2.2
Quality4.0
DifficultyN/A
Would Retake95
ReviewsN/A
Would Retake
95
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
8
4
14
3
15
2
18
1
40
What Students Say
“I am normally an A+ student, but thats hard to get when you right down exactly what he says and then he still marks your answer wrong”
BI151 - 1.0 rating“But he's not supposed to”
MULTIPLE - 4.0 ratingClass Info
Attendance Mandatory
80%
Textbook Required
100%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B-
Grade Distribution
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.40 avg changeRatings by Course
BS332
5.0
(2)BI469
5.0
(1)BS102
5.0
(1)LOTS
4.0
(1)BIOAA
4.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
ENVBIOL105
5.0
BIO04
5.0
BI489
5.0
BI02
5.0
UI360
5.0
Reviews (95)
This is a great course! Dr. Overmann is a wonderful teacher and really helps you visualize the concepts that he is trying to teach.
Dr. O is a good teacher. He is truly concerned about his students and helping them. He expects his students to be able to write which a lot of students don't do well, but I love it!!!
Dr Overmann acts like it is an inconveince for him to answer students questions.He thinks this is a 300 level course and grades everything like it is an English class. Many of the assignments are challenging and you really have to work. The good thing is he offers extra credit.
Very long and sleepy lectures, but still-fun labs. All you have to do is study the power points, if not, then you'll do horrible on the tests.
Do not take this class. He is the hardest grader I have ever encountered. Take a different class.
Dr. O is a great instructor, one of the best I have had here. He is very informative (sometimes too much so) and has so much information to give that it is sometimes overwhelming. His tests are evil because there is so much information but he is more than willing to let you have extra time to finish
Tough class for me as a freshman. He knows his stuff but his lectures are dark and tiring. Also, he is not very receptive to students outside of class. Nice chap, though.
DO NOT take this class. He seems like a nice professor at first, but then once you take the first test, you'll think differently. He claimed I plagorized a 150 pt. paper which killed my grade. Gave me zero points on labs I DID attend and gave out study guides that were irrelevant to the test.
Overall, Dr. Overmann is a good teacher. He might be a tough grader on certain things, but he is very laid back and easy going. He is a great guy to get to know and have as a teacher.
His tests are so ridiculous. I wrote as fast as I could for 50 minutes and still didn't complete his 16 pg(8 front and back) test. His lectures are pretty much like relaxation day in high school health with music and dim lights. If you're having problems sleeping, TAKE THIS CLASS.
I hate this guy's teaching style. HE class is very boring, and his test are super hard. I did get a A on the big paper but I still got a D in the class. Avoid him if you can.
All of his lectures are on powerpoint and on the internet so it really didn't matter if you went to class. We went on 2 field trips and there was extra credit assignments. His tests were hard and the end of the semester paper was tough. He is very strict with plagerism.
Dr. Overmann was a great instructor. You never have to show up for class cuz his lectures are onlline. The tests were very easy if you study the lectures. Everything was from his powerpoints. He doesn't answer students questions very well and he is a hard grader on the final paper, but I got an A. Just don't plagerize anything!
If you review the powerpoints, complete a few EASY papers, and show up to lab--easy A. Dr.Overmann is a great lecturer and truly cares about the subject and students--BELIEVE ME. WOuld take another course from him.
I like Dr. Overmann but the class is really hard for a 100-level class. The lectures are very boring, all of them are on PowerPoints, which is good that you don't have to take notes, you can just go online and find them. His tests are very long and you have to be a speed-writer to pass his tests in a short 50-minute time period. He's a funny person but he grades kinda hard. The labs are okay, kinda boring too. You learn a lot but you've got to study study study if you at least want to pass this class!
