2.9
Quality4.3
Difficulty27%
Would Retake83
Reviews27%
Would Retake
83
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
19
4
15
3
19
2
9
1
21
What Students Say
“This man is ONLY at southern to research”
BIO102 - 1.0 rating“atleast he loves what he is teaching, you can see it in the way he lectures”
BIO102 - 2.0 ratingClass Info
Attendance Mandatory
77%
Textbook Required
50%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-1.37 avg changeRatings by Course
229
5.0
(1)ICTHYOLOGY
5.0
(1)BIO504
5.0
(1)BIOILLUST
5.0
(1)BIO429L
5.0
(2)Difficulty by Course
BIO100
5.0
BIO535229102
5.0
GENERALZOOLOGY
5.0
BIOL102
5.0
BIO103
5.0
Reviews (83)
No Comments
No Comments
No Comments
No Comments
Clear, kind, helpful, and knows material; NOT easy
lab practical very difficult;tests very fair; lectures very fast;interesting course
lab practical very difficult;tests very fair didn't like him in bio 102 but took again for another class, more time to work with you nice guy!
He doesn't know how to teach very well. All of the things that he covers in the class are not even on the test. The only thing about this class is that attendance is not taken.
No Comments
No eye contact. Very available to students for help outside class.
Great Class! You need a 3mm technical pen,6H pencils, an eraser & tracing paper-he supplies the rest! A relaxing and informative summer class-now I draw as a hobby!
very hard, talk fast durring class hard to take notes in class
INSANE AMOUNT OF NOTES!! He also talks fast and gives hard tests! AH!!
he's a hard teacher. Not clear on his materials. A mono tone teacher.
This is a very hard class. Dr Burian is a brilliant man but he goes way to fast and teaches on his own level instead of a level that is appropriate for a 100 level course. He talks very fast and it is impossible to take good notes. His tests are extreemly difficult.
Tough but fair, talks really quickly and covers a lot of material. Tests are really easy if you study.
Dr Burian knows his stuff. very eazzy well kinda just take very good notes and forget about the textbook. His exams comes right from his notes. Voice recorder can be very handddy just in case if you forgot your coffeee because he speaks pretty fast.
Difficult class but Dr. Burian was available and willing to help with papers and lecture material.
Dr. Steven K. Burian is pure EVIL! He is a mad scientist in its truest form! If you are not a major, do yourself a favour and STAY AWAY FROM THIS MAN! He really knows his stuff. His lectures are super speedy - the man just lives and breathes science...insanity! He IS sort of comical to watch th
Dr. Burian is a very intelligent man, and a very clear, concise lecturer. If you take comprehensive notes and study yer but off, you can get an A in the course.
No Comments
Difficult class, but interesting at the same time. Always scared to be late after the first day what Dr. Burian said. He's intimidating at times.
Finally, a challenge. He makes his students work for an A, so it feels really good to get one. He doesn't smile unless he's talking about bugs/animal behavior, I found that quite humorous. Hey, he's enthusiastic about his subject matter.
Dr. Burian is fair and will speak his mind, which is refreshing. I grew to like him more as a teacher as time went on. Exams are exactly what he says they are. Good guy.
He is very helpful if you ask questions although you must go to his office hours to do so.
No help at all!
to be honest...you couldn't ask for a better prick. His tests are IMPOSSIBLE even if you DO study for them. he blows through class like we can all write at super speed and you need to bring a dictionary to class because you cannot understand a word he is saying. and whatever you do don't take lab with him....even worse....
he is really mean. some of my classmates tried asking him questions and he would go off like it wasnlt his job to answer. he speaks like we are all biologists and doesn't explain his words and goes WAY too fast. real smart guy but it doesn't seem like he enjoys teaching. i would not take him again
Great class! It was a lot of fun. I know way too much about fish!
I liked Burian. He can be mean if you're one of those people who ask 1000 questions and are clueless. But if you major in bio, or you'll like him a lot and get A's if you study. Attendance doesn't count and all his lecture tests were multiple choice. He actually will help you to if you ask, or tell you material you missed for lecture and lab.
