BIOL 3170

This course is split up into three sections, each taught by a different professor. Provencio and Kawaski are great. They help you understand the material and are intelligible in class. Mellon, though, was just terrible. His lectures didn't follow any logical pattern and he never tried to help us understand what was in the book, just saying, "and you can read that (the really difficult stuff) in the book." It really makes sense, then, that I got an A on Provencio's and Kawaski's exams but got a C- on Mellon's, even after studying my hardest for that one. His test was completely unfair. If it weren't for Mellon, I would recommend this course, but I can make no such recommendation.

To be blunt, this class sucked. Yes, its a perfectly fine 300 level bio, but if your taking it because youre interested in the neuroscience major, take psyc 220 instead (preferably with P. Brunjes, who is the man). This class is taught by different professors who don't really seem to communicate with one another on how the class is going. Each professor teaches a third of the class, and gives a midterm (no final), which vary with difficulty. The book is dated and dull, but covers everything you will be tested on.

long lectures, sometime can ca boring, need a lot effort

This class is divided into three sections that are taught by three different professors. Your entire grade is based on three midterms given by each professor. There is no final exam, but each midterm consists of 30-50 multiple choice questions. Professor Kawasaki was by far the best lecturer and his exam was the fairest. It drew directly from his lecture material. He went slowly, but he made sure his students understood what he was covering. Provencio was a good lecturer but his exam was very difficult, containing questions that he had never talked about. Mellon was the worst lecturer and had an extremely difficult midterm. He moved quickly through slides and never really stopped for questions. The grades were curved because everyone did poorly on the midterms, though the grades for Kawasaki's were slightly higher than the other two.

HORRIBLE class. With three teachers each day is another game of trying to figure out what the main point is. You never get used to any of them and they fool you into thinking it will be a good class with the first teacher. Take a real class with Iggy and you will have a blast the whole year. The tests were hard and VERY specific. I wouldn't recommend this class to my worst enemy.

This is a very boring class, take only if you are fascinated by the neural wiring of crayfish.

Do not let the first class fool you into thinking the class is easy.

This grading is only for Professor Mellon. He was a horrible professor: unapproachable, rude, he was not enthusiastic nor encouraging about the material. He was intimidating and made myself and my classmates feel stupid!!!! He ruined Biology experience for me at UVA!!! He should not be allowed to teach. It is not fair because professor Kawasaki and Provincio do such a great job. Please allow one of them to teach the 3rd half of the semester. Thank you!

the class material is very interesting and the professors are very receptive to questions and providing extra help. expect to work hard but it is worthwhile

Very difficult class that I would not recommend to anyone. Three different professors means getting to try to figure out each one's exam. Although exams are multiple choice, they are very difficult. I wish I had known not to take this course, but as a transfer this was the only course available at registration.