Michael Runtz - Carleton University, Ottawa, ON

Professor: Michael Runtz

Department: Science

College: Carleton University, Ottawa, ON

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIOL4500
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This is a tough class, but he ends class early every week, and if you go to class and pay attention, you will do fine. This mans humor and love for what he does more than makes up for the difficulty. Will give you clues as to what is in tests if you listen. Quizzes (best 4/5), mid term, paper, and final

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO1902
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This is the best class I've ever taken. I'm in legal studies but I'm debating changing my program because of him lol

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1902
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Michael Runtz is such a king. Took the class as an elective and it was so fun, really looked forward to it each week. Definitely have to go to class and quite a bit of memorization but really great overall.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1902
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Runtz is a bit of an icon at Carleton, and for good reason! His lectures are amazing, and if you take good notes during them you won't need to crack the textbook, even though it is a good read. His photography is spectacular, and his jokes and genuine passion for the material will keep you spellbound. BBC's Planet Earth as a class!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: 1902BIO
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took this class many years ago and still remember most of the material I learned because the class was so engaging and the professor so passionate about what he was teaching.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO1901
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Awesome and entertaining, plus he really knows his stuff. Best choice for a general elective ever.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: 1902T
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Absolute amazing prof! Not in the biology program but if I was I would try and get into every one of his classes. Super important to go to lectures. He is able to cover a lot in one, but it is easy to remember. Exams and midterms all multiple choice and if you study and go/watch the lectures it is easy. Super engaging, 10/10 recommend!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1902
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I really enjoyed learning from someone who is so passionate and excited about the subject. His lectures are really detailed and there's a lot to remember, but his corny jokes and the visual aids really helped. All MC but most questions have one obvious wrong answer. This is a great non-sciencey science credit!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: 1902BIO
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

obviously cares about the subject matter and spends his lectures trying to get his students as involved and passionate as he is. Heavy heavy memorization but pretty cool stuff. All MC

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIOL2903
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I did very well in his BIOL 1903 class, so I was expecting this class to go the same. While I did well the first half of the semester, the second half did not go so well. I still got a decent mark, but his MC became too complicated and too much. A lot to memorize, so if you have other heavy classes don't take this class at the same time.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1902V
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Runtz provides engaging lectures packed full with neat facts about Natural History in Canada. You do not need to read the textbook since all material is covered in lecture. Exams and tests are all memorization based so if you struggle to memorize names of plant and animal species you will struggle. I recommend this course to everyone

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIOL2903
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Runtz is awesome and clearly he is very happy to be teaching about animals/plants, etc. However the amount of things you have to memorize is crazy. I would recommend taking this in the summer, it is a lot to remember. He also rambles quite a bit and jumps from one concept to another.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1902
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Awesome prof! One of the best at Carleton. BIOL1902 is THE class to take for the science breadth requirement if you're an Arts student who's intimidated by science. Prof Runtz makes the material accessible and fun. Lots of memorization, but if you make flash cards after every lecture and study them each week, it's not difficult to get an A+++++

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1902
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you enjoy studying a lot of notes (and i mean A LOT) then you'll enjoy this class and it'll be a breeze. His notes aren't super complex. Tests are reasonably easy as they are multiple choice and true and false. If you don't study, don't bother taking this class, you'll probably fail unless you're Mike Ross. Great prof overall.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIOL2903
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If you took first year Natural History his second year class is a similar layout. He does go more in depth and there's a lot of definitions / facts to know. However, the material isn't difficult. If you don't go to class you won't pass, the final was 181 questions and there was at least 5 questions per lecture.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIOL2903
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dont take BIOL 2903 as an elective. I took it as an elective because I took the first year course and got an A+. BIOL2903 is so ridiculous compared to the first year course. It is pretty much memorizing 50 pages worth of material (plant and animal names). Its ridiculous how much he expects us to know and certainly not fair. Dont fool yourself!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO1902
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

A ++

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO1902
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Inspired me to change from Stats to Environmental Science.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIOL2903
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Really annoying to follow sometimes, needs to structure his lectures better. Somewhat entertaining to listen to, too bad there's a lot of boring stuff to memorize. Relatively easy course for an elective.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1902
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great professor! Kind of crazy but in a good way