Sit still for a massive brain dump! Looking to be coddled? Then this is not the class for you. His lectures are powerful. You not only learn the material, you learn why you are learning the material. His use of language is precise. It is well worth it to bring a recorder. But he'll spoil you. Few lecturers at SCSU can touch this man. He rocks.
Don't take his lab. You need to study like no other and you have to know every single scientific term for every single little thing. Lecture is nuts, thankfully I took this course before at another school so it was just review, but incoming freshman forget it. Your better off reading the text book and not going to class.
The lecture isnt too bad, the man definitely knows what he is talking about. however, he is the worst science lab teacher i have ever had. I learned little from his lab class, and found myself having to study for hours for his impossible lab tests. We had to memorize the external/internal, muscles, bones, and body systems of a frog in 2 weeks.
He definitely knows what he is talking about. There is a lot of information to memorize and the lab and lecture information do not correlate so its like taking two different classes. He goes over things so FAST and does suck quick reviews. He is Hard.
Love the subject zoology, but he's not the best teacher. He does know the material really well which is good, but he talks way too fast. It is easy to get lost in his lectures, and once you're lost, you miss out on the whole lecture. His tests are difficult, too many questions in a short matter of time. He doesn't have an awful personality though.
He does go through his lectures fast. If you get lost for one second, you'll be lost throughout the whole thing. You have to rely on your book. It would be helpful to read the chapters before his lectures so you don't get that confused.
umm..have fun
I liked his lectures a lot. He does speak very quickly and each lecture includes a ton of information so skipping this class ever is a pretty bad idea. The tests were all multiple choice and very fair, only about 75 questions. Pay attention and take good notes and you will be fine. I didn't even find my book necessary.
I really like Biology, but Burian is just impossibly hard. He goes through his lectures fast. Tests are tough. And he's unapproachable. You can only miss a test if you have doctor's note or the death certificate of a PRIMARY family member. If your close aunt or pet died, which may even be closer to you than a primary member, it won't matter. Unfair
Great Class. Daunting amount of material to cover. Lectures are great. Burian spends hours setting up the labs, making sure you have all kinds of specimens. 3 diff kinds of microscopes! Burian is always there to answer questions. He has a wicked sense of humor. Lots of work, but amazing fun too. BEST CLASS EVER!
I studied my butt off and still Failed..this guy knows his stuff..he is so intelligent, but should not be a professor..at least for the basic requirement classes..he speaks SOOOO fast ..i had to rewrite all my notes . He isn't friendly..i found him cold and unhelpful.
Great class. Lots of field trips, and I do mean field. Great lectures, but limber up your note-taking hand. Helluva of lot of work, but also a helluva a lot of fun. Didn't so much care about insects going in, now I am fascinated by them.(Warning: If you are lazy, do not take this class. If you don't mind work, you'll have a blast.)
I had Zoology for Bio Majors this past semester with Burian. He is a very intelligent person but a horrible professor. He does not know how to teach his lecture classes and talks way too fast to really attempt to get all the concepts he is trying to get across. He is very cold and unpersonable.
Good teacher, but strict.
Dr. Burian is probably what I would refer to as the John Nash of having an incomprehensible universe of knowledge, with a fanclub to hear it about the size of the remainder of Patriot fairweathers.
A truly ingenius man and, perhaps, a tad bit too far ahead of his times.
STRAIGHT FORWARD. WRITE DOWN WHAT HE SAYS/CHARTS AND GOES OVER. IF HE REPEATS THINGS HE WILL TEST YOU ON THEM. STUDY YOUR NOTES AND YOU WILL DO WELL.
the worst teacher. I just dont like how he taught the course. he cold... he's just all over the place.. i wasn't please with is quality. southern doesn't need a teacher
Such a strict grader, unapproachable, lectures like he is yelling and I found it impossible to get more than a C on anything. This class is extremely hard.
An impossible class no matter how much you study. He is very smart but does not know how to teach.
