2.8
Quality4.3
Difficulty39%
Would Retake148
Reviews39%
Would Retake
148
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
40
4
18
3
20
2
15
1
55
What Students Say
“Take ecology with Redmond or someone else”
BIOL3144 - 1.0 rating“Nice guy, but very very hard professor”
BIO2130 - 2.0 ratingClass Info
Online Classes
100%
Attendance Mandatory
81%
Textbook Required
0%
Grade Predictor
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Predicted Grade
B+
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ANIMALLAB
5.0
(1)ECOLOGYLAB
5.0
(1)BIOL3234
5.0
(2)BIOI
4.0
(1)EVOLUTION
4.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
BIO
5.0
BIO3144
4.8
2120
4.7
BIO3000
4.6
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4.5
Reviews (148)
Excellent TA! He is more than willing to help you. If you show interest he will remember that when grading comes around. Just go to lab and participate.
T.C. was the most helpful TA ever, not to mention the hottest. Defintely study the material, and follow his exact instructions for his papers. Show up for every class, he makes projects fun, even when outside in the rain.
His lab is not the easiest but he goes into detail on everything on his quzzes & practicals in Power Point presentations. So if you don't get anything in Lecture, you'll get it in LAB. Also very helpful.
Overrall he is really nice but his class is intense. There are pop quizzes and exams that can affect your grade. If you do not study HARD you will not pass. His exams are part short answers. If you need supplemental aid such as homework or study guides do not take him because he does not give it
Dr. Cao is a great professor! Biology is not an easy subject, however he does a great job of explaining the material. His tests require that you make connections and think critically, but if you take notes during lectures and study throughout the semester this class is very manageable. I am definitely taking him for Bio 2130 next semester!
I would encourage you not to take the course with him. He doesnt provide study materials, and the exams are usually 4-5 chapters worth of studying. He has discouraged me from being a biology major which sucks a lot, but things happen. If you plan on keeping a Bio major, get a different professor.
Dr. Cao is a great teacher but it is a tough class. You will definitely learn a lot but you must keep up with the reading and go to class. He doesn't give any homework or projects but he does give pop quizzes. His class has 3 exams + the final. He wants his students to do well and is willing to help in any way. I would suggest his class!
Wonderful professor! His PowerPoints are incredibly thorough and he has so many extra resources available to students (LEAP sessions/worksheets, bonus opportunities, office hours, etc.). It does take some effort to get an A, but it's only because the concepts are complex. He is more than willing to help and constantly encourages you to succeed.
Yes, this class is a bit tough but Dr. Cao is always there to help you if you need it. He would also start off the class with something really interesting going on in the world & stuff. No study guides for tests but this is a college course, don't expect him to hold your finger and walk you through stuff. Take responsibility for your own learning.
Takes his job way too seriously. He makes everything harder than what it needs to be.Offers study sessions but its just a repeat of lectures.He isn't clear on test directions so you lose petty points for simple things.He's also the"tough luck" kind of person so he doesn't care if your clicker messes up mid-test. You will get a 0.Avoid Him!
If you want a professor who's going to break down concepts and lectures geared towards test. JUST STAY away. He makes everything complicated for no reason his test require written responses where you lose many points for small things.Yes he tries to help you out. However this class should never be this hard, he piles on work especially in lab.RUNN!
Dr. Cao doesn't go over as in depth as you need to know to do well on his exams. Except for clicker quizzes, I could have skipped every lecture class to save myself time to actually read and analyze the text book, which is what he tests on. He prides himself on being fair and I guess he is if this was supposed to be a reading comprehension course.
He makes things harder than what they need to be! He doesn't test on facts he tests on concepts and principles and takes away petty points if you don't think exactly like him. Yes he's available for students who may need extra help but his help gets you no where. JUST RUN LIKE HELL OKAY. Also he's kind of rude if you have problems with clickers.
You have to go to class to pass. Its not mandatory but trust me going to class makes a difference. READ BEFORE CLASS. If you don't read you will never pass! Tests are hard so you have to critically know the material.
He tests on concepts not just the tons of material he expects you to read. It almost feels like you can't win in his class. He makes the material extremely difficult, you would think you were in a 3000 or 4000 level course. He's vague on study tips for tests and just tells you to know everything. If you're not a textbook learner, stay far away!
Dr Cao is good at teaching the material but his tests are very hard. Be prepared to read EVERYTHING in the book and memorize all the details from that and his lectures. If you want an A in the class get ready to study 3 weeks in advance for a test. He is nice and helpful, it's just a challenging course.
Tests extremely hard. Study for hours and still do bad.
