Robert Fowler - San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

Professor: Robert Fowler

Department: Biology

College: San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO10
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Fowler was a really nice professor! He was always available to answer any questions. Felt really bad because he is really knowledgeable in the subject but people would leave during his lectures. Be respectful and kind towards him! He gives a lot of quizzes, posts his notes online but it would be better to go to class. READ TEXTBOOK.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO10
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Lectures sometimes went off tangent. Slides should contain exact information of what he will be lecturing about, instead of just all diagrams. Quizzes and assignments were easy, but midterms were way harder. He's not bad, but ONLY take him if there's no easier professor.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO010
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

His lectures were BORING, but the class was easy overall. I've always been terrible at Bio, but this class was easy to pass. Test questions were taken directly from the study guides and quizzes so just study those. Attendance not mandatory at all. Take him, and you'll be fine.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIOL10
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Lectures can be pretty boring (especially since he posts his slides online), but he's an easy teacher. I hated biology in high school, so naturally, I was bad at it. Pay attention in his lectures, study his slides at home, and study his practice tests. It sounds like a lot, but his questions are from his powerpoint slides 95% of the time.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIOL10
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Worst GE class ever. He's a chill guy but SUCKS at teaching. Made me hate biology. 4 brief papers which are the easiest, tons of tricky quizzes and SUPER HARD tests! I hated this class. Hardest class this semester. I'd take a different GE. STAY AWAY! I should've dropped it when I had the chance.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO10
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Wow this is the best teacher at SJSU. He makes lectures fun and exciting. His quizzes and exams are easy. Best part is attendance is not required. Easy A.

Rating # 7

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Dr. Fowler is a knowledgeable and engaging professor. He covers required material clearly, but deviates occasionally from the book, so attendance is recommended. His tests are long, but the quizzes and homework assignments help buffer the final grade. Overall grade curved.

Rating # 8

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

He only curves if he class average is below 73%. Lectures are monotone and dull. My greatest advice to pass is just study the practice exams, don't bother with anything else. I only studied the practice exams for exam 3 and got an A on the exam, didn't go to lecture/read book/do book problems. The exams are very similar to the practice exams.

Rating # 9

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

He is so cute and friendly! Very approachable! You do have to work to earn the grade, but it is an interesting class. 100% recommend

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIOL115
• Grade Received: INC
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Took him for the first half of 115, and managed to get Bs on both exams. He may not teach again since he is technically retired. But if he does, practice the old exams...a lot! Make sure to do as many practice problems as you can. Lectures are dull but he gets the point across. Would take again!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIOL115
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I had Fowler for both 115 117. He is a bit dull in lectures but he teaches the concepts and lectures the material well. Unlike other instructors who read from their powerpoint slides. His exams are easy if you did a little extra work going over his past exams. I did well in both courses.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIOL115
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Such a sweet guy. His lectures may be dull, but he covers the material you need to know for the exam and his exams are fair; just study the heck out of all the old exams and you're good. I always kept up with the assigned reading as well, which really helped me solve some of his test problems that required more critical thinking.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO117
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Awesome and super nice! Teaches very well and clear. Gives old exams dating back about 6 years. Study the exams and understand each problem, and you will get an A. He curves, the average of the class will become a B or B- (depending on how dumb the class is). He has the BEST CONTAGIOUS LAUGH EVER! He is waaay better than Van Hoven (other gen inst.)

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIOL117
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He stutters, but once you get used to the class he teaches, even in upper-level, he does well. For Bio 117, it's very interesting under him-he refers to the book often and helps you with the problems and previous tests, so keep up, and you'll get at least a B- in the class. He teaches with passion.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIOL115
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Excruciatingly dull. Attend all lectures, take good notes, and do the practice problems and tests and you'll do fine.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIOL115
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Pretty fair grader and a decent curve. Practice exams are very helpful and practice final had many similar questions. Goes off tangent sometimes but very helpful during office hours. Go to lecture, print his notes, study old quiz/exams and guaranteed B. Made me very interested in genetics, RECOMMENDED.

Rating # 17

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:

very helpful professor. He cares for the students. One of the best professors

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: GENETSECT
• 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:

Overall kind and effective professor. Responsive to questions and willing to go the extra mile so you get it. Key to an A: 1. Study practice tests 2. Go to lecture - I read the book but mostly it helped with the calculation portion - test on lecture and calculations 3. KNOW calculations - get help if you don't!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO115
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Fowler really knows his stuff. You will do well if you listen in class and study his practice exams. Lecture can sometimes be confusing, but he is more than willing to help clarify if you ask.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIOL115
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Attendance is mandatory because Fowler does skip over some parts in the book, so you'll be doing more work than needed if you try to just follow the book on your own. He posts 4-5 sample exams for each exam, so do those as well as the suggested homework problems and you'll be fine. Lectures are a little boring, but class is easy if time is put in