There are 4 exams that are each 100 points. Mastering Biology online assignments count as 75 points, but you have to do 15 to get any points at all and I believe there are about 5 extra ones that count as extra credit. If you go to class, you get to use the iClicker and get 1 point extra credit each time you go (it adds up). You also have the option of taking a group exam which is up to 7 points extra credit with a group of up to 7, I believe. Her course is 75% of your total grade, while the lab is 25%. Basically, there is a lot of extra credit so you can't possibly fail the class, but the exams are difficult. My class did really awful on the exams, with a few outliers. I had failed exams and I had gotten close to 100% on them as well, it all depends on how you study for them. In order for me to do well on the exams I had to do all the reading and take notes, do Mastering Bio and review it before the exam, AND do the study guide (which is quite a bit of work). Paying attention in lecture is helpful if you've done the reading already. So basically, if people didn't do well in the class, it was their own fault. Dr. Roess is pretty funny which makes the otherwise dull lecture, enjoyable. She really wants you to do well and she is very fair in her grading. I would take another course from her. However, it is not easy (especially for someone who is a Liberal Arts major) and you have to do your part. But from what I've heard of the other professors, I would definitely chose her over anyone else.

Professor Roess (pronounced like Race) was a very good teacher. She tended to rush through material when a test was looming, but she tested almost entirely on lecture material, with very little emphasis put on information in the book that wasn't covered in class, mainly because her lectures were fairly exhaustive. The lab section is a breeze and the tests had a generous scale on them, with a score over 100% very possible. However, this is not necessarily an easy A. The tests are still challenging for most students even with the scale; they're all multiple choice, and she doesn't throw many soft pitches.

Pros: Good teacher, gives a good amount of Extra Credit.

Cons: Goes through material fast, but the homework is easy. If you are taking Life 102 take this teacher

This was a great class! I took it during the Spring semester of 2006. It was very informative and you walk out of it knowing A LOT about drugs (both legal and illegal). It involves a good amount of material, but it is fairly easy to get an 'A' in the class. She provided the PowerPoint lectures online before class. I printed them out and followed along during the lectures. They were so word-heavy and informative, that you could actually get away with not attending the lectures and still having a good solid foundation of the material. I also sold the "optional" textbook back and still received an 'A' in the class just going off of the lectures alone. She uses the lectures to take test questions off of, so you don't need the textbook. She also has an AWESOME grading system where if you do well enough on the first 3 exams, you can essentially stop going to class. There is an "optional" cumulative final and an "optional" extra credit paper. I got a 'B' and 2 'A' grades on the first three exams and got a score high enough to get an 'A' in the class and stopped going. The only thing I didn't like very much is Dr. Roess tends to be somewhat of a dry person. She can have a monotone voice sometimes and can be a little boring to listen to. She also never showed any videos or gave us any days off, which I guess isn't that important, but are always extra bonuses for me. Take the class if you want an informative, easy, no textbook, 2-credit elective. I'd recommend it just because the class is so laid back and because it is easy to pull of an 'A'. Oh! And during the semester I took the class, the GTA gave review sessions for the test that covered what was going to be the exam. The teacher provided a study guide of questions and the GTA actually circled which questions were going to be on the exam! This made it EXTREMELLY easy to study for. I actually pulled off a perfect 100 on the last exam. So take the class! Sorry this was so long, but I can't stress how GREAT this class is!

Pros: - She was a really cool teacher.

- Easy to communicate with and would always respond to emails quickly.

- Definitely knew what she was talking about and was always willing to help.

Cons: - Mastering Biology consumed a lot of time, but was well worth it for tests.

Roess was an awesome teacher, she totally knew what she was talking about and always helped you succeed. You definitely needed to study for tests and keep up with Mastering Biology. However there was a lot of extra credit in the class, so I ended up with above 100%, but that is because I worked really hard. Take advantage of the fact that she offers extra credit for getting together a study group. It is so easy and doesn't take a lot of time out of your schedule. Overall the material was hard but she presented it in an easy way. Do the homework and you will be thankful because it saves your grade.



Great teacher overall! Take the course with her. I heard that the other professors for this class were really hard graders and had no extra credit.

Im not bashing her because of my poor grade because i believe Life102 at csu is terrible. half the teachers for bio dont even speak fluent english or are wayyy to hard of tests. I dont think ive talked to one person thats taken this class that did well in it. This professor literally just reads her slides off and makes it impossible to pay attention. I read, studied, and went to class and did terrible on the 1st two tests. I went to see this professor and in a nutshell she told me "read the book, come to class, and study alot," and thats all her advise was. I didnt stand a chance. on a personal note, i would try to take this class over at front range, its not a class of 300, its more like 20 so its one on one and the professor will see and care if your understanding the material.