Do not take this class unless you are great at Biology. It's hard to take good notes because he goes through the powerpoints too fast. Be prepared to read A LOT, if you don't read every single word in the textbook you won't pass. The tests are based on conceptual questions which make them very hard. You can study for hoursdays and still fail.
Dr. Cao is the best! His tests are tough, but only because he makes you apply your knowledge rather than just spew out memorized facts from the textbook. He's one of the most caring professors on this campus and he will help you find the tools to succeed not only in his class but in the major. Don't be intimidated; he's really cool! TAKE HIS CLASS
His tests are a combo of the book and his lectures. you MUST read the book. And don't slack on studying. He makes you work for your grade but it's doable.
You are going invest a lot of time in this class, so prepare your semester accordingly. If you are not good in Biology, this class isn't for you. You can study for weeks and still fail the test. It goes deeper than just know the material and spitting out facts. He is tough.
I got an A in the class. Before lecture, look over the topic you're gonna cover that day. If it's something completely unknown, skim over it so you have a general idea. In class, write down everything he says about the topics. EVERYTHING. Study those notes primarily. Go to SI before the exam. STUDY YOUR NOTES. Not hard if you use time wisely!!
This class was the toughest so far. Read the whole chapter before going to class. Write down everything he says. His tests are composed mainly of conceptual questions that make you THINK deeply with a great emphasis of what he says during the lecture so attend class if you want to pass. Sometimes gives free bonus points if he's happy that day
This was by far the hardest class ive taken. He expects students to sit inside of his head and understand the way he thinks. Tough/ petty grader. Tests are too long and hard to complete in a 75 minute class. Read every chapter before class and studied weeks before tests and still didnt do well. TAKE ANYONE OTHER THAN HIM.
Very hard. Tests were tough bc you don't know out of the whole chapters what he'll test you on. I did notice he tests on things covered in class, so focus on that for exams. The tests were actually fun to take, but still hard. He's nice, has been through a lot and is open about it. You will learn biology coming out of this class. I got a C.
Cao is a cool professor and down to earth. His class is challenging but not impossible if you make the effort. Tests are conceptual and require you to synthesize information. Go to exam reviews and peer leader sessions to prepare for exams. Half of the class usually failed the exams, but sometimes he would give an opportunity to get extra points.
Honestly, the hardest class I've had so far in college. Yes, it's true: you will have to work because the tests are hard. But he cares a lot about students so if you reach out to him, he'll help explain. Plus, never miss a class if you can, draw a lot of pictures, and fight for points on tests back in front of the class so you have extra support!
Dr. Cao is a great professor that cares about his student's success. A lot of people hear that he's tough and avoid him but he means well. He makes you work for the grade but will give you all the advice he can to help you through it. If you have him, becoming his friend is essential! Go to class, read the book, study in advance and you will pass!
The hardest class I've ever had to take, avoid Cao at all costs. Study for weeks and still not pass an exam.
This class was one of the hardest I have ever taken. His exams are multiple choice and free response. The multiple choice contains letters A-G with options of "all of the above" and "none of the above" . You have to study WEEKS in advance to get an A in his class.
This class is difficult BUT you can pass just by applying yourself and studying. He cares about his students a lot and lets you take extra credit quizzes to help boost your grade. If you take this class you will learn how to actually study, not memorize. This will help you make better grades in the future. Currently have a B in the class. Love him!
Took him for BIO 2130, by far the toughest class I've taken at UNCC but I've most definitely learned more in this class than I have in any other. Read the text before lectures, go back over notes after class, prepare for exams at least a week in advance, and take good in class notes. Most everything covered in class and on the powerpoint is on exam
I am writing a real review for average students who get A's and B's in college. Dr. Cao was a nice guy, but a terrible teacher. His tests are impossible and have multiple choice from A-G! I studied for weeks and couldn't get higher than a 70 on any test. If you have the choice to take another professor, do it if you want to pass.
He is a great professor but the people who don't want to do the work are the ones complaining about him. Want an A in the course?? Simply READ your textbook beforehand. Then, in class take amazing notes. If you don't understand something, ASK. IT WILL BE ON THE TEST. Go to study sessions. Study and apply the concepts. I ended up with a 95 .
Attendence isn't taken, but you would fail if you missed class because his tests are lecture heavy. I took Bio 2130 already, but it transferred as an elective, so I took his class because I felt I didn't learn a lot the first time and boy did he deliver. Go to preceptor sessions, and it help alot! You must know your stuff; no highschool memorizing.
