Professor: Campbell Course format: Lecture w/section Number of respondents: 24 Total Enrollment: 28 Class Composition: Froshs: 4 Sophs: 12 Jrs: 3 Srs: 6 Concs: 16 Non-Concs: 6 Don't Know: 1

Instructor Average: 2.30 Course Average: 2.34

Ever wonder what kind of weird bacterial infections you can get from swimming in the Nile River? If you crave that valuable knowledge, you might be interested in "Emerging Microbial Diseases." This course is relatively small, and discusses the biological and social aspects of new diseases worldwide. While there are no explicit prerequisites for this lower-level biology course, numerous respondents strongly suggested a background in immunology, genetics, and general biology.

Professor Campbell received mixed reviews from the respondents. Some students enjoyed his PowerPoint slide presentations and references to the internet, but others described them as disorganized and ineffectively presented. Some students claimed that Professor Campbell"s lecture style is too fast-paced, and that he has a tendency to mumble.

Students on average spent between two and four hours per week on the class, with that number significantly increasing right before exams, which were viewed as detail-oriented and weighted too heavily. There was no textbook, and readings consisted mainly of journal articles. Students generally felt that the readings did not connect well with class lectures.

The intellectual value of the course exists in the details. Individual parasites were examined in detail, and though many agreed that the format of the course could have been improved, the substance of the class was praised.

If you are truly interested in microbial diseases and their prevalence, especially with a focus on developing nations, and are willing to work hard, then this course may be for you.

View BI/0054 in the Brown Online Course Announcement.