BSCI392 | PlanetTerp

Information	Review
John Merck BSCI392 Expecting a B+ Anonymous 04/13/2026	Prior reviews of this course state exams are online and open-note, so firstly, I would like to say this is no longer true, exams are in-person and closed-note. This professor seems like he is very interested in his content and happy to teach about it and like a great guy. However, the amount of content he gives out and expects you to memorize is unlike anything I have experienced from any other professor at UMD. I am a pre-med senior, I have a 515 MCAT score, and currently a 3.8+ GPA. I am very used to studying and dealing with loads of content. I have taken several difficult pre-med courses with lots of content to memorize, but this class, the amount of content you are expected to memorize is at least 10 fold what I have experienced before. The only pre-requisite for this class is BSCI160 - for which I have been a TA for for four semesters, and ULA for two, so thought I would be amply prepared - and yet, it is taught as if you have much more of an extensive background on the subject. If this course maintained open-note exams that were online, I'd say it was fair, because I think I do learn how to approach these questions in class. Learning all of this content however, as someone who is a neurophysiology major has been completely unprecedented to me. I have made close to a thousand flashcards for just a single midterm for this class. I find this course content to truly be very interesting, and I love learning about it, but it is way too much for an elective class where the only pre-req is BSCI160. Especially given that no practice exams are given either. I took this class because I thought it would be fun, but I have found myself spending more time on this class than I have on my other 400 level biology courses (that require 300 level BSCI pre-reqs). I hope to get an A in this class but I don't know if I will - which is unfortunate as a second semester senior who wants to apply to medical school. I would not recommend this class unless you are in some sort of major relating to studying these animals in depth and already have very in-depth prior knowledge. Do not just take this class if you are just curious/interested in the subject and want to learn more. I took this class to broaden my horizons and learn more, but frankly regret my decision. I feel like I'm being punished for having curiosity and interest in this subject as someone whose major/background is not paleontology related which has been very sad.
John Merck BSCI392 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 07/29/2024	Dr. Merck teaches with contagious passion. His lectures are engaging, entertaining, and genuine change how you understand dinosaurs and other extinct fauna. He is a great guy who is always willing to help you. He regularly gives points back if you make a case for yourself. You are asked to complete several group projects. These weren't my favorite. They required very little effort, just cite some credible sources and your good. I didn't like them because I didn't learn anything from them and I had to deal with other group members contributing minimally. The exams are open note and online you should have plenty of time to complete them. They consist of multiple choice and free response. There is a lot of material to cover for the exam, but again, you have access to all notes during the tests. I strongly recommend this professor if you want to take a fascinating and easy class.
John Merck BSCI392 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/19/2024	This class has a incredibly interesting set of topics, and John Merck is all the more passionate about them. Throughout the whole semester, he was enthusiastic for every single topic and explained even the boring portions in a way that still manages to capture your attention. He's easy to reach and flexible about due dates, and he admits and apologizes for any mistakes he's made. I had this class for three days a week (MWF) for 50 minutes and attendance isn't mandatory, and he posts the lecture slides but doesn't record them. The work load itself wasn't terrible: 3 semester research projects (with individual and group parts, though he says for future semesters he might give two instead), two midterms and one final, all of which were open note, online, and asynchronous.
John Merck BSCI392 Anonymous 05/03/2024	Dr. Merck is a really chill guy, and definitely entertaining in lecture. However, the time crunch on his exam is definitely something to watch out for. You are gonna have to rush if you want to complete them on time, and most of the time, I had to leave the last few questions partially unanswered bc of the time limits. Good news is that they are open note, but if you are relying on searching Powerpoints during the exam, there is no way you are finishing on time.
Bretton Kent BSCI392 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 11/20/2018	One of my favorite professors! He is so interesting and smart and presents everything in a pretty standard, easy to grasp way. He is very accessible outside of class as well. Exams require a lot of studying but are not too difficult.
Bretton Kent BSCI392 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/15/2010	I really loved BSCI392. Dr. Kent is a great lecturer, and the class was fascinating. But be warned that this class is not an easy A -- it might not even be an easy B. He posts his lectures online and they are helpful outlines to study from, but you MUST go to class. There is a ton of information that is not in the PowerPoint and sometimes he'll even hint as to what will be on the final exam. His tests are pretty tough (16 multiple-multiple questions and 2 short answers) but there are two group reconstructions that will boost your grade. If you truly care about the subject, pay attention and study a moderate amount you should get an A. If you skip class a lot and don't study much you will be lucky to get a B. Kent is a very nice person who genuinely cares about us and how well we learn, but he holds us to a high standard. If you are interested in paleobiology (especially vertebrate paleobiology) he will be the perfect professor.

