2.9
Quality3.9
Difficulty62%
Would Retake99
Reviews62%
Would Retake
99
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
18
4
25
3
18
2
20
1
18
What Students Say
“Unfortunately he's the only one that teaches this course”
BIO281 - 2.0 rating“But Bill is hands down the worst kind of professor you could end up with”
BIOL103 - 2.0 ratingClass Info
Attendance Mandatory
50%
Textbook Required
60%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.23 avg changeRatings by Course
BIO102
5.0
(1)BIOL202
5.0
(1)BIO104AND105
5.0
(1)ZOOLOGY
4.5
(2)BIO103LAB
4.5
(2)Difficulty by Course
BIOLOGY
5.0
BIO1
5.0
BIOL201
5.0
ZOO220
4.7
BIOL103
4.6
Reviews (99)
Wonderful man. even lets you call his house if you have any problems, just dont call if you need bail money. Had to study but was very nice and helpful. I'd take him again in a flash.
No Comments
Bill Brenneman is a great prof. and he is hilarious to top it off. His stories about his wife and twins are great. Very relaxed class, you can even call him by his first name. No homework, but the tests are very challenging.
Don't let those others fool you. Don't take this man. He might be funny, talking about his testes and whatnot, but I have had to put more work into this class than classes for my major... this simply should not be.
Tests are hard, but not to bad if you keep up with the notes and the books, Just one won't get you by. But Billy B is cool and Hella funny.
Do not take him if you're not good at biology. His tests don't reflect what you learned AT ALL. He's not mean or anything, but if you're not a biology major, do yourself a favor and just take someone else!!! I can't stress that enough!
OMG don't be a fool and take this class...the test are ridiculous...please please please take someone elese if u can...if not...find someone who is a bio major to help you pass this class!!!
Dr. B is great! Always willing to help and absolutly hilarious! Take him if you can! =)
The material covered in class is extensive, unorganized and uncleare. Exams=rough. Plan on studying A LOT. Lectures are unclear and unorganized also. Funny, sarcastic man but rude and loves to talk about his family!!
I took Bill for two consecutive semesters my freshman year and he is a pretty good professor. Funny thing is I never used the book and just used my lecture notes and I ended up with a B in his class both semesters. He's not that bad of a prof.
Boring lecture w/ overheads every day. Does a mediocre job organizing notes/thoughts. Tests are challenging given the lecture content. You must read the book and study hard to succeed.
tasty and savory...a delight
Very hard tests. His lectures are very unorganized. I think i could tell you more about his family than biology.
HE SUCKS
Well structured class, overheads are boring, but teach the lesson well, tests are easy if you study, and I dont know why people complain about studying, I mean, if you are planning on going to college, of COURSE you have to study...duh!
his test are harder than chinese math
Those tests were killers. It really wasn't very much biology, more chemistry and physics. It was tough, but I think his humour was awesome and I was interested in class. He's a nice guy and very personable.
I am a Junior with a 3.8 GPA and have never had a teacher give a test that 50 of 53 students flunked and think it was the students fault. He does not test on solely what he teaches but on an understanding of higher concepts from what he taught.
I love BB!!!
Tested on material never even mentioned in class, or in the text!
Sooo unorganized and uses stuff from the early 90's. DO NOT BUY THE BOOK! He will tell you to and then 2nd month will say throw it out.I wasted money on that class and ended up dropping it bc the tests had nothing to do with the lecture and I literally fell asleep because he makes no sense at all.
If you are smart do not even think about taking this class!He teaches class by using overheads and he has the worst handwriting sort of like chicken scratch!He teaches to the end of class every time.His test are hard as a rock.His review sheet is a joke! His humor is lame and boring!YOU WILL FAIL!
terrible terrible teacher. one of the worst i've had. talks but doesn't explain anything.
He is a great teacher. As long as you read the chapters, do the study guide and study slides you will be fine. He is the best option for this course, the other is Hulse. Hulse - BAD! Definitely the best teacher for Zoology!
