Rick Relyea - University of Pittsburgh

Professor: Rick Relyea

Department: TBD

College: University of Pittsburgh

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ANIMALBEHAVIOR
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

By far the best class I have taken at Pitt. Rick is hilarious and keeps lectures very entertaining, and the course content is interesting. My only complaint is that the class isn't the easiest to get an A in. Would recommend to any bio major.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: ANIMALBEHAVIOR
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Relyea was absolutely hilarious, and he is the best professor I have had at Pitt (especially in the bio department.) I actually looked forward to class every day. Hands down the most entertaining class I have taken at here. Would highly recommend this!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIOSC1440
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Relyea is one of the coolest professors ever. His class is fun and interesting, I never get bored. We are not allowed to take notes and His tests are all written and hard to finish in time. Definitely not an easy A and not tests that you can really study for, but well worth the time to sit in a fun lecture.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIOSC1440
• 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:

Dr. Relyea is one of the best lecturing teachers I have ever had at Pitt. The only problem are his tests. They are essay based designed not to show how well you know the material, but how fast you can put it down. So write fast and be vague because he doesn't write tests that students can complete or show how much of the subject you actually know.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIOSC1440
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

All of the comments bashing Dr. Relyea are obviously from disgruntled students who suck at university. Although Animal Behavior isn't an easy A (Bs are very attainable), this was the only class I actually looked forward to going to + you learn a lot. Participation in recitation can make or break your grade! Reread slides before exams.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIOSC1440
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

I really enjoyed this class. It's all discussion and thinking, which is a nice break from the "memorize-everything-and-regurgitate" style that pervades the Bio department. Rick is funny, engaging, and definitely interested in the subject. Participation in recitation counts as an exam grade, so participate. Tests are essay and long. Take this class.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO1440
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

The lectures are very interesting, and he was funny and engaging in the class. However the recitation is almost worthless. Studying for the tests is pointless and the tests are graded on an ambiguous scale. Overall it was a cool class, but don't expect an A unless you brown nose a ton.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIOSC1440
• 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:

Really just a great guy and an excellent teacher. He obviously loves what he does, and has a really good connection with the students. The class is only going to be as fun as you make it, so if you don't like to get involved in discussion, this is the wrong class for you. (And you should probably consider changing your major, discussion is crucial)

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIOSC1440
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Easily the best professor/ class I 've had. Teaches in a style different from most bio classes (you aren't allowed to take notes!) and really makes you think while making class interesting. Learned everyone's names in the class. Recitation is mandatory. Tests are essay format and are pretty straight forward; time is a bit of an issue. TAKE RELYEA!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIOSC1440
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Hands down best professor I have ever had. Dr. R and his class are hysterical, I have never laughed so much in a lecture before. Class is always interesting and if you pay attention (which you will want to) you don't need to read the book. Tests are all essay and long but if you know what you are talking about you will do well. BEST PROFESSOR EVER!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIOSC1440
• 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:

Such a good teacher!! You will stay awake and you will learn. He learned all 65 of our names and asked us questions and actually stimulated thinking. Best teacher I've had at Pitt.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIOSC1230
• 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:

Awesome professor! Took Animal Behavior w/ him and the class was not only interesting but easy to understand and I learned sooo much

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIOSC1440
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Animal Behavior was a dicussion based class (no notes), where we hypothesized why animals do what they do and suggested experiments to test our ideas. You'll want to pay attention in class, and tests are blue book with no surprises.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIOSC1440
• 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:

Dr. Relyea is awesome. he is extremely enthusiastic, funny, and always entertaining. He definitely makes his class fun without losing quality. I have learned so much from him this semester and enjoyed every second of it.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ECOLOGY0370
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Great teacher!

Rating # 16

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

He gives good notes but then makes the tests ten times harder. feels happy about low averages on tests.. not a good teacher

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIOSCI370
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Rick is the best professor ive ever had. he made that we were able to relate to the info, he was funny, adn he really made class interesting. i dreaded ecology before the semester began but with him teaching, it is actually my favotie class!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIOSC0370
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Although his lectures are easy to understand, the tests seem a little more in depth than lectures or the text. The book gives a limited number of examples that he just restates in lecture. There isn't any practice material but a sample exam with no sample answers. Most of the test is short answer, about 10 multiple choice, and 3 graphs and diagrams

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIOSCI037
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Great teacher!

Rating # 20

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

He co-taught this class with Walt Carson when I took it. I found him to be refreshing (especially compared to Carson) and a really good teacher. His tests were fair (if you studied) and he made the dullest class ever slightly interesting.