3.5
Quality3.6
Difficulty59%
Would Retake206
Reviews59%
Would Retake
206
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
71
4
43
3
31
2
33
1
28
What Students Say
“Came out with a good grade but get ready to learn everything by yourself”
BSC2010 - 3.0 rating“easily approachable, very caring, but her tests are terrible”
BSC2010 - 3.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
84%
Textbook Required
0%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Stable
-0.15 avg changeRatings by Course
PCB4233
5.0
(1)IFS2081
5.0
(1)BSC3402L
5.0
(8)BIO2010
3.5
(38)BSC2010
3.4
(152)Difficulty by Course
BSC2011
5.0
BSC2010L
4.5
BSC2010
3.7
BIO2010
3.6
BSC1005
3.0
Reviews (206)
This professor has a thick accent and it is very hard to understand her. She does give a study guide for every single class period, but it doesn't go into detail which screws you over for her exam. She puts the slides she uses in class on blackboard but they do not go into heavy detail as well, haha good luck if you take this course.
Dr. Dennis is an awesome professor for Immunology. The slides are detailed, so take time to study and process them all. The graphics of pathways (from book and in her slides) are helpful when studying for the test. Very approachable. Just study and you will do fine.
Absolutely love this class. Did not care for the content because I'm not a science major. This class if by far the best IFS class.
I didn't really care for her unit and her tests didn't really correlate that well with her lecture. If you take notes and know the small details in the book, you would do okay. Her lectures weren't helpful when it came to learning the material.
All of her tests consist of 70+ fill in the blank questions with no word bank provided. You have to memorize 30+ pages of notes which the tests are 80% based off of. The other parts of the tests are diagrams or tables you have to fill out that were among the 300 something slideshow she gives. Absolutely would not recommend. Makes bio 1 way harder
Questions are fill in the blank like 70 no word bank kind of misleads what will be on the test there are times 8 pages of notes are taken and not a single question comes from that puts things that are never discussed on exam honestly worst class Ive ever takenany other bio teacher is all multiple choice Their extra credit was our diagrams
Just memorize her slides for an A in the class.
Rarely went to class, just memorized her slides and read a few chapters of things that weren't clear, her exams are fill in the blank but come straight from the notes. She gives EC opportunities for 5 points for each exam and final, you have to read her notes and understand them but if you do, you're fine
easily approachable, very caring, but her tests are terrible. All fill in the blank with no word bank (however they are straight from the notes) and the other half of the tests are diagrams. Hardest intro to bio class ever. never heard of a bio class that didn't have multiple choice tests.
Professor Dennis's course was a lot of material. Her tests required you to memorize her in class notes since her tests were fill in the blank sentences pulled directly from them. Also, be sure to study important diagrams from her 300+ in-class slides. Be sure to spend at least an hour a day memorizing material, or else you won't do well.
Dr. Dennis is great. If you are a good student, you'll do well. You receive every bit of information you need for the exam. I think that the people who dislike her class are ones who don't work steadily. There's really no reason to get an A or so if you work diligently.
This class was pretty difficult for me. She takes random attendance for a grade so you have to be at almost all lectures, but the lectures don't even help for the tests at all. The tests are straight from the notes for fill in the blanks but multiple choice is a little difficult. Study diagrams, too. Study a little of the notes everyday.
If you take this class make sure you have really solid memorization skills or else you're really going to struggle with her tests. She has fill in the blank (no word bank) and MC questions based mainly off diagrams. She's a nice person, but this class makes getting through bio 1 harder. She also has an accent, so look out for that.
terrible teacher, I did not learn one thing in this class. Her tests are impossible Fill in the blank without a work bank. if you take bio 1 with Dennis... well good luck Charlie. PS: she basically speaks French so have fun trying to understand her
She is a nice lady and tries to help if you ask for it, but her lectures don't prepare you in the least for her exams. Exams are fill in the blank without a word bank, complex multiple choice questions based on really random concepts she barely touched on in class, and some diagram drawing/labeling. If bio isn't your thing, wouldn't recommend her.
It was difficult to adapt to the lectures since they are mostly her talking through diagrams. So you really have to pay attention if you want to learn during lectures. Tests are multiple choice, fill in the blank, and sometimes diagrams. Difficult but manageable if you read and understand the notes and study WAY in advance. Homework matters.
Terrible lecturer. Thick accent makes it hard to understand her and she moves way too fast without taking a breath. Tests are incredibly difficult and you must study every word of the textbook and her notes to pass
Though her lectures were quite confusing sometimes, she really tried to get across all the material thoroughly. She does take attendance on random days during group participation. She also gives out extra credit for each exam, which is a lifesaver! You do have to teach yourself alot of the material, but if you study you will likely pass.
Terrible lectures. She has a strong accent and the class is just very boring. The topic is interesting but it's hard to pay attention. The test is not that hard. Info is all on the textbook. Gives extra credit.
Really enjoyed this class! Honestly, people say she has a thick accent, but I find it fine to understand. Her tests are basically just from the notes, so they're pretty easy to pass. As long as you study a decent amount and don't skip class, you'll do fine.
She is a great professor! Her in-class lecture and posted notes help you learn everything you need for the class. The group activities and iclicker questions show up on tests sometimes, which is nice. Her accent is very easy to understand and she genuinely cares about all of her students.
She is the sweetest professor. Genuinely cares about her students and treats everyone with respect. She does offer extra credit on tests! Her tests seem scary at first because they are fill in the blank (no word bank), drawing/identifying, and multiple choice but the questions are all pretty basic so if you study, you will do fine.
The class is hard but that's just the bio 1 material. Her lectures cover all the material so you don't have to read the textbook but you def have to study her notes and the vocab. Mastering Biology hw, iclickers, in class activities, and tests are all of your grades. There's extra credit for every exam. She's really nice and helpful.
