Dean Murakami - American River College

Professor: Dean Murakami

Department: TBD

College: American River College

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: PSYC311
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you can avoid it. DO NOT TAKE HIM! He gives a speech on the first day of class on how he's involved in supporting students/reducing tuition and such, but doesn't care about his students! He expects you to remember 100 terms of the brain, but to only be tested on 50. (Test is random) That test is based on your entire grade, so you need to pass.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIOPSYC310
• 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:

The class is composed of 4 exams that make up your entire grade. I was scared to take this class, however if you truly put in the time to do the study guide and show up to his lectures you will pass no doubt ! He is very understanding and knowledgeable . Gives out extra credit assignments, go over those before the exam!!!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: PSYC310
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Murakami is an amazing professor. He has a lot of experience in the field and his lectures follow the text (that he wrote) incredibly well. If you read the book, show up for lectures, and work on the study guides (one is an extra credit assignment), you should easily pass this class even if you don't have a background in the subject.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: PSYC310
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He will read his lecture monotonously and give a test once a month. The test will be difficult. Dont expect him to care about you or even know your name. If you get lost somewhere on the way, you will be on your own. I wouldn't recommend his class to someone who doesn't have any knowledge about the subject.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIOPSYC310
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class is based on three midterms and a final which sounds super intimidating, but he grades on a curve and offers an extra credit pack (which he just checks for completion) for every test. Final isn't cumulative! The exams aren't easy, but he offers a study guide and if you can go through and answer every question, you're solid. Loved it!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: PSYC311
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

The most work in the class goes towards the Sheep Brain Practical. Really try to study for it. It costs half of your grade. The other half is showing up to all of the labs. If you miss one lab it can hurt your grade. However, he gave those who missed a lab a make up one at the end of the semester. Otherwise, the class is mainly filling out packets.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: PSYC311
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He doesn't give many assignments: a take-home quiz, a sheep brain quiz, and a sheep brain practical. The take-home quiz is busywork, the sheep brain quiz and practical are easy if you STUDY DECENTLY. I think he got lazy with his labs and we didn't do very many hands-on activities. We filled out a lot of packets in class. Meh.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIOPSYC310
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He provides the book, and gives extra credit. He covers a lot, but his lectures are interesting, and he likes to talk about his experiences. It is a hard class if you're looking for an easy A. I got an A, and I missed 4 lectures. Read. Do the extra credit. Take good notes. You'll pass.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIOPSYC310
• Grade Received: D
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I regret taking him. his class is entirely based on tests , so if you do bad on test there is no chance of you passing. DO NOT TAKE !

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: PSYC310
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof. Murakami is a good guy. His lectures can be a bit long and dry, so hang in there. Most of what he covers in lecture can be taken from his textbook (which is free and digital, by the way) and videos he recommends. No homework, only exams. Very flexible and understanding with student needs as long as you talk to him. Recommend him.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: PSYC310
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His lectures provide all the topic information that will be covered in exams. Total of 4 tough exams. He provides his own textbook to the class. Interesting, but hard class. Be prepared to work hard for a good grade.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: PSYC310
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Study. For. The tests. His tests are no joke, and they make up the entirety of your grade for the course. He has a textbook he wrote himself that follows the lectures, but you will need to study both to pass. All that being said he's a super interesting professor and it's a very interesting class, just be ready to work hard for the tests.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH310
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

4 exams, that's all! Doesn't really take role, but you should show up because this isn't basket weaving. Most 310 classes test are not neurologically based, he knows so much about the brain that he doesn't even realize that he's designing tests around neurology rather than psychology. And his free book is a joke, stick to the sciences Dean lol!

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIOPYSCH310
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Attend regularly, get a better understanding of the lectures.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIOPSYC310
• 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:

This definitely was a challenging class. Attendance is mandatory! A lot of the tests are based on his lectures so take good notes. He is really clear and helpful too. If you show up and review your notes you should have no problem passing the class.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH310
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dean is one of the best profs I've ever had. He's extremely smart so ask questions! Never ever miss class and write down everything he does. Grade consists of 4 curved tests based solely on lecture: the study guides have lots of material but finish every single question and draw diagrams to explain processes, study it for a few days, guaranteed A.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH310311
• 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:

Teacher seems very knowledgeable, but his lectures are not very clear, jumps around topics often without clarity. He is very selective, when some students asked him questions, he did not always answer, or gave smart-aleck replies. Talked a lot about his going to NASA and about himself; almost every class.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH310
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Test he gives are detail orientated. Use his study guide or fail his test!

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: PSYC310
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

This teacher is very smart and qualified. His career prior to teacher is really interesting and he worked for NASA. His lectures are great, it's a lot of material though. I need to study a lot outside of class to keep up. Attendance is a must to get a good grade in this class. He is a great teacher.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: PSYCH311
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Murakami is an amazingly intelligent individual who teaches such an interesting class!! The sheep brain practical is incredibly tough, so study hard! The rest of the semester is filled with fun activities and the professor never had a problem keeping the class engaged because everything was so interesting!! He's great!!