No Comments
He's a really fair teacher, but his tests are practically impossible. It's bad when no one can get an A on one test.
This class is incredibly boring. I had it at 9:15 and I rarely could stay awake. His tests are terrible because they are only on the notes. He does give bonus quizzes, but not often. The average % on the last test was 54%.
He doesn't care wether you pass or fail. He doesn't take any responsibility if the entire class fails, he will not curve. I would not even recommend this class to someone i hate.
If you can't pass Gen Bio you have a problem outside of your professor. Brenneman is a great prof and really loves what he does. I would def recommend him
Dr. Brenneman is a great professor!! Just cuz these people don't think its easy doesn't mean he is bad!! Hard info gets you thinking..that's why your in college! His humor is great, his tests are fair and he enjoys his job which makes him one of the best at iup!
brenneman, for the zoo prof's, is awesome. It is not the easiest class, but if you go, you wont be confused. It does take studying, but def. not impossible. If you just need to pass, a C is easy, and B is duable, A's do take a lot of work. Study guides have the essay questions on them, so study them
doesn't change his teaching methods when everyone has failed the same test each year. don't take him.
he's great. explains things well. as long as u go to class and go over ur notes at least a little b4 the tests u'll do fine. just bc u hafta put a little work in doesnt mean he's a bad teacher. he gives u all the info, u just hafta take a little initiative to learn it!
Dr. B is the greatest professor!! I love him!
Not easy, not impossible. You MUST attend his lectures and take good notes to do well. Be prepared to put in a little extra time into either of these classes.
No Comments
He's a great guy. He knows his material and can always make you laugh. His exams aren't easy, but there is no reason anyone should fall below a C. If you go to class, LAB, and take good notes, you'll get an A.
GO TO LECTURE! He can go off on tangents, but he's alright. Just make sure you listen.
exams are not easy, but as long as you go to class (he gives bonus quizzes on days a lot of people don't show up) and study a bit you will be fine. goes off on tangents, but they do usually relate to the lecture material, and they can be a bit interesting.
i loved to listen to him talk...hes so interesting:) Its no harder than any other class im taking, it just has more material. Id recommend him, he makes class interesting.
No Comments
if you enjoy listening to lecture for an hour and a half about absolutely nothing...go ahead..take bill...but this guy... is SO bad...SO SO SO SO SO SO SO badd. i mean bad. BAD bad BAD BAD BAD BAD BAD BAD BAD BAD let me explain bad... bad means SHOOT MYSELF IN THE FACE AS HE IS TALKING
This teacher sucks. He talks basically about nothing and goes off topic alot. Tests are hard sometimes some of the material isnt even covered in class and will still put that stuff on the test.Not all that helpful either. I wouldnt even recommend him to my worst enemy!
He's a great lab guy. The quizzes are sometimes challenging but overall he's great. I found solace in his belief in evolution when I was surrounded by creationists. I enjoyed his class even though it was 8 am on friday. Crazy!
OK get the study guide, find the answers and study your ass off. This is what works, I mean I cant speak English right and I made it without a problem. FARRR better than that Hulse guy. Very friendly, knws his stuff, willing to help. Looks like Santa
Nicest guy ever and he really cares about students. Zoo is not the easiest class in the world, because there is so much to learn, but he gets you through it with minimal discomfort.
Doesn't clarify much, and has the tendency to go off on tangents for half of the class. Granted, he's a nice and funny guy, but he's a poor teacher.
Teacher goes off track basically every class. Hardly any notes expects you to teach yourself.
Hes the worst teacher i have ever had. Every class he got off track.Tests are hard, take lots of notes (if u can). I will never take another class for his again
He shouldn't be teaching Basic Bio.... He is funny, bad teacher thought. Curved grades in the end. Some things on the test were not in his notes, I wouldn't take him and if you have him...Class average was like like a 59% that he didn't understand that it wasn't our fault, it was his teaching
I don't know what you guys are talking about. He is a great prof. This is college people! Zoo is a hard class, and I am proud of my B. He doesn't give you an A just because you're cute or flirty. I think if I worked as hard in the beginning, I'd have gotten an A. Take it serious from day 1 no kidding. He expects you to know it, not recognize it.