John Merck
BSCI392

Expecting a B+
Anonymous
04/13/2026

Prior reviews of this course state exams are online and open-note, so firstly, I would like to say this is no longer true, exams are in-person and closed-note. This professor seems like he is very interested in his content and happy to teach about it and like a great guy. However, the amount of content he gives out and expects you to memorize is unlike anything I have experienced from any other professor at UMD. I am a pre-med senior, I have a 515 MCAT score, and currently a 3.8+ GPA. I am very used to studying and dealing with loads of content. I have taken several difficult pre-med courses with lots of content to memorize, but this class, the amount of content you are expected to memorize is at least 10 fold what I have experienced before. The only pre-requisite for this class is BSCI160 - for which I have been a TA for for four semesters, and ULA for two, so thought I would be amply prepared - and yet, it is taught as if you have much more of an extensive background on the subject. If this course maintained open-note exams that were online, I'd say it was fair, because I think I do learn how to approach these questions in class. Learning all of this content however, as someone who is a neurophysiology major has been completely unprecedented to me. I have made close to a thousand flashcards for just a single midterm for this class. I find this course content to truly be very interesting, and I love learning about it, but it is way too much for an elective class where the only pre-req is BSCI160. Especially given that no practice exams are given either. I took this class because I thought it would be fun, but I have found myself spending more time on this class than I have on my other 400 level biology courses (that require 300 level BSCI pre-reqs). I hope to get an A in this class but I don't know if I will - which is unfortunate as a second semester senior who wants to apply to medical school. I would not recommend this class unless you are in some sort of major relating to studying these animals in depth and already have very in-depth prior knowledge. Do not just take this class if you are just curious/interested in the subject and want to learn more. I took this class to broaden my horizons and learn more, but frankly regret my decision. I feel like I'm being punished for having curiosity and interest in this subject as someone whose major/background is not paleontology related which has been very sad.

John Merck
BSCI392

Expecting an A+
Anonymous
07/29/2024

Dr. Merck teaches with contagious passion. His lectures are engaging, entertaining, and genuine change how you understand dinosaurs and other extinct fauna. He is a great guy who is always willing to help you. He regularly gives points back if you make a case for yourself. You are asked to complete several group projects. These weren't my favorite. They required very little effort, just cite some credible sources and your good. I didn't like them because I didn't learn anything from them and I had to deal with other group members contributing minimally. The exams are open note and online you should have plenty of time to complete them. They consist of multiple choice and free response. There is a lot of material to cover for the exam, but again, you have access to all notes during the tests. I strongly recommend this professor if you want to take a fascinating and easy class.

John Merck
BSCI392

Expecting an A
Anonymous
05/19/2024

This class has a incredibly interesting set of topics, and John Merck is all the more passionate about them. Throughout the whole semester, he was enthusiastic for every single topic and explained even the boring portions in a way that still manages to capture your attention. He's easy to reach and flexible about due dates, and he admits and apologizes for any mistakes he's made. I had this class for three days a week (MWF) for 50 minutes and attendance isn't mandatory, and he posts the lecture slides but doesn't record them. The work load itself wasn't terrible: 3 semester research projects (with individual and group parts, though he says for future semesters he might give two instead), two midterms and one final, all of which were open note, online, and asynchronous.

John Merck
BSCI392

Anonymous
05/03/2024

Dr. Merck is a really chill guy, and definitely entertaining in lecture. However, the time crunch on his exam is definitely something to watch out for. You are gonna have to rush if you want to complete them on time, and most of the time, I had to leave the last few questions partially unanswered bc of the time limits. Good news is that they are open note, but if you are relying on searching Powerpoints during the exam, there is no way you are finishing on time.

Bretton Kent
BSCI392

Expecting an A+
Anonymous
11/20/2018

One of my favorite professors! He is so interesting and smart and presents everything in a pretty standard, easy to grasp way. He is very accessible outside of class as well. Exams require a lot of studying but are not too difficult.

Bretton Kent
BSCI392

Expecting an A
Anonymous
12/15/2010

I really loved BSCI392. Dr. Kent is a great lecturer, and the class was fascinating. But be warned that this class is not an easy A -- it might not even be an easy B. He posts his lectures online and they are helpful outlines to study from, but you MUST go to class. There is a ton of information that is not in the PowerPoint and sometimes he'll even hint as to what will be on the final exam. His tests are pretty tough (16 multiple-multiple questions and 2 short answers) but there are two group reconstructions that will boost your grade. If you truly care about the subject, pay attention and study a moderate amount you should get an A. If you skip class a lot and don't study much you will be lucky to get a B. Kent is a very nice person who genuinely cares about us and how well we learn, but he holds us to a high standard. If you are interested in paleobiology (especially vertebrate paleobiology) he will be the perfect professor.

Reviews for BSCI392