Allan Strand - College of Charleston

Professor: Allan Strand

Department: TBD

College: College of Charleston

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIOL305
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Strand is a great guy, but his exams are overly unfair. He dislikes multiple choice exams but gives them regardless with answers that are all right or the questions are worded confusingly. Studied for hours, but made constant B+s (with pts back) across all three exams; points are given back if you synthesize an argument and everyone concurs.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO305
• Grade Received: C+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I have never had any trouble with biology until this class. Tests are so hard. Study for hours and days to make a C. He is a nice person but does not test what we talk about in class. Problem sets do help your grade (thank god).

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO305
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Although he is an incredibly nice guy, the class was terrible. He gave three homework sets, which weren't awful. He also gave three exams, which were horrific, and a final. These seemed to be graded solely off opinion. They were also very lengthy, to the point where half the students (out of a class 120) could not complete them in available time.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO305
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

One of the least qualified professors at I've encountered. Grades tests on his own opinion even if correct answer is listed in textbook. Doesn't care much for the success of his students and is completely ignorant to the topic of genetics unless plants are involved. Only 3 tests, 3 hwks, and one final. Tests too long to complete in allotted time.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIOL305
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Although hes a great professor, his exams are another story. To me, he teaches to whats on the problem set and focuses on that more so the test. His exams typically do involve at least half the questions from the problem sets but the other half is free game and can be difficult to interpret which is right, but you can argue to get points back.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO305
• 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:

Need to take genetics? TAKE HIM!!! He is one of the friendliest professors ive ever had and he absolutely loves this stuff. It's not an easy A, you actually have to study but its worth it

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO305
• Grade Received: B-
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This class was about concepts. There is a lot of math, and if you show work and show you understand the concepts, he's lenient. The problem sets are great at helping you study for tests. I seriously considered furthering my career in genetics after this class, the material is so fascinating and he presented it wonderfully. Old book is OK f

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIOL305
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Lectures are confusing at first; tests are not set up for fast test taking. The material is interesting. He cares about students and lets the class argue about grading for more points on confusing questions on the tests. 3 tests with 3 homework sets, that's it. Homework sets are easy-ish. Tests are MC and problems; MC is very confusing

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO305
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Nice guy but not a good teacher. Crams 10 chapters into an exam without giving you any advice on what to focus on or study guides or anything. Never knew what to expect going into any of his tests. Problem sets are helpful towards the grades.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: EVOL101
• 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:

I took his Botany, Evolution, and Population Genetics class 2000-2003 at CofC. Most inspiring classes of my college years. Info very relavent now in my post-md studies of genetics of rheumatic diseases. Thanks, Dr. Strand!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO305
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

best teacher ever! I love him! he made it seem very easy and clear, and truely if you do the problems sets, study the lecture notes, and listen to him talk in class and pay attention, you have made at least a B+ without touching the book! def take him and talk to him so he knows whi you are.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIOL212
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He's nice but doesn't know how to teach/test his students. He assumes you already know the material from previous Bio classes & are just reviewing. His tests are random b/c they come from a random list of ?'s he already has saved, so you can spend a lot of time on a topic & not be tested on it. He's very absent-minded so CHECK YOUR TEST ANSWERS

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIOL212
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

What the hell was I thinking?? What a let down this class turned out to be. His tests are insanely hard multiple choice questions, which he took about 2 weeks to grade. Really nice guy, but would aviod for genetics.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIO350
• 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:

Dr. Strand's evolution class was awesome! He presented material well adn was seriously concerned about whether or not we understood it. He also discussed really interesting things during class, such as how to make diesel fuel and some of the research projects he was working on. In my opinion, the best evolution prof at CofC.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO300
• 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:

One of the coolest teachers. Go to class!!! Talk to him and you will really enjoy how awesome he really is. Tests are a little random because he picks something you talked about for 2 minutes, but just MAKE SURE YOU GO TO CLASS!!!!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIO300
• 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:

Botany. I had an A in this course until I started focusing all my energy to another course I was not doing well in. Make sure you study and keep up with everything and you'll be fine.

Rating # 17

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

very nice guy. tests can be somewhat unfair b/c there are only 2 of them the entire semester so they cover a huge amount of material and he basically grabs a handful of terms and wants you to define them.get your hands on old tests (VERY IMPT) & 4 final exam study the material that is after test 2!!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIOL350
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Really great professor. Really nice and approchable. Tests are very fair but you have to study for them. Gives lots of partial credit. Highly reccommend.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIOL350
• 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:

Absolutely awesome professor who really knows his stuff and managaes to make an 8AM class interesting. Definitely worth taking. Tests can be challenging, but not in a bad way.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO300
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This has to be the most unorganized upper-level class I have ever taken. Upon reaching the second month of the semester, we were still talking about stuff I learned in high school. Dr. Strand often emphasizes economics a little too much. He also takes way too long to grade tests. He's nice though...