Mark is definitely an extremely enthusiastic teacher. I won't lie, the class and course load is hard if you're expecting a good great, but definitely very possible if you go into homework sessions/study sessions. He definitely wants his students to succeed though and that shows.

Good Professor. Cares about the students and the material. He was a little scatter-brained and unorganized at times, but it didn't ever cause any problems. My one complaint is that we rarely used the textbook and instead used his lecture notes. Printing those off was a total pain and used up a ton of ink and paper.

He records lectures and puts up almost too detailed notes after every class. There are tons of GTF's with office hours, and if you look back at what he's taught after a couple weeks it really is much more simple than it seems. His tests are pretty easy, but not as easy as the practice questions would let you think. Tons of outlets for help.

Mark is a good guy who loves teaching. My advice is to get as much help as you can especially in the first few weeks. This class is hard, but the truth is it all comes up in later classes. His tests were hard, but looking back it really helped me know the material. I have several friends who think this class best prepared them for the DAT/ MCAT.

Mark is great!! His class is not easy but it's worth it if you like biology! This is by far one of the most interesting classes I've taken at the UO. There is a ton of help-podcasts of every lecture, pre-lectures, homework sessions, office hours. He loves the subject and it shows. He's friendly, smart and passionate about biology!

This class is NOT easy. You seriously need to put your effort. Otherwise, you will not even pass the class. Somehow the test is not very straight forward. However, professor is willing to explain endlessly.

Past comments had me scared to take this class, but PLEASE, Mark is not that bad. yes he is fairly unorganized, he does mumble and he does like to withhold the answers to clicker questions but his tests are fair and he will give you the answers to homework questions if you go to his HW sessions. Mark keeps my attention in lecture by moving (rare)!

I really like Mark. Yeah, sometimes I have no idea what he's talking about, but for the most part he's understandable. If you study the notes and do your homework questions the exams are NOT difficult. I don't know why he has the ratings he does, they almost kept me from taking this class. I'm glad I did though I'm enjoying it.

I enjoyed the class and I learned a ton of biology, but Mark was generally incomprehensible during lecture. Attending office hours, homework sessions, and GTF office hours was almost mandatory to get a good grade in the class. I managed an A but only because I put A LOT of time and effort into this course. Only take this course if you love science.

Geez people, he's not that bad! Pay close attention in lecture, attend office hours and you'll do fine in the class. Mark's a good guy and just wants people to learn the material, which are qualities many professors do not have. Study hard and do the readings. And chill out.

Yes, this class is tough - but the level of understanding required probably prepared me the most for my upper-division classes and taught me to really LEARN rather than MEMORIZE. Never had a class have so many resources available, and it was easy to see that Mark *really* did care about us succeeding together as a team. Give him a chance, honestly.

Carrier is a knowledgeable professor, but he makes his tests quite difficult. In reality they aren't extremely bad if you go to every class, hw session, and at LEAST 1-2 office hours a week. You really have to know the stuff in order to do well in the class. A thoroughly challenging class, but there are a lot of BPTs that help out with the material

He is a very difficult teacher and expects a lot from his students. The tests are quite challenging but if you study for them and go to bot hours, you should be ok. Although it was one of the hardest 200 level (or any level) class I've taken, it's not impossible to do well. He has office hours, homework sessions and more. Work hard, you'll do fine.

Mark Carrier is a harder than most professors but you actually learn the material. If you do the reading and HW assignments you'll be fine. If you don't like him go to the lectures for the pure enjoyment of seeing him ramble through his lectures. He's a fine teacher, he's not going to hand you everything on a silver platter like most teachers do.

Great professor and guy. He really cares about his students doing well, but at the same WILL NOT hand you a grade. You will have to work hard in this class to do well, but he provides plenty of office hours, BPT hours and homework sessions to make sure to help students who seek it!

Mark is an all around great teacher. He has personality, is funny, has put a lot of effort into his lectures, he's always citing the latest research, and he has tons of office hours. While the class covers A LOT of material, its really interesting stuff and well worth it.

I love him.

Prof. Carrier takes a genuine interest in his students. yes, his exams are pretty tough, but if you attend office hours, ask questions, and make this class a top priority, you can succeed with hard work!

