PLSC201 | PlanetTerp

Information	Review
Pierre Jacob PLSC201 Expecting a B+ Anonymous 11/03/2025	Avoid taking him. Very hands-off professor in the sense that he doesn't really care about your performance or learning (even though he says he does, he doesn't actually want to teach you, just for you to know everything already). Writes poorly worded exam questions sometimes then takes points off for not reading his mind (ex. question says to describe, but he actually wanted you to describe AND interpret). Exams have random topic distribution (ex. exam 2 had nothing on photosynthesis and respiration, but like 4 questions on seeds) and he doesn't think it's his job to give a study guide (recommends AI). Every exam is cumulative and your only grades will be your exams (maybe some busy work too if you're lucky). Content isn't really that hard, you just have to know everything in detail because you don't know what he will put on the exam, so the shear amount of information to memorize makes his class difficult, especially since each one is cumulative. You will need to spend at least 10-15 hours preparing for each exam. Revise often and early. He asks for feedback then ignores it. Unorganized. Lab exams were basically lecture exams part 2. Poorly planned semester-long experiments (couldn't measure plants with a ruler for sake of having a controlled experiment, but then you just squirt a random amount of water on the plant. Made us use a software he didn't care to explain well and didn't post any follow up information on how to use it. Reluctantly provides a rubric and honestly seemed confused on why students wanted one). A bit of a short temper. Generally just doesn't think its his job to help you in any way besides reading off slides and making you feel stupid during his office hours. Horrible professor, but okay guy. Very focused on his research. Maybe he will be better next semester since this was his first time, but I would never take a class with him again. Worst experience I've had with anyone in the PLSA department.
Pierre Jacob PLSC201 Expecting a C- Anonymous 10/29/2025	he’s a terrible teacher but a passionate biologist. i genuinely regret taking his class.
Reuben Tayengwa PLSC201 Expecting an A Anonymous 10/21/2024	Tayengwa is a good teacher and super nice person! The class definitely has a lot of information and sometimes goes fast but the actual exams and assignments are quite easy. The lab is also quite chill.
Jianhua Zhu PLSC201 Expecting a B+ Anonymous 05/23/2022	A really sweet person. He wants to give you an A. Tests, quizzes, etc are really straight forward. If you show up to class and do extra work in lab (like help clean up), he's likely to give you Extra credit at some point. Pay more attention in class then I did (I wasn't good at this), try to go to every class ( I wasn't great at this), and do your readings (I didn't read so closely), and I have to imagine you'll get at least an A-. Labs are long and not thrilling, but that's labs, if this is class you'd like to take it he's a great guy, a solid teacher, and he'll grade nicely.

Pierre Jacob
PLSC201

Expecting a B+
Anonymous
11/03/2025

Avoid taking him. Very hands-off professor in the sense that he doesn't really care about your performance or learning (even though he says he does, he doesn't actually want to teach you, just for you to know everything already). Writes poorly worded exam questions sometimes then takes points off for not reading his mind (ex. question says to describe, but he actually wanted you to describe AND interpret). Exams have random topic distribution (ex. exam 2 had nothing on photosynthesis and respiration, but like 4 questions on seeds) and he doesn't think it's his job to give a study guide (recommends AI). Every exam is cumulative and your only grades will be your exams (maybe some busy work too if you're lucky). Content isn't really that hard, you just have to know everything in detail because you don't know what he will put on the exam, so the shear amount of information to memorize makes his class difficult, especially since each one is cumulative. You will need to spend at least 10-15 hours preparing for each exam. Revise often and early. He asks for feedback then ignores it. Unorganized. Lab exams were basically lecture exams part 2. Poorly planned semester-long experiments (couldn't measure plants with a ruler for sake of having a controlled experiment, but then you just squirt a random amount of water on the plant. Made us use a software he didn't care to explain well and didn't post any follow up information on how to use it. Reluctantly provides a rubric and honestly seemed confused on why students wanted one). A bit of a short temper. Generally just doesn't think its his job to help you in any way besides reading off slides and making you feel stupid during his office hours. Horrible professor, but okay guy. Very focused on his research. Maybe he will be better next semester since this was his first time, but I would never take a class with him again. Worst experience I've had with anyone in the PLSA department.

Pierre Jacob
PLSC201

Expecting a C-
Anonymous
10/29/2025

he’s a terrible teacher but a passionate biologist. i genuinely regret taking his class.

Reuben Tayengwa
PLSC201

Expecting an A
Anonymous
10/21/2024

Tayengwa is a good teacher and super nice person! The class definitely has a lot of information and sometimes goes fast but the actual exams and assignments are quite easy. The lab is also quite chill.

Jianhua Zhu
PLSC201

Expecting a B+
Anonymous
05/23/2022

A really sweet person. He wants to give you an A. Tests, quizzes, etc are really straight forward. If you show up to class and do extra work in lab (like help clean up), he's likely to give you Extra credit at some point. Pay more attention in class then I did (I wasn't good at this), try to go to every class ( I wasn't great at this), and do your readings (I didn't read so closely), and I have to imagine you'll get at least an A-. Labs are long and not thrilling, but that's labs, if this is class you'd like to take it he's a great guy, a solid teacher, and he'll grade nicely.

Reviews for PLSC201