Joel Maruniak - University of Missouri - Columbia

Professor: Joel Maruniak

Department: TBD

College: University of Missouri - Columbia

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO1500
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Maruniak extremely disappointed me in my first semester of Bio. It's a requirement to go to office hours if you want to pass. He gives out old test examples there. Lectures are nothing like tests, he says you have to think about it "in different ways". Purposely tries to trick you on tests. Don't get me started on crosswords. I'm just warning you

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO1500
• 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:

I highly recommend BIO1500 w/ Maruniak if you are pre-med/Health Sci. It focuses more on human bio than ecology, which I personally found more interesting. The tests are challenging, but if you take accountability for your success and go to office hours, you'll be ok. This class taught me how to study effectively, which is also extremely useful.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO1500
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Maruniak's class is genuinely hard, but if you put in the work, you'll be absolutely fine. His office hours are like another class. I highly recommend attending them because he gives out practice questions for each of them and extensively goes over them. Stay after he goes over the questions though, because he'll give you test questions.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO1500
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Don't take this class unless you absolutely have to. You have to be really driven and you should commit everything Maruniak says to memory to succeed. Studying and spending time on the material outside of class isn't going to help unless biology really clicks for you. Love him as a person, but he doesn't teach to the average intelligence.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO1500
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Maruniak makes lectures so fun and enjoyable, BUT tests are SUPER hard. If you dont enjoy the subject enough to understand it or even try to study ahead of time, chances of passing with a decent grade are VERY slim; however, if you work hard, and GO TO LAB (really simple & easy), it shouldnt be impossible to receive the grade you want.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO1500
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His tests are completely different from his lectures. You honestly have to be a genius to get an A. DONT TAKE IT.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO3700
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Professor Maruniak is an awesome guy! His class is extremely hard, but he is one of the most caring & reasonable professors that I've ever had. The tests are very hard, but he makes himself available for 2 major office hours during the week. My advice: GO. Do not try to memorize for this course, that will not earn high score. Super funny guy!

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO3700
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class helped a lot of MCAT prep. How he forms his questions is just like how AAMC makes the MCAT questions. Go to office hours. Find a study partner and try to think of ways he can ask questions, and then ask each other those questions.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO1500
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is a great choice for someone who loves the sciences! He is very knowledgeable and witty. However, if you taking Bio as a gen ed DO NOT take him, his classes require lots of studying/preparation. His tests are so hard even google can't help, but they are curved. Definitely go to office hours, he will give away test questions sometimes in there.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO3700
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Very hard class, but he's a genius

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO3700
• 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:

Go to office hours. It's not difficult to get an A if you are competitive.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO3700
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He's kind of a nightmare and arrogant. Tests are all applying what you have learned so it helps to study in a group and brainstorm. No actual text but get one of the recommended ones and try to read ahead based on the lecture schedule - it will save you during pop quizzes - which are tough - sit by smart students because you can work together.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO1500
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Nice professor, however, the tests are not nice. This class really makes you study HARD and learn how to up your test taking skills. GO TO CLASS if you want a B or higher.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIO1500
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Maruniak announced on the first day of class if you dont see this class as a competition you will fail. Dont take this class if you arent wanting a MCAT Prep class- many people say this class is helpful for the MCAT but I dont think the stress and toughness of this class is worth it for a majority freshman lecture.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO1500
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you're looking for an easy A, then I would not recommend taking the class. But, if you are looking to learn a lot of in depth material about biology and push yourself to see your true educational potential, then I would definitely recommend this class. No doubt this is the hardest class I've ever taken, but I do not regret being a part it

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIO1500
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Maruniak is an awesome guy. He is a very tough professor because his tests are very difficult. You have to study very hard for at least 2 weeks to get a decent grade. The book isn't useful but you will need the lab manual. The lab wasn't hard. The test are worth 200 pts each and they are the main source of points in the course.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO1500
• Grade Received: D-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Maruniak is a great guy, but not a great teacher. He doesn't spend a whole lot of time explaining lecture material and expects you to understand it. His grading style is the worst I've ever experienced. I've never failed a class, my grades are all solid A's and B's; I'll be doing well to get a D in this class.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO1500
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS WITH HIM IF YOU WANT A GOOD GPA. He is by far the worst professor I have ever had. I went to class every single day and attended every lab and still struggled to not fail the class. Seriously do not recommend. AVOID AT ALL COSTS.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIOSC2020
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

AMAZING! Maruniak has a reputation for tough classes, but this short, low-key intersession course is a great way to enjoy his teaching without the stress. One of the few classes I was truly excited to attend every day! Lectures flew by; content was fun, fascinating, and easy. No reading/homework; lecture only with 2 short tests.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO1500
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Doesn't teach, simply throws lecture notes at you. Lectures are choppy and vague yet tests are very in depth on concepts he doesn't go over.