You will not pass this course if you don't regularly attend his office hours and understand the material forwards, backwards, sideways and inside out. The material is extremely interesting, but hours of effort after every lecture is necessary to pass. Difficult course but Mark is EXTREMELY helpful and clear if you seek his help. Funny guy as well.

Give Mark a chance, he's awesome. He's freakishly smart and very helpful. Every tutor, lab GTF, and especially Mark want you to do well in this class so take advantage of all the help available. (There's a lot). The material is really challenging but really interesting too. You have to understand concepts rather than just pure memorization.

There is so much information to take in for this class, I have never worked so hard for one 4 credit class before. I probably study for this class 15 hours a week and I still feel like I will get no higher than a Low B. These tests feel unnecessarily difficult and confusing. However Carrier and his TAs work really hard to help you understand info.

While the course content in itself is fascinating, the exams for this class are unfair and unreasonable. The exams are not fair reflections of student knowledge. Professor Carrier and his TA/undergrad team and happy to help, however the amount of material covered, and the difficulty of the exams make this class impossibly challenging.

Mark Carrier teaches a mean biology class. This class WILL take over your life for the term if you do it correctly (or you're a prodigy). Start office hours early in the term (office hours is where you will actually learn), and introduce yourself. His exams will kick your ass.

I failed Mark's class the first time, which was probably the best thing to happen to me in college. To pass this class you will need to work harder than you have most likely ever worked for a single class before. Mark is my favorite teacher at UO because he kicked my ass, and turned me into a more dedicated student. Good luck , you got this!

Hands down the hardest 200 level course I've taken. Mark is extremely intelligent and funny, but his tests were downright impossible. I attended almost every class, went to office hours multiple times a week, studied my butt off and still barely managed to get a C in this class. Almost every exam question is designed to trick you.

The class is more difficult than other 200 level classes. The advice you need to take is to read his lecture notes carefully for 2-3 hours a day, every day. Do all given practice problems and go to seek help if ones do not make sense. Quality of his notes (there is no textbook) is often lacking, contributing to the difficulty of the class.

Mark was the best teacher I have ever had. He cares so much about his students succeeding and he is so dedicated to his job. His tests are hard but so creatively written.

Makes you know the material inside and out, but cares about your learning and does all he can to give you the highest grade. Literally goes through each student's grades looking for improvement over the term and tries to find the best way to weight them.

This class is the first time I've ever taken biology seriously, and I learned so much it still proves useful a year later. I attribute lots of my success in upper division biochem classes to Mark's class. Tested required deep conceptual knowledge of the systems taught, and taught me to learn and love biology in a way I hadn't before

Some of the hardest tests I have ever taken. Failed the first midterm. He gives a TON of different sources to learn from, puts in as much effort as he expects you to. He's funny, freakishly smart. This class made me a better student. Only way I was able to do well was office hours and transcribing his lecture notes into my own words, all 400 pages.

Best teacher I've ever had. The amount of help offered is immense. This is because the class is not easy. Watch his videos, and read the lecture notes and take notes on those. Keep up on the lectures notes as they can be inundating if you slack off. Hilarious teacher with a great staff. Best class I've taken at U of O. Wish he taught more classes.

Incredibly difficult class, but Mark has so many help sessions that it's not impossible to learn the material. He really cares about his students and while he doesn't curve the overall class, he curves students individually to give them the best grade he can.

Never worked so hard for a class in my life, but like other people have said it honestly taught me how to really study and be a better student. I'm really thankful I took this class with him. Material is interesting/ easy to understand if you put in the time. Videos help a lot and his grading system is great for people who improve over the term

Mark Carrier is a great teacher. The content of this class is difficult, but you can definitely come out with an A if you review lecture notes everyday and take advantage of all the help Mark offers. Attend tutor/office hours, use the videos, practice tests, and lecture notes and you'll be just fine.

This class is designed as a weeder class for human physiology majors and pre-med students. THE COURSE CONTENT IS NOT EASY. Content is all about cellular mechanisms (maintaining homeostatic levels) in plants and animals. Mark is a tough teacher who gives brutal exams, but he is helpful to those who seek him out. USE HIS VIDEOS ON BLACKBOARD.

The general concepts you learn in class are straightforward, but there is just so much you have to know. Make sure you go to Mark's many office hours as well as to the TA hours. The tests are very challenging because they are designed to make you think in a way you are not used to in science. As long as you study a lot you will do fine.