Worst teach I have ever had. He lectures really fast and if you can take notes REALLY fast you may do well, otherwise avoid like the plague. Not a nice guy either, constantly made scenes and emberrased people right in the middle of class. Even kicked a chair against the wall because it was in his way. NEVER be late to his class.
straight up this is a hard class. however, this teacher knows his stuff and is passionate about his subject. study, show up on time, and put in some effort and youll get by. dont take him if you arent interested in the subject or willing to do some work. overall it hard but its one of the most interesting classes ive taken at scsu
this professor is hard as hell be prepared for the ride of your life. you canstudy for hours at a time and still fal his exams try to read before class and bring in a tape recorder. be prepared to do the hardest work of yha biology career especially in a one hundred level course
LOL I liked the guy. He was so intelligent and was really interesting. He lectures fast but I learned a lot.. I actually enjoyed his dry sense of humor.. He's kind of a jerk.. but i loved him.. could never get over a B on the tests.. but classes ARE NOT impossible.. Just pay attention study a little and you'll pass..=)
Stands there and talks at you. The only reason I got an A was because I typed EVERYTHING he said verbatim. I then made a 10 page study guide from my notes for each exam. The exams were very fair, he gives lots of choices regarding what you want to answer. It was the hardest class I've ever taken, but if you work hard it is possible to do well!!
Bring a recorder to his lectures, DO NOT miss a class, pay close attention in lab and take pictures of specimen to study. He is strict and lectures incredibly fast, save questions for office hours or after lectures in lab. Overall, be prepared to devote LOTS of time outside of class to study
Dr. Burian uses his lecture time to primarily tell jokes, which are predictable after the first lecture. He spends lab time flirting with girls instead of helping other students. In lab you don't learn anything about cat/shark other than memorizing bones, muscles which you then spit back out on paper. He doesn't teach so much as tell jokes. A waste
Took his class last fall. didnt do so great. He just talks at you. atleast he loves what he is teaching, you can see it in the way he lectures. Really doesnt liked to be interrupted during lecture; students would ask questions and you could see the frustration in his face. VERY INTIMIDATING.
His lectures are really intense with lots of words on each slide. Download the ppts offline and record his lectures. I left class for five minutes and came back completely lost to what was going on. He loves what he teaches, but goes really quick and doesn't leave room for students who have difficulty understanding, especially for a level 100 class
brilliant. tough, but brilliant.
Rude to students and fellow professors. If he tried to seem like he wanted to be in the class every now and then or was kind.... the students might actually respect and show up to class. Do not take any of his classes if you want to learn and discuss science. His powerpoints and attitude are awful.
Dr. Burian is an odd guy. He is knowledgable, organized, and predictable in class, but exudes impatience and arrogance as well. Many times I've wanted to ask him why he teaches, because despite the high quality of his lectures, it seems like he strongly dislikes his students. Be prepared to work hard on your own. He will not carry you.
I was on deans list with a 4.0 before taking this class. For a 100 level class this is probably the hardest class I ever had to go through. He will find any way to criticize your work. Most people in my class were retaking it because it is just that hard. If you can avoid taking this class with him I strongly recommend it
Absolutely brilliant man. The Walter White of Biology. Unfortunately, his brilliance brings a lack of empathy. So you have to deal with a satirical sense of humor and immense amounts of work given to really experience his intelligence. Worth taking; however, I would not take his classes if you do not adore bio. Love this dude!
I really didn't have much of a problem with the Professor I thought his critiques on lab reports were very harsh but as someone who is very experienced in the world of scientific research he was bluntly honest which is respectable. This had to be the toughest course I had ever taken if you have to take it prepared to work 500x harder than expected
Professor Burian is a very tough professor specially in lab. He grades lab reports very strict. He has outlines that you MUST follow or else he will deduct points SERIOUSLY. His lab exams are also tough. You must study very hard to be able to pass. For lecture, you must study all his powerpoints. Toughest professor ever. Study hard, you will be ok.
He is the most intelligent professor I've met and can teach you anything about Biology. He is a tough grader and holds high expectations. People say he is unapproachable, but that is a lie. Take the time to go to office hours and talk to him, he will help you in any way possible. He encourages you to take responsibility for you reading and work.
