Jay Nelson - Towson University, Towson, MD

Professor: Jay Nelson

Department: Science

College: Towson University, Towson, MD

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIOL334
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Very knowledgable, easy exams. Textbook was not used.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO325
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I have mixed feelings, he makes concepts 1000% harder than they need to be and his exams are SO hard, but he's a nice guy. Figure out how to study early on; listen to recordings at least twice bc the smallest details show up on exams. He incorporates recitation A LOT so pay attention and even go as far as to recording the lecture part of recitation

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIOL325
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Dr. Nelson was a very good teacher. He writes on the board and as long as you take notes on that you should be okay. He also incorporates a lot of things done in recitation on his exams. Would highly recommend him. He's sassy but at the end of the day he cares about his students and wants them to succeed.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIOL325
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

A lot of people complain about Dr. Nelson. But it's an upper level class. Don't skip class. Come to recitation. Study his lecture notes. He is a good professor and is very very very willing to help any student. Do not be afraid to go to him after class or office hours. He's sassy which makes it more interesting. 3 exams. Take home quizzes & HW

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIOL325
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This guy can turn a simple concept and make it over the top complicated. He expects students to know physics equations off the top of their head and his recitation assignment grading is terrible - you would do everything he ask for and never get full credit for it. His wording of questions is terrible. I DONT recommend anyone to take him!!!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO221
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

He's a very knowledgeable man and cares about the subject but makes it difficult since he uses advanced vocab. His PowerPoints rarely have words so go to class to understand and ASK QUESTIONS! Gives you multiple quizzes and drops the lowest 2, optional final to drop lowest exam grade. Anatomy is hard, no matter who you have you have to work for it.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIOL221
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Nelson is a good professor. I know this because I failed this class with a different professor the first time I took it. His tests cover exactly what we went over in lecture. Overall he gives you lots of opportunities to pass. Gives many quizzes and an optional exam to replace your lowest exam grade. Most A&P profs at Towson don't do that.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO221
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Nelson is not as bad as everyone says! Its anatomy, its going to be hard. He cares a lot about the chemistry aspect of physiology so that is a little difficult but he doesnt expect you to know the mathmatics of it, just the concept. His test are resonable and he gives an optional cummalitve final to replace a test to only help ur grade

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO221
• Grade Received: C-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

WORST PROFESSOR EVER! Class is not mandatory and it is not worth going to because none of the content that is supposed to be taught is covered or tested on.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO470
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

By far the worst professor I have ever had in college. SO UNCLEAR with expectations in recitation and worst lecturer ever. He is so over the place and not organized at all. Tested us on things he never went over or discussed. Questions on microscopic ideas and not on the major important things to take from the class. Beware and study a ALOT to pass

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIOL470
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Nelson is honestly one of the worst professors I've ever had. His lectures are all over the place and he does not explain material well. He mocks students with questions and even if you do everything correctly in recitation you only get a B. unclear of expectations yet grades ridiculous and shames you for not meeting his standard. So offensive

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIOL470
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

This professor is a real joke. Just gives out grades without even any justification. A good performance is like a 6 or 7 out of 10! He will not give you full credit because he just doesn't feel like it. I've never had such subjective grading. He seems down to earth when you talk to him but one on one its a different story when you're talkin grade

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: 470
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Dr. Nelson is the man! I have had him for 3 classes and the only thing I can complain about is that his tests are pretty hard, and some of the language he uses is very different. But he is extremely intelligent and an awesome person once you get to know him. He is VERY fish heavy, because he is a fish physiologist.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIOL325
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Animal Physiology. Dr. Nelson is a great professor. He's really enthusiastic and funny, but he's kind of scattered and his teaching style is a little unclear. If you like the material, study for the tests and do well on the homeworks, you can easily get an A. He has an adjusted grading scale, too so if you screw up it won't kill your grade.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIOL470
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Nelson was the hardest of the three professors. He is very unclear in what he wants you to know and expects you to have already learned physics concepts when that is not a prerequisite for the course. He would assign lab assignments but his instructions were very unclear and most people did poorly on them. Tests were unreasonably tricky.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIOL221
• Grade Received: F
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I thought his lectures and expectations were very clear. He utilizes Blackboard extensively, so make sure you pay attention and get the outlines, practice tests, videos and other things that can help you. His lectures will definitely not bore you to death, but he does tend to ramble on. Tests tend to be very challenging, but not impossible.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIOL470
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Nelson was the hardest of the three professors that teach the course. He spoke to the students as if we should already have known all of the content before he taught it. He is condescending and constantly declares "BUT you should already know this!!!" Not the best professor but he is more than willing to help during office hourswhenever he can

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIOL221
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Definitely avoid this guy! Half the times he makes NO sense whatsoever. He's never taught an A&P 1 class and I can see why. He'll write a million things on the board, and never really explain why or if it's important. I had to withdraw because I had a 53 in the class. Do NOT take him. Ever.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIOL221
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Take a different prof if can. Tends to ramble in lecture, quizzes every other weekend, confusing on what he actually wants you to learn. Exams are multiple choice, questions can be tough because of their wording. He is helpful, just email or stop by during office hours. Book is mandatory and attendance is mandatory to pass

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO221
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I do not recommend him at all! He does not normally teach anatomy and physiology and now I see why. He isn't clear on what he teaches at all and tends to ramble on. He expects that you already know everything he knows and he makes you feel extremely dumb for asking a question. Do not take him!