Great teacher, very helpful. Keep up with notes and study regularly. Many helpful resources posted online. Textbook helps but not required. Tests are 60% of grade so do well.
She is a very nice lady but she makes her class more challenging than it needs to be. Her test are usually 40 fill in the blank and about 30 multiple choice. She does giv extra credit which is nice. But overall her test are hard.
I was really nervous to take this class because of the reviews on here, but its literally so easy. Not sure if everyone is straight out of high school and expecting to do no work and get an A, but just study and you'll get an A? It's just biology. Don't make it hard for yourself. She's a very nice woman and easily approachable.
Lectures were pretty boring but that is because they are based off content that doesnt need a lot of explaining. She is a good teacher and will prepare you very well, you just have to put in the time outside of lecture to memorize and understand the material.
You definitely need to spend roughly 3-5 hours each week for studying her class to do well. She gives you all of the test materials. You just need to find it in canvas, lecture slide, and homeworks
Dr. Dennis teaches her lectures exactly like Dr. Marks teaches his, but her exams are a lot easier to prepare for because she gives you all the materials you need and her lectures are very thorough. She's really nice and cares about how all of her students do. 4 unit exams, final, group activities, and iclicker points. Lots of extra credit.
Dr. Dennis is so nice and cares about how all of her students are doing. She tells you exactly what the important concepts are and there are so many review sessions before exams. In-class activities and iClicker questions pretty much every lecture. Tests are half fill in blank with vocab list and half multiple choice. I definitely learned a lot.
Great
She was amazing. Very attentive and caring. Attendance is mandatory because shell ask a couple questions during the lecture but you can discuss them with friends. Absolutely get some decent study partners, she tries her best to make it pretty easy to study but the tests can be challenging if not prepared. Go to recitation, ask questions
Accent heavy. If you are not sufficient in biology and if it does not interest you, avoid at all costs. Final was 120 questions and half of it was fill in the blank. If you don't pay attention in class, tests will seem like a foreign language. I recommend finding another professor.
Changed my major because of how boring lectures were
AVOID AT ALL COSTS. She moves so fast in class and has a heavy accent so you can't understand her. Her tests are half fill in the blank and half multiple choice and if you don't study you will fail. The TA's teach better than her. This class was an absolute joke and a living hell. Bio 1 shouldn't be this hard. Thank you for coming to my TedTalk.
She writes notes on the projector as she's going along with the class lecture so that's super helpful. There's a lot of extra credit opportunities but as long as you actually study for the exams it's fine. She's really nice and wants everyone to do well. Textbook isn't used but there is online hw
An extremely nice professor. This class really isn't hard if you study for it. A lot of her iClicker questions are on the test. Do the optional study modules on MasteringBiology because she puts those questions on the tests as well. Watch the videos that she posts online and take notes! If you do this, you will be fine.
Awesome Professor! Has an accent but it is not hard to distinguish at all. Shes really nice and gives a lot of extra credit opportunities. TAs and LAs are really helpful. Professor is very caring and will help you with anything.
Recommend finding another professor. She moves so fast in class and has a heavy accent so you can't understand her. Her tests are half fill in the blank and half multiple choice and if you don't study you will fail. The TA's teach better than her.
Learn little to nothing in the lectures, test are half fill in the blank half multiple choice, hardest class I've ever taken. If you want to pass BIO 1 I would def not recommend. Horrible class.
Dr. Dennis goes very fast in lectures and her tests are difficult, but very fair. Test questions come word for word from the notes packet on Canvas and the Dynamic Study Modules (NOT the homework). She has lots of TAs which means lots of opportunity to get help. This class is hard, but if you work for it, you'l l be okay.
This class requires a lot of work but Dr. Dennis is really helpful in recitation and office hours and wants you to succeed. If you put in the work you will succeed. Highly recommend going to class, lots of clicker questions that add up in the end. Study the notes on canvas well and the dynamic study modules on mylab and you will do well.
She is a great professor!! She truly cares for her students and wants them to succeed. Attendance is mandatory because she does I-clicker questions. For the tests, study the powerpoint, vocab, Dynamic study modules, and the I-clicker questions and you will definitely pass. Gives a lot fo extra credit and does group exams the day after an exam.
This was my second time trying bio with professor Dennis as i dropped last semester. This is a class you have to be prepared for as it is ALOT of material and her test really challenge your knowledge by mostly fill in the blank test
Professor Dennis definitely made this class wayyyy harder than it had to be. Her explanations in class made everything more confusing and the tests are insane. The fill in the blanks are very difficult. She gives a group test which averages out between the other 2 parts. She's a very nice person but her teaching wasn't the best.
I Don't know about this one. She is nice, but the class is so general and her style (lectures) doesn't help at all. It's bio so everyone should kinda get the hint but she doesn't really tell you what to focus on for tests and with most kids in the class being freshman that didn't help. Got worse after moving online. She offers good extra credit!
she's a great person and she cares about her students so much. in terms of the class, its really hard but definitely doable. Lots of studying involved. Definitely go to her office hours so she gets to know you, then she will be more helpful.
Did not like her. Her lectures make no sense and typically only 10% of her lecture is actually tested. And sometimes material not brought up in class is tested. Going online was worse. She only has three exams so it is a lot to study and process at once. I would not take with her again, I really did not enjoy her class.
This class is easy to get an A in as long as you study. She has an accent but I was still able to understand her. The fill in the blank section of the test can be hard but most are only definitions and you get a word bank. Recycles questions from the dynamic study modules and iclicker for test. Usually gives 10 points of EC per test.
Being real she isn't hard and I am not good at Bio. If you actually study and do not take the class as a joke as most people do you will have no problem getting an A. She gives a lot of extra credit too. She is also the nicest professor on campus that I have met so far.
Easy A for me! There are 3 exams & a final. You will do well on them by studying the notes she posts on canvas for each module(this helps for fill in the blank portion of the test!), dynamic study modules, iclicker & 3 questions practice. Very sweet Professor & offers lots of extra credit on every exam! Put in the time to study & you will do well!