Dr. Burian is a very intelligent man but is tough on his students. His lecture slides are not well organized and can be confusing. Attending lectures are a must. He is an extremely hard grader and does not offer any extra credit or chances to raise your grade. Many of his students do not earn credit for the course. He has very high expectations.
This man is ONLY at southern to research. He seems to have nothing be animosity for students and if anyone DARES to ask a question outright or via email he is dismissive and rude, providing a one word answer if replying at all. He opened his class day one bragging about how many people he fails and consistently starts class early! Should not teach
Ultimately, it's his social skills that give him a bad reputation. Burian says that attendance is mandatory, but only in the lab section because he doesn't take attendance in the lecture portion and puts all of his lectures on blackboard. He wants to know that you want to be there to learn the material and not just there for a course requirement.
You have to really work hard in order to pass this class. He doesn't give out what you are supposed to study for the tests. You are better off taking notes on the slides after the class is over because he goes fast through them and since it's a lecture he doesn't slow down. He kind of expects you to know this information more than you probably do.
I didn't have Dr. Burian for lab but I did have him for lecture. His tests in lecture were hard for a level 100. You really need to read the textbook and take detailed notes. Studying is a must for this class. I would consider taking his upper level classes, he is very smart.
omg he's so monotone and is the type of teacher that teaches his students as if were all astro scientist taking a refresher course. i have so many friends who withdrew or failed.
I had to withdraw from his Invertebrate zoology class way too much information he acts like hes the only class your taking. Hes very smart and knows what hes talking about but its like he teaching medical school and not undergrad, my whole table failed his first test and i just withdrew smh dont do it
Worst professor ever!
He is inaccessible outside of class. He brags first lecture about how many Fs he gives per semester. He will convolute even the simplest of topics to make it difficult to answer correctly on tests. For a 50 minute class he gives 75 question tests- expects everyone to come early and start exactly on time. If you have class before his you are SOL.
This was the worst experience I have ever had at a school. He makes his tests impossible to pass. I was lucky that most people around me were retaking the class because he is known for loving to fail people, so they helped me out a lot! He also will not answer his emails, except to give a rude, sarcastic remark, if you are so lucky to get a reply.
Clear, concise, selects good material for slides, puts joke answers in tests, a good teacher. I do not believe he should be teaching intro courses as he is a difficult teacher and doesn't scale it down. You are going to want to study all material before tests as he is truly a ruthless grader. Won't hold your hand, best for more independent students
i had him for lecture and lab and he was a little intimidating to talk to at first but once you get over that hes actually helpful and not that bad, he lets you withdrawing late from his class w no problem. i just dont think he should be teaching entry level courses because he makes things a little confusing and is a ruthless grader.
I took his Medically Important Arthropods class and I really had to STUDY to get an A. You cannot take his class if you're not willing to study efficiently because he puts A LOT of information on his lecture slides, which are what the tests are based on. At least for an UPPER bio course W/O a lab he was fair and actually very understanding and cool
I really enjoyed his medically important arthropods class. His lectures are long but very interesting and informative. He posts the lectures online, and attendance was only 2% of your grade, so not much motivation to show up. Theres only two exams and a final which count for 80% of your grade, so you really have to make an effort not to fail!
I was terrified of him at first, but if you make the effort to talk to him and ask questions he's actually totally fine, he's always happy to answer questions in depth and bring out samples. My biggest advice is to not try studying everything: his exams are very selective, just pick a few topics and know them really well.
This was a baptism by fire in his course when I took him. No entry level biology course should be taught with this level of intensity. He opened the first lecture with "40% of you will pass this course, the rest will fail". Lecture exams were worth 66% of your grade and if you got below a C you're going for round 2. Many have struggled, few passed.
Class Info
Attendance Mandatory
77%
Textbook Required
50%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B-
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-1.37 avg changeRatings by Course
229
5.0
(1)ICTHYOLOGY
5.0
(1)BIO504
5.0
(1)BIOILLUST
5.0
(1)BIO429L
5.0
(2)Difficulty by Course
BIO100
5.0
BIO535229102
5.0
GENERALZOOLOGY
5.0
BIOL102
5.0
BIO103
5.0