Dr. Cao is a great lecturer. Yes, this is a hard class. But nothing on the test is new information. It's all covered in class. You will need to study a lot, and definitely go to SI sessions. The tests don't just cover memorization, it's how you apply your knowledge. I've learned a lot this semester and I feel like I really know it.
Generally an awesome professor. He's easy to listen to and allows group collaboration every now and then. His tests are very difficult- so please study. For the first test, I studied every day a week in advance and still ended up making a C. But he gives you a chance to make up some points throughout the class. Come prepared!
While Dr. Cao may be a "nice guy" he is a terrible professor. His tests are usually multiple choice with answer choices ranging from A-G with about half being a combination of answers. The other half of his tests are free response questions. These wouldn't be too bad if he didn't require information that wasn't asked for in the question.
Very knowledgeable professor and can provide answers to almost any question. If you're looking to make an A by relying on your work ethic and intelligence to pass this class you are mistaken. The tests are specific to what he measures as quality which may or may not be what you understand. Take Dr. Wisner. Dont take class with other science classes
Dr. Cao is an amazing professor! He truely wants his students to learn Biology, and apply it to the real world. The tests are hard but are not impossible. If you read the textbook, and take great notes in class you will ace that class! He cares a lot about the success of his students, and he is so funny!! You will definitely enjoy that class!
Dr. Cao is the best professor have had so far. He is very helpful and caring. The class itself is tough but not impossible. Attend all the lectures and take great notes because everything he says could be on the tests. He relates things we learn in class to real life which makes this class more interesting. Would definitely take his class again.
Dr. Cao is a great professor and makes lectures relatable. If you ask permission you can record his lectures which is really beneficial. He can tell if you put in the effort and will take time to discuss ways to improve your grade. Tests are tricky, however it's just to make sure you know information inside and out. Would definitely take again.
The tests are more detailed than the information that is covered during lectures or in the book. I studied the lecture PowerPoints and read the book but somehow made a 63 on the first test. Take ecology with Redmond or someone else. This class isn't worth jeopardizing your GPA.
Nice guy, but very very hard professor. 80% of our class failed the second exam and he said it was due to us not studying. Many questions on the exam would be off one specific topic that was on one of the powerpoint slides.
4 Exams total, each worth 20%. One service learning project worth 10%, attendance and homework 10%. Very lecture heavy content in course. You have to study a lot. Multiple choice are difficult, but not impossible, read carefully. Always go to class after an exam for a free 100 quiz. Take good notes, pay attention! Study with a group to drill info!!
Miss one class and you could easily miss 20 points off an exam. Exams were multiple choice with some answer choices ranging from a to f. Exams usually mc and free response. The third exam and final were all free response questions (choice for our class, not always the same format). HAVE TO read text book to get the multiple choice right. STUDY.
Exams are multiple choice or all extended response. Very Hard. Multiple choice might as well be free response as they are A-G or even I sometimes. I was about to fail his class as I got a 50 on the first exam. RECORD HIS LECTURES. on ur iPhone.. I got an 80 on all the rest of the exams this way.. which was sometimes the highest grade. its doable.
Dr. Cao just wants you to know the material inside and out, so tests are lecture-heavy. I had him for a special topic class and missed a day. My entire test was on the topic I missed that day (since he did a one-topic test). Good thing I had him for 2130 since it was on eusociality, his fave. He's super chill, and takes feedback well. LOVE Dr. Cao!
The material is heavy and he expects you to know how to explain the processes and functions of each chapter that you will learn. There is a service learning project and a 4-5 page paper that goes along with the project. The test are about 12-15 all multiple choice and the questions are hard. Each exam is from 4-6 chapters. NO STUDY GUIDE!!
His class is not hard. He asks for critcism but the probelm with that is he can't take any form of criticism. For example, he put a question on a test that wasn't in the book nor was it in the presentation. It was shown once in class and even after an email asking him to update his slides, he never did and then blamed me for it. His opinion is law.
Had him for eco. He's a fun professor and makes the material easy, but his tests, all free response, were very frustrating. I got good enough grades on them, but his grading always seems unnecessarily harsh and we weren't given enough time to write for the level of detail he requires in an answer. The book is very useful. Good prof. Tricky tests.
Tough professor. Grades harshly. Exams are completely short answer, and are conceptually based. Class revolves around discussions, prof can go off on multiple tangents throughout the class.
Dr. Cao wants you to learn and grow. He is going to push you to learn rather than memorize and his tests are difficult. By far one of the coolest people Ive met though.
Don't take him. I thought that the reviews here were exaggerated but they are not! Makes the exams unnecessarily hard. There areno extra credit or chances to make a better grade. The exams are 7-8 questions for a three-chapter test where you have to know every little detail and relate it to any questio he asks. The class is for PHD Graduates.
