Michael Lyons - Boston University, Boston, MA

Professor: Michael Lyons

Department: Psychology

College: Boston University, Boston, MA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PS371
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Lyons is an amazing professor. I really liked that he drew upon his research, using stories to help illustrate harder concepts. The material can be a bit dry sometimes (think DSM criteria), but Dr. Lyons guides you through it. 3 non-cumulative exams, a short diagnostic paper (very easy), and discussion, take his class!

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PS371
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Very lecture heavy, but also many interesting things. Sometimes a bit boring and hard to stay focus, but he is very funny and loves to tell us about his personal experience. Enjoyed his class!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PS371
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Extremely knowledgeable professor with a plethora of clinic stories to add on to each lecture that makes monotonous material more entertaining. You must listen and take note on his anecdotes because they WILL be on the exam. He will give away exam questions during lecture so make sure to attend. 3 non-cumulative exams and 1 paper; not too hard.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PS371
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is very monotone and talks slower than average professors so if that's something that bothers you, stay away from this class. Otherwise, the content and grading isn't too bad.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PS371
• 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:

Amazing professor! he is so accomplished in his field and has plenty of amazing stories. people generally dont appreciate how significant his research has been in psych/medicine. 3 very fair tests, easy enough if study, he tells you whats on the test before hand

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PS371
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

One of the best profs in the department. Incredibly knowledgable and experienced. Very kind. Happy to answer questions during lecture. Cracks jokes and tells really interesting stories. Exam questions are drawn from lecture and textbook, but they aren't difficult if you know the material. Don't take Abnormal with any other prof.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PS371
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Lyons is decent; he teaches what he needs to and if you listen in lecture you'll do ok. However, his lectures are extremely boring and he has the most mundane voice, so good luck on staying awake. He NEVER does review sessions so literally up until your last lecture, he will still be adding new material, which is kind of crazy.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: PS371
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

His course was interesting and his tests are based on what he covers in class. Take this course if you are interested in being a psychologist or psychiatrist. He is very professional and respectable. :)

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: PS371
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Professor Lyons is an awesome teacher. His lectures are very informative and interesting. He's also so friendly and approachable. I would highly recommend taking a class with him. Also, the exams are very fair, if you go to every lecture then you'll have no problem

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PS371
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Lyons is a really sweet guy and he really knows his stuff. His lectures can be boring at times, but he also tells really interesting stories which give a much more personal perspective about the topics he is lecturing about. He is very understanding and laid back. Class is easy and enjoyable, attendance isn't required.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PS371
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Loved him so much! A lot of powerpoint and he moves at too quick a pace for some, but he's great at explaining the material and he's very consistent unlike some others in the Psych department. Loved his class! Definitely recommend.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PS371
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I was really disappointed with my abnormal psych class with Lyons after reading his great reviews. I found him disorganized, pedantic, and obviously distracted (I don't blame him, if I had 9 million in grant money for twin studies I wouldn't spend any time on my classes either) That said, I really expected better from the head of the department.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PS371
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Hilarious guy. Goes fast with the Power Point, which makes note-taking by hand a bit difficult, but slides are posted online so it's not a big issue. 3 exams + 1 term paper, each 21%. 8% discussion, 8% diagnostic paper. Exams are 60 MC + 1 essay out of 2 topics. An A is fairly easy to achieve. Like he says: "I am not trying to trick you".

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: PS371
• 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:

Great professor! Very funny and clear. Not very organized, though, but it didn't bother me. Attendance wasn't mandatory, except for discussion. Overall, great class. Take it with him! :-)

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: PS371
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Go to class; he's funny in the twisted humor psychologist sort of way. He has really great stories, which contextualize everything you learn. Tests are from lecture and from the textbook, but they're fair. Also, discussion sections are kind of boring, but you learn a lot in them. If your TF is Anu, you're set. She's great. Excellent class.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PS371
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Lyons made me feel a lot better about the 43K im spending a year to go here. He was thorough, informative, interesting, and his tests were very straightforward. You can tell that he loves what he does and he is here to teach, not to trick you or lower your GPA. Don't miss out on abnormal psych with him.

Rating # 17

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

He's awesome. Funny stories and easy class. He's amazingly nice!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PS371
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Yea he's awesome. As is his class. A tad formulaic, always adhering strictly to the DSM, but I guess that's just how it goes. As good as the lectures are, the tests really go by the book. Read it. Tests are mostly multiple choice, which is cool at first, but by the end it was a tad frustrating.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PS371
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I love this man. Material is straight forward and his lectures are almost all from the book. Adds little funny anecdotes about his time as a grad student and in the navy. Take this class!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PS371
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

My favorite class yet at BU. Prof. Lyons is the most easy-going, approachable professors I have had. The majority of the material is directly from the book. Look at the notes and practice quizzes online before the exams and you'll be good to go. His stories are funnier than hell. TAKE THIS CLASS!