Robert Maurus - University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

Professor: Robert Maurus

Department: Biochemistry

College: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIOC302
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He gave details about what from the slides will or will not be on the exam, so it is important to listen to what he says instead of skipping or copying slides . I found his part of the course more interesting, and I did about 20% better on his exam than on the other profs. I would take another class with him. Didn't use textbook or go to tutorial.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIOC203
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Took him for bioc 203. Does not explain the material well at all Need to self-learn through textbooks

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIOC302
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His teaching style is different from most professors in that his slides are not very informative. So must TAKE GOOD NOTES on what he says and ATTEND TUTORIALS for his section of BIOC302. It would also be helpful if you recorded the lectures to avoid missing important info. Very nice guy and very knowledgeable.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIOC302
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

His questions are tricky and he usually explains very important concepts as quickly as possible. I don't know why he is teaching if he does not want us to do well on the test, but he is funny and approachable during the class.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIOC203
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He's the worst prof that I've ever had. His philosophy is that if you aren't perfect then you deserve a zero. On the midterm, the short answer questions are out of several marks, and if there is anything that's incorrect on the questions, you get a zero. He never gives out practice questions answers and he never showed up to my appointment.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIOC302
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

His slides are awful, just pictures and pathways no real information, so you pretty much have to write down everything he says. Just pray you get a good TA who can teach you the material in tutorial

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIOC302
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Definitely need to go to lecture to pass this course. And even then, it can be pretty tough. There's a lot of diagrams/pictures on his slides, but not a lot of explanation, so sometimes it can be tough to identify what you actually need to know for the exam. Textbook isn't really worth using - just go to tutorial and do the problem sets.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIOC302
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very caring guy. Do not skip class. Not only does he tell you what will be tested, he also points out all the irrelevant points in his slides. There are many slides where you might only have to know one enzyme for a pathway - if you're not coming to class, you're going to be studying 3 times the material everyone else is. Not as hard as people say.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIOC302
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Class: 250+ students The first half of the semester was taught by a professor other Dr. Maurus and the midterm average was 70% (reasonable) The second half of semester was taught by Dr. Maurus and the final average was 60% (for a 65% average grade). 1/2 the battle was trying to decipher what was being asked. Worst course I've personally taken

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIOC302
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The tutorials are the only reason why you can pass this class. Without them, the average should hover around 30-40%.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIOC302
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Example of his class: Imagine you are on a treasure hunt. Instead of giving you a map (eg:learning goals, etc. and you follow the map)he will ask you to make one yourself and ask you to describe some topics on how you think you can reach this treasure? Then you are left alone with scattered points on your paper+you still need to find the treasure.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIOC302
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Kind personality BUT this class is absolutely frustrating because he cannot teach at all. Of course, it depends, so you'll have to attend his class to judge. In sum, the way he teaches is by asking the class questions 80% the time, then having you answer back. Lecture slides are incomprehensible. You leave with more questions than entering room.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIOC302
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Not as bad as people making him seem. Understanding his lecture slides are the most important.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIOC302
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Going to class and writing down what he says is very important since his written notes aren't very detailed. I felt the final for his half of the course was a lot easier than the midterm, and he was actually really nice and patient when I asked him questions about the material, so I don't agree with all the comments about him being condescending.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIOC302
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Learning Objectives unclear and insufficient materials to prepare for exam. The worst part is that Maurus believes in giving zeros. Every question on the final is either 1 or zero. No part marks of any kind. So, you don't get any points for having learned something about a topic. You're either perfect, or zero. That's Dr. Maurus' philosophy.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIOCH302
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Absolutely terrible. Bad prof, bad person, just bad. Lowers my opinion of UBC standards.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIOC302
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Horrible. Just horrible. Gives incomplete lecture notes, learning objectives are unclear, at least half of what is examined isn't covered in class. His exams are completely unreasonable. Why does UBC keep him in his position it makes the institution look bad.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIOC302
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

His lectures are clear, interesting, and easy to understand. He's got a sense of humor and is overall a great prof.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIOC302
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This professor is one of the reasons I am tentative about advocating UBC as an institution. He makes it clear that you are nothing but a number, is obviously not interested in his job, and is extremely unhelpful. I am unsure how he was appointed his position. One of the poorest professors I have interacted with in my four years at UBC.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIOC302
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I was scared for this section but I did the following and succeeded: go to class and TAKE NOTE OF QUESTIONS HE SAYS WILL SHOW UP ON EXAMS. Read the notes, check the textbook for clarification on parts you don't get and THEN do the tutorial. Re-do all tutorials before the final and take RayDork's review session and DO HIS SAMPLE FINAL QUESTIONS