Peter Houlihan - University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Professor: Peter Houlihan

Department: TBD

College: University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIO152
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Doesnt seem organized but that might have been the case because it was online. Has plenty of office hours but not very good at answering questions or giving explanations. He gives extra credit. The textbook is not necessary but helpful. He is fine but not my first option.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIO152
• Grade Received: C
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Prof Houlihan loves to make dad jokes and is a funny guy. If you study then you'll do good. He gives extra credit at the end of the semester, and he is very willing to help and encourages everyone to go to his office hours. Very good professor!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIO152
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Professor Houlihan is a pretty alright professor. The content of the class if fairly easy to understand but the test are pretty hard. Keep in mind that he does scale almost everything so don't be too concerned about your raw test grade. He also offers super easy extra credit so that should help boost your grade

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIO152
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Rather unorganized, very slow but repetitive lectures. Sends a good 10 unnecessary emails a day.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIO152
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

tests are difficult (based on both lectures and certain textbook info not covered in lecture). does genuinely seem to want to help students, but that really doesn't make up for the exams. attendance isn't mandatory but you're gonna want those iClickers to boost your grade. one extra credit assignment is available at the end of the semester.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIO551
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This class was a lot of work, but as long as you're willing to actually do it, you'll be fine. There were 2 exams and a bunch of smaller group projects, in addition to 2 large group projects and a presentation. You need to STUDY for the exams, and definitely go to the review session because he gives hints about exam content and the essay question.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIO153
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Houlihan is hands down the worst professor I've ever had in Amherst yet. The combination of his slides not having any notes, the unfairness of his class with the unclear questions on tests, and the fact that so many people cheat to prevent an accurate curving makes this class awful. Do not take if you don't have to.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO152
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Only randomizes questions on quizzes/exams so they're available online. Allowing effortless 100s for those without a soal. Especially because they boost the class average so he's less likely to curve. Not his fault they cheat but what teacher is that ignorant that they don't change the questions each year especially in an exam heavy class like his.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIO152
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Houlihan is nice enough, but his tests aren't really fair. Some kids cheated in my class so he rarely scaled tests because he saw that some people were getting really high grades. Lots of errors on his tests that he won't correct. His lectures are important because his slides don't have many notes on them, so you really have to write what he says.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIO152
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

If you like biology and are comfortable in a quick paced lecture setting, this class will be fine for you. I picked this class because it fit the best into my schedule, and I don't prefer it as much as my Bio 151 class, but it's doable. If you struggle in biology or class in general, this class will probably stress you out. Definitely not easy...

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIO152
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Amazing teacher and person. His lectures were very engaging and his passion about the subject was inspiring. The reviews on this teacher do not match up to his actual class. It is a completely manageable course. As long as you attend, listen, and take notes you will be fine. He records the lectures too. Don't be scared at all to take this class!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIO152
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

lectures are very fast paced. unless you can write at the speed of light, typed notes are a must. come exam time he tells you to "study everything." but he gives many examples in class that help you understand concepts better. slides do not have many words on them so you have to pay attention to what he says in class. offers extra credit

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIO152
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Houlihan puts up the lectures online through ECHO, so you really cant have an excuse for not getting the class notes. Hes not the best professor Ive ever had but hes alright.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIO152
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I was a little afraid of taking his class after reading his reviews on here but honestly he was a very good teacher. He is very clear about what he expects of you and grades fairly. He is just a no nonsense kind of guy-he's not going to put up with anyone's crap and I respect that. As long as you study you'll do fine.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIO152
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

His lectures have a fast pace to them, he switches slides to the speed of him explaining things, not the other way around. Be prepared to write fast. He has possible pop quizzes every Friday, and there are 3 exams plus the Final. He uses animal (usually birds) as examples to all the concepts he teaches. He's a good lecturer and you won't get lost.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIO152
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This man is one of the most boring lecturers you will ever meet. He also clearly recycles his slideshows from previous years, which means when he posts them on Moodle, you scramble to find what he is talking about because it does not match. Annoying, because he somehow moves so slowly that it's boring, while also too fast to write notes.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: BIO152
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Houlihan's a decent professor. His lectures are pretty good and I never had a problem staying awake for this 8 am class. Sometimes his test questions are confusing, but he'll let you argue any answer and removes questions if too many people got it wrong. There's an extra credit assignment you can do if you need it. Gives iClickers in class.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: BIO152
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Above average difficulty tests, make sure to really understand the concepts and not just memorize them in order to get an A.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: BIO152
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

His class is really easy if you just listen and take notes. Print out his lecture slides or have them on your computer so you can just add what he says in class on the side. If you have the old exams, he uses a lot of the same questions. A lot of the stuff is common sense too. Don't be afraid!! This class is 100% NOT hard.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO551
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The lecture slides have little information on them so you have to take notes based on what he says. His exams require you to recall very specific information that he may or may not have stressed during class. Believes that students should "struggle" and hardly gives any help at all when students have questions. Multiple textbooks are required.