Excellent, Fair, Knowledgeable

FUNNY guy makes a lot of really BORING information INTERESTING

Makes oceanography very cool. Take during semester and not during summer school.

Knows what he's talking about, has interesting lectures.If you are going on in biology he's a good guy to learn the basics from. If you're taking bio to get your science out of the way, look elsewhere.Tests straight from lecture notes,but material is hard

Funny guy class was fun for a science class I enjoyed it, test were fairly hard study with class mates because all info in Lectures is covered on tests. If your looking for an easy A dont take this class.

The best teacher. Explains difficult material very well. He is helpful and interesting. Take notes and study them that is where the test questions will come from. If you are a slacker than don't take the class because it's not easy.

Difficult class. Outstanding instructor.

He is really nice and funny at times. But since he is the head of the bio department hes pretty hard. 10 page paper for bio. He grades the written part of tests pretty hard and the MC isnt too bad if you study alot. He is really smart though.

the best professor ever. Knows his stuff. Tests are easy if you study the notes.Record his lectures!!!! very understanding.He will work with you and will help with any question. The best professor that I had at this school!

He a great teacher. I am so glad he is a teacher at Mesa and not at Harvard. Dr. Sykes is very intellegent and it takes a person with critical thinking abilities to stay in his class. People who can't handle his class are usually people who aren't driven.

He is the head of the department so his class is a bit harder. He is a great person and loves to teach! Study the lecture notes and attend all the classes for a good grade. Having him in lab also helps. All around great class and leaning experience!

the class is very difficult, but prof. sykes loves what he does and will do everything to give you tips and tricks to passing his class. just remember to do flash cards and don't postpone 15 page research paper.

Willing to help any student who makes an actual effort especially nursing students.

He makes you work really hard to get even an ok grade. But he is one of the greatest professors I've had. Good sense of humor. He loves marine biology and has lots of enthusiasm towards teaching it. I know he'd go out of his way to help you out if you needed it.

*Great* teacher, very sociable, always willing to help and is obviously passionate about his job. The tests are very hard but very fair, I could have an A if I worked for it, but I didn't and got what I deserved. Has a thing against sharks...

Must keep up on the info. Great teacher, but confusing tests, no real review which sucks. There is a paper, but it's any easy one so I wouldn't worry much especially if you are a decent writer.

He really does care for his students and will go the extra mile to help you out. This is not an easy class but you will get a good grade if you study and know your notes well.

really helpful and informed but has REALLY hard tests. getting an A is nearly impossible but he's pretty lenient with C's. if you like writing the paper can boost your grade.

You cannot attach his personality, because he is an amazingly helpful and benign teacher. He may be tough, but he is good. Also everyone taking his class may not want to become a nurse or a doctor, but what about those who do??? Think about it...

WONDERFUL TEACHER. HAVE TO ADMIT IT WAS A LITTLE TOUGH BUT WITH HIS HELP YOU CAN DO GREAT IN HIS CLASS. HE WAS INCREDIBLY HELPFUL WHEN ASKED.

Hello Sykes, blondie (can't put my name) from your summer class here. I think you are an amazing teacher and man; I was fortunate to be taught by you. To everyone else, if you want to LEARN biology, take professor Sykes.

This guy is a hoot! Marine Bio background but obviously loves anything biology related. He will KICK YOUR BUTT, so only take him if you want to work. Loves sharks, he and his son fence (and his son is starting to kick his butt), and looks like Indiana Jones when he puts his hat on. Fun, but I will reiterate...not your typical Community College teacher...he actually shows you what it's like to be at the real thing. -DB

Hillarious!! if you get the "bio" humor.

Sykes is a fantastic teacher, smart, funny, highly educated. Have to work to get a good grade but he will totally help you out if you ask. Take good notes and read the book- tests are tough- lots of questions are based on the book so don't forget to read even though its not mandatory. Learned a lot of really cool stuff in this class.

Professor Sykes was the best bio teacher I've had. He made class interesting with his humor and is really into what he does. Sure, his tests are hard....but its college and its not supposed to be easy. If you put the time and effort into this class, you can walk out with an A. I would definately take him again.