He's a great professor who knows how to teach and cares about his students. Sure, if you don't go for help its a hard class but if you go to his office hours and hw sessions you understand everything. The people dissing on him just are bad students who odiously don't care about their grade enough to go to office hours. BEST TEACHER IVE EVER HAD

He has like 14 hours of office hours starting from 7:30 in the morning, and he has so many help sessions but it was such a hard class. This class literally took over my life and I hated it. The tests were terrible and almost impossible. Average for both midterms were like 50%. He is a great guy but summer with a different prof might be better.

Mark has 12 hours of office hours every week, he has a teaching staff of like 20?, he has small homework sessions and quiztest review sessions. If you want the help, it's there. His tests are hard and there is a serious learning curve to the questions he asks but by the end you'll know what to expect. The material is sweet, don't skip class.

If you want to pass or get a good grade, do not waste your time or money on this course. You WILL fail his tests and quizzes. Our class averages for the midterms were 49% and 44%. That said, Mark is a really nice guy, is one of the best professors I've ever had, and I learned a ton in this course before I dropped it.

The class will challenge you to think in a way that you have never before. You will really need to hone in on your problem solving skills; it is not a class you can simply memorize an regurgitate information. One of the best classes I've taken, but expect to work your butt off. Attend office hours, rewrite lecture notes, and make use of the videos.

Exams are brutal, wording is difficult to understand, and there is a ton of information provided to you. He doesn't really use a textbook, so most of your work is done after class (reading post lecture notes and taking self exams). However, I learned more in his class than any other I recall and he really wants you to succeed. Go to office hours.

By far my favorite class at UofO. I am currently a medical student at OHSU and his class, more than any other, prepared me for the depth of thought and quantity of information required to master to pass a medical school course. I was a TA in his class for many years and saw first hand his passion for teaching, and his ability to find TAs who care.

Mark is a very tough teacher because he expects students to really understand the material- not memorize it. But he genuinely wants students to succeed and has a lot of opportunity for extra credit

Mark is a great professor! He wants students to succeed, and he tries hard to teach. The class builds fundamental ability for advanced biology. Memorization is not as important as logic and understanding, the qualities we expect our doctors to have. I think the class difficulty level is reasonable and office hours really help! Fun Class! Work hard!

He is am amazing teacher who I felt forced me to really understand and apply the material. I know I have learned so much from this course and am confident due to his teaching style I will not forget the information learned. He spends SOO much time on his students. there are tons of videos he creates, they helped me a ton! He is worth it and cares!

hard class but not for those who work and want to learn. life is not wrote memorization, it is critical thinking, it is being given a knowledge set and being forced to apply it to something new, and that is exactly what this class requires of its students. best teacher i have ever had, will put effort into you if you put effort into class

Everyone that whines about Carrier obviously didn't put in the work. Yeah -- it's probably the first hard science class that you've taken, and yeah you have to watch the videos, and read the lecture notes, and go to office hours, and do the homework, but it's not that hard to figure out what's going to be on the test. You get out what you put in.

Fantastic Prof! Bi212 is a hard class, but if you really apply yourself, work hard, and GO TO OFFICE HOURS, you will be successful! Mark has a big heart, and if you get to know him and genuinely work to understand big concepts, versus memorize facts, the odds will be in your favor!

Mark is one of the best professors I've had so far. He cares a lot about his class and the students. A lot of students like to make this class seem impossible, but it's not. As long as you put in the work and GO TO OFFICE HOURS you'll do great in the class. There are so many resources available it's up to you to utilize them.

Mark is the best professor I've had the University of Oregon, I struggled In the class up until the midterm then I went to every single office hours for the last 5 weeks and he was so devoted to his students he helped me and challenged me to get the grade I wanted. He truly cares for his students and his work. GO TO HIS OFFICE HOURS AND HW SESSIONS

Mark gets a bad reputation for his sense of humor and grading style but he cares so much about his students. He is one of my favorite teachers. As long as you GO TO OFFICE HOURS, you should do well in the class. He holds 5 hours of office hours a day and there are additional TA office hours. Tests are hard but he curves the class a lot.

Mark is an amazing teacher! Any negative reviews on here are from people who didn't want to put in any effort in the class. But Mark is always there for his students and is more passionate about learning than any teacher I've ever had before.

