Professor: Stein Course format: Lecture w/Lab Number of respondents: 67 Total Enrollment: 131 Class Composition: Froshs: 4 Sophs: 50 Jrs: 50 Srs: 27 Concs: 24 Non-Concs: 26 Don't Know: 5

Instructor Average: 1.31 Course Average: 1.61

"Principles of Physiology" is an intensive course in the basic workings of the human body at the level of organs and their systems. Although many enrollees are premedical students, the course requires a minimal biology background (BI 20 or AP Credit), and is thus accessible to anyone interested in studying the human body

Students greatly enjoyed Professor Stein. He was described as a straightforward lecturer whose overheads and other visual aids made the material as clear and organized as possible. He was also an enthusiastic lecturer with a clear love of the material. He was further praised for his allowance of breaks in the middle of the 80-minute lecture, which both provided a gap to shorten the class and allowed valuable time for questions. Outside of class, he was regarded as a kind and friendly man who was generous with his time. Although a few suggested that his lecturing became dry at times, they were drowned out by the general praise of the man and his methods.

The reading for the class was fairly intensive, and required a fair effort of time each week. There were two midterm exams, a non-cumulative final exam and four labs with corresponding lab reports. The labs were described as enjoyable and straightforward, and caused no undue stress. Most of students" effort went to carefully reading and understanding the large amounts of material and preparing their knowledge for exams. The exams were described as challenging, but fair. Students devoted between three and twelve hours per week to the class, but most spent around five.

Although many students entered the class viewing it as little more than a necessary prerequisite, they came to enjoy it after discovering Professor Stein"s very clear and relaxed approach to the material. As it requires only very minimal biology background (some respondents noted that Bio 20 may not even be necessary), it is open to nearly every student at Brown, and teaches material that is valuable to anyone. For a strong class in an exciting area, consider this course, especially if Professor Stein is teaching it.

View BI/0080 in the Brown Online Course Announcement.