Jeffrey Podos - University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Professor: Jeffrey Podos

Department: Biology

College: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO105
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Hilarious guy, would read our short writing assignments out loud (without names) in voices of the Simpsons characters and once or twice in the voices of past presidential candidates. Really helpful if you seek him out- go to office hours and he will make sure you understand the content. Exam was very hard though even with extensive studying.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Podos is a good guy. Had him during the last third of Bio 105- highly recommend for an easy Gen Ed. All three professors were good, but Podos definitely had the hardest exam. He does his best to keep lectures entertaining.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I've never been good at biology and this was perfect. Tells you everything you need to know. Still makes it fun. This class is perfect for a GenEd. Weekly readings and Moodle quizzes. 3 tests total and 3 papers total; 1 from each teacher. Theres 4 in class assignments each section at random so keep an eye out for those if you miss class.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO550
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Love jeffrey! He really is so sweet and funny. You definitely DO need to read the book, because a chunk of the exam is based off of some of the examples from the book that weren't mentioned in class. Exams are lengthy, 30 MC and 3/4 open responses. Nothing is necessarily hard, just read and memorize.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO105
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Me, not being a fan of the Simpsons, didn't enjoy Podos as much as one would and would often feel as though I shouldn't have come to class. However, I cannot be mad because he was a very high-spirited man who always kept class interesting. He's the type of guy to show up to class with a smile on his face everyday and his passions are shown. Good...

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO105
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The class itself is quite easy, and the professors are pretty great, however if you mess up one exam, especially prof Podos(the hardest one I find) it will really bring down your grade. This class isn't that easy to get an A as I thought it would even though I studied for it.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO550
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Probably the best professor UMass has to offer. His lectures and teaching methods are not only hilarious and entertaining, but the material (which was even more fun than I thought it would be) really sticks with you. He has a lot of field experience, too, which is cool to hear about. 10/10 would recommend. Even exams are a fun time.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO105
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

One of the three professors in this class. Class is super easy but this guy makes it entertaining too. One of those guys who's enthusiasm for the subject comes across. Good class to take for a science gen ed.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO105
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Podos is one of the best professors I've ever had. He's very funny and engages you into learning. His test was pretty easy if you study your notes and articles on Moodle. I also thought the review session he had was helpful as it refreshed my mind from the stuff we learned earlier. All around great guy, and everyone seemed to love him.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO105
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Jeff Podos will brighten your day. From reading stuff out of the police logs to reciting peoples in-class writing responses in the voices of Simpsons characters, Jeff makes his section fun. If you take notes in class and on the readings, of which there are many, you will do well in his section. Bio 105 is an easy A if you put in a little effort.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

In-class response paragraphs randomly every few classes. He then takes some of these responses and matches them accordingly with a specific Simpson character. He then does impressions as he reads them to the class. From Ralph to Sideshow Bob he does them all. Super funny. The material is also straight forward. Take this class!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO105
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

My only class ever that I've wanted to show up to. He's wicked funny and engages with his students. He took the time to respond to an essay I wrote for him and tell me that he really liked it.. in a class with more than 200 kids in it. Great guy and knows how to keep the attention of 200+ hung over college students. would highly recommend him.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO105
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Guy is one of the funniest professors I've ever had. He loves what he does, and his class is very enjoyable. There are 3 papers (1-2 pages) and a pop quiz each week, but the quizzes are mainly giving your own opinion for his topics. Very easy class, and he makes you want to succeed.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIO550
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Jeff is clear about what he wants you to know. There is a lot of reading, and be sure to do the readings. Passionate about what he does. Very interesting course. Understand general concepts behind evolution and ecology. You SHOULD attend class, but can pass either way. Full of inspiring stories.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO550
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are so interesting and he's so funny and clear. The multiple choice part on exams are relatively easy with just a few hard questions. There's 3 essays and you pick 2 out of the 3 which is the hardest part of this class! Exams are half lecture and half readings so make sure you write everything he says and read the readings :)

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIO550
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Jeff really cares about his students. If you like learning from quirky professors then he's your guy. He really knows his stuff and is happy to help you if you need it, no matter how trivial. His tests are multiple choice and essays but if you attend lecture and read the book before the exams then you'll do fine.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO105
• 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:

Podos=Best teacher I've had at UMass, and I'm not a science person. He was passionate and experienced, and incredibly fun to come to class to listen to. He's clear, engaging and hilarious. I find myself talking about his portion of the class to everyone. Come to class, you'll need and want to. He's contagiously awesome- DEFINITE RECOMMENDATION.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

My favorite out of the three. Interesting and pretty funny professor. The exam is fairly easy just from what he discussed during class and his online quizzes. No lecture slides are uploaded online so you must go to class.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO105
• 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:

Professor Podos is a really nice guy who tries really hard to be funny. Sometimes he is. He makes sure that he is extremely clear with everything that he is teaching. He did a great job of making science interesting to non science majors.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO550
• 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:

Incredible teacher. Has a passion for his subject and wants his students to succeed. Podos makes the course interesting and worth going to. He is hilarious and my favorite teacher at Umass.