Kathleen Pelkki - Saginaw Valley State University, University Center, MI

Professor: Kathleen Pelkki

Department: Biology

College: Saginaw Valley State University, University Center, MI

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO111A
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Pelkki is a very smart woman, but does not teach well. She teaches off the slides but odds are the exams go way more in depth than what she teaches. No need for the book unless you think you'll need extra help. Really need to study unless you have prior knowledge. There's no actual application of what your learning besides in lab.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO111C
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Super hard and difficult class that will require excessive studying. She is said to be one of the hardest Bio111 professors, but she is very knowledgeable and willing to help if you put in the effort. Great lady who really cares about the students who visit her office hours and ask for help

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: 111A
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

She does not go into detail or cover as much information as other profs. do (can be both good and bad). Before the class began she emailed everyone and said buy the book but I didn't open it once b/c her exams are completely lecture based (which she puts on Canvas) and notes taken from class. If you had past bio (AP) experience you'll be fine

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO111A
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

There are 4 exams over the lecture,each 100 pts. She doesn't take attendance but the in class activities are random so you have to be there to get points(100 pts/semester). There's also 2 100 pt lab exams that count toward your grade, but they are taken with a different professor. Very boring lecture, but you HAVE to take notes for test&Study HARD!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO111
• Grade Received: INC
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Ms. Pelkki is nice lady, she was a good professor but she goes over material way too fast. She talks to fast and extremely vague about everything. When it came to the exams I felt extremely confident yet I got C's on most of them. I would not recommend her for students that struggle with biology or fast talking professors.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO105A
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

For non-science majors who have to take basic biology she is an excellent choice. Lectures present the material clearly and the power points are available on Canvas prior to the lecture so you can print and take notes easily. Attendance is important. 2 papers and 1 project. Clear and fair grading. Online companion website used way more than text.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO105A
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Pelkki has clear grading criteria. Exams are taken directly from lectures and attendance is important. Subject matter is presented in an easy to understand format. Fair grading on papers. For non-science majors who have to take basic biology she is an excellent choice.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO105A
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She's awesome! Was worried on the first day and the class seemed pretty hard but then as the weeks went on I was surprised how easy she made it. Pelkki wrote the lab manual for her class so she knows exactly what she expects. She's pretty cool and a super nice lady. Would take again.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: 105B
• 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:

As long as you show up and pay attention, you should be able to get at least a B on any test. Super easy lab class, very little homework. Somewhat boring sometimes but it's fine, just take notes. The test questions are right from her powerpoints but she doesn't hand them out.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO111C
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Pellki is a joke of a professor and should not be allowed to teach at the university level. She doesn't know anything that isn't on the papers in front of her, and refuses to answer student's questions. Lots of material on tests and lab practicals that were never covered in class. This class was way more challenging than it should have been.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO111C
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

She is the toughest grader I have ever had! She knows her stuff and likes what she does. I studied for hours each day and asked tons of questions and got a C when I usually get A's and B's. She assigns tons of extras that don't help you for the class.

Rating # 12

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

The lectures are long and boring. She goes through power points of notes and lectures the whole class period. Sometimes she hands out articles and questions or shows short videos. Tests are very tough. I did a great amount of studying to get an A on the exams. Pelkki is a very nice professor.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO111C
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

She is the nicest teacher ever but she is not very understanding and doesn't give extra credit. Her tests are very very hard you need to study hard for them.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: 111C
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I have her for botany right now. She knows what she's talking about, but she also puts a lot of reading on you and expects you to know things. If you want a good grade, you'll have to spend time on your own.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

She may not be the most exciting professor, but i found the class to be very easy. She tells you to not depend on the study guides for exams, however that is what i studied and got an A always. Go to lectures, having her know you can go along way. Simple material, i would definitely recommend her.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIOL105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Great teacher! Powerpoints are given to students, material is explained well, and tests are hard but fair. Too many non-science majors in the class expect to be given the answers and not think or read the text - their loss.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO105A
• 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 hated the class, but I hate science in general. Lectures were boring, although she does explain the general concepts well. Once you get into the more complex things she doesn't do such a good job. The tests are pretty diffucult, and I studied a lot. I didn't buy the book and never wished I did, so don't bother.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIOL105A
• 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:

I absolutely loved this professor, she explains things very well and her powerpoints are very helpful. Class can get a little boring, but overall I think she was a great professor and she's really nice. I would definitely take her again!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

She is very boring, and not helpful at all. She does not tell you what is on the test, its kind of a find/guess for yourself thing. Tests not to hard though. She goes through a lot of material in one class and dosent really explain well. Can get confusing at times. Not terrible but not good either.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO105
• 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:

She is a really nice person. But not so good at teaching. She rushes through the lectures dosent really explain much. Kind of treats us all like we are Biology majors. Tests are harder then you think you have no clue what to study for the tests and she will not give out any reviews or give any hints as to what will be on the tests. So good luck.