Dr. Dennis was so great! I had heard from others that her class was very hard, but that is not true at all!! If you put in the work and study the information is pretty easy and Dr. Dennis gives you all the resources you could possibly need to do well on exams. She gives extra credit on every exam and is very accommodating! Highly recommend for bio!
A pretty easy A so long as you study. A lot of extra credit on exams and the homework can take a while, but overall not too bad. My only complaint would be that we had assigned seats and groupwork/group tests, and my group didn't do anything and instead relied on me to get the answers.
If you pay attention in class, do the homework, and do the dynamic study modules, you should do well in this class. Her lectures were always very focused and have Iclicker questions that sometimes show up on the exams. Study for exams using the dynamic studies and practice tests in the book.
I loved Dr. Dennis. She is very caring and is willing to help you if you do not understand something. Some people seem to struggle with her accent, but it is not bad. Her tests are based off I-clicker questions and dynamic study modules for the most part. Study and you'll be fine. LOTS OF EXTRA CREDIT
Definitely would take her class again! She is so nice and so funny! She is always willing to help during and outside of class, gives great extra credit opportunities. Just read and take notes, pay attention to vocabulary, and do dynamic study modules. Before tests, go over her in class notes and you will do great!
Amazing professor because of how knowledgable she is!!! people will tell you her class is hard and the truth is any bio course is going to be hard and requires effort. if you know that and are on top of it you will be fine. she gives lots of extra credit and really cares about her students. I loved her class
She is super nice, however the class is extremely hard. I went to office hours with the TA's frequently throughout the semester and studied like crazy and still barely got a B+. I would take it with another professor if given the choice. She is however a very sweet person, and gives a few extra credit opportunities.
One of FSU's gems. Has an accent but is very easy to understand. Cares about her students and makes lectures interesting. As long as you read the textbook and go to class to get participation you should be fine. Pay attention to the DSMs and the i-clicker questions, you will see them again. Hardest part was getting i-clicker questions right.
Marie was a pretty good teacher. Her lectures were mostly clear and she was really nice. She provides a lot of extra credit for tests because she does not curve them. The tests are multiple choice and a pretty tough fill in the blank section with a massive word bank that doesn't help. She rounded up my grade in the end too so I ended with an A.
Dr. Dennis offers a lot of extra credit opportunities and the exams really aren't that difficult if you prepare throughout the unit. My biggest study tip is to put time into taking notes on mastering bio homeworks. Take the practice exams on mastering bio too and you'll be fine! Great professor, very caring.
IF I COULD GIVE 0 I WOULD. very nice however, she has a very thick accent and literally her tests are impossible.
This course was the hardest Ive ever taken. Her lectures are so unclear and I have no idea what shes talking about most of the time. Shes very unclear about what we need to take from each lecture. I had to start going to tutoring sessions twice a week so I could keep a passing grade. Offers a lot of extra credit which is really great.
This class is so hard. Don't take this class with her if you don't have to.
If you have to take this class with her good luck! The material is already hard and her lectures will leave you more confused. The tests are super hard and everyone fails it so she has to give a lot of extra credit to even it out. She also likes to teach you something one week but test you on something else, super confusing for no reason.
Don't be scared by the horrible reviews left on her rate my prof. I currently have a 99 in her class and haven't made below a 96 on the tests, as they're not hard if you study. If your social life is more important or you just don't study you will not succeed. If you know that you are a dedicated student this is an easy A. Lots of extra credit.
Dr. Dennis is honestly such an amazing biology professor. She isn't hard to understand at all, and her lectures are very straight to the point and helpful. You will do extremely well on the tests if you watch the lectures, take notes, and do the participation. Lots of opportunities to keep your grade up(extra credit, participation worksheets, etc).
Honestly, I was very worried about taking this class because I wasn't the best at biology in high school. However, as long as you watch the lectures, take notes, attend class, and study you should be fine. Tests are hard, but if you study the material it shouldn't be too hard. And she drops some assignments as well as gives a lot of extra credits.
Avoid Dr Dennis if you can. As a person who has always loved bio she makes me dread it. She teaches something 2 chapters ahead, makes u do HW on 2 chapters behind, and quizzes u on a different chapter. Such a confusing method of teaching and tests are unnecessarily very hard with low averages. Did not enjoy this class at all.
She is a very nice woman but her class was unnecessarily hard. The structure of the class was very confusing and felt out of order. Kahoots during zoom classes to count attendance. Her tests were really hard and she gave no study guides. Lots of extra credit thankfully (go to her office hours after a test and you may get points back on questions)!
Dennis was a great professor as long as you put in the work. Everybody who is complaining about her either didn't study or didn't reach out when they needed help. She provides all the resources you need to pass her tests/quizzes and she gives a lot of extra credit opportunities. This class is not hard to pass if you just do what you're suppose to.
I wouldn't worry about the really harsh comments towards Dr. Dennis. I thought she was a great professor. You have to work decently hard, but a lot of the homework is very easy (a lot of participation) and she gives a lot of extra credit opportunities.
the class is super easy to pass however if you want to get an A you will have to put in a good amount of work. read over her notes that she provides she basically gets all her stuff for the test from that!!!! she also gives a lot of extra credit and will bump your grade up if you are close! super caring and super nice
Dr. Dennis is a professor that is very nice and caring of her students. The only thing that bothered me personally during the Fall 2020 semester is that we had to go to breakout rooms and I was forced to share my screen as no one else in the room would participate. Other than that, I greatly appreciated her class and learned a lot from her.
If BSC2010 is a requirement for your major and you truly want to understand the material I would suggest you seek someone other than Dr. Dennis. While she is understanding, it was very obvious that she took advantage of the switch to online classes. The material was never in order, tests were difficult, and the TA's were rude in breakout rooms.
