Cathy Desoto - University of Northern Iowa

Professor: Cathy Desoto
Department: Psychology
College: University of Northern Iowa
Rating # 1
Overview:
  • Course: PSCH1001
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Professor DeSoto makes clear from the start that if you want to pass you will need the textbook, take good notes, and actually read the textbook. Her lectures are almost always very interesting and engaging for as much as you can be with psych. The 4 Exams are based on book and in class material 30/70 split, but don't expect a C if you never show
Rating # 2
Overview:
  • Course: PSY3101
  • Grade Received: B-
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
The grade was entirely based on 4 tests but all of the questions are straight out of lecture and the readings. As long as you go to class and do the readings you will do fine. She is a great lecturer. You can tell she really knows what she is teaching and she does a great job explaining difficult concepts.
Rating # 3
Overview:
  • Course: PSY1001
  • 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:
She does the best job at explaining any concept and making sure everyone understands. She makes an obvious effort to help review important ideas throughout the semester and sometimes offers study guides. Her lectures are always interesting, funny, and relative to everyone. I would recommend Desoto to anyone! By far the best prof I've had yet.
Rating # 4
Overview:
  • Course: PSCH101
  • Grade Received: B-
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Desoto is the worst professor that I have had. Grade is only based off of tests and the tests are extremely hard and are based off of long readings in the book. She does not give any type of review for tests so it is just a guessing game. Not worth taking when you can take the same class with a different professor and pass easily.
Rating # 5
Overview:
  • Course: PSY1001
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Catherine was a great prof for Intro to Psych! Don't slack in the class and do assigned readings and you'll do fine. She has humor and teaches it in an orderly way. There is not. much homework so grades are dependent on exams.
Rating # 6
Overview:
  • Course: PSYCH1001
  • Grade Received: A-
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Very good lectures and cares about her students. Very organized and provides in class "quizzes" which are extra credit points. Make sure to read textbook because at least 5 questions per exam are concerning specific details in the text. Overall solid choice for intro to psych!
Rating # 7
Overview:
  • Course: PSCH101
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
I would not recommend Desoto for intro to psychology. If you don't show up to even one class your grade will drop because the classes are lecture heavy. There is only 4 grades in the class, all of which are tests. She does not tell you what will be on the tests so you have to guess. She words the tests in difficult ways making them even harder
Rating # 8
Overview:
  • Course: PSY1001
  • Grade Received: Not sure yet
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Attendance is not mandatory for a grade, but is mandatory if you want to know information that isn't in the textbook. She made that clear on the first day. If you have a question that she doesn't want to answer she will often just direct you to the peer mentor or someone else in class who might not even understand it either.
Rating # 9
Overview:
  • Course: PSY3101
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Dr. Desoto's biopsychology course is fun and interesting, but if you do not show up and actively listen you will not do well. The class has 4 tests and she gives very good detailed lectures, but she will pull information out of the book to make getting an A impossible unless you read. She is a great professor and definitely knows her stuff!
Rating # 10
Overview:
  • Course: PSY2101
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Dr. DeSoto is an amazing professor! I would definitely take classes with her again. For biopsych, there's four tests. When she says study everything in your notes, she means everything! If you don't understand something, just ask, and she'll be happy to explain more. The tests are hard, so you'll have to study a lot, but it's definitely worth it!
Rating # 11
Overview:
  • Course: PSYCH1001
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: N/A
Comment:
First off, RUN IF YOU CAN. She does not let you know what's on the exam. Rarely available, and misses lecture. She is a very tough grader who words her questions very oddly. She even makes mistakes on her exams, grammar mistakes as well! She does not post anything online so you better record everything she says. DON'T miss even a DAY!
Rating # 12
Overview:
  • Course: TECH1015
  • Grade Received: C-
  • Overall Rating: 1.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Doctor Desotos class is based solely on 5 exams and all lectures. She states at the beginning of the class that it is very difficult to get a B or an A and you will have to work for it. She isnt clear on what is on the exam and grades them very difficultly. If you can take Intro to Psychology with someone else, do it!
Rating # 13
Overview:
  • Course: PSY2101
  • Grade Received: C
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
You have to go to every class and actually pay attenction and take notes to pass. The tests are hard but as long as you take good notes and study you will be fine. I really enjoy her lectures and she is fun to listen to.
Rating # 14
Overview:
  • Course: BIOPS155
  • Grade Received: WD
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 5.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
Biopsych is hard. I ended up dropping the course because I kept failing exams. You need to hear every lecture or you will struggle. It's only tests that get graded, and they're hard. The wording really trips people up, and she's a tough grader. Your answer has to be perfect to get points. She doesn't work with students outside of class either.
Rating # 15
Overview:
  • Course: BIOPS155
  • Grade Received: Not sure yet
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
I genuinely did't enjoy this class. She's an insanely hard grader, gone all the time, and her tests are so hard. Know exactly what you're going to write for the essay portion of her exams ahead of time, or you'll fail. Also she's pretty rude if you email her with any questions, she doesn't like that.
Rating # 16
Overview:
  • Course: PSCH101
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Cathy is a good teacher but her tests are harder than they need to be. Study hard and you'll do fine.
Rating # 17
Overview:
  • Course: PSY1001
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 4.0
  • Course Difficulty: 3.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Lecture based with powerpoint slides. Tests are all over the lecture. There are a few questions from the book on the test, but definitely not needed. Desoto makes the information interesting and has a lot of stories of personal experiences relating to the lecture!
Rating # 18
Overview:
  • Course: PSY1001
  • Grade Received: N/A
  • Overall Rating: 2.0
  • Course Difficulty: 1.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: No
  • Would Take Again: No
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Super difficult to listen to her lecture, but the class is easy.
Rating # 19
Overview:
  • Course: PSY1001
  • Grade Received: A
  • Overall Rating: 5.0
  • Course Difficulty: 2.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Mandatory
Comment:
If you go to class and take good notes, you can pass with flying colors. A few questions from the readings are on the test, but you can pass easily without ever reading them. Super interesting lecture and she has a sense of humor which is also a good characteristic in a professor.
Rating # 20
Overview:
  • Course: PSYC2101
  • Grade Received: C-
  • Overall Rating: 3.0
  • Course Difficulty: 4.0
  • For Credit: Yes
  • Textbook Used: Yes
  • Would Take Again: Yes
  • Attendance: Not Mandatory
Comment:
Tests are hard. You really do need to read the text. Content is hard but she knows it and does her best to offer extra credit through in class quizzes that are over important content.
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