Brenneman is the man! He is a heck of a nice guy. ZOO isnt too hard if you study for it. Of course Im a BIO major so I like doing the stuff anyways. Get the book study and make sure you study for the practical part of the test, or he'll get ya. LOL Fun class non the less
He is a nice, funny guy, but I would not take this class if you can get around it! The tests are all written and memorization! Hardest tests ever.... 7 people in my class were in there retaking it b/c they failed last semester!
He is very difficult. My Lab professor had to clairfy his notes for us before every exam. I would not recommend him if you are not into Biology
Nice, funny guy. Tries to make lectures more interesting. His tests are supposedly based on the notes taken in class. He doesn't use the text. However, no matter how much you study your notes you will see questions on the tests that you have never seen before. Very difficult to pass. And he never replies to emails.
Do not take him if you do not have to there are way better profs you can take. if you have to take zoo please help yourself and do these two things. study like crazy for the lab practical, i.e dissections and looking in your photo atlas, two look at your book while taking notes in lecture it will help a lot. overall hard, yes, fair, definitely.
This man keeps me awake. He is funny and knows his stuff.Isnt 100% from the book but guess what if you pay attention to what he says and take notes while he talks you're fine. It's college guys..He cares if YOU care.Piss him off and he closes doors on helping you out. He doesn't expect everyone to be bio majors so he refers to outside things..GREAT
Zoology...write down everything he says in lecture, as this is what he tests on! Also know all the classifications he gives you. Tests are hard, but fair. Dr. B is hilarious, and class was never boring! Lots of work, but a fun class.
Zoo- tough class. Rough exams with tough practical portions. If you attend class and write down the terms he mentions and later research each, you can certainly survive with a B. Don't wait to study for exams- do tiny bits of review on classifications and structure-identification daily and this class becomes simple. He's a funny guy and cares
Horrible prof. I attended every class, took down every note up there, and studied til it blurred together. he was nearly impossible. had to end up curving the grades because 3/4 of the class was failing. there would be questions on the test you have never even seen before-- not in notes or in the book. do not take him if you want to pass bio!
He's not funny and it's not the place to rant about inane views. We spend way too much time browsing youtube videos but not enough actually learning zoology. It's memorization based, and the material isn't hard to understand. The exams are impossible still so that's why this is rated harder. This is the worst class I've ever taken in college.
I really liked his classes...I have taken him for both Bio I and Bio II...its college...show up for class...take notes...pass class...easy ;o)
Seriously went to most of his classes and still got a d. Didnt go over anything on the tests. We had extra credit quizes but they didnt help at all. Doesnt curve! Spent two classes on the reproductive system and it was hardly on the test. It was more an anatomy class than it was a BIOLOGY class. I do not recommend him at all.
Let's get one thing straight - Zoo is hard. If you want an A in this class, you'll need to start studying at least a week in advance and take very good notes. Pay attention to concepts he discusses in class, and attend his review sessions. As a teacher, Brenneman is quite funny and shows relevant youtube videos which keeps the class interesting.
Bill's class is tough, but fair. You can't expect to just walk in, listen and pass. You have to take notes, look at the slides, STUDY and read the book. The tests are not hard if you study. The only reason people are complaining is because they are not trying. He will help you a lot if you just ask. He is very approachable.
Not an easy class. You really need to read ahead, show up to every class, and take notes. doesn't curve exams! I did basically fail every exam though and pass with a C so it is possible
Horrible guy! he is so rude and his tests are nothing of what he lectures. he makes you buy a $190 book you dont use at all. DO NOT TAKE HIM!
Without a doubt the worst teacher i have ever had. He goes on rants throughout the lecture and his notes consist of pictures. The class average on every test was in the 50's and he does not hold himself accountable instead blames everything on the students. do not take him, if there are no other teachers available wait until next semester.
