Stephen Dobson - Auburn University, Auburn, AL

Professor: Stephen Dobson

Department: Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

College: Auburn University, Auburn, AL

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3060
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This class is difficult but Dr. Dobson is a great teacher. STUDY. OLD. TESTS. He gives them to you, use them. Lab will save you if you put some work into the papers (it's fun, too). The homework is tedious but a grade-booster. If you study the notes and old tests, you can easily get an A. Go to class! No textbook so you need those notes.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3060
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Do your best on the lab papers and homework, they will save you. I honestly did not try that hard in this class and got a B so if you attend class, take good notes, and know how to study correctly you should do well

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3060
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

EXTREMLY HARD, but does care about students. Tests are very, lab papers no joke, and very math intensive at the end of the semester.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3060
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dobson has some tough tests, but if you study you can do well in his class. Helps if you have taken Evolution & Systematics before the class but do well without it. Dobson legitimately cares about how his students do so if you go to him for help you can expect a warm welcome.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3060
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Dobson is a nice person who wants his students to learn. However, his tests are extremely detailed while his lectures are not. He gives over-view style lectures w/o slides. The grading is also extremely strict. If you reword a definition or concept just a little, points will be taken off. To make an A, memorize definitions & concepts exactly.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3060
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dobson is very enthusiastic about ecology and helps with whatever you don't understand. Three lab papers, two exams, and one final, as well as online homework. Best advice is to take the papers seriously and review old exams (which he gives you). That's all I did and I made an A!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3060
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This class wasn't as difficult as other reviewers said. Go to class every day, take notes, and don't wait until the night before the exam to study. That's all I did and I made an A. Dobson is also very agreeable to re-explain topics during class. Not a hard class, just requires a lot of study.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3060
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dobson really knows and loves ecology. He gets really excited about the class. His tests really aren't too bad. They consist of a lot of writing definitions, comparisons, and essays. It is just a lot of memorization. Big key is paying attention. Textbooks won't help and he is super picky about wording. I loved him!

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3060
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very nice prof. Very hard class. Go to class, DO THE HOMEWORK, take great notes. His textbook doesn't correlate with the lectures but still do the homework assigned. Very tough class for me. A lot of hard work is needed to do well. Go to any provided review sessions. Great TA's!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3060
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Difficult class. Lots of material. Exams are ridiculous. Learned lots but very stressful class. Try to not take for Ecology.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3060
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

this class is all about definitions, case studies, and graphs. His slides don't have titles so bring them to class to keep up with the lecture notes. TAs are AWESOME. go to class. go to lab. and GO TO REVIEW SESSIONS. they help you A LOT.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3060
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I would suggest taking any other teacher for Ecology. The class structure requires more work than a 3000-level class should, and his tests were difficult to take and to study for. He's boring to listen to, way too much emphasis on mathematical models. When I had a problem, he did the bare minimum to aid me.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3060
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I really enjoyed this class. It is pretty difficult, but very fun. Dobson is a nice man and seems willing to help.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3060
• 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:

One of the best professors at Auburn! SERIOUSLY knows his stuff. You actually need to come to class and pay attention to do well, but he is very willing to help if needed. There are TA's to help too. The tests are very thorough but not too hard if you have been paying attention. And he has cool stories from his research to make it interesting.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3060
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class drove me crazy. Lectures are painfully boring and tests are very difficult. He does seem to care about his students, but I don't think he understands the problem behind a consistent "D" class average...

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIOL6360
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Helpful, nice and caring. Does what he can to help students. Largely math based class.

Rating # 17

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Steals his paycheck. Teaches about 4 weeks. Does not even grade his own exams. Instead has TA's grade them. Hermann is much more caring when she takes over, but Dobson's dictates policies from thousands of miles away. Hermann should have the course by herself.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3060
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He taught the first half of the class. He was a little spacey, but very personable. He was funny and helpful. The tests are not hard, just difficult in that there is so much on each test (they're comprehensive). Study about a week before each and you should be ok. Watch out for labs with Theo.

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Very nice man. Material may seem difficult, but don't be afraid to ask him for help. Tests aren't easy, but he gives you copies of old exams to study from. Review sessions before test days, too.

Rating # 20

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Very hard teacher. He is not concerned for the students. He gives very hard essay tests every time. The old tests help, but he always changes the questions around to trick you. The class average was a D and he refused to scale our grades. Horrible teacher, too self-centered.