Dr. Cao is an amazing person, and he truly cares about all of his students. If you show up to class and work hard, he will do everything he can to help you receive a good grade. His lectures are interesting, but it can be difficult to take notes. Recording his lectures will help you succeed.
Dr. Cao is great! This is the first time I had him as a professor and he made a class about bugs very interesting. A 10 day pre-session course is hard, but he made it enjoyable with what we had to do in the online format! Great professor
Dr. Cao challenges you by making you think critically. All of his exams are free response and you have to synthesize information and understand topics, not just regurgitate information. Listen to his tangents-- he'll usually give you hints to exam questions. Only take him if you're confident in your biology skills and have a solid GPA.
He gives curves on every exam if the class avg is 5 points higher than it was before. He's honestly not that tough if you put the work in for it. It's best to take him for a summer class because he grades so leniently during the summer.
If it's summer and online or if it's online take it he's a lenient grader during that time. However, the exams are not enough time to make sure you get all your words in. You have to be a fast typer and you have to have good internet to submit in your exams at the time he gives. He is a hard grader.
I think people cheated in this class. There were a few students who got over 100 on these exams which are time-consuming and you don't have time to double to check your free responses. 90 mins for 9 questions isn't enough time to give the answer he wants which is super detailed and submit it on time. The material isn't hard he's just overboard.
you do learn, but you have to be super detailed on tests and there isn't any time to look back over what you wrote. You can never really finish his tests on time and give para detailed answers he wants. The material isn't hard but the amount of time given in relation to the # of q's is unreasonable. Not worth to screw gpa over. Eco and evo is key
So much you want to say on the tests but don't really have much time on exams. Free response on simple concepts. Will give hints in discussions but put time after class to understand them using outside resources. Will need to know a lot of details by heart and incorporate your own thinking. Curves are NOT always given it was only for summer session
Cao is the best professor i've had so far at UNCC. He is very detailed and passionate. His exams are all free response and not too bad.
he's a nice man but he's test questions are really hard and you rarely give a good enough answer. but if you participate in class a lot, he might be willing to curve your grade at the end.
Wowww this class is the most difficult class ive ever taken. If you have to take this, make sure your other classes arent difficult because this lab will take up all of your time everyday of the week. You will have like 5 different long assignments/quizzes due at the same day. Very difficult so keep up with your work but an A isnt impossible.
DO NOT TAKE DR. CAO. He is not understanding at all but acts like he is. Take anyone but him! He makes the class impossible to get an A. I spend over 5 hours a week on this lab.
Had this class online, classes were recorded, 1 group project, 3 exams, 1 final. He took forever to grade assignments/tests or to post the exam topics. I found myself studying 5+ hours a week for this class. Exams were all short answer and based off of boring sleep inducing lectures. It's was very hard to make an A let alone a B
DO NOT TAKE ANY CLASSES FROM DR CAO. Grading takes forever, open answers and he chooses your level of points you should get. No clear grading, Class is based off of subjects he choose. 3 exams, 1 final, 1 group Paper/Presentation
too much mastering bio hw and then tests that require you to type in a very time-crunched environment. short answers but HINT: FOCUS ON HIS RANTS questions will be from there not on the slides really. i wouldn't take him just because of the logistics of this class and honestly harder than it's supposed *retook it with Pennington, got an A*
Dr. Cao is the absolute best Biology Professor at UNCC, but he is also one of the toughest. If you take both the general biology courses with him, you will really excel going forward. He doesn't skip steps, easy to talk to, and caring. I had to read the book, go over ppts, and practice problems. I was able to pull out an A, but it wasn't easy.
Dr. Cao challenges your way of thinking about the course material. His exams are open ended and require you to actually have good knowledge of the material covered in class to be successful. The good news is there are plenty of resources at your disposal to prepare properly. Use your textbook, the powerpoints, and take good notes and you'll be fine
Cao's a very good professor. His exams are VERY hard though, but in the sense that they challenge your thinking and actual understanding of the subject. You cannot just cram the night before-- you will not succeed. It's hard, but I can say that I've learned the most from him
Not impressed. When you come to class expect to not be able to hear him well and listen to tangents. He classifies this class as discussion based but never once have we had an active discussion. Your best bet is to just read the chapters of whatever book he assigns and try to understand that material. If you reach out for help you won't get any.
I looked through all the reviews before taking this professor and thought "he can't be this bad". He is. Even worse than the reviews. The structure of the class is horrible, can't hear him, no help offered even when reaching out and he is the toughest grader ever. This was my first C in college and I am a senior. That says enough. Dont take him.
