Wonderful prof! Winter 2016 is her first quarter teaching at Davis, but she is very clear in class and makes 2-hr lectures less painful. Has weekly homework that is graded more on completion than accuracy, gives two midterms and one final, and has a split of online/inclass quizzes. Clicker questions & hw help boost grade. Enthusiastic & very sweet!

Dr. Crowder used to be a BIS 101 student, so she understands how some concepts might be difficult. She explains things VERY clearly and can be funny during lectures. She is always very nice. There is the usual 2 MTs and Final (both MC), along with clicker questions based on participation not correctness + 3 quizzes + surveys. Take her if you can!

While she is a good teacher and lecturer, I'm not a fan of her tests or quizzes. Often times the phrasing is really confusing and long. There are quite a few points you'll end up losing if you can't understand what her question is asking. You also need to understand some material deeper than what's covered in lecture and clicker questions.

I'm glad I got to be a part of Professor Crowder's first quarter here at UCD, because I'm sure she's to become a favorite. Very helpful woman who gives you more resources than you could ask for. She's also funny. The class itself was not overbearingly difficult. Multiple choice exams (2+final) and clicker questions for participation points.

I had the great opportunity to be Professor Crowder's student in her first quarter. She is an amazing lecturer, listens to students comments and responds to criticism appropriately, and breaks the norm of having grades base on just Midterms and Final. Her quizzes and midterm questions were tricky. However, I assume she only gets better over time.

Dr. Crowder is a great professor. She's very passionate about this subject and it rubs off on her students. Yes the tests and quizzes were a little tricky but it was hard to hate her because they were very fair. Everything she tests you on she goes over in lecture. I'm glad I was able to have her as my BIS101 prof!

Dr. Crowder is an amazing lecturer. Takes time to learn her students names and is passionate about genetics. Pretty funny as well, "they see me rollin'". Tests do have several trick questions but are not too bad it you take time to study. Overall, an excellent job for her first quarter at Davis.

This professor is awesome! Bis 101 is inherently difficult (at least for me) but she made the information pretty accessible. Provides all the help you want, does review sessions prior to tests, gives us a bunch of opportunities to earn points (clicker ?s and take home quizzes). She really cares about the students and it shows.

Her tests and quizzes are extremely hard, even if you study really hard for them. You'll definitely need to attend office hours or drop in tutoring to get help on the material. On the good side, she cares for her students and she speaks clearly and her lectures are easy to understand.

Absolutely fantastic! Quality teaching, funny, and very fair exams! 2 midterms & final with easier points gained from clickers and quizzes. Thoughtful, cared about the students and definitely showed improvement from the first lecture to the last. Note: her MC tests can be unforgiving because some questions are worth 4% of the midterm grade

Amazing Professor! Most engaging lectures I have attended in college so far. She really puts in extra effort to help people learn the material and do well in the class. Wish I could have her as my professor in every class!

Dr. Crowder is AMAZING. Best prof I had during my two years in Davis. She is easy to approach, passionate about the material and actually cares about her students enough to try her best to memorize names. Tests are fair but can be tough, If you have spare time after finishing I would suggest re-reading as many questions as you can, some are tricky!

Dr. Crowder, much like DNA, checks herself before she wrecks herself. She was an excellent professor. She was extremely friendly and approachable as she tried to memorize every students name. She was very proactive and got feedback on how to improve the course mid-quarter. The book was unnecessary. Her tests made you think, but weren't that bad.

Young talented and passionate professor who cares about students. Always present to assist students. One of the best professors in bio sci dep. Exams are multiple choice only and no partial credit is down side.

Dr. Crowder is an amazing professor, she really cares that her students learn. She is very accessible, and a great person to talk to outside of class. Go to her with any questions regarding genetics, grad school, research - anything and she'll help as much as she can.

Dr. Crowder gives alot of material for us to use during midterms. She podcasts lectures, posts up additional videos on canvas to get concepts across, and even creates videos for confusing concepts. If you don't like multiple choice exams, don't take this class! She is great and very approachable in office hours. Good luck

I heard horror stories about BIS101, but Dr. Crowder made this class one of my favorites. She is also ready to help, and she has enthusiasm and jokes even during 2HR lectures at 8AM. She provides lots of resources online to help, and everything is very clear and straightforward.