Very enthusiastic and helpful. Test questions are directly from lecture material (take detailed notes). Funny and nice guy. Would take him again in a hearbeat. Easy A if you take good notes!

Tough class - he covers a lot of material. Tests are straight from lecture. Essay questions will get you if you don't pay attention in lecture. No extra credit. There's a 10-15 pg term paper - easy way to boost your grade if you write a good paper. A nice teacher, who obviously enjoys what he does. It does get dry at times - bring coffee to class!

Dr.Sykes is awesome professor. Course is okay if you take good notes and read the textbook. He is hilarious and cool... Definitely recommand him....

very good professor. lots of material for course. he will test you on all of it. full of himself but still a cool guy. get a study group it will help.

Excellent professor. He loves to teach and does a good job at it. He keeps students interested even when the info is not so interesting. Funny teacher but has high expectations of students. Tests are hard but if you take good notes in class and study you will do fine. I definately recomend any of Dr. Sykes classes.

very knowledgeable professor. I highly recommend taking him, especially if you plan on having a career in the medical field. His tests are very through, and from the lecture. If you really know the material well, you will pass his class.

Very nice man. Class extremely difficult.Dont miss lectures.Take meticulous notes & record lectures. You have to put 3 hours study per credit hour into the class to even get by. 4 tests, very hard. 1 was take home which was great(got A).10+ pg research paper,good grade on it crucial(got A).He is extremely helpful & accessible.Worked HARD & got a B

He is really passionate about teaching his students. My fiancee and I took his Marine Biology class and it was very fun. FIELD TRIPS!!! woo hoo! IF you have the chance to take the night class, do it!

He is fairly hard, but he is very fair. He tests on ALL of the notes. Bringing a recorder to class would definitely help. He is very passionate about his subject, and some of his enthusiasm can rub off on you. He is willing to answer any question and makes sure you understand it. All in all, a great teacher. Take the class if you get a chance.

Honestly, one of the best science teachers I've ever had. He's really nice, and funny sometimes. Not extremely easy but if you show up you'll be fine. He loves teaching and will do almost anything to help you succeed. His tests come STRAIGHT from lecture notes and he only uses the book to clarify things. Take him!!!

dr sykes is great. people say he's hard but i didn't find the tests bad at all as long as you make some flash cards and study a little. Very smart man and has contributed some very good things to the science world

Prof Sykes is the bomb! He's passionate about his subject, well organized, funny, kind, and very fair in grading. Bottom line is he wants his students to be successful, and is willing to help in any way he can.

Teaches on a very high and professional level. Gotta show up to every class and it's all based on notes. Take good notes and ask questions. Use textbook and online tools! Nice guy and funny. Sit at the front to pay attention, biology is a lot of info. He doesn't like it when you're loud or interrupting. Tests are hard but other points can be made.

this class was very organized and Dr Sykes is always willing to help during his office hours and encourages students to visit. He also responds to email promptly. Take this class if you want to be prepared for higher level biology classes. Tip take detailed notes and record lectures if possible. Make sure you study the lab notes for weekly quizzes

Sykes is tough, but fair. He is one of the few professors I've had so far that actually expects college-level work from you, so be prepared to set aside some time to study for this class. Record lectures, re-write notes, cram for tests and write a solid term paper and you're good.

Prof. Sykes it a awesome teacher. Although this class is not easy. If you go to lecture all the time and take good detailed notes and study them well you will do good. He is passionate about Bio and his excitement passes on to the class. Lab is kind of a joke tho but fun and easy with weekly quizes

Probably my fav teacher here at Mesa. Test are hard, but STUDY lecture notes and you will pass. (and I mean study!) Practicums are easy and if you do well on the Term Paper you should pass. Teacher is great, and loves what he does. One of the most interesting classes, and fun teachers I have ever had.

very cool and knowledgeable guy. TAKE GOOD NOTES & study them!! do that and you should be fine. interesting lectures and fun labs. rat dissection!4 lg tests, one's a take home and written assignments due before each test to warm you up. a bio midterm paper, topic of your choice. start early, that damn due date creeps up on you before you know it.

