Daniel Butts

This professor has taught: BIOL608W, BSCI238F, BSCI279Q, BSCI329, BSCI339F, BSCI353, BSCI453, MSQC604, NACS640, NACS643, NACS728Y, NACS898, NEUR306, NEUR479

Sort By:

Information	Review
Daniel Butts BSCI353 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 01/01/2026	I was nervous about taking this class since I don't have any neuroscience background, and physics was a prerequisite for this class, but the content wasn't that bad. I don't think physics even needs to be a prereq since if you needed to know something, Dr. Butts would go over it in class. Dr. Butts was generally good at explaining difficult concepts. Sometimes he tripped up, but he corrected himself and made it clear which explanation was right. He was very approachable and open to answering questions. The lectures were very informative and well-paced. He records lectures. You did have to buy PointSolutions to participate in the clicker questions, but he might get rid of that in future semesters, depending on student feedback. The clicker questions were a good gauge of your understanding of the lecture, but I would have preferred not paying for it. Clickers were graded based on participation and attendance, but there was a little extra credit for correct answers. There are no curves in this class, and it uses the standard grade cutoffs. Grades are based on the following: 1st midterm (15%), 2nd midterm (20%), final exam (30%), worksheets (22%), online quizzes (10%), and clickers (3%). The weekly online quizzes were based on assigned textbook chapters and were multiple-choice. You had 1 hour to complete them, and they ranged from 10-20 questions. If you read the chapter beforehand (or use ctrl+F), you should have no problem with the time limit and getting 100%. In-class worksheets were completed in randomly-assigned groups of 4, open note, and lasted 1 lecture period. The worksheets were hard, and my group always asked the TAs to help check our answers. The TAs were also very helpful in understanding how to answer the questions. Often, we would be working right up until class ended. They are graded leniently, so as long as your answer is somewhat right, you should get in the A range. The 1st worksheet also had an extra credit question. There were 5 worksheets total, but Dr. Butts said he could change the number for future classes based on student feedback. The answer keys for the worksheets were posted before exams, so we could use them to study. I felt like all the exams were fair and based on the content covered in the class. Dr. Butts said that content covered in the textbook but not covered in lecture could still be on the exams, but he never included them on our exams. The midterms were a mix of multiple choice (around 10 questions) and free response. Some of the multiple-choice questions were taken straight from the online quizzes. The free-response portion included matching, short-answer, long-answer, and drawing graphs. The review questions and worksheets were helpful for studying for the free-response section, but he didn't post an answer key for the review questions. Instead, they were held like a discussion board where multiple students could comment an answer and correct each other, with Dr. Butts providing feedback. If you wanted definitive answers to the review questions, you had to attend either office hours or the exam review session. The exam review sessions were just big office hours held before each exam, but they were helpful for hearing what questions other students asked to double-check your knowledge. The final was split into a comprehensive portion and the last third of the class content. The questions were the same format as the midterms, but it was longer and had proportionally more free-response questions. I didn't feel pressed for time on any of the exams, but I wouldn't recommend spending too much time on any question since some of the free-response questions were lengthy. I studied for the exams by reviewing the lecture recordings and my notes, completing the review questions, going over the worksheet answer keys and quizzes, and attending the exam review session for last-minute questions. Focus more on understanding concepts and the reasons why something happens rather than just memorizing. This wasn't a class to slack off in, but getting an A was completely doable with some effort.
Daniel Butts BSCI353 Anonymous 12/24/2025	This professor has been the most disappointing one I’ve had. His lecture slides are largely ineffective, and his office hours are scheduled at times when most students are in other classes. The reference book he uses is not particularly useful. He assumes that students have already completed NEUR305 and higher-level biology courses, and his teaching does not adequately bridge these gaps. It’s frustrating to pay for classes only to be expected to learn the material on our own. I used to have a passion for neuroscience, but this class has made me more fearful of the subject, if not outright resentful.
