Lewis Jacobsen - University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Professor: Lewis Jacobsen

Department: Science

College: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO0350
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Jacobsen is one of the smartest guys you'll ever meet, and I thoroughly enjoyed learning in his classroom. Genetics isn't an easy subject so your grade will have to be worked for. The exams aren't bad, but the final was tougher than expected. Don't take for an easy A, but rather if you want to truly learn about genetics. He has a lot to offer!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIOSC0350
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He is a great professor that cares about his students. It is stressful that your grade is made up only of exams but he provides a lot of tools to study for them beforehand and never tried to trick you on the exam. If you put in the time and study his lectures and recitation worksheets, an A is easily attainable.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIOSC0355
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Solid choice for genetics. His grades are based on two tests and a final but his grading scale is very generous (60 is usually the lowest score for the B range). He puts all his lectures online along with study guides, take advantage of this. Jacobsen hates the book and he explains everything he wants you to know in lecture so don't buy it.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO0350
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

As long as you write down literally everything that he says, do the recitation worksheets, and study 40 hours for the final (which honestly isn't that much), you'll get an A.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIOSC0350
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He posts his lecture notes ahead of time, but they're mostly unhelpful when it comes to studying. His recitations are helpful, but not mandatory, so be sure to show up. He is very knowledgeable. Has a nice curve.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIOSC0355
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I found myself enjoying this class more than I thought I would. Tends to ramble & complain too much about the educational system, but otherwise interesting. Very helpful with answering questions. Exams are not that difficult. Got a B without attending most of recitations. Probably could have gotten an A if I went to recitations + office hours.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO0350
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Honestly a lot of my friends really liked Dr. Jacobsen but I just couldn't get on board. I felt that he was very knowledgeable but condescending and made you feel pretty small. 3 exams that weren't very tough are your only grades, A is easily achievable. Never opened the text book, just studied his lectures (which he records) and his problem sets.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIOSC0350
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Truly cares about his students and is very knowledgeable. Teaches with an overhead projector, which is not the best, but posts all his slides online before class and gives much more info in class. Lecture recordings were also posted online after each class. He has an interesting sense of humor that sometimes annoys people, but really a great prof

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIOSCI1590
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Took BIOSC0350 w/ him last semester& decided to take honors lecture 1590 with him this semester. Comes off as cold at first but is honestly an amazing professor who truly cares about students who want to learn and encourages out of the box thinking. This class is only 1 credit but would highly recommend to any bio major. Learned so much& had fun.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO0350
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Exceptionally entertaining, knows his stuff. Learn how to take his exams. It was not as hard as I had expected. Hes a little out there but really enjoyable to listen to. Dont buy the textbook, its worthless. 3 exams and thats all. His quotes are great though. Responds to emails well.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO0350
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Definitely knows what he's talking about but doesn't do a good job in conveying it. Provides lots of examples but doesn't emphasize the concept well.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO0350
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's literally the worst, he may know a lot but he will talk to you like you're twelve and says that everything you've learned in bio so far is useless, but I learned very little new information that I didn't know from intro to bio. He's arrogant and acts like he's god's gift to the world of genetics. If you can take another processor, do it.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIOSC0350
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Amazing, interesting, and a rather hilarious lecturer and is extremely knowledgeable in what he does. He really caught my attention during the lectures. However, the class is graded by three exams only leaving no room to mess up. You have to work hard and go to class in order to do well. He claims he doesn't curve, but a 80+ is an A.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIOSC0350
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Take this man for genetics! He knows around 4 times more than the other professors combined. His tests are very hard but I think it was worth it to get to work with this man. He has met and worked with almost every famous geneticist in the past 50 years, from James Watson to Barbara McClintock. (also he says he doesnt curve but a 60-80 is a B)

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO0350
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Jacobsen is a fantastic lecturer. He always has interesting and funny stories related to the course material. His lectures are solid, and he gives all the info you need during lecture. That being said he does expect his students to work for it, tests can be tricky but he curves pretty hard. Responds to questions on weekends, esp. near finals.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIOSC0350
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Don't buy the textbook unless you need a lot of clarification on basic concepts - Lew hates the textbook. The exams are similar to (but easier than) the recitation questions, and are curved. Definitely form a study group, and know all of the vocabulary. Don't write unnecessary information on tests.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO0350
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Jacobsen was a great teacher. He is very smart and is helpful to students. His class is difficult and you have to work for your grade. He wants precision on his tests: concise, specific answers. A study group is really nice to have in the class, but not 100% necessary. There's no way to pass without going to lectures and studying hard.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO0350
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Jacobson is a great professor. However, it is not an easy course. You must work hard and find a study group to do well. Be sure to use all of the material he gives you and understand how to apply concepts. Go to recitation and his office hours.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO0350
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

only grades were from 3 exams worth 100 points each, no final. uses projector for his slides but puts them up ahead of time. records lecture and puts online. very entertaining but not always clear. class is curved, 60-80 was B range and 80-100 was A range. very obtainable to get a B or A. recitation problems were helpful for 1st exam

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO0350
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Strict grader, unstructured class. Never know what to expect for exams or what to study and to what extent. Slides are unhelpful.