Professor: Wessel Course format: Lecture Number of respondents: 84 Total Enrollment: 110 Class Composition: Froshs: 30 Sophs: 36 Jrs: 28 Srs: 15 Concs: 50 Non-Concs: 23 Don't Know: 10

Instructor Average: 1.40 Course Average: 1.62

The goal of “Cell and Molecular Biology” is to provide students with a basic understanding of the cell. The course investigates the structure of the cell and its various mechanisms through an experimental approach. Bio 20, or equivalent placement, is the stated prerequisite.

Professor Wessel got rave reviews. Respondents praised him as a clear and knowledgeable lecturer who also used printed lecture notes and PowerPoint slides very effectively. Moreover, Professor Wessel was extraordinarily attentive to students’ needs and interests. He knew all of his students’ names and allowed them to select the topics for several lectures late in the semester. The major complaint expressed by reviewers was that the professor tended to go too fast, which made understanding difficult.

Assigned readings were limited to a textbook and the aforementioned lecture notes. People generally thought the book was useful, but some said that it was too basic and was only useful for supplementing the lectures. Other requirements included two midterms, a five-page research paper, and a final exam. Many people complained about the tests, saying that they required too much knowledge of specific details; however, respondents liked that they were allowed to select their own topic for the paper.

This course required a fair amount of time from respondents, generally ranging from three to ten hours each week. Even more time was required when exams were aproaching. Overall, the consensus among respondents was that this is not at all an easy course; however, the material covered is interesting, and the professor is one of the nicest you’re likely to meet.

View BI/0050 in the Brown Online Course Announcement.