Daniel Butts BSCI353 Expecting a B+ Anonymous 12/24/2025	Honestly a pretty digestible class considering its upper-level bio. There are homework quizzes and in class worksheets that help buffer the grade a little bit. The exams were never something I found insanely difficult but they were sometimes graded pretty harshley. The only thing I will mention is that the exams include both the material covered in class as well as the textbook content covered in the unit which can be a bit annoying as it makes reviewing for the exam more difficult. I also found Dr. Butt's lectures to be engaging but they more served as an information dump instead of actually applying the material to different concepts (which was what the exams were on). Honestly, if you don't have any trouble self-teaching slightly for a course, I think Dr. Butts is a great person and a great lecturer.
Daniel Butts BSCI353 Expecting a B Anonymous 12/23/2025	While Dan is very nice and kind, the class itself was very difficult. And I just would avoid taking the class as a whole if you don't need to. Dan's lecture style felt very hard to follow at times and there were points where I did understand for a bit and then he would completely lose me. There were about 5 in-class worksheets that were mandatory to go to and they were supposed to help develop understanding but it didn't really do anything for me. Neuroscience majors might have an advantage in this class because of NEUR305 background knowledge. Exams were hard but I guess if you studied well enough for them you would at least moderately understand what was being asked. The textbook I found to be kind of helpful in at least providing an extra explanation for what he was saying. Class format: - Clicker questions every class, he gives you the full points if you get the clicker questions right but if you get them wrong I believe you still get about 90% of the credit for answering it (I can't remember the exact number but it was greater than 90). Because of this to actually see the question you would have to show up in class because you can't actually see the question on point solutions itself. - Worksheets - There 5 worksheets this class. You have to show up to them it is mandatory because its group work and if you're not there you won't get the credit for it. If you can't make it you can email him and he is pretty lenient with it. Just make sure you have an excused absence. These worksheets can boost up you grade because they are worth 100 points each. They are generally free points for as long as you complete the entirety of the worksheet. - 2 midterms during the semester. - There was like 2 exams in one for the final. The first half was midterm 3 and the second half was the actual final itself. They were graded separately on elms. It was about a 12 page long combined exam. - Quizzes: there were chapter quizzes on elms, it was timed. But honestly you could probably just look up the answers. Averages were relatively low for his class apparently, around a 75% for each exam. Pros: - Classes are recorded, so you could rewatch lectures if you needed to - Worksheets definitely boosted your grade - Dan is nice and is willing to answer your questions with zero judgement Cons: - Hard class I'd rather take orgo all over again than this class in my opinion - Lectures just felt hard to folllow at times
Daniel Butts BSCI353 Expecting a C- Anonymous 12/20/2025	This professor is all nice on the outside but is harsh in the inside. His lecture slides are just images with little descriptions and tell us to "Figure it out". He does not provide any directions or assistance. His worksheets are impossible to complete in the 75 minute time constraint. His exams are hard but the final exam was worth 30% of our grade and some of the materials we discussed for one lecture was worth over 30 points on the final. Overall I do not recommend this professor at all.
Daniel Butts BSCI353 Expecting an A- Anonymous 12/20/2025	BSCI353 with Dr. Butts was a very interesting class. His excitement about neuroscience (especially in the later units) clearly showed in his teaching. This class requires a lot of work, but Dr. Butts is very helpful in office hours and in his review sessions before the exams. Lectures are recorded, and the recordings have been very useful, but please still go to lecture because there are clicker questions that boost your grade. Additionally, there are 5 or so in-class group worksheets that you should get full credit for if you complete them, and I wish more professors gave them out – they’re a great opportunity to learn from your peers and shore up your understanding. These worksheets are also very helpful for exam prep. Speaking of which, the exams are on the harder side, as they ask you to think more about applying the concepts you learn in lecture rather than rote memorization, but they’re fair and he provides practice questions as a discussion board.