Hate this class! Tests are impossible! He seems like a good guy and very knowledgable, but the tests are simply unreasonable. I attended every class, read every chapter (outlining most the time as well), and studied to do horrible on the tests along with every other person in my class. I do not suggest taking him, unless your goal is to fail Bio 10
Don't expect to not work hard in this class. In order to pass you MUST go to class and write down everything he says because some of it is not in the book, but on the exams. Therefore, note-taking, and reading the book is essential to pass this class. LOTS of memorization. Hard class but if you work hard you'll pass.
Tough! But if you do the work and come to class you'll be fine. Use the book just to clarify certain points because more of the questions come from the notes. He is a difficult teacher, but a nice guy.
Very hard class. Write down everything he says, read the book, and study the review sheets many times. There are things on the test he never covers and the tests are hard. Most of your grade comes from the tests, homework is easy but doesn't do much good beyond studying. Likes to talk about mating in any species on a constant basis.
Attendance is NECESSARY, do the homework, read the textbook. Take GOOD notes, i recommend taking a laptop since he jumps around a bit. FLASHCARDS ARE A MUST. Do not put anything past him on exams, if you have questions ask, he will help. LOOK AT THE SPECIMENS, they will appear on the exams.
I have an A in this class. It can be done. But Bill is hands down the worst kind of professor you could end up with. He doesn't teach! He just rambles. His tests are near impossible and by some stroke of luck I did well. C'mon Bill.. this is level 100 Bio. We're not bio majors and don't give a crap. Over 60% of the class is failing. Don't take him.
He had a review session once on AIM which no one uses anymore and logged off ten minutes after starting the review. Very unclear and goes off on tangents constantly in class.
The grades are based on 4 test. He test are insane, all short-answer, a tough practical portion and 6-7 essays. The homeworks is just "mindless" busywork little revelance to the test. He doesn't believe in multiple-choice/ matching/ ( believes that you will not "learning anything" and WILL NOT CURVE the test. Class average on test-mid 60's
Let's face it, zoology is hard. But this professor doesn't care about you. Test are infinity hard with mostly ALL completion on topic not really covered in class. The HW isn't useful. You should avoid this professor, he is horrible. You will end up with a "surprising" grade even if you study!
Worse class I have ever taken in my two years of college. I am a bio major and this class is actually making me reconsider my major. He is not helpful at all, and his exams are ridiculous. try to avoid this professor although i believe he's the only one that teaches zoology at yup :/
As the other comments have said, this teacher can't teach. I had a 4.0 GPA as a biology premed, and he will make you hate zoology. For the test, it you know literally EVERYTHING or you fail.The homework is some busywork, and little to do with the class itself. Frankly, In my three years at IUP, this professor the worst teach that I have come across
Great professor. I had him for Zoology. He's willing to help you and explain further if you ask, and if you just listen and take good notes, you'll do pretty well on the tests. Read the book as well, it helps. Only issue is that he use the Co-Op Store and jumps around on the powerpoint. Very entertaining.
Thought this would be my favorite class but he's a major waste of students' time. Constantly goofed around & tried to be silly/funny. Doesn't take class seriously but then is a stickler when grading. Never completes all the course material. Will throw you a 100 vocab matching exam and think its funny to see the look on students faces.
Great teacher, great classes. You do have to work hard to do well. It is a lot of material. But is definitely doable! I loved Bill and if I could've taken more of his classes I would. He has a great personality, knows the material, and will make you laugh. I highly recommend taking him!
Thought this class would be lots of fun, but ended up being more about stories when he was in grad school, and doing research. Says exams will be based on his powerpoints, but really it's all about what's in the book, so read it. Unfortunately he's the only one that teaches this course. I wasn't too happy with this class. This is your warning.
He doesn't grade anything except tests (there are only four) and you are left wondering about your grade until the final is over. Everything is term memorization and if you can't spit the lectures at him verbatim then you have almost no chance of passing.
I struggled with anxiety and ADD an incredible amount my Freshman Fall semester. I was seeking medical attention at the time, he was unsympathetic. I failed his class and retook it a year later, in a much better mindset. He laughed in my face and said rude things about me repeating. Tests are hard. Memorize everything. I hate zoo cuz of this class.
