Hessel Bouma - Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI

Professor: Hessel Bouma

Department: Science

College: Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO115
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Arrogant. Forces opinions on students to give "different perspective." If want to give balanced view on bioethics, maybe mention 54.5 million unborn children aborted since '73. Instead, nitpicks at pro-lifers. Mischaracterizes young-earth creationists as "resisting and reworking scientific evidence." For Christian school, should be very ashamed.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO115
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I loved Hessel. The class was difficult, but straightforward. The tests were directly from the notes, and as long as you can memorize the notes you will be fine. He was very helpful during labs and the moral issues were interesting. Be prepared to study hard for the tests but also enjoy the class.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO115
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I've never hated a class as much as I hate this class, and that says a lot. I love learning, I love Calvin... but I don't enjoy his lectures or tests or class in general at all. Thank goodness for Moral Issues, because it raised my grade a ton, and thank goodness I took lab with Ubels, because that raised my grade a bunch as well.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO396
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

This class is only his perspective. He is not helpful at all and he picked my senior thesis topic even though we were supposed to pick something we were passionate about. It is his way or the high way. Any other biology could have a far better professor for this class.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: 115A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

..

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO115
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Bouma is such an awesome guy, and super smart. However, the class is very difficult. His tests are multiple choice/matching but the amount of material you cover is a lot, therefore the tests are very difficult. Lab was a blast, and the moral issues papers really helped out my grade. I really like him as a person, but certainly a tough prof!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO115
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Bouma is not a bad person, just a terrible prof. he talks about his injuries all the time and tells the same stories over and over. if you dont agree with him on your moral issues papers, you get penalized. his tests are so hard. i studied hardcore for 24 total hours for one test and got a C. I'm usually an A/B student, but not in this class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO115
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I began the class reading negative comments about him an was terrified. I soon realized that Hessel is a merciful grader. He adds at least 4 points to every test (SUPER easy, all m/c). Very nice guy and wanted you to succeed. He could get a teeny bit boring but overall great experience. I would reccomend this class, but in the summer.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIOL115
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

whatever you do, do NOT take his class. you will cry every day and probably want to transfer/die.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIOL115
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

What everyone is saying about him being close-minded is definitely correct...but I don't even care about that because everything else about him is ridiculous. I am a good student and the worst grade I've gotten YET at Calvin is a B. And I'm doing AWEFUL in his class. He is WAY harder than any other prof. for 115. DO NOT TAKE HIM-not even for lab.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIOL396
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

The class is called Perspectives in medicine. The only perspective you will get is his. He does not care what anyone else thinks. He seems to like to listen to his own voice. Lastly don't make the mistake of entering the class with high expectations, YOU WILL be disappointed.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO115
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

This guy is extremely narrow-minded. Didn't mind his lectures and the tests weren't awful, but the Moral Issues discussions were terrible. If you don't regurgitate exactly what he believes is the correct moral response, you will not get a good grade. It was frustrating. He was fairly rude to students in class on several occassions as well.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO115
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Great professor! Very interesting and has a great (but subtle) sense of humor. Early class was not ideal but I still enjoy the lectures and found the material very interesting even though i was not previously interested in biology. Very helpful and puts biology into a modern sense with lectures on ethics...well worth taking!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: DCM150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Not bad for a DCM class. There's just a lot of reading, but if you take time to skim you should be fine. Lectures can be a little drab.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO115
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

This class is extremely useless. The professor won't even let anyone ask questions in class. The tests are not too difficult if you have and know the outlines. Don't think you can just read the chapter and do well. He often adds things. He is extremely pompous and doesn't care about his students. He seems to HATE to teach 100-level classes.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIOLG115
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

solid prof...pretty smart...he teaches in a very organized fashion. diagram notes... just follow along and review the notes after class

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIOL115
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He gives a note outline and you just follow along with the outline. His tests are ok but misleading. On both my tests I have thought I have done fairly well but I got D's which is really disappointing for me. He is an ok teacher but his tests don't really follow the notes or the book. Lots of Diagrams to fill in

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO396
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Boring. Does not facilitate discussion wells. Asks open ended questions in class, but only wants to hear his own voice. Treats everyone like they don't know anything. Voice in obnoxious and he likes to pause for no aparent reason. Could have been a really interesting subject, but he made me hate it.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO396
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Huge disappointment. This class could have been taught by ANYONE else in the Biology department and it would have been 10x better. He was disrespectful to the class not only by belittling us but by insulting our intelligence frequently. This is an upper level class- we are very familiar with the subject!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO115
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Tough prof, do the same thing every day in class, listen to lectures. Pretty nice guy, but also quit difficult