I think Dr. Govindan is a great teacher, she's funny, talkative, helpful, and a great teacher overall. Her lectures are sometimes boring, but overall very intersting. She knows what she's talking about and is very excited about the subject. She also provides lecture outlines which are really helpful

Dr. Govindan is a cool teacher, she's very helpful, especially in lab. She seems to want to help her students really succeed, and offers a lot of help

She knows her subject material and is very friendly and down to earth. Take the time to talk to her if you need help, and ask questions whenever you're confused. I think the above critics didn't do so well because they didn't study enough for the class, which is fairly challenging to begin with.

Great professor. The class moved quickly but she had it structured with lecture and visuals every step of the way. Tests are out of class outlines that she posts online so it is very easy to study. There are some difficult concepts but she is very helpful in answering questions and provides study sessions during office hours.

One of the best teachers in terms of explaining the subject, and very passionate with what she does. SHE WANTS YOU TO LEARN!

She is an excellent professor, and any student who says otherwise is lazy and unprepared to begin with. Govindan will help you learn the material as long as you have the drive to pay attention and actually do the work. Bad ratings come from poor students in terms of this particular professor.

She is a fantastic teacher. I thought she was very well organized. This class was hard for me but she always made time to help me and for all questions in class. She expects you to try in the class and if you do you'll do well. She's also very friendly, especially in lab.

Make sure you go to class EVERY time and pay attention even though it means being there at 8 in the morning. Attend her office hours because you are not going to understand. Please do not take if it's not for your major.

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Very clear expectations; enthusiasticly answers questions. Very good teacher.

Very good teacher. Make sure you go to class and take good notes. Posts the lecture outlines on Ereserve which is very helpful. Don't have to do any readings from the book except as supplementary material, her tests are based entirely on lecture. Clear lectures and always willing to help students out.

all of her lectures were clear and interesting. she tests were soley based on her lecture outlines. as long as you pay attention and print out the outlines, you can totally get an "A"

i went to class five times this semester and stil got a b in the class from looking at everything posted on e-reserve alone. class lectures are really interesting, but they are just too effin early in the morning.but if you have NO interest in bio AT ALL,don't take this class, it can get tricky at times. if you do, then definately take govindan.

This is one of the best classes I have ever taken. You do have to study (but... this should be the point of Uni, right?) The class is interesting and there are a lot of examples from real life. Definitely worth gettin up early ;-)

This professor is a great professor. Usually I do not like Biology but she made it interesting whenever I had extra questions, she would answer them. She is very knowledgeable. She is fair on her tests because I overheard a student complain that he made a mistake and asked the professor went and ask him the material and he knew it. Her tests are no

This class was interesting, but pretty hard. She explained things thoroughly and you can understand it, but there is just soo much information and the tests are pretty detailed. It is kind of annoying though because there will be like 5 minutes of class left and she will start a brand new topic, and let you out late.

the best class i have ever taken @ sfstate. she is well informed and VERY well organized. follow her lecture outlines AND take notes. it's important to go to class but WELL worth your time for being there. tests are hard if you don't study, but if you've been to class and know the material it's hard to fail. take the class, you wont regret it!

This class is very interesting, just extremely hard. She is one of the nicest professers thus far. Study weeks in advance it WILL help, don't miss lecture if you aren't accustomed to this subject

I liked this lab a lot. Dr. Govindan is really good at explaining things and she's very helpful but can get irritated if you don't follow lab safety.

Brinda is a great teacher and EXTREMELY helpful, you must attend every single lecture in order to get a good grade because MOST of the tests are based on info given in lectures, also if you are stumped on some information make sure to go to her office hours because she is really sweet and will be delighted to help you. She also gives out EXTRA CRED

Excellent lecturing, makes the material interesting and easier to learn. Must be present to take good notes for the exams, because they count for almost the entire grade. Taking lab together will help a lot.

Really great professor. GO TO CLASS! If you don't, it will catch up with you. She was always helpful during office hours and often provided study guides and helpful tips before tests. I highly recommend this professor.

I had Dr. Govindan for both lecture and lab and although her tests and quizzes are rather difficult, if you go to class and take good notes, you should be able to pass her tests without any problems. She was passionate about micro, so when she was lecturing, everything was very organized and clear. She's a great teacher, I highly recommend her.

This class is easy, the second time around, as long as you pay attention. She provides lecture notes online, but you still need to go to class to understand the subject. She is really nice and knows the subject. If you haven't taken any biology class, i recommend taking Biol100 before taking this class.