I absolutely loved this class. Not going to lie, it can be difficult, but Mark is so helpful and always willing to give you a pointer. He's by far the most dedicated professor I've had at the UofO

I went into 212 thinking it would be a nightmare but I realized how wrong these reviews are. The class is hard if you don't try. GO TO OFFICE HOURS!! This is the best I've done in a science course so far because you're forced to ask for help from TAs/Mark. Everyone is really caring and wants to help. Mark is hilarious sometimes. Just do your best!!

By far my favorite professor from my freshman year at UO. Both very knowledgable about the material he teaches and able to explain it to students in digestible segments.

It's an easy A if you get a binder for class and stay organized. Go to office hours before the day of the exams and quizzes because they get packed fast on quiz and exam Friday's. Sit up front and ask questions. He sometimes hands out exam points for questions asked and if he asks questions he'll give out points.

Mark's lectures can be a little intimidating, because he moves fast, asks clicker questions faster, and jumps between plants and animals a lot. That said, none of the concepts he's trying to get across are super tricky, it's just a matter of watching all his videos and running some practice test problems.

This is a tough class, but Dr. Carrier really cares about his students and wants you to succeed. The material is difficult, but he posts helpful videos to explain the topics as well as tons of practice problems. Office hours and/or Encore are crucial for this class, and having the time to focus on class will really help your grade.

This class was on Zoom, but Dr. Carrier worked so hard to deliver the material in an online format. Go to office hours EVERY WEEK and I highly suggest signing up for Class Encore. The more places to study and get help for this class, the better. This is a tough class, but Dr. Carrier is very caring, wants you to succeed, and is hilarious!

I heard a lot of bad things about this class, and it was definitely hard and took a lot of work, but Mark honestly cares about his students so much. Go to his office hours a lot, and you'll be fine. Every single homework and test has 10-20 points of extra credit so you can miss 25% of the questions and still get a 90 on his tests.

I'm a bio major so I already love this subject, but I've never studied it in this way. Mark doesn't follow a textbook, so his method of teaching is super inventive and I love how the concepts are tied together so seamlessly. This is the best class I've ever taken, and I think the level of challenge is just right for the remote format.

recent reviews are HARSH, Carrier is a TOUGH professor, he wants you to work hard and learn to APPLY the concepts of the material not just memorize. yes, it's HARD and it harder online, BUT learning HOW to learn tough biological concepts is going to be useful in harder classes. He provides help but won't hand you a grade. Understand that

Mark records distance lectures, concept videos, hosts live zoom sessions w practice problems, posts complete lecture notes, and has office hours nearly everydayin addition to the dozens of office hours from the TA/GEs. He is a tough professor, but he cares and wants everyone to succeed. I also suggest doing encore bc its super helpful.

I honestly really liked Mark--it's clear he put a lot of effort into his "distance lecture" videos for online school, and a lot of thought into the way he organized his zoom lectures to be more student-involved. Plus, I just really got the feeling he actually cared about people. Definitely the most time-intensive class I've taken here, but good!

There has recently been a lot of really negative reviews, but this was not my experience at all. Yes the material is challenging, but Mark makes all of it clean. The students complaining are the ones that aren't attempting to apply the material and actually learn. just relying on memorization. If you use the resources he gives its an easy class.

love mark

Dr. Carrier is an amazing professor. People will complain and say he is too hard or unfair, but that is because he teaches you how to learn. This is a class where you apply knowledge rather than memorizing and spitting it back out. He is caring, kind, and passionate about his course. There is a large staff of wonderful undergrads to help with stuff

Mark is one of the best professors I have ever had. He makes you work it and put in the time to actually understand the material instead of just memorizing things, but he is very accessible and is always there to make sure that you succeed. Go to his office hours and take advantage of all of the TA office hours as well!! Great class!

Mark is the best professor I have ever had the pleasure of learning from. 212 was the first class that I struggled with in college, and it was not the last!! I am so proud of what I learned in this class, and I am saddened to see the horrible things students are writing about him on this page. They are grossly misinformed. Mark is actually amazing!

It is a difficult class and difficult tests but his passion for biology is apparent, he does his best to provide materials for students.