Take her!!!!! No one is better than her!

Super clear lectures, I learned so much in her class. Her exams are fair, but some questions are challenging, so you better study for a good grade. To do well in her class: go to lecture (there are clicker questions), take good notes, go to her office hours. I would suggest doing the hw problems if you want extra practice. JUST TAKE HER!!

Great professor! I absolutely hate science and she made it really bearable. She explains thing really detailed in lecture and provides a lot of resources. Attendance is graded through Iclickers so, it is a must. Discussion is also mandatory. There are weekly homeworks that are graded based on completion. 2 midterms and a final exam. Recommend!!

AMAZING. One of the best professors I have had. Gives tons of resources, so helpful, and really cares about her students' success/learning. Super interesting and encourages discussion and questions in lecture to keep you engaged. Very clear on her expectations and tests and assignments are super reasonable. I wish I could take every class with her.

Hands down the best professor I've had so far! Dr. Crowder genuinely cares about her students and wants everyone to do well. She provides plenty of resources and is always willing to answer questions. I wish I could take every class with her.

Best professor I've ever had! Makes everything so easy to learn! As long as you show up to class and review before exams, you should be able to get an A. Dr. Crowder also makes the class super fun!

Honestly one of the best professors I have had at UCD. She explains complex material very well, is very engaged and interesting during lecture and goes above and beyond to help/explain concepts to her students. She is extremely fair and her tests were not too difficult if you study, very clear expectations. A really awesome professor!

Overall an amazing professor. She explains the material so well and makes the most hilarious analogies with concepts. She cares about her students and how successful they end up doing. There are plenty of points that make up your grade in the class which is extremely helpful. Exams were sometimes tough but enough studying should be enough!

She has amazing and innovative lecture tactics. Always high energy. Knows how to answer questions clearly and patiently. One of the best lecturers I have ever had.

Dr. Crowder is very clear and provides some of the best lectures at UC Davis! She has very clear slides and explains everything from a very basic level, so that students from all backgrounds can understand and relate to the material. She also adds a bit of humor into her lectures. You can do well in this class if you come to class and participate!

One of my favorite professors at Davis! Lecture is all powerpoints and she explains topics thoroughly. She answers questions in class to make sure people understand the material. 2 midterms + final and they were all based on her lectures (don't even buy the textbook). She's super nice and cool, so lectures are interesting. Highly recommend!!

Amazing! She encourages you to do well and understand the material. I took this class as a 3rd year for a major requirement, so I had a pretty good understanding of the topics but I feel like it helped me in my upper div Microbio class. I wish I could take more classes from her! Do the practice tests and go to class for the clicker questions.

Amazingly kind and approachable, always clarifying questions in lectures and office hours. Tutors are also amazing especially Nick, wouldn't have passed without the outside help offered. Tough subject, but she makes it extremely interesting and tries to get to know you by name, very interactive lectures. Discussions help so much as well as review!

Dr. Crowder is the best biology professor I've ever had in UC Davis! Her notes are very detailed and covers everything that will be tested in exams. Her lectures are amazing, not boring at all! She is absolutely the best choice for BIS101.

She's probably one of the best professors at Davis. She has a way of simplifying some of the most complex topics for this class and is very clear with her expectations. She will never test you on anything you have not seen before and is very open to feedback to improve her class. Take her if you have a chance!

Great, caring professor. She really takes her time to explain more complex concepts in an easy to understand manner.

The best science lecturer I have ever had. She explains concepts so clearly and takes her time. She engages with students and is fairly young, so that helps keep people engaged! 3 midterms and 3 quizzes make up your grade, requires a clicker for the class. I highly recommend taking her, I doubt that there's anyone better. (Her TAs aren't great).

SHE IS THE BEST I love Crowder,she made genetics tolerable and fun. Go to class, do the homework, ask questions on piazza, go to office hours and you will get the grade you deserve and want. Her exams are tricky, so really understand the material. She has PLENTY of outside resources, and she is the NICEST prof I have ever had at Davis.