This guy is the devil and the class sucks. He is quite possibly the most boring instructor I have ever had and his writing assignments are ridiculous. If you want someone to write a 10 page paper, make the minimum 10 pages. What is so hard about that concept?
nice guy, funny, teaches well, tests are a little hard, explain more than you think you have to!
this guy cares more about trees than people
Fair teacher. Tells students everything that is expected. Most students that fail do it because they are freshman who don't think they need to be responsible for their own grades.
Not a good teacher. His tests are long and completely short answer. Also, if you miss the smallest detail on any of his class/lab assignments he gives you a zero. Also, I went by his office and told him I was worried about failing his class. His response, "Been there done that, I almost flunked out of college". So much for caring about students.
Gives zeros if you miss any details on his assignments. his tests are extremely hard and long. doesn't seem to care about students.
Tests are very hard!!!!!!!!!!
Do not take from him! REALLY hard and unfair grading... not worth the trouble
Tests are all fill in the blank. So the grading is all subjective. Do not take this guy unless you are a hardcore environmental biology major.
He gives too much work and his tests are incredibly hard. Unless you enjoy being overwhelmed, do not take him!!
His grading is really objective which I found very surprising. Don't expect ANY nice treatment if your late on an assignment. His test are all fill in the blank and about 5 pages long in 50 minutes. I swear I am not exagerating. I would have been okay if he would have warned us about the 6 page environmental papers.
He is awful!!! His tests are impossible and when grading assignments if you do not put his exact words, you can count on getting points deducted!! DO NOT take him!!!!
He gives people grades they don't deserve. He gives zeros if you miss the smallest detail on any of his assignments. As for exams, I sure hope you like ones that are completely short answer and essay and have questions that are pretty much impossible to find in the notes (even when studying using his study guide). Terrible teacher!!
He could care less about you. Don't worry about asking for help, he won't help you. He will give you zero's on papers for stupid things, Like the margin being off barely. His papers are HARD and very boring. Every class he sits up front and talks for an hour about boring stuff. Tests are hard. He teaches this class like its a 400 level class.
He doesn't care about his students at all. half of what was on his study guide, wasn't even found on any of his powerpoint slides. his tests are completely short answer and essay and usually range from 5 to 10 pages.
No Comments
He screws people over on their grades and doesn't care about it one bit. He also will not help you with anything (including improving your grade in the class). His tests are completely short answer (and ridiculously difficult for a 100 level class). Avoid him. Take Kraemer.
He is an absolute **** when it comes to grading homework and tests. When you are given a worksheet in class you automatically know that you are going to get half the oints becasue he just does not know what he wants. Also, on tests prepare to get a 75% or less.
This is not an easy course! If you do not work for it he will not give you a good grade. On tests you have to know everything he puts on the study guide in minute details and voice them on the test otherwise he will think that you are grasping for straws and don't really know what you are talking about.
The class material is extremely easy and I think the class should be easy, but he is very unclear on what he wants and he contradicts himself all the time. He isn't even sure of what he wants and then makes it hard on you. I think he is a very nice guy he just doesn't know what he is talking about.
No Comments
He is very bitter towards students and it shows in the grades he gives many of them. He doesn´t care whether his students pass.
This guy is out of his mind! 100 level course?!Yeah right!xpect to work your butt off and get nothing in return.He makes you scared to ask questions, and its impossible to get a good grade on his test,even if you do his elaborte study guides.what i want to know if why semo still has him on staff-ya,hes that bad
Hes a very nice guy, and I like the content of the class, but he is so freaking hard. I didn't do well in his class.
DO NOT take a course from this man!! He grades completely on his own opinion..and if he doesn't like what you have to say, you get a horrible grade! Nothing is good enough for him. He is not willing to help you. If you do take an online course from him make sure to do your work the secound he puts it up! Or you'll get a bad grade for waiting..YUCK!
First off, this teacher has no idea what he wants from the students. He acts very high and mighty and does not care about the students' needs at all. I personally experienced him smile and shrug at me over a problem. NO HELP AT ALL! His grading his some hippie crap and depends on how he feels...NOT THE WORK THAT YOU PUT INTO IT!!!