Cao is such a good professor. If you actually participate and show up to class you might be able to not get a low grade and perform well on his exams. I got an A on the first exam and it's not that hard. Just study?
Cao is a great professor. I'm not sure what these reviews are talking about. Everything on the test is something that he has covered in class. He is also gracious enough to provide a topics list for the test. It's funny that the same people that write poor reviews are the ones that do not show up to class because they want to party. Do better....
Dr. Cao is professor who doesn't just know what he's talking about, but also has interest in what he teaches. He is very curious and I feel his curiosity lurking in the room while he talks which makes me want to become more active and speak top more. I'm a sophomore in college currently and I'd say Dr. Cao has been one of the best professors for me
Dr. Cao is definitely a fantastic professor. His tangents, while frequent, are usually related to the subject at hand or something we'll cover later, like LUCA or the evolution of consciousness. Just pay attention and show up to class-- you'll be fine as long as you do those and study.
He only grades tests & attendance (all are free response). There is no clear grading scale so you might answer the questions correctly and still fail. No tutoring. All you can do is take notes on his lectures & read the super long assigned reading before class and hope for the best. It's a really hard class to pass or get above a C. Don't take him.
Dr. Cao is upfront from the start; he is a tough grader. You are expected to have critical understanding in his evolution classes and this can be done by really listening to him explain the attendance questions. He cares about his students and wants to see them succeed even if that means grading them a little harder. Make sure you read before class
Dr. Cao is a tough professor but if you just listen to him, he thoroughly explains the concepts. You have to take your own learning into your own hands at some points, but that's not his fault-- it's called academia. You have to be proactive and it really shows in this class. Great professor, awesome topics.
I admire the way he teaches but it is not easy. If you don't want to put in work, pay attention to his tangents, and can't consolidate thoughts into free-writing exams, don't take him. However, if you're ready to learn some cool stuff and push yourself this is a great prof. He likes when people reach out with genuine interest in class.
Dr. Cao has been probably the best professor Ive taken throughout my bio undergrad. His tests/assignments are more than fair if you put in actual effort. If I would have known about Dr. Cao prior to this class I would have taken his other classes before I graduated. His class made me REALLY love biology again and inspired me to want to do more.
Dr. Cao is the best professor I have ever had, easy. I'd take him if he taught Paint Drying 101. His lectures were very information-dense, but if you paid attention and were thoughtful an A was very achievable. All of his tests were long response, which was difficult, but he gave us every opportunity to learn. Also just a nice guy.
Dr. Cao is okay it was definitely an easy A and the TA's are amazing. A few papers, a debate, and science research report/poster. Only thing that really brings your grade down is the lab/recitation quizzes. Overall an okay course and projects can be crammed.
The grading system and course work sucks. There are only exams and participation grades. To make it worse, the exams are also not multiple choice, it is free response. If you don't give the definition he desires, many points are taken off. The power points don't have many words on them and you go off of what he is saying during lectures.
Professor Cao has been the best teacher I have had at college so far. Be prepared to work in this class, especially on group projects. While it can be a lot of work he makes the work enjoyable and is easily accomplished if you and your group members put the work in. Overall a very nice guy that is understanding and passionate about what he teaches.
There is a lot of group work in this class involving a lot of semi long-term projects. They can be a lot of work but if you and your group members put in the work it is easily accomplishable. Highly recommend putting some deep thought into the projects as it will reflect on your grade. He is very understanding and cares a lot about his students.
Expects all students to read MULTIPLE pages from the textbook before every class, and then talk about random things during his lectures. Attendance is participation, but if you do not answer the question correctly you do not get full credit. If you do not understand a concept he will NOT help you out and will tell you to study more. Terrible.
As a senior, please trust me when I say save the stress and take someone else. Not understanding, grades based on his beliefs, attendance is mandatory but is graded by a warm-up question. His exams are open-ended. I got a B but my classmates that studied the same Quizlet as I got C's or lower. They helped ME study. His grading is unfair. 1/10.
Dr. Cao is an amazing professor. These other students must not be studying hard enough. You have to actually put in effort and study-- using Quizlet to cheat on exams and HWs is not going to cut it. He is also not politically biased-- he simply cares about climate change and the world. Lazy students, in my opinion.
I would never take him again. He is honestly the worst professor I have ever had. He is rude to his students, claims there is no respect in the classroom and said if you ask stupid questions to do the class a favor and not show up to class. The tests are all opened ended and he grades subjectively.
Dr. Cao never gets through all of the slides during recitation and then expects you to know all of the info for the lab quizzes. He goes off topic and focuses more on sustainability and topics that don't relate to a gen bio lab. Save yourself a headache and your GPA and take anyone else for this lab.
