Rick Peifer - University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN

Professor: Rick Peifer

Department: Science

College: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1009
• 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:

One of the best professor's that I've had as an undergraduate student. All of his lecture material was made available online, he made himself very available during office hours, and he was willing to put in a lot of effort to try to make the class accessible and interesting for all. He made sure the course materials were cheap and relevant.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO1009
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class was extremely difficult because he strives to ask tricky questions on the exams. Go to class having read the material and studied, because the pop quizzes are frequent and difficult. I would not recommend this instructor for what should be a starter course because he expects advanced knowledge.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO1009
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

One of the BEST profs at the U! he know great deal about the subject, his lectures are interesting, and tries his best to make sure that his students understand what he is teaching. He posts the lecture, notes, and other multimedia online. Read the textbook before you come to class.I would recommend this class to everyone who is taking bio 1009!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1009
• 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:

Lectures can be confusing and non-relevant to the tested material. Read the book to get the concepts, come to class to get points on unannounced quizzes. I would not recommend this professor, frequent rants and angry out bursts are common during lecture. There are better instructors for this class.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO1905
• 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:

A really interesting class that was worth going to. Participation based with one project due in it. Overall a great class to learn about a topic that will be vital in the future and Peifer had a wealth of knowledge on the subject

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1009
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This professor goes on tangents frequently. It was very difficult to stay awake in his class. Sit in the back if you do not want to be called on to answer questions in class. He gives pop-quizzes in lecture so be prepared with knowledge of the reading. READ THE BOOK because his lecturing will not help you much on the test. He also preaches abou

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO1109
• 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:

Last comment was clearly written by the professor himself. I would not recommend any of his bio classes to anyone.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO1009
• 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:

He is a clearly devoted professor who teaches even as it reduces his small life span. He loves his subject and his students but does so by setting a minimum standard they must achieve. He is a Vietnam vet and has multiple (an painful) acquaintances with biology brings the subject home. He will call on people as they are expected know the subject.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO1009
• 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:

Well, he made his religious views very clear early on in the class, and by religious views I mean he is an atheist. The man is OBSESSED with Darwin, to the point of it being creepy. Same goes for his obsession with his english setters. Seems like a nice guy, but after meeting with him it became clear that this was not true. AVOID HIS CLASS!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1009
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Avoid aisle seats or the front rows if you aren't willing to have a mic shoved in your face. I found his lectures hard to stay awake in, and his tangents (often irrelevant) kept me barely engaged, as it was like "storytime" knowing that nothing he was about to say was going to be on a test. Keep in mind he gives pop quizzes regularly. Very easy.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1009
• 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:

It's a difficult, but fair class. My mistake prior to the first midterm was not paying attention in class -- Once I started doing that, my grade got much better. Everyone's right - don't sit in the front if you don't wanna answer questions. Keep up on the reading and pay attention, and it's possible to get an A or a B.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1009
• 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:

There's a lot of required reading, but if you keep up with them, you will do fine in the course. The pace is decent and due to occasional pop quizzes, it's always a good idea to review notes right before class. He's an interesting guy, despite his tangents. Also, if sitting in the front row, be prepared to be put on the spot from time to time.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO1009
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Boring, Boring, Boring, Doesn't talk about anything relevant, goes off on tangents all the time, i mean all the time, nothing in lecture is every on the test...AVOID....you will fall asleep I did

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIO1009
• 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:

Just had to say I agree 100% with the terminal velocity thing. He had no clue what he was talking about. Tests have way to specific a focus for such a broad course. Maybe a third midterm would help.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO1009
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

On the first day of class he says that an Elephant will die if it trips and that it has a lower terminal velocity than a squirrel and thus can not fall from as high. He also frequently goes on tangents that, while interesting, take up the entire lecture and are not on the test. Finally, he treats the class as if it is composed of third graders.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1009
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

To the person below, speaking as one of the people in lecture who you were disturbing, there is no one else who is as disruptive as you. "just for smiling one time during the whole lecture hour and 15 minutes," Please, this is college, STFU during lecture.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO1009
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I would suggest never speaking in his class. He will pick you out of the crowd and personally humiliate you just for smiling one time during the whole lecture hour and 15 minutes. While there are others in the class who talk and distract others far more.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO1009
• 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:

He zooms past the class notes.He gets mad at himself when he gives too easy of a quiz/exam.Your grade is basically 3 exams. The final is cumulative too. His lectures were soo boring and many students fell asleep. I sat in the front and still died. If you sit in the front make sure you are smart b/c he asks you questions and puts you on the spot.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO1009
• 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:

too smart for his own good.knows his stuff but sure sucks at teaching.wrote the lab bk & charged $50 for a something that's actually worth 15.blamed his publishing co. & said he would give us refunds which was $5 for the bkstore.wow!If he really wants us to get the FULL value of the bk., he should eat the book!Pointless pop quizes..worth 3 points

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1009
• 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:

Did a good job, go to office hours, he is interesting to talk to