Terence Murphy - University of California Davis, Davis, CA

Professor: Terence Murphy

Department: Science

College: University of California Davis, Davis, CA

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PLB111
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Best professor at UC Davis

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: PLB111
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

First off, one of toughest PLB classes. Dont take 111 unless required! Usually full of grad student who mess up the curve while undergrads struggle. Murphy is supposedly the easier option for this class so I would take him if he's teaching it. He's a sweet old dude, just the material is tough. Average for midterms were 61 & 66. Quizzes are fair.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIS10
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof Murphy knows a lot about Biological Sciences, especially plant biology. However, he is a little dated since most of his knowledge came from roughly 40 years ago. But he is a loving guy who wants to get to know his students. He's very welcoming and helpful in office hours and tries his best to explain the material clearly. I learned a lot

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIS205
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

To those wanting to avoid bis 102 and 103, hear me out. This class started off as a walk in the park, with some chem 2b review and basic bis 2a review. And then it turned into a nightmare. The weekly quizzes were often not related to the practice problems he assigned and the midterms/finals are so specific. He does curve generously though.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: PLB111
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Definitely the easier choice for this class as I hear the Lucas/Dehesh combo is killer. He still made students think critically on exams. First MT average was 57, second MT avg. was 73. You will learn a lot if you go every day, listen and pay attention, do the homework assignments, and take discussion. Always receptive to questions. Nice guy

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIS2A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Murphy is seriously the best bio teacher for intro bio classes at UC Davis. He is really nice and sweet and definitely interested in the subject. He wants his students to do well and he even adjusts the grade distribution to reflect your classes effort. Not an easy A but if you apply your self you should do just fine.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIS2A
• 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:

Dr.Murphy was an excellent teacher. Definitely the best to take for the BIS 2 series if you're actually interested in biology. Tests are difficult because he expects you to apply what you've learned in lecture rather than just regurgitate facts. Going to lecture is important because he'll ask you about examples that were exclusively in his slides.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIS2A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I've never studied sooooo freaking hard for a midterms and final like i did for this class! kinda surprised cause it was just intro to bio. didn't think he neaded to take his tests as serious as he did with all the random question that will through u off even if you memorized the whole book. managed to pull an A- at the end so yea u need to study

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIS2A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Murphy is like a lovable grandfather figure, and he truly cares about his students. Practice tests, detailed course objectives, and all powerpoints are online. Warning: in his lectures, he gives you facts only. Then on tests, you're expected to USE your knowledge of the facts and APPLY them. Also, know your cell and organelle diagrams.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIS2A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor was nice, helpful, and sweet, but the way he wrote his exams/final were not. There were plenty of tricky questions and even if you reread lectures, listen to podcasts, go through practice exams, etc. there is still a chance of interpreting on of his questions wrong. Curve depends on the class.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIS2A
• 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:

Murphy is the happiest, most excited professor ever. He genuinely cares about his class and frequently asks if there are any questions. He can move a little fast, so I suggest you read before class so you can easily keep up. Study his lectures and clicker questions. Most of the test questions come straight from there. You do need to study.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIS2A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

such a good person and a great teacher. he really cares about his class and how they are doing. office hours are helpful too if you can get pass the grad students. really helps when asked questions and loves to know if you like the class. test are hard but if you prepare you should definitely pass. totally recumbent him

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIS2A
• 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:

Did the readings, listened to podcasts, read lectures, did practice tests, the whole nine yards, but no dice. You really have to put your all in to pass, so pay attention.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIS2A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Lot's of concepts. So read, read , read and DO NOT miss lecture. Study hard for the final which is about 40% of your grade.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIS2A
• 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:

Friendly professor, but don't take him if you haven't taken Chem (especially for Psych majors). He posts his slides online so I'd recommend printing them out and taking notes directly on them. Read the book too! The tests are a bit difficult and there are always a few trick questions. 20% of your grade is weekly quizzes and a report/presentation.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIS105
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Murphy is a sweet and good teacher overall. He knows his stuff and how to present it as simply as possible. Take advantage of the quizzes since he tells you what he'll be asking on them. Exams and memorizing can seem intimidating but they are totally do-able and fair as long as you prepare and study well since he tells you what to know.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIS105
• 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:

Professor Murphy is a great guy. The class is well organized. You will have to memorize a lot of things and there is no way around that. If you still need to take the mcat a lot of the info in the class can help also so do well.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIS2A
• 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 found this teacher one of the best. He teaches of concepts and examples. Not a MEMORIZATION class. Try to actually understand how things work and you will do well. He tells you a majority of the questions on the test. Listen to the podcasts, read the book for definition, but follow the lectures. Overall very happy with this class.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO2A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Prof reads off PowerPoint which for the most part kept my attention. He podcasts all his lectures so you can keep up even though you may miss a class or two. The textbook was a big help in passing the exams and quizzes, if you don't read, you wont get the whole overview of what is being discussed in lecture. Overall very friendly professor.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIS2A
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

I found his class to be pretty easy. He uses power points and talked really fast in lecture, so I often had to go back to the slides online to add to my notes. I also read the textbook chapters, which I found to be a good review for the midterms and final. He doesn't really try to trick you but he does focus on concepts. Overall great professor!