Dr. Cao is a great professor and is really friendly, but his tests are extremely difficult. If you do not read the textbook, know the material inside out, or be able to explain everything in precise detail with examples, you will not pass. His tests are all open responses, highly specific, and extremely detailed. Trying hard is not enough.
This professor is known for his trauma dumping and his horrible class organization and terrible grading. The quizzes are ridiculous and I would never take this professor again. I don't know anyone who has an A in this class and it is only a lab! Don't take this professor.
He's not very understanding of issues outside of your control, during a hurricane my internet went out and he gave me a zero for attendance because couldn't answer the poll everywhere. Sent him an email and was basically responded that sucks. Quizzes will tank your grade they are hard for no reason. If you take him hope for an easy TA for grading.
First, all tests/in-class activities have been in essay form, wouldn't be a problem if he graded fairly instead of taking off points for missing the most benign piece of information. There is also a huge essay we have to write, apparently not even he can read them all cause we currently still don't have our final grades in. He's a fake intellectual
Dr. Cao is not a bad person however he is an unfair professor. If you miss one thing on your exam you will get a B or lower. It is extremely difficult to get an A. His exams are all free response and you never have enough time. Do yourself a favor, do not take him.
horrible and the quizzes are the worst
Gives weekly quizzes which are multiple choice with 7 possible answers which areextremely confusing and gives you 30 seconds to answer. Tells TAs to grade writen assignments harshly. Seems to not care much about students. Sitting close to the front of the class as he is very soft spoken and you will not hear him from the back row.
Grading criteria isn't clear at all. His exams consist of only written response questions and you're basically expected to write an essay for every single one without enough space to write and not enough time. Take this class with literally any other professor. The class itself is easy and common sense but he manages to make it difficult.
really enjoyed his lectures but its more of philosophical POV. exams are open response and when u compare his answers to urs - they're almost identical but will mark it completely wrong. ended up trying to figure out what answer will impress him rather than just trying to answer the question correctly. evolution, professor pleaser, or philosophy?
Dr. Cao is one of the worst professors I've had for a course in general. His quizzes are like saw traps in that they're impossible to do well on. His recitations were even worse being stuck in a room with him rambling about stuff THAT WE DID IN LAB! I'd only recommend taking him if you enjoy pain and suffering to an extreme extent.
The absolute worst professor I have ever had the displeasure of having. Extremely tough grader and has quizzes that are meant for you to fail. Does not care about his students or help them at all. Assigns projects and work that has no business being in a general bio lab. DO NOT TAKE HIS CLASS SAVE YOURSELF THE MENTAL ANGUISH.
for a 2000 level class, the amount of work is insane. the lab is fine, but recitation is a waste of time. the quizzes are harsh, and the lectures are a bunch of nothing. the lab quizzes are already tough, there no need for more tough quizzes. sorry to all the incoming bio freshmen
Now, I've only gotten A's in college, but this guy will be my downfall, I can see it. He makes you read these articles for quizzes, answer choices are literally made to trick you, with like 7 different options. He is very cocky and talks like he is the smartest man alive. DONT TAKE HIM! I hope he sees this too. The only good thing about his is.. jk
This is by far the worst professor I've ever taken. His tests are all open ended. If you do not answer the question in his terms, it'll be wrong. If you recite the book word for word, he'll still say you're wrong. His teaching style is terrible and his lectures will make you fall asleep instantly. Save your mental health and DO NOT take Dr. Cao!
Dr. Cao was not caring or understanding at all. Out lab TA talked to him about how we
Professor Cao's quizzes may be a little hard because of the multiple articles that he posts (3-4), but I assure you that by taking proper notes- then you'll be fine. DO NOT THINK YOU'LL PASS IF YOU DON'T STUDY! This is a college lab course, study and pay attention rather than planning to cheat. There will be papers and group projects so get ready!
Cao talks about nothing and is very unhelpful. My TA was a lifesaver. Quizzes are purposely made hard and extremely specific. Lots of group projects such as research paper, carry out experiment, research posters, research presentations are all things you must put time into to get a good grade. If you do good on those, it overrides any bad quiz.
This class was alot of work considering it was 2 credits. This literally was my worst class the entire semester. For it to be a lab, there wasn't a lot of labs. You have 3 big projects that make up a good chunk of your grade. There are lab quizzes every week as well as quizzes in recitation on separate content than what is being taught in your lab
DO NOT TAKE CAO. He's so unsympathetic and won't bend policies for any reason whatsoever. The tests are impossible and the TA's are so harsh with the grading especially Kate. I strongly suggest to choose another prof if there is one, and if not, good luck charlie.