She cares so much about students and really wants us to learn. 2 midterms which were fair, 2 online and one in class quiz (that you can work on with others) that are meant for students to collaborate with each other, clicker points, extra credit surveys (+1.5%), and final which I thought was very hard compared to the other exams. She is the best

Marina Crowder is too good for us. We do not deserve her. She messaged me after the second midterm to tell me she was proud of my progress. She learns everyone's name and is beautiful, like a princess/queen. Her positive attitude and energy radiates and makes my day. It's the only science lecture I enjoy.

Best science professor I've had. She's enthusiastic about the subject and you can tell she loves teaching. She breaks down difficult material really well and makes sure everyone understands it. 110% would recommend.

This professor is by far one of the best professors Ive had at this university. Shes very enthusiastic and passionate about genetics. She tries her best to make the information as clear as possible and gives students so much material to help with exams.

Dr. Crowder is a queen <3 Absolutely love her. Sweetest professor ever, super engaging during lecture and tries to learn everyone's names. It really shows that she cares that her students actually understand the material. She provides so many resources online and was always responsive - take her if you can. She's the best.

Doctor crowder is an amazing lecturer! Keep up with the lectures and youll do just fine on the midterms. Go to office hour and utilize discussions for clarifications! Super awesome proefessor, makes lectures lively

Shes soo good! Very good lecturer super clear, writes things along with you and uses PowerPoint & even color codes things! She also uses lecture capture which is nice to be able to rewatch and posts all notes online. Very timely about posting results, answer keys, etc. Her homework is relevant but not too hard. Definitely would recommend!

Dr. Crowder is an absolute legend. Seriously if you can take a class with her, do. She's easily one of the best lecturers at Davis and her lectures are interesting and very accessible. She gives lots of resources to help you understand the material. Her tests are very fair. She has clickers so you have to attend. Highly, highly recommend!!

Great professor, one the best at UCD.

Crowder is a great lecturer. She actually cares about students. Her tests aren't super easy, but she doesn't try to trick you at all. 11/10 great prof

Dr. Crowder is such a wonderful professor! She's extremely entertaining with her lectures and is able to keep the class engaged. This was her first time teaching this new course and I highly recommend taking it if given the opportunity! Despite the work, she makes the class fun and is always there for extra support! Love her! <3

Dr. Crowder definitely earned this overall 4.9 rating! Shes the nicest lecturer youll ever meet because she puts an effort to learn everyone's name. Biggest advice for you is TO MAKE A FRIEND. You should have someone to work on the quizzes with. If you want an A, youll have to work for it. A B can easily be obtained if you go to lecture & study!

Amaaaazing lecturer! (not sarcastic) She had very clear expectations and lots of prep/study materials for her tests. She even had test questions based on her clicker questions during class! Don't skip her lectures (but you probably won't want to anyway, she's hilarious) and as long as you pay attention to learning goals, you'll do fine.

you can tell she really does everything she can to help the concepts stick in your head, puts in a lot of effort, very enthusiastic. my only complaint is that it felt like the class was going slowly sometimes

Dr. Crowder was one of the best professors I've had at Davis. She is very energetic, which makes time fly, and she delivers information, so that is understandable. We went over concepts that were difficult to understand, but she made it easy to understand with her well thought out examples. I would definitely take another one of her classes.

Awesome professor. She makes learning fun & is so energetic in class. There is a lot of material but she simplifies in the best way possible. I wish she taught the whole class but she taught with another professor. She gives practice exams & homework that is VERY similar to the exams. You have to go to class for iclicker, but it's worth it.

Professor Crowder is wonderful and truly cares about her students. The course, despite being at an introductory level, does have some difficult topics that will be included on the exams. You really need to know your stuff. Professor Crowder does provide you multiple resources to help along the way though.

For someone like me who came to this class super scared because it would be very difficult, I'm loving it. Professor Crowder's carisma keeps me paying attention the 2 hours lecture. Her tests are difficult but completely fair with the amount of practice she provides so you are ready for it if you do what she says. 100% would take her AGAIN.

Best professor I have ever had. She actually made me somewhat enjoy genetics. Her explanations are crystal clear and if you still dont understand something, going to her office hours is super helpful. Watching her youtube videos also really helps since shes so great at explaining.

Great professor! Did not expect to like this class and loved it! Midterms are very fair. Lectures are easy to follow and entertaining. One of the best classes I have taken at UCD!

