was also the tiniest bit Funny Ill give him that. Now medical micro isnt an easy class, but kumar is great!
Kumars biotech class was very informative and interesting, we learned about all of the scopes of biotechnology. The class I took was online but a hybrid class was also available. The only reason I didnt get a better grade was because I kinda put this class on the back burner. Its an upper level class so its more heavy than most but a good class
I had Dr. Kumar for med. microbiology and I'm currently taking his micro. biotechnology class. He is very knowledgeable about what he teaches and is accessible outside of class. The course material is challenging, but Dr. Kumar makes his lectures entertaining. He provides ample opportunities for extra credit and is very compassionate.
Kumar is a great professor and you'll realize how good he is once you don't have him anymore. He doesn't mess around but he is a good guy and provides everything you'll need to be successful in his class. Be prepared to study hard and don't be afraid to reach out to him. It's a shame to see all these poor reviews.
Many people complain about him, but he did anything in his power to help us pass. You have to put in the effort if you want to pass and don't take any kindness for granted. He is a cool professor and will respect you if you respect him. He is lecture heavy and exams are wordy, so attendance, while not mandatory, will start to catch up to you.
He sucks, worst professor ever.
hes a funny and nice professor, but the material makes since in his mind and does not know how to teach it to his students. he tries to help you as much as possible with office hours, but it is up to you to REALLY study the textbook because his lectures and power points are not helpful. but hes a really good person :)
Personally, I think he is an awful professor. He is a great guy and tries to make students laugh and give our extra credit, but he is not at all good at teaching this subject. His lectures are very boring and hard to follow and when reviewing the slides the information is all over the place. The exams are extremely difficult. Do not recommend.
Professor Kumar cares about his students and knows the topic well, but sometimes it is difficult to understand the subject. I found it was difficult to hear in the lecture, along with just the topic being confusing. It is pretty much a straight lecture so try to pay attention. It will take a lot of learning on your own, at least it did for me.
Dr. Kumar is engaging and pretty funny in class, his test questions are a intricate/confusing so most importantly- focus on his lectures and his tophat questions. Memorizing won't get you anywhere, so if you don't understand the concept as a whole you won't do well. He does give you extra points just because which is nice.
Professor was always complaining every class about having the camera ON during zoom class, which took up most of the class time. Would always force group work but no one would enjoy it because was not beneficial just time-consuming. Overall you have to teach yourself because he only does tophat questions all class..
He does not do a good job of explaining the material and expects you to know most concepts from high school. I felt like I was dropped in the middle of a semester my first day. I would not recommend taking his class unless you can rely on teaching yourself the material.
Dr. Kumar is very knowledgeable about the subject, but he is not a good teacher. For most of the class time, he lectures us about constantly studying and time management. When he is talking over the material, it is very unorganized and confuses me even more. If you have a job, do not take a class with this professor, he is not considerate to this.
He is very smart, but does not know how to teach it to his students. There is a lot of work and a lot to know.
Not the best at lectures, but if you have him with a bunch of other students, sit in the front.
Do not take this course unless you want to reteach yourself everything out of class. He treats students like children and has no respect for anyone. Ended up changing my major from biology because he made me have no hope...
Dr. Kumar is a very smart man but his lectures can be challenging at times. Office hours really help and he is really understanding when you talk to him! You really need to put fourth the effort to get a good grade.
This is a hard class and you will need to be very motivated in order to thrive. Learning is mainly done outside the classroom through readings so be prepared to work hard so you can learn. He is a tough professor but ultimately cares about his students and provides several opportunities / additional materials so you can understand course content.
He's honestly a great guy, funny, and really tries to help you out, even giving extra credit but the class is hard so going to office hours is a must.
He is a very sweet/funny man; however, I don't think a good teacher. It's a LOT of reading/studying on your own, definitely have to prioritize this class. He does this smart book assignment, would be great if they were over what tests are over, but he literally says himself that they aren't', so doing them lowkey pointless from learning aspect.
Dr. Kumar is a very good professor. Cares about his students and tries to help as much as possible. He offers study guides for all exams and chapter outlines which let you know what you really need to know. He is very nice and likes to make jokes during lectures. I would retake him again. People who are saying hes rude simply are just complaining!
Professor Kumar is a very good professor. It is a very lecture heavy class and it is very important you read the textbook or you will not pass. He likes to joke around and make class less serious at times. Also, he gives lots of help in preparation for exam (study guides, reading guides, and even recorded lectures at times".
Dr. Kumar is a very good professor but you need to prioritize his class. It's lecture heavy so you need to study a lot. Plenty of grades outside exams and he offers some extra credit. A lot of people complain about him but he does everything he can to help us pass. Attendance is required. 6 absences and you fail. I would retake with him.
