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The teacher is great, but the class is a bit difficult if you are not into biology. Study a bit and you'll be fine! I enjoyed the guest speakers! They were awesome!

If you have a choice take this lady, shes nice her exams are straightforward, nothing like Aroians crud.TA's were really nice and can actually show you how to answer problem sets nothing like Aroians lame duck ph.d student

Subject extremely interesting, she presents in a great way. i always looked forward to going to this class, not too hard, but the 2nd midterm is purely science so study more than you think you need to. very nice teacher, makes very thought provoking statements and discussions in DI are always good.

She's a pretty chill & a really awesome professor. The class is lower div, and focuses more on the social aspects. She teaches you practical things that everyone should know. Everyone should take the class!! The topic itself is pretty intriguing. The videos she let us watch were insightful.

Shes an awesome professor in terms of personality and organization. Very nice, approachable, and lectures are clear and organized. However, her exams are very hard! I studied a lot for this class and I still missed a lot of details on her tests. Hard proffessor!

She's very nice but don't let that fool u, her grading scale is wacked! I had her both for BIBC103 & BICD110: in lab, the avg. was 75% and that's a "C-" to get an A, you must get above 90%! mofo pos that's BS!the lab reports were easy to write b/c of her guideline, which tells you exactly what to write, don't be STUPID and stray from it! take Gould

She's not mean like ppl say, Cellbio is a hard subject. Her MT was written quite rudimentarily, her final was a different story, I almost blackedout! anyhoo, i think her exams were OK! just her grading scale(avg) is WACKED! i wish i was a psych major, where the avgs are in the 50's and everyone gets A for stroking each other's ego, pre-meds my-azz!

i really liked her for this class. I heard she's tough for cell bio, but i think she's really sweet.. like a kindergarten teacher! she's very approachable and a good prof with fair tests.

really knows her stuff but sometimes hard to follow in lecture, pay attn to all the little details bc the tests are evil and ask for information that she may have mentioned once offhand

OK, considering this class is for NON bio majors, she makes this wayyyyyyyyyyyy too hard. the averages on the midterms were F and D and the final, the average was an F. and the final was REALLY hard... tests you on EVERYTHING she says in lecture, and the curve isn't that great either, take a diff teacher!

Too much notes taking. Midterms are easy, but the final was very hard. Too much memorization. The point is if you memorize everthing on the notes you'll A's the test. But I don't think that's possible!!!

The class is kind of hard, but the lectures are interesting and I always look forward to going to class.

Good professor. Clear and interesting class but a lot of information to memorize in order to pass the midterm and final. going to lecture is important & actually readying the text is important. memorize everything or you are doomed. very specific tests.

Dr. Gus is to the max! She is very knowlegable and the class is very interesting. Much of the reading is the kind that goes by fast (like a novel-like memoir). I was extremely behind on bio knowelege compared to the rest of the class but the lectures/reading were so clear that it was no problem. Get AS lecture notes, there's a lot of info. Take it!

I got an A+ w/out doing the last half of the bio book reading. I paid attention in the first half, the other book, and in class and got AS lecture notes instead. Just in case that helps anyone.

such an interesting class. she really cares about what she teaches and the information is really interesting. it's not an easy A class, but if you study well for the tests you can definetely get an A

On the annoying scale, her voice is the female equivalent to Gilbert Gottfried.

Professor Gus is absolutely wonderful. Every bio student should take her AIDS class. I learned SO MUCH from this class. She's very clear and knowledgable.. I think it's her first time teaching upper div but I think she did an awesome job. I recommend taking her classes! :)

Horrible professor. 1) she requires too much, exams on top of videos and papers 2) her grading is very strict, I felt I knew the topics well but if you didnt use the exact words she used its wrong, some of the TAs were kind graders so that was nice 3) She rushed the last 8 virus families in two lectures, something she allocated 1 lecture p

this is a hard class. personally, i would not take it if i wasn't a microbiology major. if you want a challenging class, this is it. otherwise, stick to nutrition or molecular basis. micro majors are forced to take this so good luck.

Overall, an interesting class to take and Dr. Gus is a pretty good professor. However, it's definitely not an easy A class because you actually have to do legitimate studying. You have to go to class and do the readings because she tests on the most randomly specific questions. The midterm was so long and they graded very strictly. Tests are hard.

Dr. Gus is sooo awesome. She's like a mom in lecture and she actually is a mom. She helps you, walks you through everything when you go to office hours. Her lectures are engaging and makes you wonder about the world. Material is interesting in of itself and she adds on to that. Dr. Gus is AWESOME!

virology is a difficult class. if you are taking this because you like AIDS class, then you're taking this class for the wrong reasons. its nothing like that class. its harder and more in depth. if you're not required to take this class, you shouldn't. its probably the most difficult bio class at ucsd.

Dr.Gus is awesome! Not only is she passionate about what she teaches but she's passionate that her students will actually learn what she's actually teaching. I took both her lower and upper division classes and they were my world. She's hard but i mean that's really what's college is about. Challenging yourself. and Dr. Gus is awesome.