Dr dennis really cares & wants to help. now listen biology is NOT easy especially the major one, i had a great ap bio teacher & had an easier time compared to my friend but still worked my butt off. you have to put in the effort. dr dennis is very helpful if you use it to your advantage. SO MUCH EXTRA CREDIT. LIKE A LOT.
if you put in the work you will succeed. bio is not supposed to be a super easy class. her notes have all you need to know. study in advance for exams. go to TA reviews. read the book if confused. you have a quiz & hw per chapter. 3 unit + final exams (all MC/matching). 2-3 lecture per chapter. covid made it weird with zoom. she curves if need & EC
I totally recommend taking her class. She gives so many extra credit opportunities and provides a bunch of tools to help understand the material. There is a quiz every week but they are easy if u pay attention and review. The TAs/LAs are great! She really cares about her students and making sure they understand the material. Do your work and study!
This class is hard for no reason. Worksheets every week and they grade them extremely tough and don't even give feedback on why you got points off. Makes it difficult to make changes to improve your grade. It's my lowest grade and I am taking way "harder level" courses. This should honestly be a 3 credit course with the amount of time you spend.
Yes this class is a lot of work but the tests are not too hard. All the work you do helps you boost your grade if you don't do so well on her exams. She also drops a large percentage of all the work so you can skip assignments every once in a while. Overall a pretty good teacher and a pretty easy A if you put in a little bit of effort.
Sweet teacher, exams are hard only 3 and then the final. I took this class via zoom so it was just a weird class overall. I love how she gives extra credit and drops 2 quiz grades at the end of the semester. Hard class but she makes it a little better
This class requires time and effort. If you put in the work you will pass. 3 tests and one final, none dropped. Lots of participation assignments and quizzes per chapter. I am ending the class with a grade above 100% and many students end with an A. Its worth it to put in the effort.
Dr. Dennis is amazing!!! she really cares for her students and provides you with the resources needed to do well. bio is not an easy class but she gives you lots of homework and extra credit to boost your grade! highly recommend reading the textbook and doing the dynamic study modules. you definitely have to put in the work but its not impossible!
Dr. Dennis' class has its ups and its downs. She provides lots of extra credit and drops a lot of grades, but this ultimately raised my grade by 1% max. The entire course is weighted on 3 exams, and she does little to prepare you for them, as they are not comparable to homework, quizzes or in class activities. She also doesn't check her email much.
Gives extra credit & drops a lot of grades but that doesn't impact your grade a lot since the majority of the grade weight is from 3 tests she gives which she makes unnecessarily difficult, doesn't give study guides/help. I emailed about my concern for my grade & she said just do the extra cred & it'd fine, which was a lie The TA's are nice though.
Willing to help students with questions and cares about your grades. She is VERY lecture heavy. Attendance is mandatory and there is a lot of group work in break out rooms. You have to complete a lot of worksheets and quizzes but she drops a lot of them. Most people get A's if you try in her class. I would reccommend her for this class.
I took this class online and had a tough time. She is super nice and considerate (drops assignments and gives extra credit). But I definitely would have done better in person. You have to really do your reading and watching lectures outside of class, as well as doing so before the class. It is a lot of material so definitely have to study a lot.
The class is not an easy class. Her lectures are somewhat boring and dry; you will find yourself zoning out a bit. You will have to study a lot for it is a lot of information. She does have a lot of easy assignments, so your grade doesn't depend on a few graded things however she drops a lot of those grades and provides extra credit.
Really nice professor, but the lectures are extremely dry. I'm a bio major so obviously I think biology is really cool, but even I find myself zoning out within the first five minutes of class. It's an easy class and you'll definitely get an A, but the lectures just aren't it.
This class by far has been the worst class I have ever taken. It is ridiculously hard and little to no support is offered. Essentially the assignments don't matter because if you fail the tests you fail the class. I have always been really good at biology and when I tell you this class screwed me. I mean it. Avoid this class at all costs:)
Dr. Charrel is a very sweet and caring professor. The only thing I would say about this class is that it is very difficult. I put about 20 hours a week into this class and it is certainly the most time-consuming class that I have had so far. I also often find myself using external sources to understand the material.
This was the hardest class I have ever taken, and I was an AP heavy student in high school. I only took this class because it was required but I REALLY wish I had gone with a different professor. Its actually a well established joke apparently that people in Dennis's classes struggle way more than the other professors. You have to teach yourself !!
This class killed my love for bio. The lectures are very hard to follow and can be very dry. She does little to prepare you for the tests/ quizzes, it is more of a teach yourself class. It is unreasonably difficult and she is hard to reach sometimes. She does give a lot of participation-graded assignments which is nice.
Please dont take her class
Take this class ONLY IF you actually want to learn biology. She gives pre-lecture videos to help you better understand material + extra videos & notes if you are confused DONT LEAVE EARLY!!! LA's with help you through the worksheets and explain the material. During office hours/ optional help sessions, she will answer/explain any questions you have
Pretty much an A if you show up to class participation is part of your grade. Youll pretty much get 100 on everything as long as you did it right tbh. Only thing graded even slightly harder was the final paper but they give you feedback on the rough draft. I LOVE her shes so cute and super nice.
Dr. Dennis was a really good professor. She does have a thick accent that can be hard to understand, so watch out for that. As long as you stay on top of the assignments and homework, you should do fine. Very similar to high school bio. All quizzes/tests are online with HonorLock.
Reminded me of highschool biology. Many chances to get a good grade. We used honorlock for quizzes and tests. Watch the pre lectures, and listen in class (which can be hard) and participate on her questions and worksheets. The LAs help, so use them to see if you are understanding. Lots of assignments and many get dropped. Take her class
Don't worry about reading the textbook just watch lectures and take notes. In order to get an A in the class DO ALL the assignments so you have leeway when she drops your lowest grades. Watch lecture videos 2 days before the quiz so you have an extra day to study. DO NOT re-read your notes, and try to draw out as much as you can from the lecture.
its hard but if you study you will be fine. compared to other professors, shes the best
This lab was the absolute worst. I thought we would be introduced to topics and tools but on the first day, we were thrown into doing an experiment without knowing how to work the equipment. There were lab worksheets due EVERY WEEK as well as quizzes that everyone fails (you would be lucky to get a 14/20). Worst organization and very frustrating.
