Jim Riggs - Rider University, Lawrenceville, NJ

Professor: Jim Riggs

Department: Science

College: Rider University, Lawrenceville, NJ

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO108
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Whatever you think is going to be on the quiz wont be on the quiz

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO117
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Riggs is extremely knowledgeable in his field. He is a great lecturer however he tests on little details that werent emphasized in lecture. Get ready to spend 90% of your fine just studying for his class! He expects you to know EVERYTHING he says or puts on a slide. He talks very quickly, doesnt like too many ques in lecture: go to his lab.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO108
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Every slide on his power points has a New York Times article attached, and in the tests (all open ended questions) you are expected to reference a nyt article in every answer. The content is so interesting, but his harsh grading really bites you. This is the hardest class I've ever taken, especially for a non-major.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO108
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Riggs is by far (to date) the best professor I ever had. I had him my fall semester freshman year (currently a spring semester sophomore) and I coulndnt have had a better class to be thrown into as an incoming freshman. Teaches you to be a learner and not just regurgitate info. Take him if you want to learn and you will get plenty out of the course

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO106
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Riggs is really cool but he demands quality if you aren't willing to work or go to supplemental instruction you won't do well. On the upside their is no text book for the class and its all new York times articles that are all recent. I have to say I learned so much in this class its not even funny, Extremely relevant.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO115
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Amazing teacher but hard grader. Definitely study

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO108
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This had to have been the hardest course I ever took, yet I have learned so much from it. Gives lots of reading assignments and expects you to be able to explain everything he reads on the fly. Tests are open ended and are graded very tough. If you put in the work you'll get a good grade.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO117
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Took him for cell & molecular bio - hardest class i've ever taken in my life (okay besides orgo)... he expects A LOT from his students and forced us to all think scientifically on a regular basis but I finished the class feeling more scientifically literate than ever before! LOTS of time put into the class but Riggs is great!!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO117
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This is the hardest class I have ever taken but I learned so much. Get prepared to do a lot of work on your own. I recommend reading the slides and chapter before class so you actually know what he is talking about. You don't NEED the book but I recommend it for clarification. He is a very fair grader but his tests are difficult and make you think.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO108
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Riggs is without a doubt one of the best educators out there. He's brilliant and truly understands the content he teaches. He's a tough professor with very high expectations, but they're in place so you actually learn something from him. I would definitely take him again; he made me like bio! There's no TB but you need a NYT subscription to do well

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO108
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very tough grader, obscenely tough, long but very informational lectures. Though it was graded very hard, and my grades weren't the best, I truly feel I got a lot from the course.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO370
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Jim goes the extra mile, posting lectures ahead of time and encouraging real work in the lab. Yes, he expects a lot, but he puts in a lot of work himself. He's one of the hardest professors in the department, and one of the best. Teachers who demand rigor from their students are doing them a favor. Don't expect science to ever get any easier.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO108
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This was easily one of the most difficult science courses I have ever taken. There were a lot of homework assignments and readings. However, the course was incredibly fascinating. The text book was an electronic version of "The New York Times," and current events are discussed frequently. This course was well worth all of the hard work.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIO102
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He expects people to read like, 10 New York Times articles every class. He acted like his class was the only one we had. I ended up getting a C. He thinks he's a good teacher which really makes me mad. Acts like its the students fault that everyone was doing poorly, and he's just so great. Avoid him at all costs.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO108
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

To all before me who have said any good things about Professor Riggs: You must be out of your mind! This professor is AWFUL. ALL AROUND AWFUL. Took an online class with him and it was, without a doubt, the most grueling class I have ever taken with over 20 pgs of work every 3 weeks. I implore any and all: SAVE YOUR MONEY AVOID THIS GUY AT ALL COSTS

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIO108
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Riggs is definitely the hardest professor I have ever had, but I definitely learned a lot from his class. Expect to dedicate your life to his course between homework and studying. This is a very hard A to earn, but it is very possible if you apply yourself and manage your time well. Tests are open ended and very tough.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO120
• 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:

Most harsh grader I've ever had. Grade does not reflect on what you learn in then class. If not a BIO major, stay away. All your studying will go towards this class. Smart professor but tries to show off. Shows favorites in class and will pick on you if not prepared. Come to class, be prepared, and participate.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO108
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Amazing lectures, very personable but expects a lot outbof you. Your grade may not reflect what you actually learn for you truly get a lot out of his course. If u get a chance, and your willing to try, and do a tiny bit of reading it'll really help your future

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO106
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Hard Teacher because of quizzes. Quiz questions are all open response, so it is pretty difficult. A lot of information in class so you should always attend. Supplemental Instructor helps A LOT, definitely attend as many as you can. ALWAYS do the homework because it will be a grade booster in the end. They usually aren't too hard. Prepare to study.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO106
• 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:

Very hard teacher but is exeteremly smartExpects a lot out of students and grades extremely hard. DO NOT take this class if you do not want your entire life revolving around it. Expect awful test grades and make sure to read the nytimes articles. He is not friendly and very sarcastic. If you do the work and study all of the time you can pass. .