Dr. Govindan is really great, honestly. I'm a pre-nursing major and my grade was so dependent on this class: pulled off an A with countless flashcards and a study group. really interesting, make sure you go to class so you get a real understanding of course material. Really interesting, and a great lecturer.

This class was ok. Go to class. Read the lecture notes. I had trouble in this class, but still got a B-. Tests were detailed, do extra credit if possible.

She's a really good teacher, very organized, and lectures are very detailed and fast. There's 3 midterms, and 1 final. Try to do all the extra credit she gives out. Her exams are all conceptual so studying is a must. Go to class and take down notes and you should do fine.

Great professor, brilliant. Her tests are incredibly fair if you actually go to lecture, take good notes, and study. She gives out study guides and extra credit, which is very helpful. My only complaint is that it was at 8am so all you can think about is sleep. Def. recommend this professor.

Govindan is an amazing teacher! she is very kind and helpful. I always learn so much from her lectures. She makes the material simple to understand and her tests are not too in depth. It definitely helps to review the material a few times a week and going to class. The tests are straight from lecture.

She is an amazing teacher. Because of her I have developed a whole new passion for microbiology! She covers the material very well and is super helpful if you see her in her office hours. She prepares you for her exams as well, just go to class. If you do poorly you have no one to blame but yourself. I am not a morning person, but she made 8am fun!

What a GREAT teacher. She is hard if you don't go to the class. I recommend if you take her that you go to every class cause every midterm is made up of the notes she gives during her lectures. The tests aren't hard as long as you attend class and take ALL the notes. I recommend her!

Brinda is a wonderful teacher. She really has a passion for the subject and it comes across in her lectures. This was my first serious science class in college, so I went to her office hours frequently and she was so helpful. If you understand everything on the study guide, you will get an A.

i suggest to get a recorder just in case you missed somethings she said. she provided us w/ a study guide so just complete that & make sure you do it all. go to class. people say her class is hard but if you do all the things i said, you'll get an A like me

She is not easy but she's not hard. Shes a lil boring after an hour, but her tests are mostly frm the lectures. Books are good for details. Very hard grading system. Only 4 grades, one being a final. But the final was mostly new material. Her tests are straightforward if you took good notes. GO TO CLASS! Online stuff does NOT help. READ ARTICLES!

I was in her lecture and lab. Lecture is clear, she is very detailed. take notes on everything. after an hour, it could get boring. 3 midterms and one final. a few quizzes and a lot of readings. lab was fun, a lot of work though for only one unit. gives quizzes often, checks lab book progress twice, group project, attendance. key: study & memorize!

very detailed. very good teacher! I've taken her lab (bio 211) with her at the same time and she is a lot better than the other lab teachers. her exams are base on lecture so you rarely use the book. She also gives study guides which helps a lot!

Her lectures are really good and clear. Though her tests may be hard, she offers extra credit and does give study guides. I thought I was gonna get a C in the class, but ended up with a B+. Most of the test and quizzes are based on lectures. Drops the lowest grade of your test and double counts the final or whichever will make your grade higher.

Best teacher ever :)

Govindan is a tough professor and teaches a pretty tough subject. She makes us use Learnsmart (online), which is pretty useful for studying. Her exams are pretty tough too, but if you do the study guides and go to her lectures, you'll do pretty well on the tests. She has random pop quizzes in class, but you can do them with a partner.

clear and organized during lectures. pay attention and take good notes during class, and study lecture notes for midterms and final. attendance isn't mandatory, but attending class will make your life easier, exams are based off of lecture. offers some extra credit. wonderful professor, totally recommend her!

Great teacher. Her lectures were clear&she made things interesting,bt her tests are difficult. You defi need to study, but like most science classes its all about memorizing. But you also have to know the concept - at least for this class. Its multiple and written, so you need to know it inside out. As an individual? She has a cold demeanor

ATTENDANCE MANDITORY, graded on in class quiz that aren't announced.4 exams including the final,she drops the lowest exam score. If the lowest score is on the test prior to the final the final counts twice. lowest score is the final then the final counts once. Exams are half multiple chose and half short answer. Everything in lecture are in exam.

Very good teacher who knows her stuff. The class is hard if you don't go to or pay attention in class. I'm a pre-nursing major and I had an okay time in this class. Do extra credit when she offers it and stay on top of online assignments. You'll be okay :)

I really recommend attending all of her lectures. She usually makes things really easy to comprehend and her tests are practically lecture based. I never used the book but I studied my notes a lot. Sometimes she throws in small quizzes for attendance points. Take advantage of her extra credit opportunities.