Really good teacher! She's really nice and explains things well. She gives practice tests which are a really good study tool for midterms so I recommend knowing them completely. IMO the quizzes were hard but they are either online or in class so you can use notes/get help. Also the final was harder than the other midterms so really study for that!!

Lectures are god tier, easily the best bio Prof I've had thus far. She's really sweet and energetic and will always help you. She provides tons of practice (disc HW and practice exams) which are exactly like exams. Quizzes are open friend and take home so they're free grade buffer. Exams are super fair and taken entirely from clicker Qs & lectures.

Here's the rundown for BIS101. She had iClickers but if you have Reef on your phone, you are able to answer the clicker questions when you are not in lecture. You need to be able to write down information that she is saying because some of her test questions rely on what she says and not what is always on her slides. Overall great teacher.

Crowder is so awesome you really have NO excuse to take BIS101 with anyone else. She's a great professor and is extremely clear on what she expects you to know. Office hours are basically supplementary lectures and she's very approachable if you have any questions. There is clicker but you only need to be present 70% of the time (lecture capture!).

crowder is a real g, truly mona monfared tier. im an upperclassman taking this class for fun, but she managed to explain bis 101 + pmi 126 concepts WAY better than my professors ever did. has also given us leniency in terms of exam extensions due to the political turmoil. began all her lectures with tik tok-esque clips... what more can i say

UGH I would literally DIE for this woman! She's one of the best professors I've ever had and she did such a wonderful job with the transition to online instruction! She is super quick to answer questions on piazza and has lots of OH's to get help if you need it. You can tell she loves genetics which makes every lecture interesting. 10/10 recommend

One of the best at Davis. Dr Crowder was my only prof who truly succeeded at online teaching. Lectures are fun and engaging, as well as understandable. Exams are very fair and she gives out useful practice tests. She cares about her students and is really good about answering questions on Piazza. I definitely recommend taking her class if you can!

Dr. Crowder is such a great professor and her transition to online teaching was one of the best compared to my other professors. She provided weekly lectures in form of videos, so lecture was not through zoom/live meetings. Although some weeks were lecture heavy everything she provided was helpful from the hw, to the practice exams, simply amazing!

Professor Crowder is amazing! I was worried about the class considering that it was online, however, it turned out to be my favorite this quarter. The class was challenging at times, but she explained the content clearly and provided many resources if we had any further questions. She was very engaging, fun, and easily accessible!

Marina Crowder is the funniest professor I have ever had the chance to take. Her lectures are very engaging and she uses different methods of teaching, which I really appreciated. Although she seems super fun and sweet, you really need to put in the work to do well in this class. Her tests and homework were kinda tricky, but overall, she's a queen.

DR Crowder is amazing! Super sweet and really cares for her students. I recommend taking good notes especially if you have it online since the tests are open book. The tests are most of your grade but you can do well if you study and ask questions.

This has been one of my favorite professors so far. Her lectures are so easy to follow and she broke them up so they weren't super long. She really does want her students to succeed.

Dr. C is honestly one of the best professors you could ask for. She is VERY nice and makes learning fun. She handled the online quarter very well, and her exams were very similar to the practice exams and homework that she gave. She provides everything you need to do well in her course in a very easy to understand way. best class ever!

I have no interest in genetics but she made the course simple to understand. With that being said, this is not an easy A class; you have to put the work in. Crowder is probably the best professor who adjusted to online/remote learning. Watch all the lectures, do the homework, attend OH, and you will be fine. Exams can be tricky.

Dr. C is a caring professor and she really cares about her students. She provides lots of supplemental material for the students to use. Be sure to read her exams closely though, as sometimes the wording can get you! She drops the lowest exam score and was willing to meet with me to discuss my grade and how I can improve, which meant a lot to me.

Professor Crowder might be the best professor i've ever had in a biology class, everything is clearly delivered, not a easy A but not insanely difficult to get it either, a couple hw problems a week, 3 tests and a cumulative final, I would recommend signing up for the discussion it will make your understanding of the material much better.

Crowder is one of the sweetest professors I have ever had. The class was graded on a point system. There are 4 exams (including a cumulative final), and one is dropped. As long as you watch the lectures and understand the practice problems, the exams won't be bad, especially because it is open notes.

Dr. Crowder is the sweetest!! Her class is so fun. She is clear, organized and approachable outside class. Her lectures are interesting and engaging. Exams are really straightforward and she genuinely wants everyone to do well. UCD is lucky to have her as a professor!