I struggled to keep up with this class in an online environment. It is crucial to be fully present from day one. Overall, Mark is obviously passionate about what he does. The organization of the online material is overwhelmingbut in person, it must be fun. I learned a lot, but it was a real challenge. I feel more prepared for future bio classes.

BI212 is definitely one of the more challenging stem classes at UO. If you want to succeed in the class, you have to be willing to put in the work. Mark really cares about his students, and WILL GLADLY HELP IF YOU SEEK HIS HELP. Go to office hours, and do everything you can to fully understand the material.

Ok this class is something.... his class requires a lot of hard work and critical thinking. I know this class was difficult this term, the infrastructure of the class is questionable, and there's just too much work. I beg students to take their time with the material, ask peers for help, and support each other. Organize, take notes, and be strong.

I managed to get an A in this class without ever attending office hours or the zoom class times. People who are leaving reviews stating that this class is ridiculously hard will fail to be successful throughout later school and work with that mindset. This class is nowhere near impossible. Mark gives great lectures and sets you up for success!

This is not an easy class if you do not put time into it. I attended Mark's office hours every morning and I credit that to my success in the class. He helped me get out of my comfort zone and participate in group discussions which, in the end, helped me learn and understand the content even better.

hard but good class

The people giving 1.0 ratings are the ones who will fold later on in med school. Don't listen to them. If you are a good student who cares about your grade and is willing to go the extra mile you will be just fine. I am not happy with my grade but Mark really does care and he is always super kind in office hours.

This class was very difficult with somewhat advanced content, but I really like Mark. The lectures were very disorganized and the way in which the content was presented made it very challenging to learn during lecture. The tests were challenging, but I appreciated that there was an opportunity to retake them online, with the opportunity to get a B.

The way he teaches and the high amount of difficult material makes it challenging to learn during lecture. Most of my learning was during office hours outside of class time. The TAs/GEs are incredibly helpful, and by going to office hours/putting in a lot of time outside of class you will succeed. Most students don't have that kind of time, though.

Bio212 is a very tough class. Mark is not always the best in lecture because he can go off on tangents or move quickly. However, his lecture notes posted online are extremely thorough and he takes his time to work with students in office hours. You have to be willing to put the time and effort into this class to be successful.

Anyone can theoretically do well in this class, but depending on your learning style, success may depend on investing time you just don't have. It's a shame because I enjoyed the class and I think Mark is a great professor. The course is just not accessible to everyone, and I don't think it's supposed to be, unfortunately (see "weed-out" comments)

Mark is a good man who is passionate about what he teaches. You will see lots of negative reviews because he goes fast in his lectures and you still need to learn it. This is by design, there is a lot of material and it will challenge you. Your time put into studying needs to actually do something. Consider this your first taste of med school.

Mark is a great professor. Although his lecture slides can be difficult to follow and he tends to ramble, he is one of the better professors I have had. He is easygoing and genuinely wants everyone to succeed. Class is challenging, but that can be expected. Doesn't seem to grade the final, exams and quizzes follow guides, but can be confusing.

Love this guy tbh. He grades extremely tough but he's fair if you tell him why you think your answer is correct. If you can draw it, you'll get it right in the class most of the time.

This is one of very few difficult undergraduate courses available at UO. Mark will give you information and its up to you to understand it through the lecture notes or videos available on the topic. The class moves fast, if you don't show up every day actively ready to learn you will likely fail. I never went to office hours and still did great.

Definitely a weed-out course, but I actually know Biology now. He needs better grading criteria and transparency with students, don't worry about your self-test/iclicker scores. Needs better lectures too, but I enjoyed learning the material he presented through the abundance of resources available

My experience with marks class was amazing. He prioritizes understanding instead of memorization, yes his tests are hard but the only way you will succeed in his class is if you attend TA/Mark office hours and show dedication. His lectures could use some work but his class will teach you how to think critically and form new effective study habits!

Silly guy who loves to teach biology. Office hours are fun and he just wants you to succeed. The class is hard and will require a lot of work and self motivation. Honestly, forget about grad/med school if you don't enjoy and do well in this course bc the structure and rigor is to help prepare for that. Use the resources he provides and have fun!

Mark's class was tough, but you'll succeed if you put in the work. It's good to understand the content before its discussed in lecture. He and the TAs are very helpful and you'll understand why an answer is right, not just what the right answer is. In the future, I would like if a textbook was provided, however.