No Comments
DO NOT TAKE HIM! I wrote a paper and put countless hours into it only to receive a 'C' because he was not 'happy' with the way I had written it. This is AFTER I had taken it to the writing center AND gotten opinions from other people. Don't bother talking to the department head about him either.
This man is extreamly hard to please, your never correct, and he rules his class room...not even a decient professor.
He thinks his students have as much knowledge as him, he expects perfection. Students can never ever be right.
This is absolutely the worst teacher i've had my entire life. He's making a class that should be so easy and making it hard. First of all the man mutters to himself the whole time and I can't hear a word he says. Half the time he contradicts himself. You never know what he wants on journals. He grades so f'n hard. Save yourself and get Kramer.
Terrible teacher.There is always something wrong with an answer u give him. Mummbles and never really answers your question.Worst teacher ever.
Overmann was a horrible teacher!!! He is so boring, his grading is ridiculous, and he doesn't offer help to his student, nor does he care about his students (useless your one of his prized Env. Sci. majors). If you're thinking about taking him here's the best advice, DON'T!!!
I really didn't have as bad of an experience with Overmann as many of these reviewers did. The tests are hard, and you'll have to study, but he gives a lot of extra credit on them. I did fairly well on the papers with a minimal amount of work. The class wan't exactly fun, but it definitely could have been worse.
THIS CLASS WAS DUMB. I DON'T EVEN WANT TO TAKE UP ANY MORE OF MY TIME TELLING YOU HOW MUCH I HATE THIS TEACHER AND WISH THAT I DROPPED THIS CLASS. SO DON'T TAKE THE CLASS, SAVE YOUR TIME AND MONEY!!!!
As others says, he doesnt try to help students. But u can get an A if you read handouts carefully and do as they say. When u have Qs,ask him. He tells the answers. Also, youre sure to get over 90% on tests when you memorize all of the slides in class, which are available on web. Lots of Extra help makeup your lost points. Not bad in several ways.
After reading everyone else's comments I have to say...take his class online. It is wonderful. He is extremely helpful, the lectures are clear and concise, and there is no final exam. Awesome summer class, I would take another class w/ him in a heartbeat. Very strict about plagiarism...don't even try it. He is passionate about the environment!
HE IS SUCH A HORRIBLE TEACHER. I don't see the reason why he became a teacher, coz he doesn't help any body. If he helps, he would help one who is in his major. Not another students who is in another major. I am a international student, he doesn't care about it at all. He didn't help me out at all. He sucks at teaching!!!!!!!
Dr. Overmann is a difficult teacher. However, I found his class to be very fun and interesting. He has a way of making the subject personal in a way that I have trouble describing. If you want an A from him, you must work for it. Overall, I think I would recommend him to other students.
Dont need to go to the lectures because you can just print out the notes off the website. Tests arent too bad and always has tons of extra credit on them. grades the paper easily!
What a nasty and unhelpful person! Dr Overmann has a very bad attitude and he takes it out on students. He is the only professor I have encountered who seems to actually dislike students. He even disrespects the others professors in his department right in front of their students. Try to avoid any contact with Dr Overmann if you can!
Dr. Overmann's class is hard. His classes are occasionally fun, but I would not take him again. DO NOT take Dr. Overmann if you are foreign, he is hard of hearing and will be right next to you and ask you to repeat yourself several times. He mumbles a lot. ALSO he will give two people different grades for the same answer.
Very unfair at grading. Makes you feel stupid with your answers by writing question marks and "what?" next to your answers. Also, unfair "extra credit" opportunities..they're always during other classes!
This class will give you a really good understanding of environmental issues. I took this class online and it wasn't very hard. The web Quest can be a pain in the ass. You have to get them done early.
