Ted Powers - University of California Davis, Davis, CA

Professor: Ted Powers

Department: Science

College: University of California Davis, Davis, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIS103
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He was very understanding of students situations, and tried his best to cope with the shortening of the quarter. He also provides mental health resource links on his canvas page.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIS101
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This was for SS1 2018. Lectures were clear and well podcasted. His midterms and final were very detailed but he never tests on anything outside his lectures, so just take good notes and rewatch his podcast. Him and his TA Jisoo have various office hours that they're both really helpful in. He gave a small curve at the end of the session too.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIS101
• 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:

I don't know why he has such bad reviews! He's such a nice professor who genuinely cares. He reuses a lot of questions from practice mt's and the homework (optional). His exams are fair if you know your stuff and also gives extra credit points for being in lecture! His lectures are easy to understand for the most part! Just don't fall behind!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MCB121
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's a great professor and a good person to know if you're a genetics major (he's the head advisor). He isn't the most exciting lecturer, but he does handwritten notes that are easy to follow (though not always completely legible) so it's good to go to class and ask questions. He recycles questions from his practice onto the midterm and final.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MCB121
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took this class with both Burgess and Powers, so Burgess taught up to MT1 and wrote MT1, and Powers did the same for MT2. I've found Powers to be slightly easier than Burgess, but not by much. Neither is a bad professor but I think I prefer Powers. he brought in his dog on the last day of class. 2 MTs and a final. Puts his study Qs on tests.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MCB121
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Took together with Burgess-- Powers is a good professor, clear material but sometimes can be tricky. Overall I think he balanced the class well in regards to Burgess who always seem to be a little frantic. I would recommend, not the best, not the worst. He will do just fine.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIS103
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Powers is very nice and approachable and wants his students to succeed. He gives us points to questions he thinks were unfair and will give students extra points if the class average is too low. Despite this, his tests were a bit hard but the final I thought was easier. Study everything and you should do well.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIS101
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This was my 1st upper division class at UCD and I'm very happy I took it with Dr.P. Ted would always take time to answer questions and ensure that students understood the material before continuing on with new information. don't be discouraged by lazy students who tried to learn information the week of the MT or final. Very straightforward on exams

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIS101
• 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:

first time teaching BIS 101. The class was a bit unorganized, only points come from the 3 test, 25 Q's 1st 2 MT, 50 Q final, 50% of your grade. Review the 2MTs, will help tons for the final. 4pts per Q!! writes lecture notes on chalk board, handwriting unreadable. HW doesn't help for MT's. Reading the book helps. clicker Q's and board notes help.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIS101
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Cool guy. His first two midterms were pretty tricky but he was really really nice on the final. Genuinely tries to help us out(free points if he thinks mt questions were too hard), answers questions patiently and thoroughly, makes jokes here and there. Cool guy. Can't find anything bad to say about him.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIS101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Power is extremely knowledgeable. However, he is very monotoned and usually confusing. This gets even worse when Summer School lectures are 2 hours long! Tests were all multiple choices no curve no EC. Plus the hard material makes his classes even harder. Don't miss classes, because you'll get lost easily and catch up is pretty much impossible.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MCB121
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

LOVE Ted. Yes, very difficult class, so do the Practice Sets to prep for midterms. Only two midterms and a final, the averages are standard (71%). Really cool guy, super helpful and friendly with questions, and will try to know you in OH. OH are valuable, helps lots for midterms. Reading the book is only necessary for parts you are confused on.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MCB121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This is a hard class. He will draw things and point to things on the board so it is best to go to class. It will be hard if you just listen to podcast because you'll be matching podcast with lect.slides that are already confusing in itself. Plus he's monotone so you'll lose focus A LOT. All multiple choice, class is out of 400pts so NO CURVE. gl...

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MCB121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

The averages for his quizzes were VERY high - 39/50 and 42/50 so don't expect a curve. However thats because the tests were so easy. Reuses the practice quiz questions or rewords them on the real quiz. Overall easy class but he is boring most of the time - use the podcasts they help!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MCB121
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Overall he is a great professor. Recycles some questions from practice tests. Only concern I had was how the final exam was worth 50% of my grade, and how it was much more difficult than the quizzes. There's a small curve. No book needed. Be sure to work hard for an A!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MCB161
• 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:

I can't stay awake in his class even if my life depended on it. Very monotone voice and it's like he doesn't even try to make the subject interesting.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MCB221
• 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:

Good professor. One thing to note, though... he says the word "Then" constantly. Just listen for it. In his version of the English language, every sentence must end with a "Then" rather than a period (Then)

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MCB161
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Wow. This man was a trip. I slept through EVERY SINGLE lecture so for me, the podcasts were extrememly helpful. The subject was interesting but the professor has a quiet, calm voice. the "mandatory" reading was completely useless. go to lecture, review sessions, and know the homework and practice exams by heart. small curve.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MCB161
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Be careful the first 3 exams were super easy but the final was totally different and relatively harder. He tricked us which I think was not fair. He is knows his stuff but easy to get lost in the lecture b/c he is monotonic. The TA Tara is GREAT she can explain way better than him. The subject is very interesting. You will learn a lot in this cours

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MCB161
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Powers is an awesome teacher. The reason why people have trouble is simply because he is one of the few bio professors who actually require you to think for yourself and not just regurgitate facts. If you cant think on your own and need your hand held, dont take this class. Otherwise, its awesome. The curve was also generous.