Professor: James W. Walker
Department: Biology
College: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
Rating # 1
Overview:
- Course: BIO103
- 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:
I was interested in this class before attending. He was boring, rambled off on info that wasn't relevant to class. Some slide shows only had pictures. Exams were HARD. After 3-4 classes there were usually a total of 10 people in class, which was supposed to be a 150 person lecture. Quizzes in lab were impossible, and TA hardly spoke English.
Rating # 2
Overview:
- Course: EVOLU280
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 1.0
- Course Difficulty: 5.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: No
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
The most boring class i have ever had. teach 50 slides per class. Very hard test,
Rating # 3
Overview:
- Course: BIO190
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 4.0
- Course Difficulty: 1.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: No
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
I really like the class. He is very nonchalant and I can see how some might find him boring but I enjoy his lectures. I plan to take his Evolution course whenever it is next available. If you want an easy A, take this class. Do the practice exams that are available online and you should be in good shape for the actual exams.
Rating # 4
Overview:
- Course: BIO190A
- 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:
If I fail an exam after memorizing the lectures and reviewing the practice exam the professor has definitely got to rethink his stuff.
Rating # 5
Overview:
- Course: BIO280
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 4.5
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: No
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
A very smart guy! His class could amount to his own textbook. He knows what he's talking about. You should attend class or else you won't know how to swift out useless information in his long lecture pdfs. You learn a lot from him than other bio classes though.
Rating # 6
Overview:
- Course: BIO190
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 1.0
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Class was a joke. Half the notes in the lecture are missing, just filled with pictures! The study guide does not even cover everything that's on the test and their like 9 pages long once you answer all the questions. Don't take as a gen-ed, they are easier ones. BEWARE!!
Rating # 7
Overview:
- Course: BIO190A
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 1.0
- Course Difficulty: 5.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: No
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Walker was not helpful, even when I was out sick with swine flu. Theres only 3 test, if you mess up on one, as most of the class did you are screwed. He wouldnt let me make up the 2nd exam even with my doctors note. Theres no chance to improve your grade if you do poorly on anything in this class. Horrible teacher, very boring.
Rating # 8
Overview:
- Course: BIO190A
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 1.0
- Course Difficulty: 5.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: No
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Professor Walkers cosmos class was the worst class I have ever taken. There are only three exams for this class with NO extra credit YOU WILL NOT PASS. I went from being an A student with a 3.9 gpa to getting a D in this class. Studying for this class will not help you. I memorized everything and still did bad. No simpathy for students who try hard
Rating # 9
Overview:
- Course: BIO103
- 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:
Nice guy, terrible teacher. I'm usually an A+ student and this class was miserable. Despite all attempts to stay awake I repeatedly fell asleep during class. I stopped going and my grade went up 10 points. If you have to take this class then get a few books and teach yourself, but be warned: half the exam is on who his favorite professors are
Rating # 10
Overview:
- Course: BIO103
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 1.0
- Course Difficulty: 5.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: No
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Terrible Prof. who should not be teaching. The most difficult 100 level class I ever took, and when I approached him for help he quickly dismissed me and began talking about his upcoming vacation. He has no desire to actually teach the material and relies on pictures for every lecture. He really is awful and needs to retire.
Rating # 11
Overview:
- Course: BIO103
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 2.0
- Course Difficulty: 5.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: No
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
This course is clearly not a 100 level course, as Prof. Walker states on the first day that you attend lecture. No notes, all pictures. There are only 3 exams and if you do not have a prior understanding to the material you are not going to learn it here. The book is useless. Don't take this class unless you have to. Extremely difficult.
Rating # 12
Overview:
- Course: BIO103
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 4.0
- Course Difficulty: 3.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: No
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Prof Walker is helpful, if you ask him questions. He answers emails quickly. This class is not exactly easy. You must study for the tests; a lot of it is memorization, once you get the concepts down. If you're taking this class, go to the lectures and labs, otherwise, you probably won't get a good grade. Most people get bad grades for that way.
Rating # 13
Overview:
- Course: BIO101
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 2.0
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: No
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
James Walker is extremely smart, but....The lectures are not mandatory and even when you go you do not learn much. It is extremely hard to study for tests because there is no "real" textbook, only a lab manual, which Prof. Walker wrote.. I would NOT suggest taking this class unless you HAVE to or you already have a great knowledge of the material!
Rating # 14
Overview:
- Course: BIO103
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 2.0
- Course Difficulty: 5.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: No
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
This is the worst class that I studied for all of the tests and still doing horrible. The class lecture is not mandatory and don't learn much when you go. The class is so boring. I wish I never took this class. The class average on tests are in the low 60's. The lab quizzes have nothing to do with the lab don't bother looking at the slides.
Rating # 15
Overview:
- Course: BIO190
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 2.5
- Course Difficulty: 5.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: No
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
The Class is a bunch of random crap like Einsteins History, Physics Astronomy, Science Fiction, and Evolution. The class itself is a joke. The exams tho are a bunch of random crap piled together that you will not know. For example 1/3 of an exam will be Einstein and theories, 1/3 the exam physics, 1/3 Astronomy. U have a heart attack when u c exam
Rating # 16
Overview:
- Course: BIO280
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 4.0
- Course Difficulty: 3.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: No
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
One of the smartest people I've ever met. He is monotone but will explain things very clearly. He's easy to approach. HOWever, his exams don't follow his practice exams, it seems he tries to aim you in the direction of material that will be on the exam. Exams are hard but you'll learn more from walker than most.
Rating # 17
Overview:
- Course: BIO270H
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 5.0
- Course Difficulty: 1.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: Yes
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
Oh my goodness This man is amazing. He is so kind and helpful! The class is interesting and good for non-majors I would recommend it to anyone and I wish him the best!!
Rating # 18
Overview:
- Course: BIO103
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 3.5
- Course Difficulty: 2.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: No
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
pretty cool and laid back guy. Lectures are very mundane and just goes through slides (which are available online). subject material sucks though - and he doesn't seem to mind ppl sleeping in his class (i tested him towards end of semester)
Rating # 19
Overview:
- Course: BIO270H
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 5.0
- Course Difficulty: 2.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: No
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
The class was god-awful, but Professor Walker is an amazing guy. He's intelligent, funny, and evidently has some type of pollen or something named after him. Although he's a botanist, he makes it clear that he is knowledgable on a wide variety of topics. He loves powerpoints, and seems to have a stamp for everything.
Rating # 20
Overview:
- Course: BIO312
- Grade Received: N/A
- Overall Rating: 4.0
- Course Difficulty: 4.0
- For Credit: N/A
- Textbook Used: No
- Would Take Again: N/A
- Attendance: N/A
Comment:
HE seems nice but gives grades based on what he thinks you deserve and not on your efforts.
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