Crowder is the dream prof. Averages for grades this quarter were 87%, and not just because the material is easy. She's kind, sweet, caring, accessible, clear, funny, literally everything you could want in a professor. If you have the option, take her class! You definitely won't regret it.

Dr. C is so wonderful, and one of my favorite professors at Davis. She is very clear during lectures and clear about what youre tested on. She gives plenty of practice problems, and she responds to almost every post on piazza. She is very personable and has a passion for the subject. I highly recommend her!

Bubbly professor who is organized and caring. Grade is based on 3 midterms (lowest dropped) and homework. Tests are exactly like her practice ones. Use Piazza religiously and going to recorded office hours for hard material is key to doing well. She teaches straight-forward most of the time, but the concepts can be very complex.

11/10 best professor. I started to take bis 101 last quarter with a different prof but ended up dropping it, he was fine but Crowder just makes everything make sense almost immediately. The material is not easy but you almost feel like it is bc she teaches it so well. Super well organized and caring too, & she's super passionate about the material.

She is such a passionate professor and her enthusiasm is so infectious. She is hands down the best professor I have taken here. She makes things so easy to understand and is so helpful during office hours. I highly recommend taking her over any other professor.

Best prof I've had so far, she is so so fair with grading. Her lectures explain things well, and her OH explain things even better. She does all the HW during OH, and the tests are literally just the HW (sometimes a little thicker but not too bad) If you watch lec, go to OH, take HW seriously, there is no way you will not get an A in this class.

She is one of the best professors I have taken and she is literally the sweetest :,)) <3 She made every concept so clear and was really understanding. As long as you actually write down notes and take homework seriously, it wouldn't be a tough class

Dr. Crowder's rating definitely reflects the kind of professor she is. This was the first A I received in a Bis class, not because it was easy, but because Dr. Crowder explains the content very clearly and her homework and practice exams are representative of what you would see on the midterms. Go to office hours! It really makes a difference.

Dr. Crowder is among the best lecturers in her department. Explains everything so thoroughly and manages to keep you entertained the entire time. BIS101 requires effort, but the exams are straightforward and if you take good notes during lecture, that will be a great start. Other professors should strive to be as accommodating as her.

Amazing professor! She makes this class fun :-)

3 midterms, 1 final (cumulative)-- lowest of 4 will be dropped; thus, if you do well on the first 3, the final will be dropped. Drop-in OH (also recorded) b/c the best way to study is through homework and practice midterm. She won't throw curve-balls and will actively try to help you by drawing pictures and walking through the problems. No curve :(

One of the best professors I have had at Davis. The structure of her class so good and accessible. She understood how difficult it was to learn during COVID and adapted her lectures to be shorter. They were interesting and straight to the point. She recorded everything, including her super helpful office hours.

She is so amazing omg, definitely worth the wait if you need to take bis101. It's crazy to think this is an upper div class bc she just made it so easy to understand. She drops one exam (making the final optional) and gives us easy points with hw and playposit. The exams are exactly like hw, she truly never tries to trick you. Absolutely love her.

Amazing professor. She was really helpful and accessible via office hours and piazza. Her lectures were well-paced, had interesting examples, and included playposit questions that enhanced my understanding of the content. Really made me enjoy genetics!

Great instructor. Very easy to learn under her and she had a very efficient yet relaxed feel of a class set up. Small points made me go to a B (do your HW guys). I got A+ on midterms because she's so clear in her expectations and so good at teaching. She's very sweet and personable. Lovely professor.

This class is centered around a biography on cancer, which is reflected in the homework, quizzes, and tests. Dr. Crowder also provides supplemental lectures delving into the biology of cancer. Each week there is a quiz, discussion sheet, and 50pgs of reading. A 10 page research paper is also to be completed. It's a lot of work, but pretty easy.

One of the best profs at UCD. She set the bar so high for teaching. Effective, straight to the point lectures. Very fair, straightforward exams. Lowest one is dropped. Class was so accessible, she recorded all of her review sessions & OH. Go to her OH, so helpful.