Daniel Butts BSCI353 Expecting an A- Anonymous 11/25/2025	Gives in-class worksheets that are too long to finish in the time we are given, which causes a lot of stress. I also was laughed at by TA's on some occasions for asking questions, and at other times, they did not know how to answer my questions. Additonally, I was graded harshly on a single question on the 2nd exam, which brought down my grade significantly.
Daniel Butts BSCI353 Expecting an A+ Anonymous 01/16/2025	I loved this class and Dr. Butts! I'm a bio major so I was pretty nervous going in - I have 0 neuro experience. But Dr. Butts made everything super digestible and his interest in the subject def shines through and makes it a pretty interesting class to study for. Don't get me wrong - you do have to study well. For each exam, I watched each lecture recording, took some good notes, did his review questions (which give a pretty good gauge of the exam questions), and went to his review session (not rly necessary) - doing all that allowed me to average around a 95 on all the exams, including the final. Yes, you have to put in the time, but everything is clear, organized, and learnable. He also makes it clear that he wants you to do well - he is willing to meet outside of class/office hours if you can't make the scheduled office hours / review sessions. There is no curve which is scary, but as long as you put in around 8ish total hours to prep for exams, you won't need it. Also, he does 5 group worksheets, which is a guaranteed 100/100 each as long as you complete it. The weekly quizzes are also easy to get consistent 9/10 and 10/10s on. Overall, I enjoyed this class a lot and really like Dr. Butts as a professor. Def reccomend!
Daniel Butts BSCI353 Expecting an A- Anonymous 06/26/2023	This class was pretty difficult and required A LOT of memorization. Dr. Butts does provide practice/sample questions before exams which were very helpful since some questions did appear on the exams. He recorded lectures, but there were clickers so you shouldn’t skip class. There were also worksheets almost every week which were done in groups. There also usually isn’t a curve, but there was a ~2% curve this semester because the final exam average was poor. So, there really isn’t “competition” and anyone could get an A.
Daniel Butts BSCI353 Expecting an A Anonymous 05/22/2022	Glad I took Bsci353 with Dr. Butts! In order to do well in his class you really need to understand the lecture concepts, instead of memorization like some other biology classes. Understand what the graphs and diagrams in the lecture slides and that will help you immensely with his exams. Gave a mini exam worth only 5% before the first big midterm which was useful to understand how he will write exams. He was always nice and responsive to questions. Would take the class with him again!
Daniel Butts Anonymous 12/21/2012	I actually enjoyed neurophys with Dr. Butts. He is clearly very passionate and extremely knowledgable about the subject. He's also super nice! I can see how this class may be challenging though. The lectures are delivered like scientific talks (a lot of figures and little words) so you must understand and not just memorize everything. So I thought the book was necessary to clarify things when going over the material again. If you understand everything on his slides, then the exam should be very fair. The material is difficult but fascinating. Fun class!
Daniel Butts Expecting an A Anonymous 12/19/2012	While I can agree with some parts of the review below that Dr. Butts can be a bit confusing, he is really one of the nicest and most caring professors I've encountered at UMD. Although his explanations were sometimes confusing and the textbook was usually needed for extra explanations when studying, Dr. Butts was overly willing to meet with students whenever and answered questions via email quickly and with very thorough responses. He truly wants every student to do well and his tests are very fair based on what he emphasizes in class. As long as you go to class and show him that you actually care, you'll be totally fine in one of his classes. Study the main concepts and if you remember what he emphasizes in class, then you can pretty much predict what the big questions on his tests will be. After this semester, I would definitely take another class with Dr. Butts.
Daniel Butts Anonymous 11/30/2012	Dr. Butts will be teaching another intro to neuroscience class after this semester, since 453 won't exist anymore, but i highly do not recommend any class with him. unfortunately, he is a horrible lecturer but a very nice man. i don't know how lenient he is going to be when assigning grades, but i should have taken 353 which is supposed to be easier anyway, or taken the 8AM 446. it's super hard to follow his lectures. i end up teaching myself from the textbook but going to class anyway to keep up appearances, maybe he will factor this into the grade somehow since most people don't bother showing up just to nap for 75 minutes.