Quizzes every week in lab and quizzes every week in recitation. The lab quizzes are so impossible and they bump down your grade. He also likes group projects which were awful because one person always gets stuck doing the most. The TA's are terrible (especially rachel). DO NOT TAKE THIS COURSE WITH HIM. He's very nice but doesn't get the vibe.
Impossible quizzes in labs every week (on paper), we don't do many labs! We do lots of group projects that are very difficult and TA's grade very harsh for no reason (this is a 2 credit lab!). Dr. Cao is very nice but seems to not understand why people don't do well in his class. He literally said "too bad" when people complained about the quizzes.
This class made me want to die. Extremely difficult for just a lab and lab quizzes each week are impossible (no one does well on them and the average is always a 40). TA's grade harshly and they should be fired.
Possibly the worst class I've ever taken - makes Chemistry look like a breeze! Quizzes are given twice a week (one for lab, one for recitation) and are filled with trick questions. No extensions given for the research project, even though our supplies came in a month late. TA was also harsh when grading presentations and the debate.
The lab depends entirely on who you have as a TA. I had Manoj and he was a lenient grader, he also was extremely helpful during our labs. The quizzes ARE hard and I always did poorly on them HOWEVER the group projects made my grade go up significantly. It all depends on who you are grouped with together and TA. Either way 2140 wont beofferedanymore
worst professor ever!! harsh TA's, and gives out quizzes that no one does well on. Very soft spoken so I recommend sitting closer to the front during recitation. TA's refused to help out students during projects and Professor Cao's lectures were practically useless. Extremely stressful class for just a lab!! ridiculous.
We only did 3 labs in this class and we had to do a lot of group projects. The TA's grade are very harsh graders and make rude comments after presentations and projects are presented. Dr. Cao's recitations are practically useless and his lab quizzes are impossible to do well on. Save yourself and take someone else.
WORST PROFESSOR AND EVEN WORSE TA's!!! Impossible lab quizzes, useless recitation, and TA's have bad attitudes towards helping their students. I do not recommend Dr. Cao at all and I would advise everyone to take someone else to save your GPA.
Literally EVERYONE was struggling in this class. This class was ridiculously difficult for no reason when it was just a lab. Dr. Cao gives out very difficult lab quizzes & very time consuming group projects. It seems that he believes that people are only taking his class without any other classes.
Pray you get a good TA because that's all that will save you. Poll everywhere quizzes are brutal.
I still don't understand why he made this class so hard considering it was a 2 credit lab. He needs to reevaluate his teaching style and his awful quizzes. No one did well on the lab quizzes and then our TA kept telling us how she was disappointed in our scores and did nothing to help us do better. The group projects are awful too. Don't take him.
Very tough grader, tests and attendance was all written responses so you NEED to know the information. Barely any grades besides attendance and tests
This lab was an ABSOLUTE nightmare. For the work I had to do it should've been worth 5 credits. Insane grader, good freaking luck on the quizzes if you have him because it's a shot in the dark to word the quiz how he wants you to. Lab activities where a joke 6 pages of the same question over and over again. The debate has a 5 page group essay.
Dr. Cao is the lab coordinator for 2130 and has the 1 credit hour course set up where you are working 5-20 hours a week on getting everything done in lab, studying for weekly tests given out before lab, and working on ridiculously detailed projects including an hour long debate with a 5 page 11 point font paper. If you can, take it at CPCC.
4 labs, 2 projects. This lab was tough b/c of the quizzes and his grading. It depends on the TA you get--I'd recommend taking it with Vedika. You can survive if you read the articles and take good notes, and sometimes the quizzes are in pairs. Don't miss class because Dr. Cao is not very understanding and won't let you make up the quizzes/labs.
I took Dr. Cao's summer evolution class and I enjoyed it overall. He tries to make his class engaging and I learned a lot from his class. Just a warning, he is a really tough grader since looks for details in your short answer responses, so I suggest reading before class. He also provides extra credit and curves your exam grades.
Genuinely my favorite biology course I've taken. Though the exams could be difficult, I believe that they were graded fairly and the questions directly reflected concepts we spoke of in class. I also really loved the discussion based lectures and how we were encouraged to think in depth about the concepts.
I have General Biology II Lab (BIOL2130L) for the fall 2024 semester and I believe that the whole lab needs to be reworked. First, there are long quizzes that have so much reading to do beforehand when students have asked for videos or shorter readings. Second, the lab barely had ANY experiments. Just presentation, 1 experiment, and a debate.