Well, this is the only professor that teaches BIOL 210 but she is very informative. Class is basically mandatory because you have to do surprise in-class work. She is approachable, friendly, and informative if you talk to her one-on-one or if you have any questions. This class is easy if you review modules, practice test/quizzes, and notes.

I would recommend going to class and browsing over the book every once and a while. There are also surprise assignments in class and missing a few of those can really affect your grade. Tests are half written and half multiple choice. Pretty good class overall.

Very interesting class. She is nice and approachable, so if you have ANY questions at all, you should ask. She is a really brilliant professor and teaches really well. Everything is lecture based so you have to attend class and LISTEN! It's hard to grasp all the lecture at once, so review your notes! If so, you don't have to read the textbook.

Definitely attend class, she does random pop "quizzes" which you get full credit for as long as you turn it in, so show up to get the easy points. I wasn't too interested in the material and did not really enjoy the class but as long as you pay attention to lecture and review your notes you should be fine.

Teacher is very friendly and very informative. The material in the class itself, I feel, is somewhat confusing, but if you ask questions and listen very carefully to her detailed lectures, it'll be easy to understand. But I recommend at least going over it twice before the next lecture. Test is half mc and half short answer and pretty challenging.

The class was easy. The class was basically listen, take notes look over them, ace the exam. Then repeat that 4 times during the semester and you should get an A. Online hw is super easy and helps a lot. Quizzes though are kind of difficult compared to the exam. I don't know why a lot of people are saying this class is hard since it's not.

Was expecting a hard class but it turned out really easy as long as your review your notes, go to lecture, ask questions, etc. Hard to get anything below a B or a C.

Not a science major and I passed the lecture and the lab. It helps taking them both together, and it helps if you take them both with her. I hate science, but she was one of my favorite classes this semester and professor. Not an easy A class, but I worked hard for my B and damn proud of it.

Show up to class and do your homework and you are guaranteed at least a B, but will probably get an A. Govindan is an awesome lecturer and class is not boring. Assignments are easy, tests are straightforward. She is an awesome lady.

4 exams. Mostly based on lectures. I never read the book and passed with an A. Extra credit is offered. Wanna pass? Go to class.

Shes a great teacher. Clear cut on everything. Go to her office hours and she'll help out tremendously. I can sit through her lectures and feel bad if I miss a class. She is always there to help you if you pursue it. I can't think of anything negative about her.

Great professor. Felt as if she knew what she was talking about. Go to class for extra points. Study guides were very helpful, but she was about critical thinking to get to the answers. She gives you the tools to figure out a question, but not the answer itself. Tests were pretty decent, especially if you put in the effort to study.

Honestly, Dr. G was such an amazing professor. The homework was very straightforward, the exams were very much aligned with the study guides, and all of the major information was taught during lecture. Go to lecture, do the homework and do the study guide before the exam, and you will do very well in the class. I would recommend Dr. G to anyone.

She is a great teacher. She's a bit monotoned but you'll get used to it. I actually learned a lot from this class and the info is helpful in many ways in your everyday life. I got a B+ and i'm damn proud of it

She makes you work for your grade! You have to be really serious about microbiology and spend a lot of time studying if you want a good grade in her class. I even went to her office hours. You have to work for your grade. She is monotoned and her study guides are semi-helpful. You have to teach yourself some things and read the textbook!

The class itself is very challenging. The exams cover quite a bit of content, so I don't recommend skipping lectures. She's very helpful at explaining concepts in class and makes the content interesting.

So knowledgeable in microbiology, her lectures are in depth; you learn a great in her class vs. the other professors who teach this class. She can be strict, her grading criteria for lab reports can be unclear/unfair. Email her your drafts, pay attention, keep a good ntbk, make study guides. 4 quizzes, 2 practicals, 3 exams including final.

I've had Dr. G a while ago, and there is a lot of studying so be prepared for that. If you put work into it, pay attention in class, take good notes, and form big study groups for exam prep, you'll pass. THIS IS A WEEDER CLASS. If you're prenursing and can't do this, you might want to reconsider majors as physio/anatomy are so much harder.

I love Brinda! Coming into this class I was really nervous because I heard how hard she is but, after taking it this semester it wasn't as bad as how everyone said it was. You really have to work for your grade. I'm an average student and I got an A. Don't just study her study guides because it doesn't really help. Take good notes! USE FLASHCARDS

I'm shocked at how many people dislike her class. I loved her in lab and lecture. Here's my advice: MEMORIZE the learning objectives. Known them like the back of your hand. Then use what you know to do her study guide from memory and that will give you a good guide as to what you need to focus on. I failed this at another college but got an A here!

