Stephen Vanderwall - University of Nevada - Reno

Professor: Stephen Vanderwall

Department: TBD

College: University of Nevada - Reno

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: BIOL330
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

This class is literally just lecture then papers. That is all. He's a super sweet, older gentleman that is clearly passionate about the material. Doesn't record lecture. Bit of a tough grader, since he wants you to go into fairly deep detail but gives you only 450 words to do it. Go to class and take notes to get the grade you want in your papers.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: BIOL330
• Grade Received: A-
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

11 papers. Drops 1. Allows revision to fist so you know what he is looking for. Easy A if you go to his lectures. Essay topics are straight forward. Book isn't necessary but helps writing your papers easier. Lectures are not recorded so try to go to class. Overall a great professor. I would take him again.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: BIOL434
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Vanderwall recently picked up the lecture portion of Mammalogy. He lacks the time and experience in this subject to lecture well. He simply applied the same structure he has for every class he teaches. Not any help outside of class and is often rude for seemingly no reason and offers no explanation. Just read to book and memorize terms.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: BIOL433
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I loved his class, his lectures are engaging and super fascinating! He doesn't post lecture notes but I never missed a class because I enjoyed it so much! He assigns 9 papers and 5 tests. The essay topics can be answered directly from your lecture notes. The tests are harder but as long as you study your lecture notes thoroughly then you're good.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: BIOL433
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Easy class to take. His exams and short essays are all 20points. With 5exams and 8papers. If you do 9 papers he drops the lowest one. Just show up to class, because he doesn't post lecture notes online or find a good studying buddy and u will do just fine in his class.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: BIOL433
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Vanderwall is a very good lecturer, keeps you engaged and doesn't read off slides. He will write down everything you need to know on the board, so take note of it. Pretty much mentioning all of it in your essays will work out in your favor. He's very knowledgeable and one of my favorite professors at UNR.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: BIOL330
• 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:

He is a great teacher, and you get out of it what you put into it. If you are someone who doesn't attend class, you won't do well in his class, as he as purposely designed the class to be easy for students who come to class and harder for students who dont. He goes over everything you need for his exams and essays in bullet point form on the board.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: BIO433
• Grade Received: A+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

He sets clear expectations. It is easy to get an A if you simply put in the work. The tests are straightforward and come directly from the lectures, no tricks or surprises.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: BIOL433
• 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:

LOVE LOVE LOVE. At first I thought birds??? No way. But after taking his class I'm totally stoked on birds. He's a great teacher and I look forward to taking another class from him.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: BIOL433
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

He's very enthusiastic and shares very interesting stories about birds. He's a fun teacher.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: BIOL330
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The way he taught made you learn and the material was REALLY interesting although he is really nit-picky on his tests and papers but once you get used to it its alright. I would recommend the class. hes extremely knowledgeable about birds which helps too!

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: BIOL633
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

If you have any interest in the evolution and ecology of birds, you should take this course. Vander Wall combines an enthusiasm for birds with a very clear teaching style to make learning very easy in this class. This class won't be easy for everybody, but your writing skills will improve over the course of the semester and you will learn a lot.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BIOL330
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Aweful class. Awesome subject matter but he had a horrible way of presenting it and testing you on it. Also super picky about words you use to answer essay/short answer. If the word varies slightly by his personal definition - its wrong.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: BIOL433
• 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:

Great class, very intersting. He definitely is passionate about birds. Probably my favorite class.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: BIOL330
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

One of the most condescending and disrespectful teachers I've ever had. Grades based on whether or not you've known him before through class or research. Wouldn't wish him upon anybody.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: BIOL426
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

His classes were extremely boring and he was unwilling to help much outside of class. His grading was also very unfair and partially dependent of his feelings toward you.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: ANATAMPPHYS
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I'm not sure if there's a new Vanderwall teaching at UNR, because all these positive comments don't seem to fit the experience my class had. He seemed to vehemently dislike pre-med students, which is difficult in anatomy & physiology. He was almost rude to some. The material in lab was great & I picked it up easily, thank God, because lecture was incessant & uninteresting.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: 223AND224
• 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:

His tests were easy if you had the old ones. Notes were clear and he was actually quite funny. I recommend it definately

Rating # 19

Overview:

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

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

Comment:

No Comments

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: BIO2234
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Explains so clearly and thoroughly, tests exclusively from his notes. Best lecturer I've had but a little intimidating.