James Alexander - University of Louisville, Louisville, KY

Professor: James Alexander

Department: Biology

College: University of Louisville, Louisville, KY

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Alexander is extremely intelligent. He very obviously knows what he is taking about but he does often go off on a tangent and tell strange and sometimes irreverent stories. If you don't sit near the front of the room you will have no idea what's going on. He has GREAT lecture notes that basically tell you everything you need to know for exams.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO242
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I went to 60% of the lectures but they weren't the most helpful because he'd go on tangents and briefly cover important things. However, I emailed him with a few questions and he responded very quickly and was helpful. I suggest depending on his lecture notes and not studying the book because for some things he uses different terminology.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO242
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. A knows this content like the back of his hand, but it is a lot to take in at first. With only 4 exams including the final, grading is strict. Lecture was more supplementary to his lecture notes online. Opened the book twice and never used it again. If you want to do well: go to SI sessions and study well in advance, 7 days before at least.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO363
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His tests really aren't bad. Usually the people that struggle are the ones who don't attend lecture then wait to study for his exams. Don't listen to others, GO TO LECTURE. I probably would not have gotten an A if I didn't. He's funny and his lectures really helped me stay on top of the material.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I took this class with 5 professors, so it's more of a review for them. DON'T TAKE IT! This class was miserable, I tried so hard & still couldn't get above a C. It is so poorly structured, the tests are so inconsistent bc of 5 profs- it's a joke. Avoid taking at all costs. It's a BS weed out class, and is unnecessarily difficult. 100% regret taking

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This was the most difficult class I've taken thus far. If your not sitting in the first four rows, then you won't be able to hear him. He doesn't allow for recording either. Lectures didn't really help for exams since he mostly got off topic. Your best bet is to study his lecture notes every day for at least thirty minutes if you want an A.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The exam questions are extremely specific and difficult to pass. The only grades are exams, including a cumulative final. There are no assignments or extra credit and he won't bump your grade no matter how close you are. He post all the notes on Bb so you don't have to attend lecture but be prepared to live and breathe this class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO242
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Go to class and study the notes. If you pay attention and actually take the time to over his notes you will pass the exams. It's a lot of content but if you take the time and study it's not that bad.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO363
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is a very nice and caring professor. He gives you his lecture notes as the book which is helpful. I did find his test challenging, more than needed.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO242AND244
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

242 and 244 are both horrible. So many terms, tests are painfully specific, and TA's was just a joke.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO244
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Not impressed by this course. Only gave a 2 point curve and I needed 6. The tests were nearly impossible to study for. The curve is determined based on all sections which is unfair because different TAs teach different sections and they make the tests.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO244
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

God the testing format is horrible, power point style,2-3 minutes per slide/question m, spelling counts! And the information your tested over is hella specific jeez

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO244
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class is such a pain. The tests are really hard if you get one of the TAs who are difficult. Quizzes were at the end so you annoyingly had to stay for the whole thing even when there was nothing left to do.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIO244
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class is literally the worst class I have ever had the misfortune of taking. Its absolutely miserable. Prepare to memorize the entire textbook (spelling counts) and still get horrible grade in the class. TA's are a joke.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Dr. A is an amazing professor. He has that documentary voice that if you watch discovery channel documentaries you'll notice right away. His lectures are tough, but Bio is also a tough subject. There are many terms to learn and know. You do not have to have the book, but it is a great reference tool to the lecture notes he posts.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIO240242
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Mister Alexander is a charming person but not a good professor. He's very off topic and doesn't cover all of the material for his exams. I found it very difficult to achieve a decent grade for this class. It's a very on your own course!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIOL242244
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Megan DeVries was the TA who taught my lab. Classes were disorganized, unfocused, and a waste of time. The tests were a disaster. They covered too much material and the questions were far too specific. Nobody ever knew what we needed to study, even with a guide. They were presented as pwrpnt slides with only mins to answer 2-3 questions per slide.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIOL242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Little effort was made to facilitate understanding of the material and instead all of our time was spent memorizing facts. I feel that my time in class would've been better spent staying home and reading the textbook because I basically just sat there and listened to him tell me the SparkNotes version of it anyways.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO242AND244
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I adore Dr. Alexander! He is really funny but his lectures can be very off topic. Don't go to lecture or read the book for 242, just read his lecture notes he posts online. Tests are curved. 244 is horrible. The labs are pointless and the tests are ridiculously specific. The class ended up being curved 19 points because everyone did so poorly.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO242
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I really wanted to like "Dr A". He's clearly influenced a lot of young minds at U of L, but why do teachers like him actively discourage their students so much? If you love bio, don't take the competitive, negative bait. There's a lot to learn here... the book helped me get the concepts, the lectures, well, you're paying for em.