Professor Roess's class was very interesting and she explained everything very clearly. My only complaint is that sometimes when a test was approaching she would rush through the lectures and the material would become a bit confusing. She gives many opportunities for extra credit and makes herself available if you need help. I made use of the tutors in Ingersoll hall if I needed help rather than going to her all the time. It was a good class overall and she made all of the slides available over RamCT as well.

She can be pretty funny, and she teaches pretty well, with slides that she references and talks about, but the slides are still useful by themselves to study with later. She ends class early every once in a while, she cancels it the day before a long break, and her final is made up of questions from previous tests. This is a hard class to fail. There are so many opportunities to get extra credit in her class, you'd think it was high school. I'd take a class with her again.

Well first of all, I got an F on the first test but ended up with an A in the class! She isn't interesting, very bland and sometimes annoying, but she knows her stuff. And you may not think she has a personality, but she does!! She is ok, and gives a lot of extra credit so that might make her more than ok, or maybe she just wants less people to have to take her class over again so there is less work on her part. You decide. She is obviously VERY lazy :)

Although the lectures are a bit dry, she explains the information really in a way that helps most people understand. I am horrible at biology so I had to do all of the reading and study really hard... but if you go to her lectures, you won't have to do all the reading. She gives a TON of extra credit -- almost 15 extra credit points on every test -- so that is a huge help. She also has her TA do multiple study sessions which are also an extreme help.

The best test grade i got was a 68% and i got a 74% on the final and i ended with a 84% between lecture and the lab...DO THE EXTRA CREDIT! and pray she drops the lowest test grade like she did for my class. shes extrememly monotone and the whole subject is insanely boring, but she tried to be funny and she really loves what she does if you dont have to take this class stay away but if you do i would recommend her because its super easy to pass.

I worked my ass off in this class and ended up with a B. The class itself is pretty difficult and you can't underestimate how much you need to study. However, I am glad that i took this course with Prof. Roess. She was very knowledgeable about the subject and her slides are good quality. Complete all of the online coursework and it will give you a lot of extra credit. Overall hard course but cool lady who cares about her subject.

In my opinion, if you dont understand science well, this is the wrong class to take. Roess was terrible at explaining things, I worked my hardest in this class and still only managed to pull a "C" The only part of this class that allowed me to even get that grade was the extra credit. If you attend class you get extra credit. Which was a nice booster...Would NOT recommend this class, or professor to anyone!!

I can't say too much about the class, honestly the material sucks and it was super hard for me to understand. I went to Dr. Roess for help and she was awesome! She did anything she could to help me out and to figure out a way to get the information across. In class she may not be very enthusiastic, but she is completely different if she knows that you are trying. Also, make sure you do all of the extra credit.

This class was not that difficult. I took AP Biology in high school and barely passed with a 59.45 so I just assumed that was how it would be in college. But the tests were not hard if you filled out the study guide and studied that and the final wasn't difficult at all. The extra credit for attendance and homework really helped my grade and I would gladly take another class from Dr. Roess again.

Dr. Roess is very nice and knows this stuff inside and out. The class was easy as a whole, and lectures are straight of power points. Definatly a boring class, but if you do the study guides, the tests will be easy. She gives a ton of extra credit, and points for going to class. I didn't enjoy this class, but enjoyed Dr. Roess. Definatly take this class if you need science credits!

This professor is the best teacher I've ever had for biology. She is the first one to teach me biology so that I could understand it. You need to go to the lectures to understand the material, but all the material on the exams is covered in the lecture. You need to study your notes to do well on the exams and it doesn't hurt to read the book. She is a fair grader as well.

Basically Prof. Roess read from the powerpoint and did not add anything to it, therefore I didn't see much of a need to attend class. I barely read the material, didn't know the material, and somehow I ended up with a B in the class... which I think is a joke! So if you're looking for any easy class and an easy instructor here you go!

Pros: She was a good teacher and presented the information in a pretty good way. She provided extra credit and homework to help understand materials.

Cons: She is one of the most monotone teachers I have EVER had. She also reads directly from her power point slides. Hard to not fall asleep sometimes.

Pros: Knew what she was talking about

Cons: monotone

She was very monotone, but she knew what she was talking about. The I-Clicker was used pretty much every day and helped with the grade I got. She wasn't really all that bad, I just can't pay attention when the teacher is monotone. Puts me to sleep.