Tom Buchanan - University of Arkansas at Fort Smith

Professor: Tom Buchanan

Department: Biology

College: University of Arkansas at Fort Smith

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO1153
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr Buchanan does spend most classes reading from the PowerPoint, as an person with hearing issues, I found this to be helpful. His voice is easy to understand and he rearranged the way he taught the chapters in the book based on how he felt it was easier to understand the concepts. Tests are scan-tron and just make sure you study the study guides.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO1153
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Honestly a nice man, but wouldn't choose again as a teacher. Reads off of slides (which are available on blackboard), short 5 question tests with no warning just about every week, and difficult exams. Thankfully he drops lowest test grade but that's it.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO1153
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Buchanan is very knowledgable about biology but he was very monotoned and read off the lecture slides. I didn't mind this actually but some may prefer a more lively professor. We would go over a couple chapters of lecture slides, do pop quizzes in between, and then test. He provided a review that really helped me pass each test.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO1151
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

No extra credit. His voice is very monotone. I had his class at 8 in the morning and would doze off easily. He only reads off his slides. But all his slides are on blackboard, so if you miss, you can catch up. He does 5-question quizzes at random around end of classes. He gets questions for the exams off the textbook so you will want to get that.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3403
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He reads straight from the lecture slides and turns off the lights, so its easy to fall asleep. Study guides he provided were semi-helpful for exams. Not an easy class at all, and the exams are about 60% multiple choice and 40% true/false. Exams are very tricky. Genetics AND Organic Chemistry were both easier than this class.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO1153
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Very kind but hard class. He does explain things well in class it just gets boring so you zone out. Exams are pretty easy as long as you study everything on the review he gives you. Beware of pop quizzes. NO extra credit, but as long as you study, you wont need it. Overall, Ive learned a lot in his class and would recommend him!

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO1153
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Boring lecturer, and the class is all lectures. Not approachable, and not helpful. Save some money and don't buy the textbook, he doesn't use it. Avoid this teacher!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIOL2703
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Hes very monotonous and basically just reads straight from his PowerPoints.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1153
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

He mostly just reads off of PowerPoints, but beware of his, in total 11, short 5-question pop quizzes that appear at random. At least the lowest major test grade, and 1 of the lowest of the pop quizzes grades are dropped. Be prepared to zone out because of the monotone quality of his voice. He also words his tests in a difficult way to understand.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1153
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He wasnt a horrible professor, but dont take him for an 8am lecture. His voice can be very monotone, and its a little easy to not zone out. He just reads off a power point. He passes around a sign in sheet but I honestly dont think he cares. He seems like a nice guy though

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3403
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Buchanan basically reads the powerpoints and will occasionally give little 5 question quizzes. He doesn't communicate well and questions on assignments and tests are worded a way that makes it hard to understand what answer he is looking for. He puts a ridiculous amount of True/False questions on tests. Can pass by just reading the textbook.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIOL1153
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's very monotone and his lectures are really boring. He does pop quizzes every week, so attendance is mandatory. His tests are hard, but gives you a study guide before each exam. He responds to emails quickly, but if you ask him for extra help, he doesn't really help. He tries, though. No homework, just quizzes and exams. Hard professor

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO1151
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Like an other lab you have to attend to maintain a good grade. He's the cutest little old man who would somewhat lecture shortly before going over each lab with us. If you needed help he was very kind and explained things very clearly.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIOL2703
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Monotonous guy but his lectures are clear. Tests are straight from the review he gives and are easy if you study. He gives random quizzes, usually one or two per week. Not the friendliest guy but I have him for lab and lecture and both are easy so far.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: 11511D1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class was harder than it needed to be because the teacher did a terrible job explaining the labs. He considers reading the paper as explaining. You are pretty much on your own. He will take a good portion of the class going over obvious information (ex: you need to study the labs for the lab test because the lab test is over the labs).

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: 11530D4
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This class was challenging. The only grades you receive are from the tests and quizzes. The lectures are very long and boring. His voice is very mono-tone and drags out his explanations. I do not recommend taking his lap paired with his lecture. You will need lots of coffee to stay awake and his teaching method gets very old .

Rating # 17

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

I took this class for my major, and it was not what I expected. He was rude to me when I went to ask him about my test grade. When I asked him if he could help, he just referred me to the vines building. I told him I studied for 2 weeks and with a friend, and he blew me off. He clearly does not care if you pass his class.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIOL3403
• 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:

Very monotone and boring. But he tries to make it interesting. Sadly, not much is interesting at 8 am. An easy class if you attend constantly and do not miss the quizzes. Gives very informative study guides that help. Make sure you study those. Attendance is key in this class.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ZOO00
• 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:

Dr. Buchanan is a really nice man. He loves his fish, thats for sure. Zoology was super easy. He gives you a review guide, which is the exact stuff on the exam. Just don't skip, because he likes to give pop quizzes, about fifteen throughout the semester. But his class is easy, I have a high A

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO1151
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Not a bad teacher but not a great one, he's willing to help if you ask a lot only. Doesnt' seem very interested in whether you do good or not.