He was a really good teacher. Not that organized though he never collected anything but if you sit through the lectures and paid attention it's hard to pass the class plus he gives extra credit

Dr. Topinka was one of favorite teachers. He was passionate about what he was teaching and that made the class that much better. If you aren't big into science or aren't strong in it I'd recommend him because he really tries to make you understand.

Rick was a really good teacher. Any homework was basically full credit just for doing it. I never used my book. Everything he expects you to know he goes over in class so take good notes. I got an A and I swear he gave most of the class C's just for showing up and maybe trying. I would definitely take him again plus he's kinda cute =)

Rick is tight. Hes a great guy and one of the assigments is just to talk with him 1 one 1 to get to know him!!! Just take notes, study them, and get an A. very easy... dont even buy the text unless you really need it but I got it and since we didnt use it, I wasted my money... =( Awesome proffesor!!!

I heart Rick. He's awesome. And endearingly dorky about bio. You have to ask & pay attention to when he asks you to turn stuff in at first. Due dates are all in the syllabus anyway. Never bought a book and did fine. Just glanced at a friend's book occasionally.

Great class and lots of fun! The assignments are thought-provoking and his lectures are always interesting. He also doesn't worry about memorization of terms, he really just wants you to grasp the concepts.

Rick rocks. i had a lot of fun in his class. his similes were hysterical and ridiculous. but i have to day, i they really helped me remember concepts. the tests were straight forward and usually used Q's straight out of the homework. topinka ftw.

He is my favorite teacher of all time! Just short of doing the limited amount of work for you, he is beyond helpful. He makes everything as fun as possible and crstal clear. He's also a little adorable but that has nothing to do with my opinion of his teaching methods.

Great teacher. Biology is not my thing. Rick makes the class interesting. He is always willing to stay late and even responded quickly to my emails and calls when I had questions prior to the test. Very little if any homework mostly lecture and lab. I would recommend his class to anyone especially if biology is not your thing.

I LOVED Topinka! He is funny, smart, and he gets excited about certain topics as he teaches. We went on a 3 day feild trip to Point Reyes which was loads of fun. Tests are moderate. You will do good if you know the material. In BIO370 You have to memorize classes and phylums, but its really not that hard. You should take his class for sure!

rick is a very cool guy. his lectures were pretty interesting . i would take this guy again he is extremely helpful in that he really tries for you to understand the material.

He is sooo much fun! The field trips are amazing, he gets so excited about the subject that it actually becomes interesting! The tests are hard-ish but he has study guides that reallly help! Overall, a really nice and fun teacher!

Professor Topinka is a really nice guy and he is very helpful. He makes sure all of the students understand. He writes his tests himself and they include multiple choice, short answer and short response but they aren't too hard.

He's sooooo into bio, it's hilarious! He's super friendly, funny, and helpful. The field trips are AWESOME, this class (especially with Topinka) is a must-have!!!! Wonderful class! Loved it!!

He is Amazing! He know his stuff and enjoys what he does.

Rick is great! He's so nice and always willing to help. The class had a lot of work, but it was really fun. if you keep up with the readings and use his online notes you'll be fine :)

Rick is awesome. The lectures were fun and class discussions were always interesting. He's really funny, nice, and very helpful. the tests were pretty easy if you kept up with the lectures and readings. It was one of my fav classes so far. take it! you won't regret it :)

I've never been good at science, and this class was required for my major. Rick was a great teacher! I would definitely take him again. He's very helpful & if you don't understand a concept, he will help you until you do. He has a lot of resources for help in the class, & he's very personable. I highly recommend him!

Bio is Bio, so of course it can be a challenge. But Topinka..... MEOW.

Had this class before and this professor makes it so much interesting. Great class so far

This class is great! It's very interesting. Rick is very easy to talk to and there when you need help. He really tries to simplify everything so you could understand and also knows what he is talking about.

Professor Topinka is great! He is beyond helpful, very approachable, and also passionate about the subject. He is very funny and provides a great learning environment. You don't need a book (at least for my class... he provided lecture notes instead of requiring a book). To get an A: come to class, pay attention, do labs, and study for tests.

A lot of work, but if you keep up on it, study, and review before each class you will get a good grade. Show up too, because even missing one class, you will fall behind. PLUS you do not need a textbook

Rick is incredibly helpful. Biology can get confusing but he lays it all out for you very clearly and he makes it fun and interesting. He's very engaging with the class, and you can tell he truly wants everyone to understand. He's not afraid to adjust his lessons and backtrack as needed. His obvious passion for the subject is infectious.

He is one of the coolest guys I have ever met. Really easy to talk too and has some pretty fun stories once you get to know him better. Easy A if you do all labwork and studyguides.

He really makes Biology interesting. He is a really down to earth guy who really wants his students to get a good grade and learn the knowledge and is willing to help with any questions you may have at anytime. Tests are exactly like the study guides, so if you can do those you'll get an A on the tests! Id definitely recommend taking this class!:)

Rick makes learning about biology exciting due to his enthusiasm for the subject. His knowledge on the subjects he teaches gives his students a better understanding. As looking as you follow his homework assignments and study guides you will earn the perfect grade

Great guy. One of my favorite professors I've had. He's very nice and has a clear interest in not only the subject, but his students.

