Current instructor
Original student reviews · all captured dates
Holy group projects. Every assignment is a group project, and there's barely any leeway if your group sucks. There are some individual projects to bring your grade up, but you mostly do 20% of a project every time with no safety if your team doesn't do their work. Very lecture heavy, and so many papers for a 2 credit class. Easy grader luckilyRate My Professors ↗
Boring lectures, way too groupwork heavy and felt as if you needed extensive background on these topics to follow along. Prof is an easy grader and approachable but if you get stuck with a dysfunctional group you have little opportunity to change groups and makes for a challenge. Lot of work for 2 credits, would not recommend if you are not STEM.Rate My Professors ↗
I took this class for 2 credits of physical science, and it should be 3 credits considering you have to take 3 exams (which have a lot of select all that apply questions) and a final group project. If you need two credits just to get by, don't take this class. You will be memorizing the lecture slides for exams unless you have photographic memory.Rate My Professors ↗
The professor is bad at lecturing, one of the worst I've had at UW. Grading is lenient, but the amount of course work is not worth it for 2 credits. Should give 3. Plus the class is primarily groupwork with only 1 opporunity to change teams early on in the semester, so good luck if you have any freeloaders after that. Do not recommend to anyone.Rate My Professors ↗
the grade cutoff was a 95% for an A. insane. dont take this class if you arent stem because it would be insanely difficult for a 2 credit class. the group work is horrible and he isn't clear about his grading requirements. he doesn't gaf if you do good work but if ur teammate does a crap job ur grade is tankedRate My Professors ↗
Prof Roden is so sweet and obviously cares about what he is teaching. Lectures are VERY boring that being said. Lots of group work (TERRIBLE if u get a bad group.) Very hard for a non-required science course coming from a stem major. Lots of lab reports and research.Rate My Professors ↗
Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.
Examines the origin and evolution of life using astronomy, biology, and geology, covering the search for extraterrestrial life and life's history in the solar system.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Eric Roden
Students found Eric Roden’s lectures included extra material irrelevant to exams, sometimes taking up to half an hour. The workload was described as too heavy for a two-credit class, involving three exams with tricky multiple-choice questions and a final group project. Some students felt the teaching style was pompous, while others appreciated his passion for the subject.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Directed Study course for independent study arranged with a faculty member.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Recent recorded grades — Spring 2022: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=1 letter grades).
No recorded grade history
Senior Honors Thesis is individual mentored study for seniors completing theses for Honors in the Major, arranged with a faculty member.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Mentored individual research and study for students completing a senior thesis.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Independent study as arranged with a faculty member.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Research course in GEOSCI supervised by individual faculty members, requiring graduate or professional standing.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Independent study or research under the direction of a faculty member in the area of biological science.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Graduate research course involving full lab and literature review of a microbiology problem, leading to thesis and publication preparation.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Distinct courses recorded per term
Explore courses taught by this instructor →| Term | Course | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2027 | ASTRON/GEOSCI 160 | Life in the Universe |
| Spring 2027 | GEOSCI 199 | Directed Study |
| Spring 2027 | GEOSCI 682 | Senior Honors Thesis |
| Spring 2027 | GEOSCI 692 | Senior Thesis |
| Spring 2027 | GEOSCI 699 | Directed Study |
| Spring 2027 | GEOSCI 990 | Research |
| Spring 2027 | MICROBIO 899 | Independent Study |
| Spring 2027 | MICROBIO 990 | Research |
| Fall 2026 | GEOSCI 117 | Ex-files: Life in the Earth's Extreme Environment |
| Fall 2026 | GEOSCI 199 | Directed Study |
| Fall 2026 | GEOSCI 691 | Senior Thesis |
| Fall 2026 | GEOSCI 699 | Directed Study |
| Fall 2026 | GEOSCI 875 | Advanced Topics in Geology |
| Fall 2026 | GEOSCI 990 | Research |
| Fall 2026 | MICROBIO 699 | Special Problems |
Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.
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