Hands down, best bio professor ever. Great stories, interesting lectures and awesome labs, helps every single student. He treats you fair and with respect and gives 110% every single day. You will have to study to pass this class, there are take home quizzes and no hw. I highly recommend him for students who love bio and can study.

Awesome Prof! Most of the material he tests over are from his lectures so it is VERY important to take good notes. The class itself is not easy so you HAVE to study your notes and listen in class. Dr.Skyes is really good about stopping to make sure everyone understands what he's going over and has no problem answering questions. Highly recommended!

This class requires a lot of work and effort. Like everyone says, GO TO CLASS and take GOOD notes. He covers most test material out of pure lecture, although some book use is required. He's understanding of college students and often gives us opportunities for easy points. Cool, funny guy with interesting stories.

Good teacher & interesting class. If you're willing to work you can do well. On the other hand, if you're the type that feels like life (and your classes) should be easy and served to you on a silver platter, take a diffrent class. Sykes holds his students responsible for their grades, good or bad. You'll get out of it what you put in.

AMAZING TEACHER! Wish he taught more subjects. Fun field trips. Lecture time flies by because he stays on point and keeps it interesting. He's very animated. DON"T TALK IN CLASS! Record lectures and take pictures to study. He's always available to help students. I love this guy!

AMAZING professor. He's clear, he's passionate about the subject, and he makes sure the students get it. Is open for questions, gives tons of office hours and chances for extra credit is everywhere. TAKE HIS CLASS. You will not regret it!

GREAT TEACHER! Took bio with another professor over fall but dropped because she was horrible. Sykes is incredible! Put in a little effort into those tests and the 10 page essay and i promise you will get an A!

He is a really good professor all you have to do is be respectful. He will do whatever he can to help you if you reach out to him!

Great teacher. Take good notes and you'll get a good grade. Doesn't use a text book and tests are based off his lectures so don't miss them. Classes are fun and even though his jokes are pretty cheesy it makes the class better.

Passionate Teacher. Very enthusiastic about teaching those who want to learn. Study groups definitely helped with the take home tests before each lecture exam. Do not procrastinate on the term paper and study and you will be just fine.

He is a very good teacher. If I could take his class every semester I would! Be super respectful and you will learn a lot. He is intolerant of phone usage and disrespect, but he is very passionate about what he teaches and loves being there to help out.

Amazing teacher! Very passionate about bio. He will go out of his way to help students. Very fun class!

This guy is extremely passionate about what he does. His notes are crystal clear in what he asks of you for tests, and the book isn't used at all. I only received such a low grade because I know I didn't study as much as I should have. (His C's = 65% and up) This class requires effort on your part. Sykes is an awesome teacher that knows his stuff.

At the beginning of the class is somewhat hard to follow because he throws a bunch of info at you. Specially if you are not a BIO major,you may get lost. Take good notes & put a lot of effort to study them. The prof is cool, a bit arrogant, but very knowledgeable. Proff Sykes will help you if you show interest,& do your homework.

Dr. Sykes is an outstanding professor! Students are provided with clear instructions on how to succeed in the course. We received ample time to prepare for a term paper and exams. Attendance is critical as exams are at least 90% of lecture notes. Material is presented in a thorough and organized manner. Lectures are fast-paced, and interesting.

Dr. Sykes is very passionate about what he teaches. He loves what he teaches as well. Don't think it's an easy grade, though. It's anything but that. I recommend you take very good notes and be ready for each class. It wouldn't help to share notes with peers as well. Also, start studying at least a week in advance. I learned the hard way.

Four lecture exams, 150 points each. Two take-home assignments, 50 points each. One term paper, 200 points. One lab quiz for every lab. Attendance not mandatory. Grade Scale: A=90%, B=80%, C=65%, D=50%, F=<50%. One of his four exams are a "Take Home Test" and both take-home assignments are easy points. Must attend lab to do well on lab quizzes.

He's a good, thorough teacher who loves his job/biology and encourages students to ask questions. You absolutely must attend lecture and lab to do well in this class. The tests come straight from his lecture notes so focus on memorizing them! Make sure to write down anything and everything he writes on the board.