Awesome teacher, I would take him again in a heart beat! At first he treated me like some "dumb blonde", but he soon realized I was there to learn and then made my time much easier. His class is very strict with the syllabus so make sure you stay on top of it. Overall 100% satisfaction with his class. He is HOT too.

He is the coolest professor at ARC. I have been here for many years, and he is my TOP pick. He is easy going and is very passionate about teaching. Hes easy if you study and he makes it interesting. Hes also HOT!! Great to have something nice to look at, while learning.

He's a great instructor, very enthusiastic about his teachings, nice to people and willing to help with questions, and thoroughly covers all exam materials in class. He hands out lecture notes packets and grades generously on homework assignments. If you show up, pay attention, and take notes then it's easy to get an A or B. Would highly recommend!

I took the class as part of my GE, but he really turned me to biology. I wasn't looking forward to a 3+ hour class 2Xweek but the time flew by. He would lecture for approx 50 mins and the rest of the time was devoted to (fun) labs to help us understand the material. No textbook, but he assigned packets of reading. Discussion oriented, helpful.

Topinka give great lectures and expects a lot of of his students. Make sure you ask for specifics if you aren't sure what he is expecting from an assignment. He has a tendency to be vague on his expectations unless you press him.

Although this was the hardest class I've ever taken, I learned so much. Take lots of notes and ask questions. Be ready to take notes, so many notes. Tests are heinous!

I have never liked biology and wasn't looking forward to this class. Rick made this class easier for me because his passion for the subject shines. Surprisingly Rick has a free online book you use and gets lecture notes professionay printed for you which is amazing. The texts are a must read, but short and clear to the point.

Topinka is great! (and he's cute in a geeky way) He follows his schedule very well so that's a plus. It was an easy class for me bc I took harder biology in high school.. It might be hard for first time biology students as it is a pretty fast-paced course. 3 midterms, final, 20 labs, 6 HW papers (took me 3hrs to do 1), 15 articles, poster project

Some people thought the tests were difficult, but most of the material on the tests are things from homework or stuff we did in class. So obviously going to class is a necessity. He was also very helpful when it came to questions. I talked to him during office hours a few times and he was always willing to help me understand.

Those that say his teaching standards were poor clearly didn't attend class. He's funny, takes his time to make sure everyone understands the material, sticks with his syllabus, and his tests are based right out of the study guides w/ the exception of one question from our article hw. Expect a great grade if you study the study guides thoroughly.

An overall great professor. BIOL301 is not a simple class and one shouldn't take it if they want an easy pass. With that said, Rick was super knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the material and did a good job explaining otherwise abstract material. He cares about you doing well in the class and is willing to help you get an A.

Rick was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic for this course. He always tried to make it enjoyable with his puns and geek humor. He follows a schedule very well and makes it easy to keep track of assignments and due dates. The labs were very fun and helped bring light to what we had previously learned.

Groovy dude; grades in pencil. Fun class

Topinka is dorky in the best way. He speaks in challenging terms that require prior knowledge or some googling. He is VERY willing to help and tries to find several ways to explain something. Do not underestimate this class, read the chapter before lecture to better absorb the material. He is great, the class is challenging.

Highly recommend him. Good lectures, not a ton of homework, tests are challenging but not surprising. SUPER friendly and helpful, too, wants his students to succeed. Some of my friends took Bio400 with Wolfe, Holzberg, or Gerhart and they all hated it, so I feel pretty confident saying Topinka is one of the best in the Los Rios district

Super nice guy and very funny. He gives a lot of material to read and moves at a fast pace. Be prepared to study hard. He is very passionate about his class and sometimes gives too much information in each lecture. TAKE NOTES!!!!

Rick is the best prof I had this semester. His lecture style is very engaging and keeps you interested. Bio isn't the easiest subject but ask questions, listen, and study the material and you should do great. The labs were pretty simple and actually fun to do. Three tests (not too bad) & an accumulative final with a few homeworks in between.

You can tell he is very passionate. I personally felt like his lectures were a little hard to follow sometimes cause they do tend to be all over the place. But you really want to pay attention to the little things and side discussions because they were always on the midterms. Just don't skip class and pay attention and it is a really great class!

Honors Marine Biology was definitely the class I spent the most effort in that semester, but it was worth it because I learned so much, made good friends and went on amazing field labs. Rick is passionate about what he teaches. He works at a fast pace and lectures are important. You get what you put into the class!

I took Rick for Honors Marine Biology. He gave out worksheets that had questions about the book and his lectures, and as long as you fill them out and take at least 30 minutes to review, you will get a good grade on the tests. Near the end of the semester, there was a lot of work due in a short time, but everybody in the class managed to do well.

A very good teacher who grades fairly and is very easy to talk to. Goes into depth to explain the topics to his students. Funny and very kind. Makes the course understandable and applies it to daily life.

Professor Topinka is one of those professors who actually likes his role in educating his students and doing so in a way that is understandable. He is patient and reasonable with his students. Although the workload might seem heavy, it is pretty easy to stay on top of it. Don't get lazy. Show up to class. You get the grade you work for. (E.C. ava.)