Fantastic instructor. As far as I know, the best for upper division genetics. There's a reason why her rating is so good and the waitlists are so long.

i took her in fall 2020 and honestly one of the best professors i have ever had. She does her absolute best to make sure everyone understands concepts. She made the class super interesting. I wouldn't take any other BIS 101 teacher and I would take this class with her again if I could!

Great professor, very clear about expectations and explanations. However don't go into this class thinking it's an easy A, you gotta put the work in. Do the practice exams, class questions, study and you will get an A. Exams do have some tricky questions sometimes but it's expected.

Dr. Crowder is a good Professor. She will give you all you need to do well in her class. If you come into this class with the expectation that this is an easy A, you and 200 other students will get a reality check when you get your first midterm scores. The class isn't graded by much, and she doesnt drop lowest exam scores. Goodluck

She is the best professor!!!!!!!! Lectures are very interesting and easy to understand. Truly caring for the students.

Best professor I've had in my 4 years at Davis. She is brilliant, charismatic, does an excellent job of engaging the class, and she'll probably make you fall in love w genetics. I did alright considering I watched the recordings instead of going to class, but you definitely have to watch the recordings or the live lecture to pass.

i LOVE dr. c! her lectures are so clear and she's super engaging. she gives you tons of practice problems through the class questions, practice midterms, discussion homeworks, etc. and really sets you up with everything you need to succeed. it's up to you to put in the effort (and you're gonna need a lot of effort for this class). 11/10 recommend!!

One of the best at UCD take her if you get the chance! Dr. C's lectures are really clear, provides everything you need to do well, and really cares about her class. BUT STAY ON TOP OF THINGS, its a point based system and there are basically only 3 exams. MT1 hit many people like a truck, give this class respect dont for a second think its an easy A

dr. c is the best prof i’ve taken at ucd. clear and engaging lectures. she simplifies challenging material. practice questions/ practice exams and quizzes are all designed to help you succeed in the course. you still have to work for an A, but she doesn’t leave any tricks. i did not take bis101d w/ this course

My dearest colleagues in academia, rarely are we presented an informative class with a reasonable workload and interesting course material. Such a class is BIS 101 with Crowder. I can't recommend the class enough; its easy, multiple choice exams, quizzes for grade boosts, and entertaining lectures. Practice exams are sufficient exam prep. 10/10.

Loved her, super nice and knows the subject well. I felt her lectures were easy to follow, she explained concepts clearly. She assigned an 8-10 page paper, due at the end of the quarter, and had parts due throughout the quarter so you don't write it the day it's due. Gave really thorough feedback on the rough draft which was appreciated.

The best professor at UCD! She is caring, funny, and truly passionate about genetics. She goes above and beyond to help her students; provided various accommodations and ways of teaching. Exams were online and open book so if you go to class and take notes you should do well! I never had to do any outside studying because of her amazing lecturing

AMAZING educator who communicated material so well adjusting her explanation of material creatively to help diff. types of learners. She knew us by name (showing her genuine care for students) even in large lec. hall. If you need this class for a Prereq, wait to take it with her! So easy to understand and fair with grading and assignments.

Dr. Ellefson is an excellent professor: her exams are reasonable and she provides a lot of practice through class and discussion questions. Her practice exams are v similar to the actual ones. Very caring and sweet, took the time to ask for people's names and remembered. I love hearing her stories and the funny sound effects she would make.

It's a tough class, but Dr.E does her best to help. One thing I would say though is that I wish she shared our averages like the rest of my classes. She would say that she would consider a curve if the class averaged at a C after the final, but there was never any way for us to know that since she kept it hidden on canvas. No curve, no EC, ever.

I have an A right now, however, super overrated. Her class is 400 points total. 3 tests, 300 points last 100 points easy. No room for error. Exams are 34 ish questions, 2-4 points each. You miss just 3-4 questions per exam and you might not end with an A. Half the people rating her got B's in the class, don't listen. MAKE SURE to add discussion.

Best professor to take 101 with to my knowledge. Always keeps lectures informative and engaging, and practice tests are accurate to what you will tested on in exams.

I loved having this prof she's amazing at her job! I've never paid more attention in a lecture than ever before because she makes the content interesting and has good humor. Especially for such a hard class, she made it much more enjoyable. One of my fav profs at Davis for sure.

