Great lectures. I learned a lot in this class. Would definitely recommend taking a class with Cath if you can.Rate My Professors ↗
Current instructor
Catherine Woodward
What students say
Original student reviews · all captured dates
She wasn't the worst, but definitely not a professor I would take again. The grading is mostly lab work along with exams. Exams often include minuscule things that you would not think to study. Her lectures are pretty dry; you can definitely tell she has knowledge and passion for the subject, which I respect, but she just is not super engaging.Rate My Professors ↗
Should never teach this level again. 100% if you aren't in the major, avoid taking her class. The worst lecturer I've ever had. Mandatory $40 textbook that you don't actually ever have to crack open to receive a decent grade. Goes on tangents during lecturing. Weekly Reading Questions in front of class feel like a humiliation tactic.Rate My Professors ↗
The class description does not match what we actually learned about in this class. Very biology-heavy. The tests are far too difficult for a non-botany major course, especially since it's a 100-level class. She expects you to know far too much about the subjects. She explained topics well, but it was just annoying that attendance was mandatory.Rate My Professors ↗
I loved this class and really felt like I learned a lot about botany. It was clear that she is very passionate about this topic and the lectures were really interesting, if not a little too fast occasionally. The exams were difficult but you get 2 tries with an averaged score and labs were really fun. If you go and take good notes you'll do wellRate My Professors ↗
Cath was a great professor, I feel like she knew how to explain the content well.Rate My Professors ↗
Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.
Classes with Catherine Woodward
Directed Studies
1–4 creditsIntroductory directed studies in Biology, arranged individually with a faculty member.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Survey of Botany
3 creditsSurvey of Botany explores the roles of plants and microbes in global ecology and their historical and current uses by humans, including biotechnology applications.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Recent recorded grades — Spring 2025: 3.48 GPA, 72.3% A/AB (n=141 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.07 GPA, 43.6% A/AB (n=110 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Conservation Biology explores the science of protecting nature and preserving biodiversity, examining biological and socioeconomic factors underlying conservation challenges and impacts from an interdisciplinary perspective.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Recent recorded grades — Fall 2025: 3.72 GPA, 84.4% A/AB (n=45 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.55 GPA, 70.2% A/AB (n=47 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2025–Spring 2026 · limited sampleRecorded teaching history
Distinct courses recorded per term
Explore courses taught by this instructor →Browse recorded courses
| Term | Course | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2027 | BIOLOGY 299 | Directed Studies |
| Spring 2027 | BOTANY 100 | Survey of Botany |
| Spring 2027 | BOTANY/ENVIRST/F&WECOL/ZOOLOGY 516 | Conservation Biology |
| Fall 2026 | BOTANY 265 | Rainforests and Coral Reefs |
| Fall 2026 | BOTANY/ENVIRST/F&WECOL/ZOOLOGY 516 | Conservation Biology |
| Fall 2026 | ENVIRST 699 | Directed Study |
Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.
Instructor identity & provenance
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