Brinda is a super fast lecturer but she records all of her lectures which is really useful. She's a really good lecturer and her tests will be easy if you put in the effort. Ur in charge of keeping track of ur own grade by marking it down on the syllabus guide she provided (she mentions this a lot).

I skipped class a lot but still managed to pass with a B-. Even if you don't go to her class it is still possible to pass and get an okay grade as long as you actually focus on the study guide and learning objectives. If you can't pass this class then you're not ready at all for nursing or other science based majors.

If you're a pre-nursing major, she's the only professor that teaches this class. She's a great professor even though her voice can be sometimes really monotoned. I REPEAT: IF YOU'RE NOT GOOD AT MEMORIZATION OR SCIENCE ISN'T SOMETHING YOU'RE GOOD AT, GO TO HER OFFICE HOURS. Test are lecture based and do her learning and study guides for tests.

She was overall a great professor. The class was doable and the exams were fair. She had a clear passion for the topic which made the class engaging and interesting. I learned a lot from her and now feel much more prepared for nursing school because of this class. Make sure you study hard and work for your grade.

If you can't pass this class with a B or above, you're not ready for nursing school or any pre-nursing classes, change your major. Tests are heavy lecture-based, but she records her lectures, but it's recommended you come to class. I failed the first exam after I went to office hours, I managed to get a B after the final which I'm proud of.

Loved her class. Prof. Govindan is very thorough with her lectures. The test aren't very hard but it still requires studying. She records her lectures and gives study guides.

Brinda was a great teacher, test are super heavy material so make sure you go to class and understand the lectures, my favorite part of this class was that she voice records her lectures, does not mean you dont have to go to class its helpful when it comes from around you can re-listen to them if you do not understand material. Overall good teacher

lots of lectures but its in depth and detailed. i just had her in the mornings 8 am and it was a pain to get up in the morning. i skipped one lecture and the next class, i was completely lost.

the labs are super fun to do. but theres 6 quizzes and a final exam. fai those and you SERIOUSLY WONT PASS. theres also a pamphlet project and that was actually super fun to do.

shes honestly pretty good. tests are lecture based so dont skip class and take GOOD DETAILED NOTES she records her lectures which is very helpful. work on the LO/SG questions after every lec while its fresh in your memory. quizes are unlimited attempts, do all hw assignments, turn in those note cards, you'll be fine.

Clear and concise way of teaching. She records her lectures, but I advise you not to skip class. Test material is directly taken from lectures - study the learning objectives! Only downside of the class is that it's only offered at 8 am every semester. She does not curve tests because the class itself is already curved.

underrated. there are extra credit opportunities. unlimited attempts on online quizzes. three exams, the third being a non-cumulative final. study sufficiently and you will get an A. Her lectures are straightforward and she offers plenty of time for students to go to her office hours. this class is easier than everyone says it is!

Dr G is honestly the best professor I had in college. If you find her class difficult, you're not ready for college. I do not regret taking her class for both lecture and lab since the lab helps you understand lecture-- hence, some people who take other labs tend to do bad in her lecture. Very interesting and informative!

Dr. Govindan is a great professor! The class itself is somewhat difficult, however, if you take notes, complete the SLO, and exam study guides, it'll help you on the exam.

Dr. G is an amazing lecturer and lab instructor. She is very knowledgeable, organized and caring. Study her lectures and ask for help as needed - she's there for you! I took 210/211 different semesters, both with her. I attended class until 39 weeks pregnant with no issue and learned a lot. Definitely one of my favorite classes and teacher. :)

Dr. G is one of the best professors at SFSU. She is very passionate about what she teaches and her lectures are very straightforward not confusing at all! Her tests could be a little tricky but if you study and go to class, youll definitely pass. Overall, I definitely recommend Dr. Gs class if youre planning to go into nursing :)

You for sure have to pay attention and study if you want to pass ! Overall a hard class but Mrs. Govindan was always super kind & available when ever you needed help/reassurance!

Dr. G is seriously the best professor I've ever had. Some may think she's tough but she just really wants you to learn. She is the sweetest and so understanding if you communicate with her. I would take her class over and over again if I could. She is a great lecturer and a wonderful lab instructor. If you do the assignments and pay attention, ez A

Dr. Govindan is probably the best professor I have ever had. Expect weekly assignments/forums/readings and quizzes (3 tries). Midterms are very straight forward and are lecture/assignment based! Take good notes in lecture and you should be good. Her iLearn page is very organized and the weekly to-do lists were very helpful as well.

She is willing to pass all her students and provide extensions if you reach out to her about your circumstances. Attendance is not always required, however, you will miss in-class group activities. She records lectures every week and posts them. BIOL 211 is a curved class but make sure you study with the lectures before you take quizzes.

