Professor: Knopf Course format: Lecture w/section Number of respondents: 45 Total Enrollment: 89 Class Composition: Froshs: 2 Sophs: 14 Jrs: 40 Srs: 30

Instructor Average: 1.63 Course Average: 1.61

"Principles of Immunology" introduces students to the immune system, immune response, and its regulation. BI20 is a prerequisite, genetics is useful, and students noted that exposure to Biochemistry or Cell Biology would also be useful but not necessary.

Professors Knopf and Yap jointly teach the course. Students gave them lukewarm reviews citing their attributes as well organized particularly by providing online Power Point presentations to be used as lecture notes and providing details to the overall picture of immunology. Students did feel that lectures were dry because the Professors merely read back what was provided on the Power Point slides. Students had a hard time gauging their mastery of the material when consistently low exam averages and difficult test formats were not conducive to showing what they had actually learned.

Class members relied on the textbook for clarification. Survey respondents said the book had all necessary course material clearly explained and diagramed. Many said it was imperative to achieve understanding of all the concepts presented in this course. The work load consisted of two exams and one make-up exam due to absence or poor exam performance; four homework sets, of which three were required; and a final exam.

Class members devoted numerous hours, averaging eight to ten hours each week, while a few respondents shared that despite their effort, this commitment was never reflected in course performance. Students that have taken Immunology warn prospective students of the challenge this course holds and its advanced level of thinking. Many students emphasized the importance of application of concepts and experimental techniques for success in problem solving. Many others would suggest shopping for another course if you are not willing to work work work.

View BI/0053 in the Brown Online Course Announcement.