Lecture is a little bit confusing. If you feel like you won't pay attention in this class, I suggest you move up to the few front rows. If you need clearer information about the topics discussed in class, please meet up with him after class, officer hours or any zoom meetings he may have! Also, try to make appointments with the LA's.
Don't let the reviews fool you. Anyone that says he is a bad teacher didn't put in the effort. He is by far the smartest professor I've had and is willing to dumb it down to anyone as long as you ask. ATTEND his office hours and review the test with him. he will go into heavy detail about why the answer is right/wrong.
Im not gonna lie this class is hard I read took it for a second time with this professor but hes really helpful and you just have to actually try to get the grade that you want. He gives so many resources and even gives some extra points on certain things. I definitely recommend him but you have to be willing to try.
I hate all the reviews that are on here talking bad about him, he has by far been the most caring and genuine professor I have had here at school. The class is very lecture heavy, but he gives you so many opportunities and great resources in order to succeed in his class. He is also very funny. TAKE HIS CLASS!!!!!
Kumar is a great guy. He tries to help his students out as much as he can while also being fair. The problem was that it's very hard to follow the lecture because he speaks so fast and doesn't explain much. There is a SmartBook assignment and a quiz each week. Take those seriously because those were the reason I got a B and not a C.
Kumar is a great professor if you are willing to put in time and effort. This class is probably the toughest Freshman level class. I spent a concerning amount of time studying the class material, which is probably the only reason I had an A+. Aside from it being hard, Kumar will push you and help in any way he can.
Professer Kumar is a good professor. He completely knows his stuff and makes his policies known. Attendance is mandatory, and there is in-class participation that is extra credit at the end of the semester. My grade went up 7 full points with extra credit. There are pre-class assignments and one quiz over the chapter each week. Study and review!
Do not let the bad reviews scare you! He is a very compassionate, witty man who has the student's best interests in mind. At the beginning of the semester, he was way more difficult, but with student feedback, he became easier to understand. He gives extra credit, has many office hours, and sometimes offers exam retakes.
The class was hard and definitely my most challenging one of the semester until I got the hang of it. His tests are very application-based, so study the concepts, don't memorize facts. He was always very accommodating and available to reach out to, but if you want to pass the course, you have to put in the effort!! Very funny guy though, 10/10
He is a good man who cares a lot about his students, but he is not going to let someone take advantage of him. If he can tell that you are working hard, he will help your class out. Though I do suggest lots of studying because biology is simply hard and his way of explaining can complicate things.
Never allowed questions and told the class they could just teach themselves
Dr. K is a very intelligent man, I however don't think he's the best teacher. He spends a lot of time EVERY class complaining about attendance, online assessments, and the fact that over half the class is failing. His tests are hard avg is around 40-50%. He tests based on application rather than fact, & he never goes over any application in class.
Dr. Kumar's teaching style was very difficult for me personally. He spends a good portion of every single class complaining to us about not putting in enough effort, low attendance, and over 50% of the class failing. I spent hours studying and never did that great on any tests. there is a WIDE gap between what he teaches and what he tests on.
If you have the chance to take this class with anyone else please do so! His class was disorganized and the same goes for the lab portion.
The Readings and chapters are super long, sometimes what's on the chapters have nothing to do with the tests. Most of the time he complains about half the class failing and attendance but doesn't help the situation.
This class was great, he clearly stated what we needed to learn for the exams and focused his lectures around questions that we had about his pre-recorded lectures. He gave us extra credit opportunities from attendance, bonus points on exam, and Top Hat questions. You are guaranteed to get the Top Hat questions correct, he lets us redo them.
I wouldn't take Dr. Kumar. His lectures seem to be all over the place and I even saw him berate one of his students in class, and then laugh about it like he thought he was funny. It was extremely unprofessional of him. Beside that, his class was tough and he expected us to just know things without actually teaching us.
Dr. Kumar was fantastic. Even with low course participation in the online format, he still made it fun and I really enjoyed his lectures. He was empathetic and willing to re-evaluate questions that we disagreed with on the exams. I appreciated that he treated us with respect and kindness unlike many other profs at TXST.
I took him for the summer semester after not doing well in the spring semester. He had recorded lectures and discussed more during class. His syllabus clearly stated the readings that you need to read, so you can skip over a page or two in a chapter. He is a good professor especially for anyone who is a visual learner.
Worst professor I have had so far. The lectures were very confusing and tests were very tricky and hard. No extra credit. No help offered when I met with him.
