Irwin Segel - University of California Davis, Davis, CA

Professor: Irwin Segel

Department: Biology

College: University of California Davis, Davis, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIOCHEMISTRY
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I can't believe he is still teaching. I had him in 1973. He was extremely knowledgeable & extremely annoying. It was his way or the highway. Fortunately his highway was full of facts + he taunted the pre-meds!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MCB123
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

DO NOT TAKE MCB123 with him. TAKE IT WITH WILSON!!!!!!! Test averages were about 39 percent for the midterm and a 50 for the final. If you want to learn anything at all take this class with Wilson! Everyone complained about his class.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIS103
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Segel is probably my all time fav prof at UCD so far. He explains concepts from multiple perspectives and tries to make things easier to remember. Yes he does go on tangents but considering his age I appreciated most of the advice he gave; he doesnt like being stopped for Qs bc he forgets where he was & it takes him a bit to get back on course.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIS103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

honestly this is one of the best classes i have ever taken. you learn so much if you listen. easy? no but not impossible, study his packet+ record his lecture or get recordings from people and you can get an A. not saying it is easy lol no, but it isnt impossible. i got an A with 88 88 and 68 on final. I do not think i will forget this prof ever.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIS103
• 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:

Super funny guy and extremely entertaining. He goes off on Tangents. His midterms are easy since he gives example midterms but the final was super tough. Books are useless in this class. Go off the study packet because of his disorganization. Learned a lot.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIS103
• 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:

It's a hard class with lots of memorization, but he teaches it just fine. I really like his style of notes, they are very clear and comprehensible. Tests are very hard.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIS103
• 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:

Always has 5 questions that knock you a letter grade. Enjoyable lecturer and material.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIS103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I took his class 5 years ago and he is still my all time favorite. His class teaches material, as well as preparing your for real world science careers. Can you ask mundane questions as a researcher? - no you read a book and inform yourself collaborate, and figure it out. He is helpful if he thinks you are making an honest effort.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIS103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Gives somewhat fair tests but his whole demeanour is completely unapproachable, for example, he actively encouraged us to NOT ask questions. One of the TA's was friendly but useless, vice versa for the other one. A lot of studying required. Try to avoid this teacher, take someone like Callis instead.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Best professor at UCD for sure..everyone may think he is hard, but all that you need to do is understand the material and apply. Those people who think it is hard, expect it all to be memorisation, but this professor is great at teaching and everything on his exams will be based on lecture material.

Rating # 11

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

The class is a lot of material (don't fall behind, even for a day). TA/prof help was super limited in the summer, so get friends and study a lot. Look over your old ochem/biochem notes if you still have them. Not difficult to get a B/C due to the grade scale and MC tests. Don't sit in the front row if you aren't familiar with ochem/biochem.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIS103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Just study off the packet he tells you to get and its a super easy B. Lecture is optional since its just him going over what's in the packet.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIS103
• 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:

I agree with some of the previous comments that say that people came into this class with prejudgments without giving the professor a chance. I think his tests are difficult but his preset curve is helpful. I like how the curve was preset and that allowed for students to help each other study rather than compete with each other.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIS103
• 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:

Prof Segel was awesome! He has high expectations so come to class ready to learn. The workload was not too bad-u just need to put in the study time, like an hour a day. Know those pathways! Lectures were clear and he uses the chalkboard so come early if u want to copy it. Exams were M.C. but understandable and fair. Great class overall!

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIS103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Overall he is a good teacher. listen to his lecture is very helpful. He mentions some diseases related to the topic. Make sure u know how the disease is related to what he explains.Know all the coenzymes and vitamins related to the main enzymes & pathway.Go TA office Hr. He has one of the best TAs. Extremely helpful n guide u how to study.GOOD LUCK

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIS003
• 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:

His expectations are ridiculous. You are expected to memorize all of his notes in addition to a book of enzyme mechanisms.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIS103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Irwin Segel is the best teacher I have ever had. He presented the material clearly and gave fair tests. I learned more from one quarter with him than any other class. Too bad he is leaving. Hard but not impossible; I got an A+. Show up, take notes, read the book, read the packet, and do the necessary problems in Biochemical Calculations.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIS103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If you planned biochemistry or Medicine to be your future career,then Dr Segel is your best bet.Different aspects of biochemistry will be raised in the class.He collects journal articles from years back to relate the material with real world appl.Easy A if you attend and listen his lecture.Also try to get a hold of his ol Exam but dont depend on'em

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIS103
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I don't understand.... This class/prof wasn't that hard. I actually wished this class would be more difficult because I felt I didn't learn enough. Honestly, I wish he would have given free response questions instead of the easy multiple choice tests. All you have to do is understand what he says in class and you can probably get 90s on his tests.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIS103
• 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:

Arrogant old man who thinks he knows everything about anything. He even picked on someone who fell asleep in his 8:00 morning class. Tests are impossible, all you can do is either get his old exams or blindly guess the answer.