Dr. Dennis was one of the hardest prof. I have ever had. Those ratings above are from when her class was online and easy. Her class is very hard. I am an A student and struggled in her class. I studied her quizzes, notes, homework, made my own notes, watched lectures, did everything possible and still failed her exams. She is nice though.
Class is not easy, but she is very lenient with grades. Most assignments are for completion, and she does a great job on making sure you are learning the material. You have to put in the work, which allows you to get the most out of the class.
Marie was overall a nice professor. Although, she is not very good at teaching, teaching yourself the material will ensure success. She is still nice and quite understanding. Quizzes at least once a week, with fairly difficult exams. EC if offered, and although attendance is not technically required, class participation counts as a grade.
Not bad, class is tough but the teacher is nice and TAs help a lot
She has a very thick accent and she speeds through material. I have taken bio for 4 years now and I have never had a worse professor. There are lots of grades and she drops some of them but the tests are ridiculously hard. Just a 1/10 take any other professor if you can.
You're gonna pass, but you won't learn anything. She drops a lot of assignments and has guided notes due every sunday, but these notes are like 60 short answer questions and they'll ask things she hasn't even covered in class. I was just completing the guiding notes instead of taking my own. Do not take her if you want to learn.
Class is weighed on a bunch of different areas, so that's nice. However, I do NOT like this professor. Her lectures are so boring and the notes due every week are hell. The tests are insanely hard for entry-level bio. Just take someone else.
I never really understood what she was saying because of her strong accent. Her lectures didn't really line up with the text book or the tests or quizzes she gave so it was hard to study for them.
There is a quiz every week + homework due every week. It's a lot of work to get you up with points, but so unnecessary. Quizzes are in person, tests are rlly hard. To succeed you literally need to devote 2 hours a day. If you are smart you will do fine, but you have to really put in a lot of work for this class to do well. worksheets every class.
so i took the lab and lecture with her. for the lecture: it is basically impossible to NOT pass because she drops so many things but you learn nothing i felt like i barely learned anything in this class. the lab was so unnecessarily hard like the quizzes are always random like you never who what to study for and the worksheets are so harshly graded
Great professor. She drops 3 of each assignment; quiz, and homework. Weekly 10-question quizzes, are easy to pass if you review the notes. Dynamic study module questions are on the test. Easy to pass. Very approachable in begin of class to clarify a topic or talk about grades.
There is a lot of hw but this gives you opportunities to raise your grade. She doesn't have mandatory attendance but quizzes are only taken in class about once a week and she has participation questions throughout lecture for a grade.
This class is full of busy work and so boring. You're supposed to watch lectures before class but watch the same lecture in class. Lots of quizzes but also lots of drops. Tests are important. In class participation matters. Its a pretty average experience. If you need bio past this you might want to find a different teacher. Read the textbook.
Often multiple homework assignments due every week that take 2 hours each to complete MINIMUM, there is a worksheet due at the end of almost everyclass and there is never enough time to do it in class, tests are moderatly hard if you know the material. Lots of busy work
a lot of homework and quizzes but she is super sweet and understanding and she drops a lot of the work at the end of the semester!
Very thick accent beware. Exams are difficult and barely cover the information presented in lecture. You basically have to teach yourself the material or go to a LA for extra help. Chapter quizzes every week, and long active reading notes due every week. Difficult for no reason for entry level bio class.
loved her! watch her mini lectures, do the dynamic study modules, and go to class and youll be good. her tas/las are awesome, and so is she. very accessible and sweet, she wants you to learn. be sure to review often, the tests can be challenging but its doable!
she is one of the best professors I have ever had! She is also one of the sweetest people and is always willing to help, but study!!!!! she explains course material very well! there are so many opportunities to help your grade: we have in-class activities every lecture, quizzes maybe once a week, homework due on Sunday nights, and 3 exams total.
Dr. Dennis is a genuinely great professor, and you can tell she is passionate about biology and a brilliant professor. She is very lecture heavy, and if you don't go to class, you will likely not perform well. Dr. Dennis doesn't do curveballs and will tell you what to study. Put in time and effort, and your grade will reflect it.
One of the best professors I have ever had! Attend lectures and take notes and you will do just fine!! Utilize your LA's too, they are phenomenal!
This professor is amazing. She has great attention to detail and it seems like she really enjoys teaching too. The coursework is a lot, but she makes it very easy to know what you are doing. The tests are moderately hard, but definitely get easier as long as you study.
Any one who tells you to take this class is lying. I have always been an A student even in AP bio classes. this class is essentially set up for you to fail. the assignments don't mean anything considering if you fail one test you're screwed. do yourself a favor and drop the class
Dr. Dennis is great. She gives a lot of work but drops many grades as well. The exams are pretty difficult so you must study. The only bad thing I'd say is sometimes her handwriting can be hard to read at times when taking notes. Some people will say that they don't understand her fully due to her accent but it is not that heavy, I understood her.
Professor Dennis provides many materials for you to do well in class. If you watch lectures before class, do worksheets and active reading, and get help when needed you will do great. The class has a quiz each week, multiple assignments, and 3 exams plus a final.
There is so much busy work on stuff that isn't even on the quizzes or tests. The lectures are fine and are posted online but the stuff on the tests is way more specific and so much harder. She's nice but you'll end up having to teach yourself most of the material.
The tests and quizzes are a bit difficult even if you study a lot, but there are lots of drops and assignments which improve your grade a lot. Most of the homework and in class assignments are just participation. The lectures were helpful but you really have to read the textbook too in order to understand everything. TA's were also super caring!
