Shauni Calhoun

BIOL125 · ENVS101 · BIO125 · BIO100 · MICRO125 · BIO115 · A · 55 lifetime ratings

AI rating: 86/100
RMP rating: 4.5/5
Take again: 88.64%
Difficulty: 3.2

The decision

Take Calhoun for micro if you will attend, study weekly, and want a caring professor who makes a hard class fair and passable.

Best fit · Effort For RewardMicro Must-TakeExtra Credit BufferTest Heavy but FairCaring and ThoroughStudy Guides Match Exams

Widely recommended microbiology instructor who wants students to succeed with EC, study guides, and clear criteria.
Course is content-heavy with frequent exams, labs, homework, and an unknown project, so it is not a free A.
Attendance and steady weekly work matter; many say take her over other micro professors if you will put in the hours.

Key questions

Four answers before you build your schedule.

Is this an easy A?

FairEffort

54/100

As are common with extra credit and clear guides, but students repeatedly say you must study and grind; it is not an easy free A.

Online has a few open-book exam comments that ease scoring; in person still frames grades as earned through weekly exams.

Is the course easy?

Challenging

34/100

Microbiology is dense with frequent unit exams, lab practicals, and multi-hour assignments even under a supportive teacher.

Both formats call micro hard; online volume complaints are louder when students juggle multiple classes.

Is attendance flexible?

Mandatory

22/100

Many tags and comments say skip class and you will not pass; lecture and lab attendance are repeatedly required.

In person is clearly attendance-critical; online still expects timely work and sometimes live or proctored activity.

Is this professor recommended?

MustTake

88/100

Roughly nine in ten would take her again and most call her the if you are willing to work.

In-person praise is strongest; online is still mostly recommend with a few workload-based avoid notes.

Course guide

See how this professor fits your week.

Grading

Fair

62/100

Exams can be tough and critical-thinking heavy, but generous extra credit and clear study guides keep grades recoverable.

Format shift

Online and in person both stress fairness more than harsh curving.

Workload

Heavy

30/100

Frequent exams, prelabs, homework blocks, lab practicals, and end projects create a high time commitment.

Format shift

Online students more often call the volume unrealistic; in person still warns not to stack another heavy class.

Teaching experience

Excellent

90/100

Passionate, organized lectures, patient help, and tools like Kahoots and study guides dominate the review base.

Format shift

In person is almost universally glowing; a minority of online or hybrid-era reviews struggle with format, not her intent.

Assessment method

FocusOnExams

74/100

Many unit exams plus lab exams and practicals outweigh pure homework even though assignments are constant.

Format shift

Online sometimes mixes open-book chapter exams; in person is classically test and lab-practical heavy.

Luni fit check

Weigh these signals against your actual schedule.

Get help balancing workload, grading, and timing when no option is an obvious fit.

Course format

Compare the in-person and online experience.

Classroom format

In person

40 reviews

High confidence · Best fit for Effort For Reward

clear lectures, Kahoots, lab help, generous EC, tough but fair exams, and strong success if you show up.

Main concern

Weekly exams, homework, and mandatory lab/lecture load make pairing with other hard classes risky.

What students said

“This professor is hands down one of the best!! She will provide all the info you need to succeed in her class”
BIO125

“If you show up and do your work, you will pass.”
MICRO125

“I received an A but let me tell you this was not an easy grade to get.”
BIO125

Remote format

Online

10 reviews

High confidence · Best fit for Effort For Reward

Online micro is organized and supportive with open-book chapter exams for some sections, but homework volume can feel unreal if stacked with other classes.

Main concern

Back-to-back weekly work plus proctored or frequent exams can overwhelm busy schedules.

What students said

“Was nervous because I'd heard microbio was difficult and she gives 10 exams; but half are online open book and they all reflect the chapter quizzes very well.”
BIO125

“Be prepared for an unrealistic amount of homework, quizzes, labs, tests and projects.”
BIO125

“it did have to proctor exams and lab exams in each week.”
BIOL125

Exam style

Know what to expect from exams and major assignments.

Expect many exams and lab practicals that match study guides; friendliness comes from prep and EC, not from no-exam policy.

Frequent Unit ExamsLab PracticalsStudy Guides Match TestsExtra CreditSome Online Open BookSome Proctored Exams

Assessment risk

Standard

52/100

Low score means less forgiving assessment conditions.

In person

In-person micro uses frequent chapter or unit exams and lab practicals that are tough but aligned with lectures and study guides.

In-Person Unit ExamsLab PracticalsStudy GuidesCritical Thinking Questions

“Eight chapter exams are done in-person and are cumulative of the most recent 3–4 chapters. Two lab exams are done in person”
BIOL125

“her exams are tough with a lot of critical thinking questions.”
BIOL125

Online

Some online sections use open-book chapter exams and chapter quizzes, while others mention proctored exams and lab exams.

Open Book Chapter ExamsProctored ExamsLab ExamsChapter Quizzes

“half are online open book and they all reflect the chapter quizzes very well.”
BIO125

“it did have to proctor exams and lab exams in each week.”
BIOL125

Student evidence

See what students actually said.

Top student voice
“if your gonna take micro make sure to get into her class. .”
Voice snapshots generated from 50 reviews across micro and related bio courses, emphasizing teaching support versus exam workload. Credibility rating: High.

🎯 Teaching Quality

90/100

“Dr. Calhoun is by far one of the best professors Ive had the pleasure of learning from.”

📚 Heavy but Fair Course

34/100

“This is by far the hardest class Ive ever taken because of her exams and how much work there is to do.”

🎁 Extra Credit Lifeline

62/100

“she gives you a maximum of 25 ec. and as long as you study you will do good on exam day.”

👍 Recommendation Strength

88/100

“Take Prof. Calhoun for this class, she makes learning this material straight forward and fun.”

Theme 1

👩‍🏫 About Teaching Style

She wants everyone to succeed and has the kindest heart.
She makes microbiology fun and relatable.
excellent lectures, you can tell she loves what she does

Theme 2

📝 About Exams & Work

prepare to take an exam almost every week
Study guides let you know exactly what will be on the test.
Big project called unknown project towards the end of the year

Theme 3

❤️ About Support

She spent an hour teaching me because I was very confused which I really appreciate.
accessible and responds quick to emails
She pushed me to stay and I'm glad I did because I now graduated!

Data context

See exactly what the AI read.

Analysis sample

Recent reviews read by the AI

Lifetime ratings

92/100

Evidence confidence

Fifty reviews over many years, mostly detailed and thematically consistent on care, workload, exams, and recommendation.

Inside 50 stored ratings

Quality ratings

5 out of 542

4 out of 56

3 out of 55

2 out of 51

1 out of 52

Course coverage

BIO12524 reviews

BIOL1259 reviews

MICRO1258 reviews

BIO1155 reviews

1251 review

Show 3 more courses

A1 review

BIO1001 review

ENVS1011 review

Reported outcomes

A range results lead the reported letter grades.

39 reported outcomes

A range

A+ 5 · A 20 · A- 4

B range

B+ 1 · B 5

C range

C 1

D range

No reported values

F

No reported values

No letter grade reported

Not sure yet 3