Eric Bittman - University of Massachusetts - Amherst

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Eric Bittman - University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Professor: Eric Bittman

Department: Biology

College: University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Rating # 1

Overview:

Course: BIO571
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

It has been years since I have taken a class with this man. I don't even know if he still "teaches". He was absolutely the worst professor, teacher, educator that I have ever had. I thought I could learn so much from him because he is so known in his field but he is not someone who should be teaching. He doesn't know how to. Brilliant but terrible

Rating # 2

Overview:

Course: BIO564
Grade Received: Not sure yet
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

Don't take this class unless you have a lot of time and also love being stressed and unhappy. The material is ridiculously dense and exams are awful. Lectures are monotone and not enlightening, and talking with him is unpleasant at best. You learn a lot, but honestly it isn't worth it. Take A&P instead if you value your love of the subject.

Rating # 3

Overview:

Course: BIO564
Grade Received: C+
Overall Rating: 2.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Be forewarned: His exams are all open response and graded quite subjectively. It doesn't matter if your answer is correct, if you do not hit the exact bullet points he writes down on his answer key, you will not receive full credit. Refuses to scale exams or course even when average grades are in the 40-50 range.

Rating # 4

Overview:

Course: BIO564
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.5
Course Difficulty: 4.0

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

Comment:

You will need to know every detail in order to answer questions on the exam as Bittman teaches from a mechanistic perspective. There are no tricks on the exam if you know the material cold. You will have to read and reread chapters several times and consult alternative sources. Expect to work very hard but the results are rewarding. Good luck!

Rating # 5

Overview:

Course: BIO564
Grade Received: Not sure yet
Overall Rating: 2.5
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Avoid this class. The material is super complicated and Bittman expects you to know everything about everything. The amount of material covered is absurd, and tests are near impossible, with most people not finishing and regularly failing them. He uses the book a lot and its critical. Do NOT take this class, I wish I hadnt. GPA destroyer.

Rating # 6

Overview:

Course: BIO564
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

I took Human Physiology because I was really interested in the course material. I had read reviews about him before but ignored them thinking it couldn't possibly be that terrible. DO NOT take this class with him if you value YOUR GPA AND YOUR FUTURE!!! He cannot teach and his exams are crazy long and difficult, no matter how much you study.

Rating # 7

Overview:

Course: HONORS391A
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 5.0
Course Difficulty: 1.0

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

Comment:

Inspiring and helpful professor IF YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT PERSUING A CAREER IN SCIENCE OR RESEARCH. He expects you to be self-motivated. If you care enough to read into things and develop your own questions, you can learn a TON from this man. Do not take his classes if you are looking for an easy A or can't handle criticism.

Rating # 8

Overview:

Course: BIO571
Grade Received: A
Overall Rating: 4.5
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

If you really want to be a scientist; take his class. "Wahh it's hard, and he doesn't coddle me!". If you want to have a significant advantage over other biology majors, take one of his classes. Ask him for help with anything, but don't expect to go to his office looking for a handout when you haven't put the work in to try and learn yourself.

Rating # 9

Overview:

Course: BIO571
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

You are probably thinking of taking this class because Bio Rhythms are interesting.DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS with Bittman, he is a terrible teacher.You only have 2 exams.They are on 17+ papers and you are expected to know all the pathways.I was really interested in this subject.Take this pass/fail if you must but don't expect to learn anything.

Rating # 10

Overview:

Course: 571BIO
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

He is honestly the worst professor I have ever had at UMASS. I do not recommend taking ANY classes with him. I'm serious!

Rating # 11

Overview:

Course: FYYS100
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:

I took Bio Ethics with Mr Bittman for my freshmen seminar, a one credit course. He is insane. I found myself dedicating more time to the class than my Bio 100 class due the extensive presentations and papers he assigns. DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS, DROP IT IMMEDIATELY.

Rating # 12

Overview:

Course: BIO571
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Good guy but an awful professor. There was a lot of memorization in the course because there is no textbook and his slides were just bad. Don't take this course or any course with this professor unless you enjoy being unhappy and wasting three months of your life.

Rating # 13

Overview:

Course: BIO571
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 3.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

The hardest class I've taken at UMass. You don't need to MEMORIZE 35 scientific papers as other reviewers write, but you're expected to understand them. The work is difficult, but once you finish, your critical thinking/reading/scientific skills are greatly enhanced. Prof. Bittman is helpful if you meet with him after class. Very knowledgeable!

Rating # 14

Overview:

Course: BIO571
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Terrible terrible professor!He provided no background on the material he taught. He also expected us to memorize 35+ scientific papers including the molecular pathways for the final and half of that for the midterm. Did his own SRTI not the schools because I think he knows he was bad! Interesting material but terrible class structure and professor.

Rating # 15

Overview:

Course: BIOL571
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS (unless you enjoy getting F's and reading papers that are graduate level without any background or lessons from the professor). He expects you to know procedures and exact biochemical pathways before taking course. He is not helpful in clarification. NO textbook for help!

Rating # 16

Overview:

Course: BIO571
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:

Don't take this course, unless you have a genuine interest and I mean unless you love this stuff, DO Not Take this class. Incredibly elitist professor, worst one I've ever seen, Looking down on your students isn't the right way to teach fyi! Avoid the class or you will regret it.

Rating # 17

Overview:

Course: BIO564
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.5
Course Difficulty: 3.0

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

Comment:

This professor has no interest int inspiring or even teaching college students. He has a temper and is very damaging to students during class and outside of class.

Rating # 18

Overview:

Course: BIO572
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 4.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Don't take it unless you can dedicate alot of time to this class. I spent over 20 hours studying for each exam and i still got low 60's on both...which is in his B range. Nice guy though, very personable if you approach him after class or in his office. He loves what he does, and I'd say one of the most competent professors i've ever had at umass

Rating # 19

Overview:

Course: BIO564
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.5
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

All I can think about is why why why didn't I heed the warnings of you RMPers? Please do not make the same mistake I did. DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS!! It will have you bashing your head against the wall.

Rating # 20

Overview:

Course: BIO564
Grade Received: N/A
Overall Rating: 1.0
Course Difficulty: 5.0

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

Comment:

Terrible professor. Came in loving physiology and now I don't care much for it. He's very egotistical (compares himself to God) and it is ALWAYS the students' fault when they get a question wrong, it is never his quality of teaching. Terrible, terrible professor. As a senior, he has been the worst professor I have had the past four years.

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