You get out of it what you put into it. It's a weed-out class, but in no circumstance would I deem this class unjust. There are over 20+ office hours and 20+ TAs because Mark knows all students learn differently. The concepts taught are mind-opening, and giving this class effort and diligence will pay off immensely. Don't be soft and lock in.

This is the hardest class here, but Mark is the most knowledgeable professor here I've met. It is a weed out class so expect to feel the pressure. He is caring though and seriously wants to help, but only if you are willing to put the work in as well. He gives so much extra material and is always having office hours of willing to respond.

Maybe one of the nicest teachers I've ever had the pleasure to work with. The first few weeks I didn't like him, but I quickly realized just how great he was. His classes are not easy, and he is often disrespected for it. His lectures aren't ideal, and he is definitely a cryptic speaker, but if you study you're fine. Office hours are a must.

Yes, the rumors are true. This class is incredibly difficult. However, Mark is incredibly caring and he puts so much effort into creating an environment for you to thrive and learn. How well you do in the class will be determined by how much effort you're willing to put in. I have learned more in this one class than I have in any other before.

The best teachers I have ever had. Although his teaching style doesn't match everyone but as long as you go to office hours you are set. He himself has 12 hours of office hours a week and with over 20 TA's/ GE's there are plenty office hours. STUDY but he is more than willing to help if needed and there is always extra credit given on tests.

Honestly overhated. Yes, it's a tough class. Yes, he's a quirky old guy with questionable lectures. BUT, the reality is he is just trying to prepare you for the MCAT. He is very approachable and has TONS of resources (extra videos, helpful TA's, office hours, etc...) to help you succeed. Go to TA office hours/review sessions and DON'T GIVE UP!!

BIO212 was definitely an experience! It has become the hardest but most rewarding and most interesting class I've taken at this school. Mark cares about his students and wants all to succeed, and gives plentyyyy of resources to do so! Go to office hours and meet Mark, watch the supplemental videos before lecture, and take a deep breath.

Very hard class. But if you cant handle it, you shouldn't try your luck at med school. He teaches you how to THINK like a doctor/researcher, not just what to do. This means theres a steep learning curve, but he gives you a million possible points to improve throughout the term. He really cares about your success, and theres so many TAs to help.

hes not even that bad

Going to office hours will save your grade with all of the self tests. If you form a relationship with him and he knows who you are and sees that you're trying, he will curve your grade at the end. Lectures were not great but watching his videos were life saving. This class is very difficult, the hardest I've ever taken, but ultimately so rewarding

BI212 is as difficult as people say it is, but just going to office hours and studying is enough to get an A. Mark and his class have a bad reputation, but that reputation mostly comes from those who didn't expect the difficulty of a STEM class and did not want to put in the effort it requires and deserves.

Mark's class is hard but if you put in the work and go to office hours he is willing to help you. The class can be easy if you put in the work. Office hours is the best thing that will help you. If Mark sees that you are trying he will help your grade, he only cares about improvement.

Mark Carrier is an amazing teacher and the reputation he has is not deserved. He wants you to learn the content and genuinely cares about helping you learn the material. I would 100% take this class again and I think that everyone should take this class because it changed my view on studying. Go to office hours and start the class off strong.

Took this last term and got an A+. It's a tough class with lots of tests and material, but you just have to study a lot. Mark is actually super funny and approachable, people complain, but he holds students to a high standard. Med/dental school won't be easier. If you put in the effort, you'll do well. Great prof, lots of content.

Going into this class, I had heard it was one of the most difficult and most terrible classes at the university. Despite heading into the class extremely concerned, it turned out to be my favorite class. It is not an easy class, but Mark does an amazing job teaching and wishes to help you succeed. A must take class w/ a top notch professor.

The amount of material covered in this course can be overwhelming, so staying on top of things is key. Marc is a great teacher and is dedicated to helping his students succeed. He is very easy to reach outside of class, and has many office hours where he makes people feel welcome. He makes lectures interesting, and he is passionate on the subject.

Mark's BI212 class is no joke, but if you put in the work you may even thrive. I found this to be the most gratifying class I have yet taken. Do biology every single day. Go to office hours. Mark is actually very approachable and a pretty fun guy. He loves seeing students ask questions and help one another. Time management is crucial. Good luck!