Definitely not an easy class by any means but if you study you should easily pass. Her tests are the hardest part by far but if you review the lecture videos you should be ok.
Dr. Dennis is a sweet and funny lady who clearly states the expectations of the class very early on. There are 13 quizzes, 3 exams, and a final that are very impactful on your grade. You must study for these or frankly you won't pass. In class assignments for grades, and drops a lot to help your grade. Participate and study and you'll be fine.
Dr.Dennis is a very caring and understanding professor. Her classes are lecture heavy. We were given quizzes every week but she dropps three of the lowest grades. Tests were pretty difficult if you did not go over the material already covered in class. Overall, I reccomend taking Dr.Dennis for your biology course.
Dr. Dennis assigns a lot of "busy work" for participation, but it ends up helping hold up your grade for the weekly quizzes and exams. The exams were pretty difficult, so study the dynamic study module practice tests, review TopHat questions from lectures, and read through and take notes on her guided chapter notes on Canvas.
Great professor- she is very funny, and her lectures are easy to follow. I would recommend this class.
She gives a lot of homework and assignments, but it ends up helping your grade. She gives weekly quizzes, and her tests require clear understanding of the material which aren't too bad if you make sure you understand what she's teaching. Overall, she is very funny and nice and if you are willing to put in the work, you'll do great!!
This course is not very difficult yet this professor makes it a lot harder than it needs to be. She gives an excessive amount of homework that takes hours to complete and the weekly quizzes are extremely hard. Her accent makes it very hard to understand concepts and her lectures overall were not helpful.
Though Dr. Dennis does assign a good amount of homework, and the classes are mostly lectures, she does care about you as a student. She'll happily answer any questions you have and her office hours are a wonderful time to review the material with her. She drops a lot of grades and there's a lot of quizzes. Read the textbook, you'll be fine.
She gave a lot of work such as notes and practice which really helped my grade. The exams are kind of hard but she also posts the lectures on canvas which helped so much.
She was an amazing teacher!!! Had her for an exp bio about the microbiome which was so boring but she made it really fun. She was funny and gave great feedback when needed. Basically, if you show up and just try a bit you will pass with no less than an A. Wish I took a class with her sooner. 10/10
Recitation not mandatory, but useful if you have questions about anything. Has office hours too, where after unit exam scores come out you can see what you got wrong. Material is pretty hefty, especially when unit 3 hits, so textbook recommended. Review sessions with TAs before unit tests and final. Really nice and is willing to work with you.
Dr. Dennis is a great professor. In class Top-Hat Questions, 10 Q quizzes each week, 3 Exams in person, LOTS of extra credit opportunities! There are also in class worksheets and reading notes for completion grades. She drops a lot of stuff from each category at the end of semester! Very kind and knowledgeable.
Easiest bio class and professor by far. Really enjoyed the class. Pretty much get As for effort. Lots of busy work so don't fall behind but you will do well if you just try your best. Nice lady.
this is an easy class but i took it during summer A so it ended up being a little fast paced. dr. dennis is really sweet and gives great feedback. if you show up and just do what you are told, you will get an A. highly recommend her for this class!!
Dr. Dennis is a really sweet professor and does everything to help her students. This class is not hard at all and you will do fine with the bare minimum effort. The information was lowkey really boring to me but Dr. Dennis really tries to make it engaging and fun. She's great. Take her if you can.
there is a lot of quizzes, up to two a week. the tests are manageable if you study. arn are every week
Amazing professor, she is a fantastic lecturer and truly wants to give every student the ability to succeed. She's the best Bio professor, has many assignments that act as a buffer for grades and she drops 20-30% of in-class activities, attendance, and assignments at end of semester. Very organized, has TA's and LA's available to meet all needs.
You need to work for your grade, not just an easy A. Attainable to get the grade you want.
Dr. Dennis is an amazing professor. She provides clear instructions that will allow you to succeed in the class. There are weekly quizzes but if you go to class you will be fine! She also posts recorded lectures that help alot. She also gives so many opportunities to gain credit. She drops a lot of things too so if you miss a thing or two its ok!
Professor Charrel-Dennis is a very nice and caring person, but I would not take her class again if I had a choice. At times, her teaching style is very confusing and it feels like she just skips over things without connecting them. I feel like if more connections were made by her during lecture, I wouldn't have had to study as much at home.
I greatly recommend Dr. Dennis for any biology class at FSU! Her class is not an easy A, but with effort and participation in class, you will do great. She drops a lot of homework and 3 quizzes, and there is a quiz every week. She posts lecture videos on Canvas which are helpful for learning material! She cares about your success in the course.
To get an A in this class, you need to put in work. You won't do well on quizzes (1-2/week) or exams (3, worth 10% each) if you do not study. Lectures can be hard to follow, however, she posts her lectures online, and they help a lot with understanding. Take advantage of every EC opportunity.
Dr Dennis is a cool professor. You can tell she is very knowledgeable. However, her class is not easy, and to get a good grade you're going to have to study outside the classroom. The only thing I would say about her, is sometimes her lectures could be a bit confusing, and I sometimes had hard time making connections. Overall great professor.
This course definitely requires a tremendous amount of dedication outside of class. She gives busy work, but it helps your grade and she drops a lot of them. She has 13 quizzes and drops the 3 lowest quiz grades. In my op, her lectures were difficult to make connections with. Exams questions were very specific. She was however very kind and funny.
Dr. Dennis is a great professor in the sense that she is kind and extremely knowledgeable in Biology. The class is difficult and requires commitment. Her lectures are fast-paced and difficult to form connections. Exams have a lot of questions and are very specific.
She very clearly is dedicated to her work, and I definitely think i would have gotten a better grade if i tried harder throughout the semester. Her lectures definitely are faster paced, with her asking graded questions throughout. Drops ALOT of assignments, and makes all of her notes for lectures available on canvas.
