James Ferrari - California State University San Bernardino, San Bernardino, CA

Professor: James Ferrari

Department: Biology

College: California State University San Bernardino, San Bernardino, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO202
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The course consisted of three exams, two midterms, and the final. He provides sample questions for midterm 1 and 2, if you can do the samples youre golden. Pretty much do some of the homework and undstand the sample questions ! Midterm 1 and the final are on the easier spectrum, watch out for midterm 2 it the information is tougher.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO202
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Id say this class was harder than Biol 200. Take good notes and come to lecture. Most exam questions come from the homework problems. Exams consist of A, B, C, and ABC multiple choice questions making it tricky. Go to office hours, he can be helpful there. Lab consists of a scientific paper and a statistics final exam.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO202
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I took him for Bio202. Your grade is 100% tests. No extra credit, class participation, etc. Attend the supplemental course for this class. They teach you a lot. Make sure you read as well and answer all his questions on his study guide/review sheets. Attend his office hours and discuss your answers on the sheet with him and you'll be fine.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO202
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

If you show up to lecture, take good notes, and attempt to do the homework; you will pass easily with a B. The tests are a piece of cake just study and take your time. Yes, there are some hard questions here and there, but that is how most tests are get use to it.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO202
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Ferrari never mentions about curving the grade but I think he does it when you get the actual letter grade by boosting up approximately 5% of total. Regardless of how well I did in my classes in your past, I'd never seen any difficult exams such as these ones. He inserts lots of a or b or abc type of multiple choices so be ready.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

His first midterm was absolute shock to me. Many of my classmates, who worked hard as I did, for this course are now worried about their first midterm grades. I had almost all straight A on my past science subject grades but I feel like I'm in trouble already. I'll probably try to avoid him in the future and take other courses elsewhere.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Take notes take really good notes also ask for help just make sure you understand everything that is asked of you because it's needed for his test. Don't bother with the book just his notes and concepts. He has problems on his test there not just straight forward yes or no.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO423
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Recorded lectures and LAB and got passed by it. He says he doesnt curve but i think he did though. Overall, he is crystal clear, gives you HW and DO IT! it helps alot. The begnining is like 202 and after the 1st midterm, its legit genetics so hang on. Overall, dude is cool i would take hiim again :D pretty easy if you keep up with hw and lec

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: 202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I thought i loved genetics, but Ferrari made it somewhat difficult. Homework is optional, but i didn't find them super useful. I got B's on both exams from doing the hw (test 1) and not doing the hw (test 2). He expects you to be a great student, and is a little intimidating going to his office hours. Just bug the crap out of him until you learn

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO202
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Read the book!! In the beginning I went to every class, did all the homework and got 58% on the first midterm. By the end, I skipped every class, ignored the homework and read outlined all the chapters in the book instead and got an A on the final (which initially he said would be cumulative but wasn't).

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: 202
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Extremely fair! Provides sample tests that are relatively similar to the actual tests in level of understanding required. However, DO NOT use them as your only means for studying because he does change the wording around. Very approachable. Go to office hours if you are unsure of something. Do the homework--it really makes the difference!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I think its just me i always struggeled with genetics man. i struggled with this class due to my fault, had it at 8am and traffic kept making me late!! fell alittle behind but managed to get pass. tough class cant lie. he is pretty good too and make sure u do the hw!!! it helps out a lot! pretty tough class though man cant lie

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO202
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Expect to put in a lot of study time. He puts up practice tests on blackboard which are identical to what the actual test is. Lab is mostly statistics with a huge lab paper at the end. He isn't a bad teacher but he will try to trick you on tests so take your time and read every question and answer carefully and thoroughly.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIO202
• 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: Mandatory

Comment:

If you got to class take notes record the lecture read the book do the homework spend at least 3 hours reviewing the weeks material you will pass this class.. you have been warned.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO202
• 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: N/A

Comment:

Dr. Ferrari does a good job in explaining the material. His tests are based off the lectures, so attend class and take good notes on what he says. He also makes practice tests which help prepare for the actual exams.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIO202
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He knows the topic, but he doesn't seem to want to teach except to hear himself speak. He's the only professor to teach this subject at this school and he is not approachable.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO522
• 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:

Great teacher, really wants you to do well. He gives you all the information you need for tests via lecture and homework so take good notes and show up every lecture. If you dont understand something ASK. His test are always part essay so u must understand material!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO202
• 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: N/A

Comment:

He's a great teacher. Go to his office hours before exams, he'll be there explaining the material, also it's a huge help if you record his lectures and go back through your notes, adding to them as you listen to the recording. I did this on the last two exams and got an A on both. A lot of what he says are questions straight from the test!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO202
• 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:

Seems like a nice guy, but not a great professor. His lectures are boring, and his tests are tricky. If you don't give him the exact answer he marks you down. Homework was ridiculous and the book it comes from is outdated. Unfortunately, he's the only professor for the class. Try to avoid for Bio 421/22.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO202
• 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:

Dr. Ferrari seems unapproachable at first. But he is nice, approachable and wants students to do well. Ignore comments that say otherwise. If you understand lecture and HW you should do good. I would definitely take Ferrari again.