Mike Monahan - University of Denver, Denver, CO

Professor: Mike Monahan

Department: Science

College: University of Denver, Denver, CO

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO1231
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Monahan is a passionate professor who knows what he is talking about. Yes, his exams are tough, but he tells you that well in advance and gives you several resources for preparation. He encourages you to ask questions, even if it is just over e-mail. Engaging with the material is very important. He just wants to see you put in effort to learn.

Rating # 2

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Taking him for Evolution. Its impossible to Ace his quizzes. Be aware of that. His is a crazy hard grader. I will say if you seek his help, he is generally there for you, but I dont think that outweighs how tough this class is. Definitely NOT for non-majors. Overall, avoid this class

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: NATS
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Opened my eyes to natural science. Great professor. Sleep through class and fail. Study hard and get an A.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: EVOLUTION
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you're there to learn and are interested in the material (if you aren't, you should fake it until you make it), then you'll enjoy what you get out of the class and will have a substantially deeper understanding of evolution and science in general. If you go to study reviews and participate in class you will really appreciate monahan.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO1230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Literally the WORST professor I have ever had. This course is suppose to be for Non- Majors... yeah right. Eight page review sheets with 200+ questions, hell no. The tests all all cumulative and at least 12 pages long with all short answer questions. He expects way too much. He's disrespectful to students and often interrupts them. DO NOT TAKE!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO1230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Got a 49 on the midterm. Apparently the class average was a 60. Unbelievably hard grader, tests are near impossible to ace. Boring as hell and picks favorites. He treats the class like a level 2 or 3 major class when it is a level 1 class for people who only are doing this for the requirement. I hate this man do NOT take this class.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIOL12301
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He likes to change the syllabus a lot so keep checking online or else you will be very lost in class. His grading is absurd, it doesn't matter if you complete assignment correctly or answer a equation correctly. If it doesn't have the little part he wants, or he dislikes what you wrote then he will fail you for that assignment.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3020
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The most important thing you can do if you take a class with him is to PARTICIPATE! Dr. Monahan can be the nicest professor you will meet. However, if you wrong him in any way (i.e., not listening or not replying to emails), he can also be the meanest person you've ever met and a harsh grader. Aquatic Ecology was great. He just wants you THINK! :)

Rating # 9

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

Professor Monahan is a hard grader. I will not deny that. But he is also passionate and does desire his students to do well, but only if they put the time and dedication into doing so themselves. I have done well and so-so in his class, so I understand the frustration of others. He is a wonderful man and a good teacher. You get what you put in.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1230
• 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:

Monahan is a terrific professor whose class will be a highlight of my education. He has multiple review sessions which are very helpful, provides extensive study guides, and is generous with his time in office hours. It isn't an easy class, but it's the best I've taken at DU. The man is brilliant, and he loves engaged students. Highly recommend.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I would recommend taking his class as a liberal arts major. He challenges students to understand the core concepts and logical arguments behind the subject matter, instead of just memorizing facts. For this reason, you are likely to actually take away insights from his class. If you don't come to class or study, you will fail.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I totally disagree. I think he made the class incredibly easy, for a college course. He gives you the lecture power points, has review sessions before tests, gives a ton of review material, and makes the final optional,so you only have to take it if you need it to save your grade. He only grades harshly the things he SAYS will be important!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: NATS1230
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

EVERYONE BELOW IS RIGHT. Monahan is very bright, but expects way too much and grades very hard. I learned a ton because it was rammed in my brain so hard, but always did poorly on the tests. He thinks this is a bio major class. Study guies and exams are SUPER EXTENSIVE. If you want an easy nats class THIS IS NOT IT.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1232
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very difficult professor, unfair grader. Most students do poorly on exams. Self-contradictory and counts off on exams WHEN HE IS QUOTED. Do not take a class that he teaches, you will regret it.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO1232
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Horrible Teacher, hard class, completely unfair grader, and tests are impossible, you will have to work harder to do well in this class than any other class and its is taught like a Bio major class even though its mostly non-majors as it is a gen ed. DO Not Take this Class

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIO1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Do not take this class. This professor definitely is passionate and knows his stuff, but this is a general ed biology class and it is taught as much more than that. I'm not saying that he should treat it as fluff and give all of us easy A's, but really, give us a break. Too much information, not enough explanation.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO1209
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He does not understand that this is a non major, Nats class. He speaks way above so many peoples heads and is really boring. Granted he's not impossible but he's not easy. Tests are multiple pages short answer. He knows his stuff and is very bright but would do better teaching bio majors.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: NATS1209
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

True, it's just a NATS class. But I'm glad to see a professor that treats even the so-called fluff classes as something worth our time. Frankly, I'm glad that he challenged us and wanted us to learn. Just make sure you take detailed notes and ask questions.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1230
• 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:

Horrible teacher. Doesn't explain the most confusing topics. Tries to incorporate every subject into the class statistics, biology, geology, chemistry, biology, algebra... His lectures are unfocused and unhelpful. Doesn't even provide a textbook to even reference. And then gets mad at you for asking questions. do not take

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO3000
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

worst teacher i have ever had. He gives random grades. He failed me even though a i got A's on all quizes and the first exam