Professor Ellefson made lectures interesting and had a good sense of humor. She did her best to explain the concepts in class and provided many practice problems. I highly recommend the discussion because they help explain some of the material taught in the lecture. Overall, I enjoyed learning in this class and recommend taking her.

She's one of the best professors I've ever had at Davis! I never got bored in her class, even though they were 2 hour blocks. Exam-wise, they're totally doable: she provides a lot of good resources outside of class to reinforce concepts and solid practice exams. I waited three quarters to take this class with her, and it was definitely worth it.

She really is one of the best professors at Davis! She has a real skill for being able to keep students engaged for extended periods of time. Tests honestly weren't that bad. If you're able to master the practice test and go over the discussion assignments, you should do pretty well.

Genetics is hard but Dr. E makes it doable! Midterms honestly weren't that bad as long as you did the practice exams. Although midterms do make up a large chunk of your grade, there were many opportunities to get points in the class (take home quizzes and take home class question sets). Dr. E was super funny and really cares about her students!

Dr. Ellefson is the best. She is extremely student centered and you can tell is really there for the betterment of the students. Her lectures are extremely easy to understand and she provides an insane amount of practice material to study from. She is one of the best professors I have had thus far would absolutely take her again. Amazing prof.

i loved this class. at the beginning, i was kinda wary but as a non-bio major, she got me so interested in all the different topics. she was an excellent explainer and made everything interesting and relevant. she is very understanding, and i felt that the content was delivered so well. TAKE HER!

Excellent class taken during SS1. Lectures were clear, hw was manageable, felt like I actually learned something by the end. Checks all the boxes of what a university course should be with the bonus of a phenomenal professor. Highly recommend!

Dr. Ellefson is one of the best (if not THE best) professor I have had during my 3 years at Davis. Lectures are extremely clear, concise, and organized. She gives so much practice material that is super similar to exams. She's easy to reach and is super understanding and helpful. Honestly wish I could take this class again just for her.

Her reputation is so true! Dr. Ellefson (recent name change!) engaged the class and I learned so much. Exams were straightforward all from lecture material. Allows you to work with others on homework. I am not a very strong science student, but got an A with pretty basic studying bc of how effective her teaching was! TAKE HER!! Also v funny in clas

she goes by prof ellefson now, but she's really funny and relatable. super caring abt her students and makes sure to check in on everyone and be inclusive. lectures are engaging and she gives the slides and lots of other resources. hw straightforward too and ec opportunity.

Dr. Ellefson (Dr. Crowder) is an awesome professor. Great lectures, fair exams, and an extremely caring personality. If you can take her class, DO IT. You will not regret it. 10/5 rating and would happily sign up for any other class she teaches.

Dr. Ellefson is THE BEST professor at this entire school. She genuinely cares about each and every one of her students. The content of her class is difficult, but she explains things in such a great way that it makes it easy to understand. She deserves all the great reviews. I wish more professors were like her!

Dr. Ellefson is amazing. She the effort to learn student's names, something I have not experienced at UCD. Her priority as a professor is her students and their success. She is passionate about the subject she teaches and tries to make it fun and exciting to be in class. Gives a lot of great practice before exams and is super open to questions.

Dr. Ellefson is a phenomenal lecturer! Her lectures are thorough and engaging, and she explains complex concepts in an easy-to-follow manner. She is thoughtful, takes time to know each student, and creates a healthy learning environment. Offers many practice problems to prepare for exams. The exams are fair and straightforward. 100/10 recommend!!!

I wish I could give Dr. E a big hug and a fat smooch on the forehead if appropriate. She did such a great job teaching mcb121 (1st time) and is so caring, nice, and respectful... could go on... Take her for any class she teaches because she is so passionate about everything she teaches

Amazing professor, especially for BIS101. Gives practice exams that are very similar to the real exams. 2 midterms and a non-cumulative final. Can easily get an A by going to class and doing the practice problems.

I had Dr. E for both bis101 & mcb121. She is such a special person--hilarious, helpful, and incredibly kind and understanding. Her lectures go at a pace anyone can understand, and she gives so many study tools at least one will work for you. She is super organized & clear about what you need to know for exams, and doesn't over-complicate problems.

You discovered a new bacterium H. Kadiwala. After growing it on N15-containing media for a day, you concluded that the average time for one round of replication is 1 hr. You then transfer the bacteria to N14-containing media and extract the bacterial DNA every hour.

