Matthew Fitzgerald - San Jose City College

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Matthew Fitzgerald - San Jose City College

Professor: Matthew Fitzgerald

Department: Biology

College: San Jose City College

Rating # 1

Overview:

Course: BIO4A
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I love this professor even though he is a tough grader. He gave reasonable amount of works since this is a 5 unit class, and he expected you to understand the material well. Highly recommended. Many got bad grades because they didnt work.

Rating # 2

Overview:

Course: BIOL4A
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He mostly checked assignment's completion without feedback. He is knowledgeable and gives great lecture. Exams are really long but straightforward to the taught materials. You study and understand it, you will ace it! Be aware to do the Drosophila's project early otherwise you won't able to finish on-time. Lots of work so study hard to earn it!

Rating # 3

Overview:

Course: BIO4A
Grade Received: B+
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

*COVID-19* We were his first fully online class with a lab that he ever taught. With that said, he was very flexible if you couldn't take a test in the allotted time. We had 2 lab tests, 3 lecture tests, and about 2 chapter quizzes every week. Most of the lab test questions came directly from the online lab website we used so take notes. Minimal HW

Rating # 4

Overview:

Course: BIO4A
Grade Received: Not sure yet
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

This professor knows what he is talking about. The course itself is very heavy in content and requires time and effort but Dr. Fitzgerald provides the resources to cater to all learning styles. He records his lectures and posts them so you can re-watch to study and take great notes (which he let us use on the exam!) Tough class but great professor.

Rating # 5

Overview:

Course: BIO4A
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

I wish I never took this professor. I understand this is a 5 unit course but he will assign quizzes and labs due on exam days, which I have never had a professor do before. His tests are all short answer/fill in the blank and grades super hard. When I e-mail to ask questions, his responses are so not helpful. Save yourself a headache.

Rating # 6

Overview:

Course: BIO4A
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

the tests are straight forward. If you read the chapters and really try to learn the material , it is a very easy class. do not expect to show up only lecture and not put any more effort. The material is likely new for you so it can be easy to get lost in lectures so you have to pre-read. i learned so much !

Rating # 7

Overview:

Course: BIO4B
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Simple prelab HW's, labs due at the end of class so no postlab, 1 ecology project (single spaced), 4 midterms, 5-6 lab quizzes, 5-6 online quizzes, 5 practicals. Overall, very straightforward instructor and clear gradings. He's quiet, but he's really nice and will help you understand. He drops lowest midterm and curves, be prepared to work hard!

Rating # 8

Overview:

Course: BIO4A
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:

Worst biology professor at SJCC. Mocks students in class for asking questions, broken online quizzes, doesn't post lecture slides for a class as dense as BIO 4A. Expects you to already know half of BIO 4A material before taking the class. Yes, he knows his material but blames his students for failing tests. Take at your own risk (TAKE SOMEONE ELSE)

Rating # 9

Overview:

Course: BIO4A
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This professor is straight forward. If you show up to class, take notes, and do the study guide you are good. I learned a lot from his lecture. Great professor, loved his lecturing style. Don't make any noise, or disrupt the class it will annoy him. He gets annoyed easily. Oh Yeah he knows his stuff.

Rating # 10

Overview:

Course: BIOL4A
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Passionate about cellular biology, especially the evolutionary aspect of it.

Rating # 11

Overview:

Course: BIO4A
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 2.0

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

Comment:

Changed things up this semester, for the better. To start, he is an easy grader. The single lab report due was structured more simply. Tests are straight from lecture. Online HW is free points. Lab exams were more in depth but still doable. He drops a lot, including a midterm. As long as you don't fall behind by staying on top of lecture, easy A.

Rating # 12

Overview:

Course: BIO4B
Grade Received: C
Overall Rating: 2.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Definitely a smart man and knows his stuff. Unfortunately class was harder than everyone expected. Majority of us were behind. It's hard to ask questions and follow along in the lecture when we're all a chapter or so BEHIND. Tests are BRUTAL!!! A lot of self teaching, and attended every single tutor session offered!

Rating # 13

Overview:

Course: BIO4A
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Dr. Fitz is very knowledgable and cares about students. If you are serious about getting a good grade and willing to put in the work, it's great to be in his class.

Rating # 14

Overview:

Course: BIOL004A
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 4.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

Passionate and knowledgeable.

Rating # 15

Overview:

Course: BIO4
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.5
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

He is not the best teacher out there even though he is smart. I am an A student but his class seemed very hard in terms of his abilities to connect with the students.

Rating # 16

Overview:

Course: BIO4A
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

pretty good in the beginning of the semester, however w/ 4 midterms (he drops 1), the online homework(quizes), lab quizes every 2 labs, 2 lab practicals, it started to get difficult keeping track of things. If you plan on taking him at night, expect to stay till 10:30p majority of the times (even if Thanksgiving was the next day.)

Rating # 17

Overview:

Course: BIO4B
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: Not Mandatory

Comment:

I'm taking his 4B class. He is young, handsome, polite, and very organized. The bottom line is he curves all the exams so you have chance to get an A. He covers so many chapters but that helps if you will take MCAT or PCAT in the future. He even pushed back the due date for HW when i had a flu. Take his class!

Rating # 18

Overview:

Course: BIO4
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 2.5
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Makes the class harder than it needs to be. Lecture is dry. The guy is really intelligent and knows his stuff. However, teaching doesn't seem to be his strong point.

Rating # 19

Overview:

Course: BIO20
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:

just don't. my smart friends even struggled with this guy. the tests are way to hard and the grading was brutal.

Rating # 20

Overview:

Course: BIO20
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

I'm taking this class right now in the summer. So far it has been alright. Fitzgerald is exactly what is described on here! He's not terrible, not the best teacher but he trys. Tests are a little bit tricky but straight from the study guide! I think it's better to take this class in the summer

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