Peter A. Bowler - University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA

Professor: Peter A. Bowler

Department: Biology

College: University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: E179L
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

lab itself you just stand and watch someone else take data in the ponds. reports are annoying b/c theyre HIGHLY unorganized and grade TEDIOUSLY. honestly id rather take a lab where you work a bit more, and earn a fair grade, rather than one where they grade, not on the quality of your work, but on some imaginary guideline. ridiculous class

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: E179
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He is a sweetheart. Really cares for his students and the environment. He doesnt keep you for the three hours, maybe 1.5 max each class. Dont under-estimate the tests, go through everything well! Watch the videos a few times after class and pay attention. Taking his lab in summer and cant wait! He does curve based off how the class does too.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO179
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The class is boring but the professor is very nice and love the subject. His tests were very difficult and details which will require a lot of studying. Definitely not easy A anymore. More like easy B.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIOSCI23
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Professor Bowler is a true legend, absolutely hilarious, and quite frankly the nicest person you will ever meet. His landscaping class is really easy, attendance is not mandatory but it's such a small class that I felt bad about not going. Graded on one midterm which we were very well prepped for and he got rid of the final exam for a group project

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO179
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Amazing lecturer. I would definitely take him again if I could. The class was extremely straightforward. Everything on his lecture slides will basically be on the exams. He started changing up his exams last year so be aware. Just study all of his slides thoroughly and you should be able to get an easy A.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: E179L
• 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:

You don't get that much time with Bowler unfortunately, but mostly in groups in the marsh or with TA. This class really depends on your TA. Lab practical is easy if you put solid study time in. The 3 papers are more annoying and frustrating than hard, but again this depends on the TA. Solid choice for a summer lab.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: E179
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Bowler is a very kind professor who genuinely cares for his students. While the subject may not be interesting for some students, it is considered to be one of the easier classes offered at UCI. But don't be fooled, exams are detailed so you should study thoroughly for the midterm and final, otherwise you will be lost during the test.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: E179
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Peter Bowler is one of the kindest professors at UCI. I took this class because people told me it was SUPER EASY but be aware, you STILL HAVE TO STUDY. I didn't study as much as I should have and I was lost on the midterm. There are quite a few confusing questions on the tests. His curve is really nice though. I believe 35% of the class gets an A.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: E179
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

While the material is not the most exciting, the class was super easy and Bowler is very passionate about what he teaches. I stopped showing up to class and simply studied the class notes he posts online. Read those and study them well at least two days before the exam, and you will score above average.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: E179
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Nice guy. Very enthusiastic about what he teaches. Not a fan of his exams, though. The wordage/grammar of exam questions are sometimes unclear, and some questions are so random. You have to memorize silly things like, "the number of dams in a river we talked about 4 weeks ago for 2 seconds," as opposed to the fundamentals of Limnology.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO23
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Professor Bowler is one of the nicest professors I've ever met. He is super dedicated to landscaping. Although the lectures themselves are all based on PowerPoints and are super boring, the class is super easy. Memorize the slides he gives you for the study guide and your guaranteed an "A".

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIOE179
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Bowler's class was fair and straightforward. I took it during summer session and was not overwhelmed by the material. There is a bunch of facts and concepts to know but it is possible. He posted podcasts which I recommend going over since each class was condensed into an hour of lecture and watching about an hour of a movie. Curve helped too.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: E179
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Whole grade based on 2 exams + marsh tour. Bowler is passionate and funny, but completely oblivious to the rampant cheating taking place under his nose. Modesmeans were high because of students having old exams, making it harder for non-cheaters to get good grades. Grading ended up being straight-scale. Only B I ever got in a bio class. Regret it.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: E179
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Ignore the last two comments. UCI bio department has made Bowler step his game up and he's changed his classes. The curve in this class sucked because a group of 20 or so students had the midterm and the final. This lead to high averages and a mode of 49 out of 50. Cheating is apparent, if you work hard you won't be as good as the cheaters.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: E179
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Easy class... disgrace to UCI biology department. Hands down

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: E179
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

This class is absolutely a joke. I don't know why so many people are complaining about it. JUST MEMORIZE the BOLD LETTERS written on his notes. Just memorize those bold letters and the type of question he asks are very surface level questions. This class does not require any deeper understanding. GPA BOOSTER!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: E179L
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Loved the lab. highly recommend. TA's were nice and friendly, lab was super chill. But make sure you do extremely well on the practical, thats where most of the pts are.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: E179L
• 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:

this class is not easy at all. he has no easy class. its a regualr class where the mean is a b- not high b+ or a- which is what the TA said.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: E179
• 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 Bowler is one of the best at UCI! He loves what he teaches and you can definitely tell! He really wants to help students do their best. He's one of the nicest professors at UCI! Take him if you can!

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIOE179
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Enthusiastic professor who gives fair exams. I memorized the notes, read the book, and attended all lectures and office hours and got an A+. Go to office hours and you're more/less assured an A! OH are even more important than lecture. The "Bowler Curve" is very generous, so most pass (C or above) and many get an A/B.