While we aren’t able to experience the hustle and bustle of campus life this semester, that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the amazing professors and interesting classes Hopkins has to offer. To get you inspired and motivated, here are some of the best classes recommended by members of the senior class.
Biochemistry: AS.020.305 (Taught by Christov Roberson, Kathryn Tifft and Emily Fisher)
If you’re planning to major in biology, this consistently high-ranking course will be one of your requirements! One of the best parts of the course is the passion brought by each professor and the way the subject unites concepts introduced in Organic Chemistry, General Biology and Introductory Chemistry. Students who reviewed the course enjoyed how it fused together key principles explored in biology and chemistry to reveal how organ systems keep organisms alive.
Real World Human Data: Analysis & Visualization: AS.200.329 (Taught by Janice Chen)
A common course for Cognitive Science majors, this class received a perfect five out of five score on the 2018 course evaluation — an incredibly difficult feat. The main highlight is the subject matter. The course teaches how to visualize and analyze heart rates, footsteps and even human interactions through MATLAB, linking computational analysis to the real world.
Chinese Diaspora: Networks and Identities: AS.230.352 (Taught by Huei-Ying Kuo)
This is just one of the many excellent courses offered by the Department of East Asian Studies. The greatest thing about this course is that students learned about aspects of diasporic identity, which could be practically applied to modern-day ideas. In addition to the interesting course material, students praised the professor’s passion and dedication to teaching.
Neuroscience: Cellular and Systems II: AS.080.306 (Taught by Stewart Hendry and Haiqing Zhao)
A core Neuroscience course, this class starts off with a discussion of cell signaling cascades and begins exploring learning, memory and development. Both professors were praised for their conversational and engaging style of teaching material that can be incredibly dense. The course is highly rewarding but does require many hours of worthwhile studying.
Introduction to the Museum: Past and Present: AS.389.201 (Taught by Jennifer Kingsley and Robert Forloney)
This two-part course forms the backbone of the Museums and Society program. The best parts about this class are the engaging course discussions and the valuable feedback given by the professors. The subject matter is especially valued for bridging the gap between historical information and practices in the real world.
Great Discoveries in Neuroscience: AS.080.345 (Taught by Jay Baraban)
In addition to exploring some groundbreaking experiments in the history of neuroscience, this class is loved for the way Baraban interacted with students, encouraging them to ask questions or even talk about their own research experiences. Students are also able to practice presenting papers in a small, intimate class setting.
The Modernist Novel: James, Woolf, and Joyce: AS.300.319 (Taught by Yi-Ping Ong)
One of the greatest parts of this course is the way Ong draws from a variety of disciplines when discussing the reading material. Students also enjoyed the balance between short lectures and class discussions that made the class more interactive.
Advanced Introduction to African Literature: AS.060.378 (Taught by Jeanne-Marie Jackson)
Once again, the interesting texts by notable authors such as Wole Soyinka, Okot p’Bitek and so many more are just the beginning of what made this course stand out. Jackson’s fun class discussions truly enhance every reading assigned and create a welcoming learning environment.