Bio major and I took this class with her, she's really sweet and provides so many opportunities for extra credit on the exams. the quizzes and tests are a bit difficult but as long as you study it'll be fine. it is lecture-heavy and there are weekly sometimes bi-weekly quizzes on the chapters but she also gives lots of resources to study from.
I would recommend taking dennis a lot of your grade is determined by the assignments so make sure you do every assignment as a buffer to the hard test
This class is very easy to pass if you just do all the work she assigns. There's participation questions during class that you automatically get points for answering. She drops alot of assignments also. Her test are based off the quizzes and her PowerPoints. As long as you understand the general idea of each topic, this class will be easy to pass.
When first starting the class it was very difficult but If you put in the time by studying her mini lecture videos and going to the TA/LA review sessions you will pass. Assignments weigh heavy on your grade so make sure you do them. She also drops a lot of quizzes and assignments that really help your grade. Don't purchase book,electronically given
Dr. Dennis is so amazing/smart. You have to study for tests and quizzes (Unit 2&3 specifically). The textbook has been study tools and if you actually read it, you will understand concepts much better. She gives a plethora of resources, so it is up to you to put the effort in. If you put in the effort to actually understand concepts, you're good
Dr. Dennis is a wonderful professor and clearly very knowledgeable about the topic. You must attend class to complete the in-class Top Hat questions, which are a chunk of your grade, and you have weekly quizzes. Class is very lecture-heavy and you must study past quizzes and resources on the Canvas. Study and you will do well.
Dr. Dennis is kind and very accommodating. Some aspects of her class are more challenging than others and she does go fast in her lectures. However, all of her lectures are posted online (which is SO helpful if you miss class/didnt understand). Attendance isnt mandatory but often there are mini quizzes (need a code). Reasonable amt of outside work.
Took Dr. Dennis' Bio 1 Lecture during fall semester. Has very clear grading criteria and gives lots of structure for how semester will go in terms of due dates, exams, and extra credit. The structure she gave made studying relatively easy as long as you apply yourself and devote study time.
Ms. Dennis was really nice but there were a lot of assignments. Tests weren't difficult, but the main way to pass and get A's is to critically think about what you're learning and how it applies to different situations rather than just memorizing. TAs are also extremely helpful.
some people do enjoy her lectures but i thought they were boring and hard to follow along. there's in class questions and worksheets and the homework isn't too bad but the tests are horrific. if you're not naturally good at bio, i would not recommend. i bombed every single test but some people did good so it depends on the person to be honest.
There is a lot of homework but it is beneficial in the longterm when exams come up.
As long as you keep up with the homework and notes, this class should be fine
A nice and caring professor that clearly understands and cares about what she's teaching. A lot of homework and guided notes. Tests were hard and not always like the homework or things learned in class.
I had to take this class to complete my major's science requirement, which is unrelated to biology. The course is well-designed but clearly meant for those who need advanced understanding of biology. If you need foundational understanding of the concepts covered I think it would be a great option, but steer clear if you don't really enjoy it.
This class is a lot of work but Dr. Dennis does a great job at teaching tough information. The TA's are incredibly helpful and are willing to help in and out of class. There are 3 unit exams and a final, and she drops a lot of classwork and homework assignments at the end of the semester. Highly recommend this professor.
Offers extra credit and drops a LOT of work. She goes through in class lectures pretty quick and expects you to watch/ read about the chapters before hand. Reading notes every Sunday, quiz every Tuesday, questions in class, 3 exams, and a final. If you can keep up with heavy lectures you'll be fine but if you struggle with that then don't take.
Dr. Dennis was an AMAZING professor. The material can be complicated but she made it interesting to learn. I've met with her during office hours and she sat down with me and explained concepts i needed extra help on by drawing them out and breaking down each step. Very smart, answers emails, and wants you to succeed. 5% extra credit on each test
I don't think i would've hated this class as much if I didn't have it at 8 am but the class itself was just so boring and I could never understand her with he accent and handwriting. The class has a lot of homework I felt like I was in hs again. The weekly quizzes were hard too so study for those. this class was a lot of work for it being bio 1
Dr. Dennis runs a well-structured class with clear expectations. While the material can be challenging, her lectures and online resources are helpful. unstuck study proved valuable for study prep alongside other tools like ChatGPT.
She is a great, caring professor but you did need to work hard. Basically weekly quizzes, in class points, worksheets, and exams. 60% is participation. She is a good lecturer. However, the quizzes can be difficult and hard to study for. The exams are all multiple-choice but also can be hard & detailed. Work hard in the beginning & you will do well!
I loved this class, it was based off the microbiome. The first 8ish weeks was walking through PCR, skin and oral microbiome, gel electrophoresis, etc. Then we got to make our own project about the microbiome and do our own experiment. 1 major paper at the end, a couple presentations, but nothing terrible. Shes so sweet and very helpful with it all.
I found her teaching style messy and difficult to understand. Bit of an accent. You have assigned seating after the first day and LAs are assigned to groups of people; your LA takes attendance so mandatory. Recitation is useless but not mandatory. If you want to do well on the exams, review the quiz questions. (Ignore my grade I didn't study lol)
Dr. Dennis is such a special teacher. She wants her students to do well and will always go over any questions you have on anything. She teaches based off lecture and has alot of grades from in class questions and quizzes. This is good so that your tests are only 30% of your grade. She also gives alot of extra credit. Love her!!
Super nice and caring, easy class overall with lots of extra credit and easy homework to boost your grade. Exams are pretty easy as long as you study and she drops a whole bunch of quizzes and assignments. The material can be a lot but is totally doable as long as you put in the effort. A little bit of an accent but nothing deal breaking.
Unnecessarily hard for bio 1.
This has honestly been one of my favorite classes I've taken at FSU, Dr. Dennis is so caring and she makes this lab so fun while also learning about the topic. Took during summer A, so it was a bit fast paced, but not difficult at all. There are 2 presentations you have to give but only about 2-4 minutes each.
