David Nikles - University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL

Professor: David Nikles

Department: Chemistry

College: University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: CH101
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He's really nice and wants everyone to succeed. If you listen to his lectures and do the practice test, you'll do fine on the test. The homework is online and extremely tough, as it isn't always related to the lecture. He gives you a lot of time to do it, but it seriously takes about 8 hours per chapter, and I'm not exaggerating.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: CH102
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Good class if you don't like tests but have patience for lots of homework. Assigns around 80 questions every 2 weeks to cushion your grade. Posts previous tests which are almost exactly like the current tests. Exams are less than 15 questions and all multiple choice. Graded clicker quizzes everyday. Lectures can be confusing. Genuinely nice guy

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: CH102
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took Dr. Nikles for both 101 and 102. He is a good teacher but sometimes it can be frustrating trying to contact him. He cares a lot about his students.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: CH102
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Nikles is an easy A (he gives out practice exams and the real exams are only different by one or two questions max) but you won't learn much because he is a rather poor lecturer. There is a LOT of homework, but I learned more from the homework than I did from Professor Nikles.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: CH102
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Nikles is a really easy A (he gives out old exams to practice with and he only changes maybe one or two questions max on the real exams) but you won't learn much. He gives out an immense amount of homework, and honestly, I learned more from the homework than I did from him.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: CH101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Awe I liked Prof Nikkles. I dont care what others say for Chemistry he was a solid choice. The homework is a lot but I felt like his philosophy was to give everyone an A if they put in the effort. I took him two semesters because I felt like the other Chem profs were not like that and made their tests hard. His test are easy too.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: CH102
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Gives clicker questions every class that make up a good chunk of the final grade. Online homeworks are LONG LONG LONG, but it evened out since all tests and the final perfectly mimicked the practice tests he posts beforehand. If you want a thorough understanding of chem I suggest reading the book during the semester.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: CH102
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Nikles is a good choice if you're looking for an easy A but not if you're hoping to gain a thorough knowledge of chemistry for the MCAT or other entrance exams. After taking him for 101 and 102, I feel like I am leaving his class not knowing much more than I did before. Also, he gives a ton of homework.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: CH101
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Used clickers every day in class for credit. LOTS OF HOMEWORK. Lectures were often slow and Nikles would often get off topic. He really enjoyed teaching but his lectures were not very helpful. If you don;t particularly enjoy chemistry lectures will be a struggle. Tests were easier than expected.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: CH101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

If you are wanting to truly learn chemistry or enjoy it, this is your guy. Very knowledgeable teacher with in depth lectures that allow full understanding of the subject matter. There is a lot of homework, 4-6 times as much as any other 101 teacher, but proper time management will make it a breeze. Exams are a cakewalk, plenty of review material.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: CH101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Nikles gives out a TON of homework that normally takes about 3-6 hours a week. Going to class is only needed to get points for the clicker quizzes and the lectures are so boring. The only way this class is doable is because he gives a review before tests that are the same questions with different numbers.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: CH101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Loved having him as my chem 101 teacher. Keeps class entertaining most of the time. Gives A LOT of homework, but gives plenty of time to do it. His tests are incredibly easy, it's the practice test except with different numbers, elements, etc. Gives clicker questions everyday, but will almost always work it out and give you the answer to use.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: CH101
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Absolutely best chem 101 teacher there is. Gives last years tests with answer key before each test. The tests are an exact copy of the year's prior. Does give more homework than any other professor, but gives plenty of time for it to get done. Has clicker questions for each class for a few points a day.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: CH101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Coming from someone who likes lecture courses, this is not a good chem class to take. The course basically boiled down to show up to lectures to receive that daily credit, suffer through the homework to actually learn, and then study the test he puts up from the year before (because it's the same). If that's for you, go on ahead. For me, it's a no.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: CH101
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Nikles is a very sweet guy. The class wasn't too hard but I suggest getting a tutor still!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: CH101
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This class was so easy. I'm not the best at Chemistry but he literally gives you the test before you take it so I had no problems. He does clicker questions for attendance so you have to show up to class but I never really listen and I still have an A.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: CH101
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Nikles is a sweet guy and knows the material well, but he gives so much homework. The majority of my week was chemistry homework, however, each problem is an equivalent to a test problem so it's easy points. He also gives a "study guide" for each test which is his last semester test. If you go over it, you're guaranteed an A on the exam.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: CH101
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

THIS IS A SUPER HARD CLASS!!! This will not be an easy A. His lectures are very long and confusing. He will jump around and make you do practice problems for credit without ever doing them before. You do get practice tests but they are not exactly the same thing as the test. Also he gives you ridiculous amounts of homework with 70+ questions a week

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: CH101
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His lectures make absolutely no sense and he talks about things that are not relevant, only reason to go to class are clicker questions. The tests are super easy because he gives you the previous years test and yours will be the exact same just different numbers or elements. There is a lot of homework, about 2+ hours a week.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: CH101
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Nikles gives insane amounts of hw, but if you do it as its given to you its not that bad overall. He generally re-opens the hw sections over breaks so if you don't finish the first time you can make it up. Tests are just like the study guides which makes up for the hw. I honestly wish I could have him again next semester.