Dr. Overmann is not as bad as what his ratings are. If you HAVE to take this stupid class i would suggest him. He is extremely boring, but he doesnt require you to come to class, almost no homework, non-comprehensive final, and tons of extra credit. it is pretty easy to get an A in that class
dr. overmann is the worst teacher i ever had. he does not give a crap about any of his students. i read these comments before i took this class and now just adding to them because its all true. he grades ridiculous and takes off for nothing. do not take him.
Do NOT rent the book, keep your $22. You don't use it. All ppts are online, no use in going to class. Lots of ex cred offered.. He's a hard grader though unless you have EXACTLY the right answers..
ok..first of all DON'T TAKE CLASS IF YOU ARE NOT GOOD AT MEMORIZATION..It is really hard because tests are 80% of grade and Labs are just 20%..and tests are hard dont take him if you dont have to..I am never ever made a c in my college career and in this class i almost did..it is hard as freak! but study hard for tests. at least 3 hours seriously!!
Horrible teacher, He will not inform you why he gave you the grade he did and his grading system is based off nothing just how much he likes you.
He's very passionate about the subject. All of his notes are online, so there's no reason to really come to class, but go to ALL the labs! He's not very interesting and very BORING! He is also a very hard grader and doesn't explain why you received a particular grade. I wouldn't take him if I'd known how hard it was. Total MISTAKE!
Dr. Overmann is awesome, he has a really cool beard and he makes jokes in class. The content is very understandable and you would have to try to fail this class. If you aren't good at test taking, then just read the ppts as they are all on his site.
I was told to take his class because he was really easy, but not true! Attendance is definitely not mandatory. He won't even notice who you are or if you're there. He is a really really hard grader. First B I ever made at semo (I had a 4.0) Anyway, make sure he grades everything really carefully because he gets grades mixed up often.
He WAS the worst professor at SEMO. His lecture means nothing. I saw so many students stopped coming to his class or dropped the course. His grading is extremely hard on both tests and paper. His tests are all about memorization. Overall, I think he should just retire, because of his health issue and his quality of teaching.
If you have to take this class DO NOT TAKE OVERMAN. He makes it impossible to get an A. Grading is 100% his opinion, if you use one wrong word he will take most of the points off. Lectures are a joke, didn;t touch the book. Worst teacher I've had at SEMO.
His lectures are not extremely informative and very random. He looks for answers pretty much verbatim to his own words and counts off for right answers that don't use key words that he likes.
He could possibly be the worst teacher I have ever had. His lectures are completely useless. He just gives you a handout and does not explain it. His test cover information that he does not cover in class. He simply refuses to answer any questions and seems to be uninterested in his students progress. When you ask for help he denies it.
DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS WITH OVERMANN! He is by far the worst teacher I have had at SEMO and is beyond useless when you don't understand material. He doesn't explain any course work and just hands out worksheets. His grading is ridiculous. If you aren't using his vocabulary then the answer is counted wrong. Save yourself the headache!!
Absolutely the worst professor at this school. He is a biased, ignorant old fool that believes Yale University is not a legitimate resource. There is too much subjectivity in this class. The only way to guarantee a good grade is if you are one of his favorites. I suggest for every student to seize any opportunity to NEVER take a class from him.
He's really hard, but if you can handle it, you'll learn a lot
What a Great Guy. Loved the class. He will give help if your sincere about your grades and the subject. You just need to work hard
i dont know why he has so many negative reviews. I dont think hes a great professor but he is decent. Learning alot from his class although my grade doesnt show it.
He is a biased old man who discourages discussion. One kid tried to discuss an issue with him and he just kept on preaching. He has no interest in the students. He will not listen to your opinion at all if it differs from his own. This guy is terrible. He thinks his words are gospel and if you think different then he makes you feel inferior.
Dr. Overman may be one of the worst teachers SEMO has to offer, if you care about your grades do not take him. (1) he is the most boring man ever born. (2) His grading is completley bias and rediculous. (3) He can and will insult you on your papers by placing phrases like "what" next to crediable information. If you dont have to DO NOT TAKE HIM.