The coursework was interesting and I learned a lot from Dr. Dennis. The class was super entertaining with short, interactive lectures followed by fun lab work. As long as you show up and try, you will get an A. Pretty hard to fail. Dr. Dennis is super personable and is always willing to help and answer questions. Definitely recommend.
She is amazing! Gives lots of resources and feedbacks. However, the quizzes were extremely hard, and the exams were long (75 mcq). Recitation wasn't required. TA's were also amazing.
You can not even understand her. She has the most cursive handwriting you have ever seen and is mad confusing sometimes. A lot of busy work of notes that you have to do and submit and they are lowkey not helpful at all. I had to do all my own studying. If you do not have to take her dont but if you love learning through notes then do.
PowerPoints make no sense, can barely understand her, moves way to fast, quiz almost every class, notes she writes are ineligible at times.
cant understand anything she says
Moves extremely fast during lectures, which can be difficult to understand at times. Handwriting is a cross between fine print and cursive, difficult to read. There is a quiz almost every week, and the notes simply do not help, I needed to teach myself mostly.
She talks with an accent that is difficult to understand at times. Her handwriting is a mix of awful cursive and regular English. Her powerpoints are all over the place. Lots of homework and difficult quizzes and tests. If there is a way to avoid her lecture then do so.
literally take it with any other professor, they are all better
Dr. Dennis I have mixed feelings about. On the one hand she is a nice professor. On the other hand, what she is expecting you to know is very unclear, The lectures, homework and study guides never seem to cover what is on the quiz or test. She also is inconsiderate of travel and students' time. Overall a difficult course.
You can't understand her, you can't read her handwriting, she moves so fast, and doesn't actually explain things for someone who's actually trying to learn. I basically had to teach myself this class. The class is so test-heavy, I did poorly on one exam, and it tanked my grade. There are at least one to two quizzes a week. Get a different prof.
She is very nice but hard to understand. I have had to read the textbook for every quiz and test. The tests are difficult and long. Weekly quizzes that are also difficult. Lots of busy work in the week. Attendance matters for in class activity grades.
Made BIO harder then it needed to. Everyday there's like 10 new words you have to know. For some reason the TA review sessions don't really cover test questions, yet they keep pushing for students to attend them. She writes in half cursive. I'm having to guess half the words she's writing. She talks like everything is common knowledge. Just bad.
dont. had to teach myself everything
Heavy accent, and lectures always end with me having to reteach myself most of the content. I found the tests to be very hard compared to the quizzes, and she is not always clear with what exactly she expects you to know for the exams. Homework is fine and she does do a lot of drops.
Dr. Dennis is a very nice lady who clearly knows a lot about what she teaches however I found that the way in which she delivers the content is not clear and very confusing. You definitely have to read on your own or use other resources to teach yourself the material. She does drop a lot of assignments which is nice and ends up helping your grade.
such a sweet and knowledgeable professor, but sometimes lectures were tough to follow as she jumps from subject to subject, and get ready to learn and study SO much to understand concepts, as nothing is super clear. the only thing that really saved me was the fact that she dropped so many assignments and quizzes at the end of the semester.
She's horrible don't take her period.
The teaching style is very confusing because she moves fast and kind of speaks in riddles. Prepare to be at Strozier 24/7.
Dr. Dennis is smart and understands what she is talking about but she does not explain anything and kind of just reads off the slides. The class was unnecessarily hard for the material and for Biology 1. There was also a lot of homework, tons of quizzes, and the tests would randomly go in depth into a topic we discussed for a day.
Shes a good person but not a good teacher. She has a heavy accent which is harder to understand and her writing is also hard to read. There are quizzes at least once a week and they are nothing about what she talks about. USE KHAN ACADEMY TO STUDY FOR EVERY UNIT. honestly taught myself more than anything, she does drop alot of stuff tho
Terrible lecturer. Slides are very vague, and she just riffs off a picture. It's incredibly disorganized and very hard to follow. Resources for studying are extremey scattered. Nothing is simple about the way this class is set up. A difficult class just because it's messy. Being a prof for this long, you should have a super streamlined course.
Although sometimes her lectures went very fast and sometimes got confusing, I think her class is well put. She knows what she is talking about and is willing to help. If someone says she is a bad professor, they don't pay attention.
Came out with a good grade but get ready to learn everything by yourself. Lectures are confusing and lack most of the knowledge you need to know for tests.
This class was way harder than it needed to be for Bio 1, not once on an exam did I feel that the information was covered. Be ready to teach yourself Bio 1. The exams would make massive jumps on things that were barely covered in lecture and you would be expected to make this massive conclusions on topics you covered for ten minutes.
Dr. Denis is super smart and definitely knows her stuff. But, she goes over everything way too fast in lectures. You basically have to teach yourself the deeper concepts on your own time. Some of the quizzes were tough, and the tests were hard. She made Bio 1 way harder than it needed to be. That said, I can't lie—I learned a ton in that class.
Very nice professor but goes super quick through the lecture and i found it hard to follow. I had to teach myself the majortiy of the class but she drops alot of quizzes, and other assigments which helps a lot.
Quizzes do not really prepare you for the tests and both can be kinda tricky. Her lectures are not amazing and lecture notes don't make sense when looking back on them. Read the textbook, review WS, and Unit Notes before quizzes and tests. Review sessions can be kinda helpful, so at least look at the slides. She is super nice and ready to help.
Class Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
84%
Textbook Required
0%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Stable
-0.15 avg changeRatings by Course
PCB4233
5.0
(1)IFS2081
5.0
(1)BSC3402L
5.0
(8)BIO2010
3.5
(38)BSC2010
3.4
(152)Difficulty by Course
BSC2011
5.0
BSC2010L
4.5
BSC2010
3.7
BIO2010
3.6
BSC1005
3.0