HE IS THE WORST. Absolute WORST. He didn't grade any of the material for the course until after it was CLOSED, so none of us could see why he gave us extremely low grades. I am beyond upset I have to retake this class because he didn't know how to stay on top of grading material. DO NOT TAKE THIS PROFESSOR. He SUCKS.
Dr. Brenneman is a great person, but his zoology course is extremely difficult and frustrating. Many people have to retake it. My advice for exams would be to read the chapters in the book! Memorize it all.
Pay for a lab for almost three hours only to get there and get a take home packet and leave after 15 minutes. Nice guy. Bad lab professor. Does not explain how to do things or help.
Overall, he is an extremely nice guy. Very lax on when you have to turn stuff in by. I had him for 201 lab. He doesn't get grades back to you until the end of the course, but if you go and talk to him, he is very understanding. Really funny guy and low pressure class. Just be sure to check with him on grades, because there aren't many.
BIOL220 with Dr. Brenneman has easily been my hardest class so far as a biology major. However, I think the class is really interesting and he is incredibly knowledgeable. His powerpoints are mainly just diagrams, so I would bring my laptop and type every single word of explanation he lectured. Challenging course but it's been rewarding.
Dr. Brenneman usually had labs where you just had to read an article and answer some questions that went along with it. So, you could take it home and do it instead of sitting in a classroom for the whole 2 hours. Though, some of the questions were extremely challenging.
If you can't pass this class, then you probably shouldn't be a biology major. Learned more in this class than several others combined. Pay attention in class, re-write and organize your notes after class, and study notes and the book before tests. Bill was one of the best and most interesting professors I had
I think that Dr. Brenneman is a good guy, but I think that his BIOL 220 class is very difficult. It was interesting, but his exams were difficult and there weren't a lot of other grades to balance out a bad exam grade. Also, he didn't grade HW or anything until the end so there was no clear way of knowing what your grade is throughout the semester.
Bill is honestly an amazing professor for lab. He really cares a lot about his students. Just make sure you know when assignments are due! Sometimes he forgets to tell you, but just stop by and see him and he will explain everything!
Dr. Brenneman seemed nice and caring but he is very lazy when it comes to grading assignments. Grades them at last minute. Gave me a 0 on an assignment bc he couldnt read the pictures I took of my work. After emailing him he responded very rudely and inconsiderate and questioned my integrity. Dont recommend taking him at all!
Amazinnggg! Hes such a funny & caring guy. He gave you all semester to do labs, so as long as they were in your folder by the last day, you were good to go. He is such a lenient and understanding man. Class also never lasted longer than 10 minutes, and if it did it was because we were going outside. Definitely recommend him!
He's a great, easy going guy for gen Eds like bio103, but AWFUL for Zoology. He screamed at a student in our lecture one day and said he was playing the "victim" because the student expressed that a lot of people were struggling with his exams. Do NOT take him for upper level courses if you can help it.
The worst professor I have ever had in my entire 4-year college career. The man has an ego the size of the Empire State Building, and refuses to admit he is ever in the wrong. When 80% of the class is receiving below a 70 on a test, that is when the teacher must take some responsibilty. He has not changed his class materials in near 30 years.
Dr. William Brenneman is the absolute worst professor I have ever had. Unclear in instruction and puts on a nice face during class, but my classmates and I faced extreme rudeness and insulting language when we asked for help. Degrading comments on assignments and though most of the class earned C's or less, he never seems to think he's in the wrong
Class Info
Attendance Mandatory
50%
Textbook Required
60%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.23 avg changeRatings by Course
BIO102
5.0
(1)BIOL202
5.0
(1)BIO104AND105
5.0
(1)ZOOLOGY
4.5
(2)BIO103LAB
4.5
(2)Difficulty by Course
BIOLOGY
5.0
BIO1
5.0
BIOL201
5.0
ZOO220
4.7
BIOL103
4.6