BIOL 2960
Principles of Biology I
The course provides an introduction to cell biology, biochemistry, and molecular biology. An understanding of cellular structure and mechanisms, and the properties of biological macromolecules are integrated with a discussion of the flow of genetic information within cells. Examples of how these concepts can be applied to selected areas in modern biology will be discussed. Weekly labs reinforce material from lectures and explore common laboratory techniques and computer-based resources. Completion of Chem 1601 or Chem 1701 and concurrent enrollment in Chem 1602 or Chem 1702 are strongly recommended but not required. The 48-student sections are taught in a flipped-classroom format and in active-learning classrooms (pending request). Students will be required to prepare for each class by watching a video and/or completing a short assignment, then will spend class time working in small groups on in-class activities. The 300-student sections will be taught in traditional lecture classrooms with both short lectures and in-class activities occurring during class time. All sections take the same exams and have the same accompanying lab.
Instructors
Allan Larson, April Bednarski, B Majors, Barbara Kunkel, Bonnie Templeton, Craig Smith, David Ho, Elise Walck-Shannon, Ian Duncan, Kate Hanes, Kathleen Hafer, Mitchell Kundel, Wilhelm Cruz
Reviews
Best prof out there especially compared to heather
9/1/2026
She has dry lecture style and reads off the slides. Many people skip her lectures and watch the recordings or cram before exams. However, she does cover almost all exam content in class, so it's worth attending class. My tips: attend lecture, sit near the front, take detailed notes to prevent falling asleep, and prepare good notecards for exams
8/9/2026
Dr. Elise is an amazing professor who genuinely cares about her students and their success. She never fails to have a smile on her face and always to encourage students to try their best. She conveys information really well and helps break down complex bio topics into smaller, more understandable chunks. Would 100% recommend taking 2960 with her.
6/12/2026
Really bad professor. Not sure why bio hasn't fired her yet.
5/11/2026
Disclaimer that I dislike bio, but the class was genuinely the worst lecture experience I've had. She is just not good at lecturing and that's a problem when that's 100% of the class. Learned more material cramming the final then cumulatively through her lectures
5/10/2026
Personally, I liked Professor Hafer. Dr. Hafer seems to tire as the day progresses. In the morning, she really cares about you. In the afternoon... That's when the horror (see other comments) happens. Grades rely mainly on memorization-heavy tests. N
5/9/2026
I had Dr. Hanes for small section. Although I did not have many interactions with her, other students (especially those who went to office hours) had good relationships with her! Even though we didn't talk, she memorized my name!! She was knowledgeable, prepared, & clear during lecturing. In many ways, she reminded me of a supportive HS teacher.
5/9/2026
I didn't have Dr. Elise (I had Hanes), but my goodness, this woman is amazing. She cares SO MUCH for students, evident in the her teaching approach & the effort she puts into class materials. She even prepares questions for students to ask during office hours. Lowk got 3 on the AP, but with Dr. Elise's unwavering support, I was able to get an A+ :)
5/9/2026
Great professor. Loved her class. The course is well-designed to make sure you actually learn stuffs and not worrying too much of your grade. Exams are really hard and detailed, but they only take up a limited portion of the total grade. Also made a lot of friends in this group-discussion styled class. Really enjoyed it overall.
5/8/2026
Her lectures are so boring and she makes things way more confusing.
4/29/2026
Dr. Bednarski is a good lecturer but moves a little fast, so it can be challenging to take notes. WAY more engaging than Hafer. I wish Bednarski taught every lecture instead of switching with Hafer every few weeks. Course was challenging but fair.
4/22/2026
It's genuinely incredible how a teacher assigned to a class designed off recycled AP high school content can somehow unteach that content and make it incomprehensible. DO NOT take her class under any circumstances or you will pay with your GPA. If I could fire her I would.
4/21/2026
Don't get me wrong: the content in Bio 2960 is very similar to AP Bio, which is one of the only reasons why many students are able to excel in this course. However, even with prior knowledge of biology, Hafer makes the course extremely incomprehensible. Her voice is so monotone that many students nap during class, and she only reads off the slides.
4/21/2026
Definitely loves what she does, but the lectures are too fast with too much information thrown at you. Class is clearly just memorization, so save your time and skip the lectures. You'll probably do just as good as if you went.
4/21/2026
she doesn't seem passionate about teaching and her lectures are very boring with her just reading off the slides. there's also a lot of material thrown at you if you don't have a background in biology. thankfully lab, activities, and quizzes are a buffer for your grade
4/21/2026
I think that she needs to reflect on why she became a professor. There is very little effort put into her lectures and they are monotonous and boring. The fact that less than a third of her students actually show up says all that needs to be said.
4/21/2026
Dr. Hafer is a great person, not a great teacher. She mostly is just here for research, so the lectures are kind of just a side thing for her. Honestly, just skip lecture and do it on your own and you'll end up not wasting your time.
4/21/2026
Most hilarious lecture I've ever attend. Reading a ppt every time makes a primary student can take over her job.
4/20/2026
My Apple accessibility reader can read slides better than she does
4/20/2026
Genuinely in shock at her inability to convey material in a digestible and effective manner; pasted a paragraph on a slide and read off of it; doesn't seem to comprehend that students can read too; no logical progression of ideas, and general disregard of basic pedagogy. At the end of every lecture, I reflect and realize I learned nothing.
4/20/2026