First of all, great professor. I think he has a bad reputation because of the difficulty of the class. The material is not complicated itself, but if you do not read the assigned pages in the textbook it will be IMPOSSIBLE TO PASS (I tried doing this for a unit). Be prepared for a class where you will actually learn!
I basically taught myself in this course but with that I could never understand his teaching.
Overall I didn't learn anything. He is a great person and so funny but a great teacher not so much. He always opened assignments/quizzes/homework right before or after it was due. If you're not naturally good at BIO take a different professor.
Definitely not accessible outside of lecture. Not understanding of students' schedules outside of classes during the summer semester. Seemed like he himself was just on summer vacation and gave class less attention.
While the lectures can be confusing, this class rewards hard work. Engage with the material, use Unstuck AI for study prep, and you'll learn a lot. The professor is funny, but the exams are tricky - focus on understanding concepts over memorization.
Kumar is a great person with a sense of humor but he is not at all a great teacher. He goes too fast in lecture and the stuff he teaches is barely on the exams. He also gets mad if you leave class early for anything, even the bathroom. I would understand if there was a textbook but there isn't so whatever he provides it what you get.
Dr. Kumar is really good! He puts an effort for you to learn and is very caring about his students. Meet him at his office hours for more help. It is a hard class, but def worth it!
Attendance is mandatory, no curves or extra credit are offered, you are expected to learn the material before class through Codon Learning although most of the time the material on there and in class do not match up, and he will throw a fit if anyone walks out of class early.
If you don't already know bio pretty well then do not take this professor. There is no true textbook for this course and the online "textbook" that we do have doesn't work well to give any information that'd be useful. There's also no going over previous exams to see what you got wrong OR proper exam review so good luck with trying to study
DO NOT TAKE MANISH KUMAR! As a basic course, it should not be this difficult. He waits until hours before the final to finalize grades. No curves, No Extra Credit, and doesn't reply to emails. His tests are all conceptual. No true textbooks,Save yourself the tears and SWITCH PROFESSORS AND DO NOT REGISTER FOR HIS SECTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dr. Kumar is passionate about biology, however it shows that he is just not the best at teaching his passion to other people. There is a online textbook but the information from that is never on the exams. So you'll have to rely on his slides & outside videos to prep. If you are a incoming freshmen, I pray for you to put up with his hard teaching.
He is by-far the worst professor I've had. There are no extra credit opportunities, which is ridiculous because of how hard the course is. He told us on the last day of class his main goal was to make the class as difficult as he can, and he did just that. Assignments aren't graded until the last minute. He is a rude and overall bad professor.
"This class was easy, but I made it harder for yall" the last thing we got told right before we took our final. Kumar is funny, but he doesn't teach. Lectures are WORD FOR WORD read off the slides he provides. No book (even though you pay). He is nice until he is rude. Not to mention the test he gives, has nothing to do with the lectures.DONOTTAKE!
This professor alone almost made me change my major a couple dozen times, not even because of the material, just him alone and the teaching style. no textbook, no extra credit, lecture ≠ test material, can't understand, not accessible out of class. I basically had to teach myself this course and this isn't an easy course to do alone, do not take
Kumar is a good professor; you just have to apply yourself and learn to understand the material. He offers resources like learning objectives, test reviews, worksheets, and practice questions on TopHat. He also added 20 extra bonus points at the end of the semester, which bumped my grade up by 3 whole points.
Dr. Kumar is a fun professor you just have to bust your ass in class if you want a good grade. This is a senior level course that grad students even take so his expectations and standards are set high. Read the book, go over slides and start early on papers and projects due to the difficult material. DO OFFICE HOURS, he'll go over exams, it helps.
Really good professor overall. He cared about his students and did his best to teach even with a bit of an accent so it was a little hard to understand sometimes. A lot of reading outside of lecture to understand what he's talking about. Not a hard class if you try.
Unbelievable
Kumar is a very funny teacher, but he isn't the greatest at lecturing, and its very boring and very hard to concentrate and pay attention, he doesn't make it fun to learn therefore its not as motivating to do the work.
I'm not sure if something changed or if it's just incoming freshmen's perspective but this class is not as bad as these make it seem. Tests evaluate a basic level of understanding of the basic learning objectives he posts. This is not a difficult class, you just gotta do the homework. First test was clearly over the material we covered.
GPA crusher!! exams are incredibly detailed and complex, requires so much memorization of complex processes and pathways. expects you to already know most of the material and will only give you credit if you explain it as if you were him. unhelpful lectures that do not always apply to exam material. no extra credit or make up quizzes or exams.
Most of your learning comes from material you will read outside of class. His PowerPoints are pretty bare-bones, his lectures are OK, and he encourages you to work with a partner on in-class worksheets. He's a good guy - funny when he's in a good mood; grumpy if you disrupt his class. Would take a class with him again.
