Tom Balgooyen - San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

Professor: Tom Balgooyen

Department: Biology

College: San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ZOO1
• 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: Mandatory

Comment:

A true mentor to me. Nurtured my interest in animals even more!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO20
• 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:

Best teacher I've ever had at SJSU! He cares about his students and is very understanding about real life affecting school life. Biology is now one of my favorite subjects and I'm glad I got to take him before he retired. Too bad for everyone else.. He is truly a great professor. Have fun in Tuscany! :)

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIOL100W
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Wrote a 30 page review paper completely in active voice. He only graded 3 pages of the paper: Abstract, 1 page of the body and conclusion. The entire grade for the class is based on those 3 pages. When asked for help, he does not answer. What is normally a bs class for bio majors turned into a class more stressful than Ochem with Dr. Okuda!!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO100W
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Horrible teacher. He wanted us to write a 30 page essay about a specific topic. wayyyyyyyyy to hard. useless and wants u to write everything in active voice, good luck doing that with bio material. if u want a good grade in 100W dont take this guy. you will just hate bio and writing :)

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO20
• 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:

Although he is unclear, ambiguous, and can be rather absent minded when it comes to help, he will change your life for the better by giving you a complete appreciation for ecology and the world around you. He is a great guy, really funny, and VERY smart. Just listen in class, pay close attention, dont get discouraged. 2tests1paper&final. GREAT GUY!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIOL20
• 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: N/A

Comment:

Hilarious old man! Grades on a curve, offers lots of extra credit, and is very approachable. Cares about your grade if you do, too. Tends to go off-track in lectures, but the best way to conquer this is to write down main ideas and key words, then look them up in the book later on. Learned a lot in this class and would take him again.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO10
• 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:

i loved him!i wasn't interested in biology or nature when i started this class, but he made it fun. he has extensive knowledge and has an interesting way of presenting information. he nvr makes you feel dumb for not getting it and will offer to re-explian things. as many times as you need. he takes the time to get to know his students. great teache

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO1000
• 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 is a fun professor, but make sure you pay attention to the subject matter and not just the hi-jinks. Do as much of the extra credit assignments as possible, like bring a pocket knife to class everyday. You will get a lot out of this class and I suggest you go to office hours too to listen to all of his stories.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO20
• 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:

He's old school professor. Visit his office as much as possible to better understand the material. Takes a lot of field trips. Become one with nature with him.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIOL10
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

OK, I get it. Balgooyen is funny and inspiring and his lectures are ultra interesting but did you learn anything? I had to keep up with the notes and visit his office constantly just to keep track of things and get a B. Sure it was a fun class, but I gained no knowledge besides the lingering memory of how hilarious some of his antics were. Oh well.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO10
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

hes...and ok teacher if you take good notes..always attend class..ask for help when you dont undertand the information hes lecturing about is ..and always do the extra credit.....but still i hate this guy...doesnt even tell u what to study...you can only study off your notes..and only if you take good notes...or your a smart guy..or..you took bio before..so if you dont attend class than u cant study for it..or you can get notes from somebody else...i rather take victoria...avoid this guy if you want a straight forward teacher..

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO10
• 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:

he's kute for an old single guy..no need to buy a textbook, all the exams are on his lektures, they're kinda random so u really need to pay attention in order to understand what he is teaching, you will end up with alot of notes and many piktures, so organize your notes and make sure u can read them. No homework, just 1essay.Very funny&friendly:)

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO1000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I took his class in Spring 2006 @ night. I continued to go to class knowing that I was going to fail because he was so fun to listen to. He bases his exams on his lectures and also tells you beginning of the sem. that you don't need your textbook. I don't recommend him though. You won't pass his class unless you do outside reading on your own.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIO10
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This guy is extremely knowledgable and funny. He teaches you random stuff if you go offtopic which is great! As for the on topic stuff, they can get very confusing at points. and he grades on a curve on the tests. There is absolutely no homework besides an essay like thing and 3 tests. Plus, you dont even need to buy a book for his class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO1000
• 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:

he varies everyday.. take notes i guess talk to him for help he'll like you.... no book jus notes... he's pointlesss i would recomend different class ... good lecture on pointless crap.. thats not on test....

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIO1000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

One of the smartest, funniesy professors I've encountered at SJSU. There is basically no textbook for this class, just attend the lectures and listen to the professor talk. The quizes are a little tricky, but graded on a curve. Highly recommended.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO10
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

See how the guys who complaint about him can't even spell. We should be grateful to have a teacher like him in SJSU. Most of the Lecturers in SJSU are robotic monotonous professors that can't even speak english. So if you can spell and want a class with wild stories and interesting assignments, take his class. Enough said.

Rating # 18

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

He's no help. He dose not listen to thre students @all. If you take him you better pray for dear life. Sometimes you may fell like you want to slip him. Save yourself and stay away of this mean man.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO20
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Make sure you take him for the labs&lecture. He gives a fat curve...most students ends up with a C. Labs aren't that interesting and neither is his lectures. 1st midterm based more on labs. 2nd is more from lecture. 3rd is a combo of both. One paper to write at the end of the semester. I'd recommend taking another GE course

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO20
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I still wonder what was the point of this class. His lectures vary depending on the day. He is entertaining as a lecturer. He spent one lecture talking about what he did for his doctorate (completely unrelated to the course) just to give you an example. The lab seems pointless if you don't have him for the teacher because he tests on his lab class.