Honestly I think what made this class so difficult were the weekly quizzes, you have one try but she only keeps 10/12 and takes off the lowest scores. The lectures go by pretty fast also. But this teacher is very caring and seems to care about her students. Be prepared to get called on during class and work in groups. The lab themselves are easy.

Wonderful professor. One of the best I have had. I had her as a lecturer in my Junior year, Microbiology Lab. Absolutely loved Brinda Govindan, grateful for teachers of such skill and grace,

Prof. Govindan is super nice, however you have to be ready to take her class. Be sure to pay attention during lecture, read her slides, take notes. If you don't attend the majority of class, you will fail. She gives a fair amount of hwk, one quiz each week, no midterm, and the final is a summary of the quizzes. FIND A STUDY GROUP

The Bio 210 lecture was online and was pretty easy. She was pretty lenient on the assignments and will drop your 2 lowest quiz grades. Weekly quizzes (3 tries) and assignments/forum posts. 1 midterm and 1 final with notes allowed. Overall good teacher. She also has a TA that helps her grade and the TA is helpful when needed.

she lovessss microbio, so be prepared to love it as much as she does... if you finish your work early,she will give you other "fun" tasks to do..like you dont have other classes you can be study for. But she is very understanding and will make any accommadation for you. very sweet and likes to be interactive

Dr. G was a great professor. She made the lab easily accessible and made sure to have lots of 1:1 time with students/groups. The course load was very reasonable and covered a wide range of lab techniques. The ability to engage in a independent research project was a great intro for those without research experience, and fun for all regardless.

Dr. G is an amazing lab professor who cares about her students' wellbeing and success! This is a GWAR class so be prepared to write A LOT in your lab notebook and lab reports (there are a total of 2 for group projects). There are 5 quizzes (20 points each, not hard as long as you attend her labs). Her grading scale is also different (an A is 87%)!

SHE IS THE BEST!! It's a GW class, but she made it way easier. Lecture and grading are very clear. Total 5 quizzes, 2 notebook checks, and 2 lab reports. All experiments are easy but in group. She does not take points off for absence and late, but participation is needed since it's group work most of the time. Workload is reasonable. recommended.

5 quizzes, lab notebook, 2 presentations, 2 lab reports, that's all the work you'll do for a semester. If you grasp what's happening in the lab, you'll be fine. Quizzes are simple and straightforward, she's very generous, provides excellent feedback, and grades incredibly fast. She genuinely cares for students and she is always there for you.

Slim pickings for BIOL 210 classes, but Dr. G's class is theee best. She knows the concepts like the back of her hand and she WILL answer all questions that students ask. There is about 1 assignment, 1 forum post and 1 quiz each week but trust, it helps you for the midterm and the final. Hard to fail this class but you need to put in the work!

She's great overall. She does have a condescending tone, but personally, I think that's just how she talks. If you communicate with her especially if you're struggling with something, communication is better than no communication and having yourself to fall behind more. It's good to use her study guides to understand the material each week.

Love this professor. I learned a lot in her Microbiology lab, and I am grateful that I had such a great instructor.

Great professor! Homework assignments are low effort & quizzes are easy. Take notes during lectures and do the study guides! Her tests are not ridiculously hard, but many of the questions are from material that she writes on the board, not in the slides. She can be a bit condescending at times, but has good intentions & cares about your progress.

I love this prof, she is very passionate about what she teaches and she is caring. If you pay attention and take notes, could get an easy A, she accepts late work with full credit. Stay focused and build relationship with her, she values that!

I enjoyed this prof and her lab, she likes connection and one on one time with students. Sometimes she forgets to let us know ahead of time if we have a quiz, but you can check on canvas. Great lab, great experience, had so much fun. And get ready for a mini PSA project, very fun!

Dr G is an amazing professor. Microbiology is a hard class, biology is even harder as subject in itself. Her lectures are long but what lecture isn't? If you put the work in and use your resources, I promise you will do great. She can be a bit rude and wonders why people don't raise their hands in class…she means well and clearly loves biology

I really enjoyed Dr. G's class! She is very open to questions, accessible over email, clear on grading rubrics (presentations, lap reports, and lab notebook), and consistent with canvas reminders. Her lectures were easy to understand and she posts lecture slides so you can use them to study for quizzes. Regularly come to class and you're good.

Lectures: great lectures, take notes, ask questions, big class size. Participation: doesn't traditionally take attendance participation assignments, submitted in class. Classwork: homework is reading articles and summarizing them, weekly online quizzes about 10 questions, multiple attempts. Exams: maybe 2-3, last one was online