I respect this man, and he is super intelligent; however, he should NOT be teaching undergrad. His coursework and teaching style are way too advanced for this '1330' level. Fail one exam, and your grade is tanked for good. Codon is homework site and there is so many yet it is nothing like the exams. No extra credit, no curves, no grace.
As someone who already knew about functional biology, the topics were easy but Kumar isn't the greatest teacher. I mostly taught myself if I needed to learn anything. He doesn't respond to emails and wants you to meet him during office hours instead. Also takes attendance with graded questions and codes on tophat. He does it at random times. Beware
Even if it is the last course available, do not take it. You will teach yourself all concepts. Grades come from Codon, which is horrible software and random Tophat questions. Class is always a drag and consists of Kumar reading off slides and getting upset when students use the bathroom. Easy to fall behind as all exams are cumulative.
Are you religious? If not, find a God and pray. This class is EXTREMELY hard. The professor is terrible—he speeds through lectures like he's just talking to himself. He doesn't teach or explain anything. Homework and TopHat grades are hidden until the last week. You won't know your grade until it's too late. One of the worst professors at TXST.
This professor could confuse a calculator. His lectures are a chaotic mess—rushed, no explanations, and it feels like he's just mumbling to himself. Grades? Don't expect to see them till the bitter end. If you're a healthcare or nursing major who NEEDS to pass, avoid this class unless you're trying to ruin your life on purpose.
Do not take him, he couldn't teach the smartest person at this university. You can study for the test all you want, but don't expect to be prepared as his tests are built to confuse you. He has very unhelpful office hours where, if you are not doing well, he tells you that you aren't built for the course - no, he just cant teach.
If you need this class for your Major and also need to maintain a certain GPA I would not recommend this professor. The tests are cumulative and feedback on wrong answers is not given after testing. Tests for my online course also had material from future lessons on them. When I brought this up he gaslit me until I gave up on pushing the issue.
the tests were way too hard, the tests still felt like i was unprepared even with reviewing. he does not even give feedback or let you see what questions on exam you got wrong. do not take at all, there will be no extra credit. he doesnt even update grades on assignments till last minute. the online homework and assignments never matched the exams
VERY high expectations
Your grades are 4 exams and a final. No assignments in class or aids students to help understand. He repeats "Right" and "Why do you not understand". He also makes remarks saying he doesn't get paid enough to help us this much. He can be nice and I feel bad writing this . I see Biology majors and others related change because he discourages them.
Professor Kumar cares about his students but is very hard to understand. I recommend getting tutoring as soon as possible and attend all the lectures.
Hes actually really funny, he just is very passionate about bio but just prepare to study but not as much just make sure you know what your doing. His LA's are so cool and understanding, but sometimes he lets you do the test all together for 5 mins. He genuinely really cares but he is a teacher i would definitely have again.
Professor Kumar is such an amazing teacher. He is so willing to answer questions and gives extra credit sometimes. There are a lot of Codon Reading, but every biology class has the same amount. For one the test we have taken he gave us five minutes to work together and for one test the class wasn't as prepared for he moved the date.
Dr. Kumar is a funny and cool guy. As long as you are paying attention you will be okay, this class is rigorous and is meant to have application rather than memorization. His lectures are content heavy, but not all information will be used on exams. Exams are multiple choice and are accumulative. Just be a good student and you will succeed.
He is good at teaching and i don't think attendance was mandatory but coming to class is very helpful.
If you aren't a biology major his course can be difficult but as long as you study you'll do fine. He has a bunch of resources to help understand things, codon reading assignments, in class papers for review, modules on canvas with recorded lectures, and more exam review. If you can study and understand the concepts you will do just fine.
He is an amazing professor and genuinely cares about his students. I think he has a bad rep because of the class difficulty and it makes people upset. Gives tons of resources and tells you exactly what effort you are gonna have to put in to succeed. Prints out study sheets most lectures. Gives out lots of extra cred. Overall amazing professor!!
Dr. Kumar is a good professor who tries his best to help his students. The course material is interesting, but very heavy as you have to memorize everything. The exams are 50-60 multiple-choice questions, which are HARD and require a lot of critical thinking. If you plan to take this class, get prepared and study every day.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
69%
Textbook Required
10%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.49 avg changeRatings by Course
BIO4350R
5.0
(1)BIO4366
4.7
(6)1421
4.0
(1)4366MEDMICRO
4.0
(1)BIO4376
3.5
(4)Difficulty by Course
BIO4350
4.5
BIO1330
4.3
FUNCTIONALBIO
4.3
BIO2400
4.2
MEDICALMICRO
4.0