The best aspects of this course were labs that aligned well with the content being taught in class, the thorough directions provided for each experiment, and the self-explanatory lab manuals. Students also appreciated the relevant hands-on experience and learning how to use a microscope. Some students felt that having their grade rely so heavily on the practical was unfair and that it created a competitive environment in the laboratory. Suggestions for improvement included lessening the weight of the final grade percentage on the practical and restructuring the course so that grades are not primarily reliant upon student performance. Prospective students should be prepared to study, devote a good deal of time to the lab, and predominantly focus on his/her performance on the practical.

Hands-on experimentation, learning real world lab techniques, and making connections to the material presented in lecture were the highlights of this course. The grading system lacked clarity and the lab time was often spent waiting around, which many students thought were the worst aspects of the course. More engaging and better organized labs, an updated grading scale, and less emphasis on the practical would improve this course. Prospective students should know that the class requires a great deal of study time, and you should have a background in cel biology or biochemistry.

The best aspects of the course included the opportunity to reinforce concepts learned in class through hands-on lab experiments, and the developed familiarity with lab equipment. Students reported that the labs were an appropriate length of time, and that the experiments were enjoyable. However, many students agreed that there was too much down time during lab sessions. Many students found the grading scale to be unfair, and claimed that feedback on lab reports was slow and insubstantial. This 28course could be improved by incorporating more modern cell biology research into the labs. Prospective students should know this class is best taken in conjunction with the cell biology lecture.