I am a biochemistry major, do i HAVE to take bch 451 with Dr. Knopp or can i take it with Sylvia or Hardin?

12/21/2007 1:16:07 PM

I don't see why you'd have to take it with Knopp

if you do in fact have a choice (which I believe you do) take it with Hardin...that class was a joke with him (the final was the exact same as the workbook he gives you)

12/21/2007 2:05:25 PM

I'm 95% sure you have to take it with Dr. Knopp. I don't know why you wouldn't want to take it with him. He's an amazing professor. Hardin may be easy, but he has one of, if not the worst, attitudes at NC State, and you'll spend most of lecture listening to him tell you how stupid everyone else is, etc, etc, etc.

12/21/2007 2:14:51 PM

I just finished honors biochemistry (BCH451) with Dr. Knopp after having finished both Organic I and II with Dr. Sandberg. I was impressed with Dr. Knopp's course and his ability to challenge/improve your critical thinking. He has high expectations and encourages you to have equally high expectations of him and his TA's. I got a small taste of what graduate-level study will require and learned an amazing amount of information.

While I am not a biochem major, I took this particular section because I wanted to be challenged and to learn as much as possible. I suspect, as a biochemistry major, the same intentions are foremost on your mind. If you aren't interested, willing or able to work hard then save that seat for someone else who is.

If a 400 level course in your own major is more about "skating" through with an "easy" grade then perhaps you should investigate the possibility of taking the class with another professor. Dr. Knopp is in his position (teaching honors and majors biochemistry) with good reason-- he does it well. The course is challenge, but it is not hard if you are interested in the subject. You will be prepared for any upper level biochemistry course. And at the end, you will be shocked at how "easy" it was to earn an A in his course after all.

12/21/2007 4:51:22 PM

^VERY true. Honestly, I really miss the study sessions in the library, drawing structures on the tables, huge groups of people, ordering take-out... haha There was ALWAYS someone studying in the library and at least one TA is in there as well.

Dr. Knopp is a wonderful professor - definitely one of my favorite at NCSU. Dr. Van Dyke and Dr. Sandberg are my other favorites.

I really don't understand why you wouldn't want to take it with him.

[Edited on December 21, 2007 at 5:18 PM. Reason : .]

12/21/2007 5:14:21 PM

I think Sylvia is gone for good from what I've heard and Hardin is a little insane and likes to hear himself talk without any regard for teaching (in lab he gave us a 45 minute lecture on how superman is better than batman and how he is like superman).

12/22/2007 12:37:49 AM

yep, all BCH majors have to take it with Knopp.

12/22/2007 12:48:39 AM

If you are a major you have to take it with Dr Knopp. Dr Sylvia will not be back for next semester and it looks like Dr Hardin is teaching the non-majors for the spring.

12/22/2007 11:39:27 AM

doesn't really matter who you have, just memorize the textbook and you'll be fine



and no, i'm not kidding

12/25/2007 6:09:21 PM

I don't know why people complain about taking this class with Knopp...Hardin can be a dick and Sylvia doesn't teach you what you need to know for the next level classes from what I've heard.

The class isn't even that hard. Sure, its more demanding than any class you've ever taken unless you had organic with Brown, but its not what I would consider "hard".

I wouldn't worry too much about it.

12/25/2007 9:43:16 PM

people who complain about hard classes in undergrad will be shocked when they get to professional school.

12/25/2007 11:13:07 PM

I had Sylvia for 451 (wasn't biochem major at the time) and I still got an A in 453 after I switched majors

12/25/2007 11:16:09 PM

You do have to take Knopp for BCH 451 if you are a biochem major. Slyvia is not coming back to teach and Hardin will teach the non-biochem majors section. I took Knopp last semester, he is a really nice guy and gives lots of extra credit through pop quizzes. You should do fine in his class.

1/4/2008 2:05:25 PM

If you are a BCH major, then there is no choice except Knopp!

I was not a BCH major, but I still took his honor's section and still got an A.

Just do the work required which includes memorizing definitions and structures. Try to correlate the notes with the text and you will be fine.

You will be thankful you took this class at the end. It gives many dividends and preparation and desire, especially for graduate schools and exams, i.e., the notorious MCAT.

Students make courses sound harder than they are usually.

1/11/2008 6:47:05 PM

Hardin teaching the other section of 451 next semester????? thats gonna hurt

1/14/2008 11:45:28 PM