Awesome teacher! Very helpful and makes lectures easy to follow and interesting. Only hard part is the amount of material he puts into a test, it's a lot to remember at once but if you take a lot of notes and pay attention during lectures it's not too bad. Probably one of the best teachers I have had overall!

Not an easy class, be prepared to work. Professor Sykes is very helpful and knowledgeable about marine Bio and makes it interesting. Take notes, get in study groups, and study study study. If you the work the grade will follow.

My favorite teacher at Mesa. I would recommend Sykes to anyone !

Biology intimidates me! But I was so happy to of taken Dr. Sykes, he explains things pretty well but taking good notes is a must! Write down everything he puts on the board. There are 3 test and one take home test, they are pretty long. Start studying at least a week in advance, mostly notes. Extra credit built into everything. 1 easy term paper.

Easily my fav. professor at Mesa. He gives 3 tests, 1 take home, 1 easy term paper. Makes lectures interesting, really nice and funny, I dreaded taking bio and he made it my favorite class in spring. Listen closely in lectures, copy everything down and study and you should do well!

I took Oceanoraphy online over the summer. The class is VERY fast paced, if you are not willing to spend the time everyday reading and preparing for the quizzes and tests I do not recommend this class. Overall I had a good experience with Professor Sykes. You will get out what you put in .

Sykes is the best! He is very passionate about his work and he's always there for his students. Easy to talk to, and his tests come straight from the lecture so make sure you take good notes! Read your notes and make sure you understand them the week before the test and you will do fine.

At first I was intimidated of taking biology, but Dr. Sykes clearly explains the course material. There is built in extra credit throughout the assignments. If you are a slacker, then do not take this class but if you are willing to work hark then you'll do fine in the class. Dr Sykes is very enthusiastic about biology and he makes lectures fun!

Take good notes in his lecture and you will do fine on test. Follow lecture word for word for quizzes

Awesome lectures. Don't use book too much. Not an easy pass if you don't like science but if you do this is definitely the guy to take. One 5-10 page paper on anything that has to do with bio. Grand total of 4 tests. No mid term or final. Record the lectures and write down EVERYTHING he puts on the board. Attendance is mandatory in the beginning.

I had him for marine biology and lab, it took a while to get used to his lecture style but once you get the hang of it your good. Lab is not a normal lab its extremely easy and almost no work. I never opened the 4 books he required. you can tell he's very passionate about what he teaches but get ready to memorize!!

I can sit here an talk about how the class was, but you can read other reviews. I started the class off good, had a high B in the beginning. But I began to slip and found myself at a 64% at the last month. Talked to professor and he really pushed me to work my butt off and pass. He cares for his students. Work hard and youll pass.

Hes lectures are very informative and clear, hes super smart. No homework. Four tests with take home extra credit and one term paper. Is an easy class if you pay attention and read the book. The lab is super easy and fun.

I took the marine bio class.. my mistake was taking the three hour NIGHT lecture.. it was a lot and very tiring to my friends and I! His tests are VERY hard and require some studying.. You aren't graded on too many things so you have to do good on the tests and paper which are heavy! He does genuinely enjoy the subject he teaches which is great.

Don't take his summer courses! Professor Sykes holds office hours multiple times a day to help students, however his community college courses are more like upper level graduate classes. He doesn't change his summer classes just condenses down an entire semester into the summer. I am a 4.0 student and his class is near impossible to keep up with.

If you're lazy and just want to get an &quot;A&quot; without actually studying or doing your homework, he is not for you. But if you are really interested in Bio and want to learn, he is definitely your guy. I love his lectures &amp; labs. He pushes everybody to do better like every professor should.

He loves teaching and enjoys the subject, very good class!

Sykes is a great professor. Don't be afraid to ask him questions, he will gladly answer them. Make sure to take notes during his lectures because most questions on the test is from his lectures. Pay attention to what he says. You get take home assignments as a review for the exam. There's a total of 4 exams, 3 take home assignments, 1 term paper.