The content of the class should generally not be hard especially for chemistry-related majors as much of the concepts are detailed versions of high-school concepts that these majors are already familiar with. The only problem with this class is the tests and the way the questions are written in any assignment which are the most ambiguous I have ever seen. You may know the subject very well and even be able to explain any concept in depth correctly but because the questions in the tests are so misleading, you may still get a low grade on your exams. The grading is quite tough on the exams because often they are looking for a specific rubric item that is not clear in the question and without alluding to that even if you did everything correctly and even if your answer is a hundred percent correct given the question, you may still manage to get a low grade. I would much prefer to take this class with a different professor where I will be given the opportunity to actually reflect my understanding in the tests. You are often required to mention specific concepts in specific ways or even refer to relatively unrelated concepts in your answers, but you only learn that you need to after you receive your exam grade.

Before extra credit:
-First midterm: 15.5/30
-second midterm: 17/30
-final: 24/40
End grade: A-
I don't feel like I actually learned very much. The expectations for assignments were pretty vague. Everybody constantly said "use the discussion worksheets to study for the exam" but the exams were all 10x harder and more detail-oriented than the worksheets. Only saving grace is the low weight of the exams and the generous grading scale.

The only redeeming factor about this class is the lenient grading scale but I don't believe that it's worth the lack of organization, communication, and clarity. There are peer review assignments that many students do poorly on because of their peers grading unnecessarily harshly, the professor does not answer emails or other messages (in fact, she will literally leave you on read), there are group hw assignments that are due after the final exam, and the expectations and grading are constantly changing. Avoid taking this class with this professor if you can.

COVID-19 ADJUSTED QUARTER

HIGHLY recommend Tienson during this quarantine remote learning!!! Many of Professor Tienson's reviews mention that her classes are very difficult and challenging and I do agree. It terms of easiness, this class is quite hard BUT Tienson was such an understanding and helpful teacher during this pandemic, making it a lot LESS stressful and overwhelming.

Although there were preclass assignments and discussion worksheets, the workload overall was extremely light, which I enjoyed because I didn't have the willpower or energy to do work throughout the week. The TA walks you through the worksheets, so it's pretty much just writing what the TA is saying, but in your own words.

For the exams, they were collaborative and we were able to work with classmates, but you needed to at least pay attention in zoom lecture (which were recorded) and understood the basic concepts of biochem in order to do somewhat well. We had 24 hours to take the exams and it was reasonable in length. She tested us after the exam with a fairly short post-exam review so that she knew if we actually did understand the concepts.

Tienson's 153A grades were based on a 600 total point system. Two Midterms (75 pts each), Pre-class Assignments (graded on completion- 100 pt), Discussion worksheets (100 pt), and Participation (clickers and piazza 100pt).

Her grading scale was amazing, which is the only way I think I even got an A+. I've never gotten an A in a chem class (and ochem destroyed my gpa). So the fact I got an A+ shows how lenient she was adjusting to a remote quarter. There's extra credit opportunities sprinkled around during the quarter too so don't miss out on those.
[My midterm scores: 66/75 and 55/75 (yep a low C on a midterm and I still got an A+ lol)]

Note: Final became optional/no penalty due to BLM movement at the end of the quarter, so she let our final score be our midterm scores combined.

A+: 600-500
A: 499-465 (which means above a 78% is an A)
A-: 464-450
B+: 449-435
B: 434-415
B-: 414-400
C+: 399-385
C:384-365

I really enjoyed professor Tienson's teaching style. I took her class during the online session this past spring. I thought it would be difficult to learn bio chem online but she adapted very well to the new circumstances. There is not a lot of work, except for kudu quizzes, but most of the time spent for this class should be used to practice concept questions. She really focuses on taking the basics of what you have learned in class and applying it beyond the scope of the class. The exams were difficult however, completely doable. It took long to complete but as long as you understand the concepts she teaches in class you'll do fine on the exam. I would recommend putting together a study group and testing each other on the concepts. If you can teach the concepts in the class to someone else then you will be ready for the exam.

I took this course during Spring 2020 when everything first went online. Professor Tienson was very accommodating for everyone and adapted well to the new challenges. She is a hard grader, but still wants her students to do well in the class. This class requires A LOT of self discipline and studying outside of lectures. You must read the textbook, do the study questions, attend lecture, and participate in discussion sections in order to do well and understand the material. Overall, I think this is a great class. You will learn valuable information and will get a lot out of the class but only if you put in the work. It's not easy, but your hard work will pay off. My biggest piece of advice is to do the study questions because she formulates her exam questions to be very similar to these problem sets!!

With COVID and racial injustice issues going on, Heather was extremely accommodating. The grading scheme was out of 600 points, with 100 for participation, 100 for kudu readings, 100 for discussion worksheet, two 75 point midterms and a 150 point final. Her grading scale for this COVID quarter was super kind with the following cutoffs:

A+: 600-500
A:499–465
A-: 464 – 450
B+: 449 – 435
B: 434 – 415
B-: 414 – 400
C+: 399 – 385
C: 384 – 365
C-: 364 - 350
D: 349 - 250
F: 249-0

Overall, class was fairly boring, but the clicker questions are worth 1 point for correctness and 1 point for answering the question. She really took class feedback into account between the two midterms, which was refreshing considering the first midterm was vague at best. She also offered a few extra credit opportunities and the exams were 24 hours with encouraged collaboration with classmates.

I took this class online. I did not learn much, but it was my own fault for not working hard. Tests were 24-hr take-home exams and open resource/collaboration. Lectures were taught live and recorded for those who could not attend. The grading scale is very generous with A's starting in the 75% range. We had weekly discussion worksheets. In order to get participation points for the week, you either had to click in on reef during class time or post on piazza. Tiensen-Tseng does not require a textbook or any paid materials, which I really appreciated. This class was an easy A, but you get out of it what you put in. If you want to really understand biochemistry, you will have to hold yourself accountable and force yourself to study even though you do not have to in order to do well in the class.

I took this class online, so it is probably very different in person. Due to COVID, all our tests were 24 hour, and open note, plus collaboration was allowed. This made it extremely easy to get an A+. Tienson didn't change her grading scheme, so an 83% was an A+.
That being said, I didn't learn anything this quarter, and now have to self-study for the MCAT. This isn't really Tienson's fault, though we definitely did not cover as much as we would have during a regular quarter.
The rest of your grade is made up of clickers, Kudu questions, and discussion worksheets. My TA, Fadi, was amazing, so discussion was 100% worth it for me. Everything I learned was from discussion.
Kudu is the worst thing ever. Glitchy, annoying questions, and overall not helpful.
Overall, I would recommend Tienson, BUT keep in mind everything was far easier due to COVID and the George Floyd BLM movement (final was made optional)

Took during COVID (Online)

It is MUCH easier as of writing this review and she is VERY accommodating as to what is going on and really helped us out on the tests. Midterms were OPEN NOTES and COLLABORATION ENCOURAGED! This meant that midterms were not difficult at all and the final was optional with midterms being weighted more. They were also given over a day period with final over 2 day period. The rubric she uses is her old one which is done in person so it may change to accommodate rampant grade inflation as a high majority of the class was getting an A (70% at least).