I do not recomend taking this course with Dr. Cao. He is not understanding at all of outside circumstances such as car trouble , surgery, submission issues. The pre-quiz before class is very specific as well, if you do not give a paragraph answer or enough information, you WILL lose points. You do not learn much in this class either.
I had Dr. Cao for my first semester at UNCC. I started in the course with an A average, and because of technical difficulties that I've been struggling with throughout the semester (that has been proven), he gave me a zero on an assignment, dropping my A to a D. I wouldn't take him at all. If life happens to you, he will punish you instead of help.
TA saved class, literally. Horrible formatting of the class (tests every week, 2 hours worth of reading, supplemental videos), the lab structure had NOTHING to do with the lecture portion. Scientific article presentation, ONE experiment at end of semester that took unnecessarily long to do, and a debate. Dr. Cao is extremely rude to students.
This class was an absolute nightmare. The lab quizzes were brutally difficult, and the TA's didn't offer much help. The group projects were also a huge time sink. Thankfully, Unstuck AI was a lifesaver for quiz prep. Definitely take this class with caution.
If you are at risk of experiencing any issues during the semester DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS. Strict grading heavily based on reading quizzes and two group projects. He asked me to submit documentation, then declined it. Only thing that saves this class is what TA you get.
I graduated from UNC Charlotte after taking three of Dr. Cao's incredible courses. His lectures pushed me to think deeply, make unique connections, and ignited my curiosity. While rigorous, his support and compassion made his classes truly transformative, strengthening both my academic and life skills. A brilliant professor and an inspiring mentor!
The most ridiculous one credit course I have ever taken. With the amount of work that was assigned it should have been a three credit course. Extremely disrespectful of our time to give us so much work in such a silly, low level class. Awful class.
Do not take. I love a hard test but his were straight up unfair. His lectures are slow and uninteresting, and he holds his students to a standard that I doubt any in his class met. I could write an essay on how awful his class was and I was only in it for a month. Do yourself a favor, find an alternative.
Not the best in terms of actually teaching the material well. No one can keep up with a 90 minute lecture with non stop talking.
Tough grader since he doesn't teach traditionally. We were his first grad level evol class, main thing was the course felt disorganized. Most other issues came from the class not participating. Uses textbooks but gives you everything as a pdf. Very knowledgeable guy with a cool backstory. This class frustrated me but was one of my favs.
Although I didn't have him directly, the lab TA that are under him are TERRIBLE. He barely teaches the TA's, as they don't know what they are doing half the time. I even have friends with other TA's that complain about the same thing. That gives me the "light bulb" that Tuan Cao isn't teaching these TA thoroughly and making UNNECESSARY rules.
Gen Bio II lab is a complete joke and it's 100% this guy's fault. ZERO actual lab experiments, instead you will waste your time doing pointless busy work assignments and to make it even worse they're always extremely long and have terrible instructions. On top of that, a semester long project where they provide no resources or structure. Awful.
Had him for Evo and Field Ent His lecture exams are hard because he wants you to actually understand the why's and how's, and his test questions reflect that. So read the textbook and try to understand each topic, engage in the discussion, and go to office hours if need be. You'll retain far more information from Dr Cao's courses than others.
Ridiculous amount of work and the projects are a complete waste of time. Quizzes are difficult and he gives a lot of reading for them. TA's didn't know what they were doing and it was an inorganized shitshow every class. One experiment and nothing but busy work. I would rather stick by balls in boiling water every week than come to this lab.
Bio2 lab- prelab quiz timed and lockdown browser,1 in-class assignment, which is supposed to be submitted at the end of lab, and 1 you work on at home to submit before the next lab. Lots of group projects, but there is a form for each assignment in case someone in the group is not participating, so you won't be penalized if you did your part.
Our lab was basically run by a TA the whole semester, so never saw Dr. Cao. Labs were more like "busy work" worksheets, a debate about stuff like climate change, and a huge group project where you design a experiment, write about it, and present. Weekly quizzes were on LockDown, super detailed + timed (10 Q in 10 min...yeah, good luck).
I literally transferred from this school 3 years ago and I still come back to remind everyone that Dr. Cao is the worst prof ive ever seen. He is so rude. He called me STUPID in office hours TO MY FACE... The class is organized terribly. It invents demons because ur groupmates are terrible. He also reads these reviews (weird). Awful guy.
His classes are demanding and not for the faint-hearted, but deeply rewarding. He pushes students to think more critically and creatively, enabling them to learn concepts in entirely new ways. Honest, direct, tough-love style, but he genuinely cares. Put in real effort and perseverance, and he'll go out of his way to support you. Amazing professor.
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