He is a super hard grader. I work SO hard in all of my classes and I barely got an A. He is helpful but he was just a super strict grader. It did make me work harder though so I am glad I took him in the end but if you want an easy class, don't take him
I absolutely hated my class with Dr. Overmann. He grades so obnoxiously hard on silly assignments. I am glad my major is not environmental science related, or I would transfer.
This class was ridiculous. I didn't pay to show up every morning and be handed a worksheet by an old man who sits there drinking coffee and only occasionally answering questions with a useful answer.
I am normally an A+ student, but thats hard to get when you right down exactly what he says and then he still marks your answer wrong!
He grades super hard, i advise anybody not to take him if you have other options.
Worst teacher EVER! He loves question marks! He doesn't teach the material until after he gives us a million handouts, and he fills the assignments with loads of question marks and missed points. If you want an A in Biological Reason, I'd advice changing professors.
He's the hardest grading teacher I've ever seen. When I say that, I mean it. His class is crushing my GPA; I'm at risk of losing a scholarship when I could recite everything we've covered to him if he asked me to. Even if you answer test questions correctly, they're wrong to him if they aren't an exact match of his answer key. Stay away if you can.
Dr. Overmann is obviously a very smart man and he expects a lot from his students. Questions on the test come directly from the study guide. He gives extra credit on each test and on the major paper. Make sure to take advantage of this. Easy A if you try.
-Class: not structured -Teacher: to expects too much and way to nit-picky smart man but too much busy work. DO NOT TAKE ANY CLASS WITH HIM STAY AWAY!!! -His Classes will be a cancer to your GPA
this man is not a good teacher
Dr. Overmann gives quite a bit of homework, but not what I would call a lot or too much. There are a TON of handouts. However, you have to be very careful how you answer questions. It's called Biological Reasoning, but if you answer what you figure is right, it will be counted wrong if he doesn't happen to agree with your point of view.
Lectures are boring and repetitive. There's always a lab assignment, but it's VERY easy - usually a video and some questions. He is a tough grader, but he gives TONS of extra credit on the tests. ALL test questions are on the study guide and come DIRECTLY from the power-points. If you try, you'll get a B. Overall, I would retake the class from him.
His labs on Fridays were pretty easy As. But that's it. I hated him. Even though the subject was very interesting, the way he taught it was super boring, he's a tough and very mean grader.
I don't even know where to begin with this guy. I took his class for recycling and waste management. WORST MISTAKE OF MY LIFE. The man has no structure in his class you show up and you have no idea what he is going to talk about. When you take notes and go back and study just be prepared to fail because I feel that's what he set you up to do!
Beyond a tough grader, he has tenure and does not care about his students. In a UI 300 level class the top test score was an 84. There is no making an A in his course, I advise you to never take his classes for any reason, find a different teacher. DO NOT get on his bad side, he will hold a grudge against you while grading all your assignments.
Had Dr Overmann for multiple courses, graduate and undergrad levels. Tough, but fair and clear, always knew where you were with the material and what was expected. Reading through some of the other comments, yeah, he won't give it away. But he's not supposed to. YOU are supposed to go in there and EARN it. Expect that? You'll be fine.
We would complete the handouts as a group and he would go over the worksheet after. We would correct the answers and receive a 8.2510 or 5.758 scores. The hand outs were basic participation points. How do you miss points after copying his exact answers? I failed a test due to using the word "because" twice. I retook the class with Judd, B+.
Class Info
Attendance Mandatory
80%
Textbook Required
100%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B-
Grade Distribution
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.40 avg changeRatings by Course
BS332
5.0
(2)BI469
5.0
(1)BS102
5.0
(1)LOTS
4.0
(1)BIOAA
4.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
ENVBIOL105
5.0
BIO04
5.0
BI489
5.0
BI02
5.0
UI360
5.0