Brent Nielsen - Brigham Young University

Professor: Brent Nielsen

Department: TBD

College: Brigham Young University

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO240
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Nielsen is one of the nicest, most caring professors on campus. That being said, he's very soft-spoken and not a very animated lecturer so sometimes you catch yourself struggling to pay attention during lecture. However, he is extremely fair in his grading and the TA's help a lot with homework and test prep. Don't buy the textbook.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO240
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Nielsen might not have the most interesting lectures, but he is extremely clear about what he wants you to remember for tests and quizzes. Don't know if I've ever had a professor that was as explicit about this as he was. Very willing to meet with students outside of class. The lecture slides have everything you need to know in them.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO240
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Nielson is a very kind person. However, his lectures are quite dry and sometimes hard to follow. The textbook is essentially pointless. The way to pass is to memorize the slides!

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Definitely take MMBIO 240 from someone else if you can. Lectures were pointless and boring. Not too hard to get an A, just study only his slides and go to the TA lab for help doing the homework, which is all free-response style questions. He asks vague questions looking for very specific answers, but the TAs will tell you what he is looking for.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO240
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Probably the most boring lectures I've experienced. Dr. Nielsen is super nice, it's just that his lectures are dry. Everything on the tests come from the slides, and the TAs do really good reviews. If you just look at those, you don't even need the book at all, easy A.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO240
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Admittedly a pretty dry class. Takes a fair amount of work, but by knowing the slides well (lecture and test-review) you can do pretty well in the class (and most people did). Was hard to focus and pay attention during lecture, but also the material just might not be for everyone either. Nice enough guy, and fairly clear, but ask TAs for hw help

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO240
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

If you have a decent background in Biology, this class is not going to be hard. The lectures can be difficult to pay attention sometimes, but they all make sense. Just show up, participate in lectures and take some notes. Almost 50% of our class got an A- and above. Take this class, you wont regret it.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's passionate about biology and his research, but teaching isn't his thing. Lectures are boring and lack transitioning. Even some of the people with solid biology backgrounds were having a hard time. I highly recommend taking this class from another professor if you truly want to learn the content.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dont buy the book- you wont need it! This class basically consists of a million PowerPoint slides that you have to memorize/understand in order to do well in the class. Dr. Nielsens lectures are hard to follow, so youll end up having to learn most of it on your own, with a study group, or with the TAs. Fair grading.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO240
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Nielsen is a good guy. He is passionate about molecular biology but his lectures are often disjointed and hard to follow. Most students paid very little attention. All three of his tests were very straight forward and not designed to trick you. In summary, it's an easy A but an extremely boring and unengaging class...

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

some of the most confusing/disorganized power point slides I've ever seen and boring lectures that are hard to understand. But his tests are fair and clear. I suggest you go to a couple of his office hours if you take this class.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO240
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Yes his lectures are a little dry... but you can tell he knows a TON about molecular biology. The course follows the textbook exactly and the textbook for this class is awesome at explaining things you don't understand from the lectures. Really nice guy. I really liked this course.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO240
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Nielsen was an awful teacher. He never moves from behind his podium, his lectures don't make any sense and he can't figure out how to simplify his extensive knowledge of microbiology into simple terms. If it wasn't for the TAs, there is no way I would have passed. Would HIGHLY recommend taking from a different teacher.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO240
• 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:

Dr. Nielsen truly cares about his students. If you come to his office hours prepared, he is always happy to help. His lectures are dense, but that is the nature of the material being taught. If you keep up with the reading, it will help to understand what's being taught in class. His test averages are pretty high and he curves the class at the end.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO240
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Nielsen is a great guy, and he obviously knows a lot about the material he teaches, but I would not take his class again. He is very soft-spoken, difficult to follow, and he mainly reads off the slides each class. If you don't go to class, you cannot get the iClicker points and those are worth a lot. There are homeworks, quizzes and exams.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO240
• 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:

I learned a lot of material in his class! All of his lectures were very clear, but connecting all of the lectures was a little more difficult. He was willing to help and give points back though, so don't get discouraged. Everything you need to know is in powerpoints and the book. READ THE BOOK!

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO240
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

EC for visiting him in his office. Tests are super reasonable. 3 tests, 9 HWs and 6 Quizzes. One HW and one Quiz are dropped. He is shy but if you read the chapter before class then everything he says makes sense. If you don't stay up on the reading then you won't follow in class at all. He is a really good guy though and I really respect him.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO441
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

this is a solid choice for one of your capstones. two midterms are normal difficulty and a take home open book final. at first the class sucked but once we got passed the first 3-4 lectures (lab techniques) the class became great. Dr Nielsen is very candid and caring with his students. 14 A's, 7 A-'s in a 40 person class

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO240
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I love microbiology, but hated this class. Professor Nielsen is a nice man, but is not capable as a teacher. His lectures generally put about half of the class to sleep and are extremely difficult to understand, even if you like microbiology. His tests are difficult and it is hard to predict what material he will test on.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: MMBIO441
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

The class was tough and the tests were hard, but whenever I didn't understand something, he was always willing to take time to help me or re-explain something. Dr. Nielsen is one of those professors who cares about his students.