Revived my love for biology. Professor Topinka loves what he teaches and genuinely cares about the success of his students. It's a lot of material to cover and moves pretty quickly so try not to fall behind. Read the textbook, preview the powerpoints and go to Beacon!

I really enjoyed this course. Rick is very smart and funny. He had a couple of extra credit assignments: Lab reports, HW, etc. It is not an easy A class and you have to work hard to receive a high grade. But, if you are interested in biology you will enjoy reading each chapter. Trust me! P.S. He washes his hands 3-5 times during the class :)

Professor Topinka is very detailed in his lectures. I found the material easy to follow. He offers more than a few extra credit opportunities and I highly suggest you take advantage of them. Its what bumped me to an A in the end.

I took Prof. Topinka's class in Fall 2018 (I think), and, still to this day, I am so thankful that I took his class. Is it tough? Yes. BUT obtaining an A in his class is not impossible. You just need to be willing to put in the effort to understand & connect (not just memorize) the concepts. Hard work pays off. I would 100% take his class again.

Professor Topinka is an amazing professor! He clearly enjoys the subject and teaching. Engaging lectures. Really good at explaining and answering questions. No quizzes, only four exams. The work is much easier than the exams yet if you read and attend classes youll most likely do well. Easy to reach as well.

I took this class in 2020. I would definitely take this class again! I loved the engaging lectures that Professor Topinka offered. The exams are proctored using proctorio, but dont panic! If you study, take notes using provided materials, and pay attention to the lectures, you will be completely fine! I highly recommend this class.

Rick is an amazing teacher! There was so much material to cover, but he keeps the lectures interesting and engaging. He was always open to host study hours if we were especially confused. The worst part of the class is the online Smart Book assignments. They are more detailed than the exam, and take 2 hours each. Exams are easy enough if you study!

Rick was a great professor, especially for this being my first in-person biology class. He keeps the lectures very interesting and engaging. He's very open to lots of great discussions. The smartbook assignments were the only thing that were particularly difficult, lots of reading and take up a lot of time. Overall, great professor!

Topinka is a lovely guy and excellent instructor. You can tell by a minute's conversation that his love for his field is unmatched, and this translates into a great deal of passion in his lectures. 2 trips total, both to the SF Bay, with one being overnight. Both were eye-opening experiences. Grading was generous, easy to score an A. Take him.

3 exams 1 final not cumulative, & not too heavy on hw, half were group discussions that were engaging and a lot of fun, lectures were interesting and you can tell the passion he has for this field. The field trips were amazing and left a lasting impact on me even after the semester was over. Overall pretty stress free class and amazing professor.

Rick Topinka is freaking amazing!I had so much fun studying bio-evolution because of how much more easier he made the class for me.I always felt like I learned something new in class and it never got boring either.Everything I learned,I ended up retaining because of his teaching methods.Thank you Prof.Topinka for being a good science prof.

I heard good things about him and so I decided to take his class. Trust the reviews when they say that Topinka is caring and his lectures are great because they actually are! His exams are heavily based on his lectures so study hard. His 4 exams are 50+ questions each with numerous free response but again, study a lot and you'll do great.

This professor is truly remarkable in his approach to teaching. He demonstrates commitment to ensuring that all students grasp the intricacies of the subject. With an exceptional ability to deconstruct complex concepts and articulate them in a clear and concise manner, one would be fortunate to have the opportunity to learn from him again.

Fantastic professor who genuinely cares about students' success. Highly recommend. Rick is always happy to help out students and answer questions. Great guy to see and talk to. Focus on lecture materials, not so much on details from textbook. Lots of labs.

Dr. Topinka is super chill, but clearly very intelligent. You will understand biology very well if you pay attention in this class. The lectures are great, and he gives a view of the entire system rather than focusing on pointless memorization. The tests are extremely easy, assuming you've been attending class. Make sure to take him if you can!

Topinka adeptly elucidates intricate subject matter, rendering it remarkably comprehensible. Diligent mastery of the content ensures that the exams remain surmountable in complexity.

He makes lectures super fun and interesting; easy to understand as well. You only have to write 3-4 lab reports for the entire semester. It is not necessary to read the textbook and understand the online homework in its entirety. He also posts online lectures if you need help with the course material.

Rick is very good with presenting the material with lectures. Though this is a hard class and needs outside reading; homework is not heavy. Read each chapter to fully understand the material, watch his video lectures, and go over slideshows. The exams are not bad, and the labs are easy, plus only 3-4 lab reports in a semester. TAKE TOPINKA!!!!!!!!

pretty clear about expectations, but may be ambiguous about what you need to know. textbook reading assignments but the textbook is not helpful for this class at all. the way to succeed in this class is write down everything he says during lecture and make flashcards out of all of it, and answer all of the questions in the labs.

One of the most intelligent professors I've taken. He clearly cares about his students and will help you with something if you ask. There is a lot of information but it's all very doable. Get everything done in a timely matter and stay on top of things and you will do great in this class! Also, go to beacon!