Professor: Knopf Course format: Lecture w/section Number of respondents: 57 Total Enrollment: 95 Class Composition: Froshs: 6 Sophs: 21 Jrs: 32 Srs: 35 Concs: 38 Non-Concs: 12 Don't Know: 2

Instructor Average: 1.74 Course Average: 1.77

Have you ever wonder what keeps you from getting sick and what helps you get better? "Principles of Immunology" aims to teach students how the immune system operates in both health and disease. Respondents felt that BI 20/ AP Biology was necessary background and that background in genetics/ biochemistry (BI 47/ BI 28) would be extremely helpful.

Respondents described Professor Knopf as a clear and well-organized lecturer. He made the lecture slide/ notes available before class and on the web; students overwhelmingly appreciated this. However, many commented that the professor simply read through the lecture notes during class and did not go into further detail. Students split over their opinion of the professor, some saying he was a boring lecturer, while others found the lectures to be interesting. Class members also split on the pace of the class, some commenting the class went too fast, while others claimed it went too slow. People also stated that Professor Knopf encouraged question and was a nice person.

Coursework included 2 exams, 3-5 homework assignments, reading assignments of 2-3 chapters per week in a textbook and a final. Students had the opportunity to take a third mid-term to either make-up an exam or to improve their grade. People described the exams as challenging and felt that the tests really made the students think. Class members felt the homework was difficult and helpful. Readings were described as helpful and interesting. Students spent anywhere from four to ten hours per week on average for the class.

Most class members put a lot of effort into the course. They felt motivated by the fascinating material, the professor, the difficulty of the material and the desire to do well in the class. A few students commented that they valued that they were challenged to think rather than simply memorize. A few respondents felt discouraged by the difficult material. The majority of students were glad they took the class. People learned a lot of interesting material and felt they could use what they had learned. If you have an interest in immunology, then definitely look into the course.

View BI/0053 in the Brown Online Course Announcement.