Probably the best professor at Davis, and one of my all time favorites. She makes the class really fun and energetic which is great since its 2 hours. That said, she explains things really well and the exams are always super fair. If you can, take this class with her, you won't regret it.

Practice exams are very good practice for her actual exams, very nice and responsive to emails and piazza questions. Attendance is a part of the grades but you could opt out to have those points be earned from your midterms. Very straightforward class with pretty easy exams. Very nice professor who clearly cares for all her students. Very funny too

Ellefson is an amazing teacher. With that being said, this is not an easy A class. The material is difficult and you need to study and do practice which I regret not doing enough of. Ellefson is very nice and will answer any questions you may have. Most of your grade is weighted on exams so make sure to do good on those.

Ellefson is the best professor I have ever had. Her lectures are clear, she is helpful, answers lots of question, and is overall a very caring professor. Attendance for iClicker can be opted out of and your grade just gets calculated easily. Study the quizzes, practice exams, and discussion homework for the midterms and you will be perfectly fine!

She is actually the best professor ive had, if you see her class available, register immediately, Her lectures were organized and taught wonderfully, and she's super helpful with questions. She was very clear on what would be on quizzes and exams. I cannot stress enough how great this professor is

Think of the absolute worst professor or teacher you've ever had. Marina is the complete OPPOSITE of that. She might just be the most passionate and caring professor in Davis. I genuinely don't know what to say about her that everyone else hasn't; she's the best choice for any class you have to take. If you fail her class, YOU are the problem.

Great teacher, but don't take that to mean that the class will be a walk in the park. She gives you all the resources plus more that you'll need to ace her exams as long as you put in the time. She's really clear about what she expects you to know and is an engaging lecturer.

My favorite professor I've ever had at Davis. Truly she is inspirational and makes this subject so approachable. Clear lectures, plenty of practice problems and fair exams. No curve needed, everyone did really well. I am so glad I got to take this with her, and honestly I was sad to see it end. Recommend!! You won't find a better prof.

AMAZING Professor. Her lectures are clear and very informative in a way that's easy to break down. The exams are very similar to practice exams, so you know what to expect with all the practice. If you can, take her! She's the best :)

I love Dr. Ellefson she is the best professor in UC Davis every single detail of this class was enjoyable. Take this class and you will have the best quarter ever

My favourite professor at Davis. Lectures are engaging, funny, and easily digestible. Practice exams were similar to actual exams and she never asks confusing or misleading questions. She lets you know very clearly what you need and don't need to know so studying for the class is very easy. Pretty light workload as a bonus.

Dr. E is the best upper division biology instructor at the university. Take her if you have the opportunity, you will learn biology and get a great show at the same time. So caring!!!!!

Dr. E was by far the best bio professor I've had at Davis!! Although Bio is not my strongest subject, I was able to get through the class just fine throughout the quarter :). I appreciate her teaching style and how she made everything fun while learning! Attendance is kinda mandatory as you can earn some free points.

Very fun personality and her lectures are very clear.

exams are exactly like practice, and she gives lots of easy points. IF YOU SEE HER NAME REGISTER ASAP. ELLFSON IS WORTH THE 8 AM Not difficult to get close to 100% on her exams if you put in some work! I had a weak foundation in bis 2A but was able to pull it off thanks to her clear lectures/practice exams

Great professor, who taught the information sensibly and was always very nice and welcoming. I do think the material was very similar to prior bio classes making the class easier than other upper division classes. This doesn't take away from her enthusiasm and kindness though.

Amazing lecturer, super approachable, patient and great at explaining! Ellefson tries to remember student names which was nice but kinda annoying when people would ask questions just to get their name known. I went to every weekly office hr, super helpful. One of the best profs I've had

One of my favorite professors at Davis! She's so fun and loves what she's teaching. She's also super flexible and a great teacher. I found the class fairly easy to study for as long as you conceptually know what's going on. Attendance via iclicker (you can also opt out of this and weigh more on exams). Discussion mandatory, shoutout the TA Devin!

LOVE HER! Super kind and funny person, explains things well and tries to make sure everyone understands. The examples/homeworks/practice exams were super helpful for the exams and nothing was very unexpected. Very fair, would definitely take again.