She always makes herself available to meet with students, but when I talked to her once she was kind of rude. I dropped this course after taking the midterm because that is 30% of your grade and the final is 60%. The midterm was impossible and was not at all reflective of study guides or class lectures. The subject matter is fascinating though.

I absolutely loved this professor/class. It is relatively difficult though, you have to go to lecture and take good notes to do well on the test but it is well worth it as the material is very interesting.

Its a difficult class but it's very interesting and as long as you pay attention, an A is obtainable. She's very nice and helpful

I actually was a TA for this class. Don't worry about the low averages. That just means that it's easier to beat if you study your lecture notes *regularly*. I liked her lecture style: Write main points on the board, elaborate on them, and provide visual aid through power point. Very passionate and helpful teacher. Take for P/NP if it's your GE.

This teacher is bent on details, and her TA's seemed to grade essay questions according to her specific words. Beware, this class requires hours of reading on top of studying

Interesting class on AIDS. Be prepared to spend extra time on supplemental readings and videos. The material is easy to comprehend, and test questions are straight forward, but there is a lot of material to memorize.

Her class was relatively difficult simply due to the enormous amount you had to not only write in lectures, but info memorized down to the minute details. Very informative and knowledgeable but I felt her standards for her tests were set exorbitantly high. Her study-aids were not exceedingly helpful and you really did not have to read the book.

Love/Hate relationship w this class. I loved learning about everything taught in the class, but I hated how MUCH we had to know for the exams! This class is very interesting, and despite having to study a TON, I'm so glad I took this class. If you're not willing to dedicate time to this class, don't take it. It's a lot of work.

She keeps the class very interesting. She is rude in emails. Be prepared for ~5 vids to watch before test, tons supplemental readings, text book info besides what she goes over in class. This class has TONS of stuff you have to do outside of class....seriously-TONS! There is a reason everyone else is saying this. Be prepared.

I love Dr. Gus! lectures easy to follow, writes it out on the board, helpful in OH, cares about teaching, not intimidating, exams are very comprehensive but straightforward answers/no trick questions

Hard class, but not because of a good reason. Tests are nitpicky, and if you're like me, the questions that ask you information that can be looked up in five seconds on wiki will drive you crazy. Very little of the information learned is relevant for non-virology grad students. If you're a microbio major, tough luck - if not, pick another course.

Dr. Gus is one of the best profs at UCSD. She's nice and very helpful if asked questions. There's a lot of material covered, but she's very knowledgeable and makes it interesting. The articles assigned enable you to connect what's being learned in lectures to the real world. Tests are detailed, but straightforward and doable if you put in the work.

Compared to other Upper Division Biology courses, this class isn't as tough. However, it's EASILY the most interesting Bio class I've taken (Human Bio major). She's really sweet and helpful, and is crystal clear when lecturing. Tests are detailed and include some minute details, but very doable if you don't procrastinate.

Dr. Gus is a great teacher. She is competent and articulate. There is a lot of material to know in BICD136 but it's really not that bad. The upper div AIDS class is so interesting, it was a great experience taking this class with Dr. Gus.

This class is really interesting and Prof. Gus can hold your attention. You must do ALL the reading but her tests are really straight forward DO HER STUDY GUIDES. I liked her teaching style so much I plan on taking her Virology class which I had no interest in previously.

Dont take her for BILD 10. Shes an upper div. teacher and makes this class impossible if your just trying to get a GE done

Pretty tough class. You definitely need to study. But she is really passionate about what she teaches, and she really knows what she's talking about. Good Prof overall

I really like Dr. G's teaching style. Her tests are pretty straight forward if u focus on her lectures, and she's always happy to help out. I'm taking virology with Her :)

Heard that UCSD is not offering this class next year due to budget class which is a shame because I learned so much from the class. She holds you accntable for EVERYTHING found in lecture, movies, readings. If you don't go to class, at least listen to the podcasts. She really is like a mom. Take her!!

Wow, this was seriously the best class I've taken at UCSD. She does make you memorize a LOT of detail for the tests, and it's NOT an easy A class, but def. manageable. The subject material is incredibly interesting and her lectures went by so fast. She did the funniest impressions of the HIV life cycle, it was hysterical! Take her without a doubt!

Dr. Gus is the best!

My bio class so far. Really interesting lectures. Exams are long and very specific so make sure you know your stuff. Love the guest speakers. Dr. Gus is so cute, it will feel like she's your mom not your professor that's how much she cares! Got an A+ in this class pretty easily. Make sure you do the reading!

Loved this class. Dr. Gus is a very clear and tells you all you need to know in class for the midterms. Don't buy the book because she doesn't refer to it. If you pay attention in class, you shoulD have no problem getting an A.

BEST PROFESSOR IVE HAD AT UCSD! Engaging, passionate, and genuinely interesteed in educating her students about AIDS and Global health. Grading/exams were VERY challenging but fair.DO NOT take for an easy A, take to learn the material!

Honestly, people give Dr. Gus a bad rap. To get an A in the class you have to get a solid 90% or higher. There is no curve. That being said, however, she DOES provide clear and thorough explanations. People are caught off-guard b/c she's nice. Just b/c she's nice doesn't mean she should dole out A's. Great professor. Tough grade

Dr. Gus taught medical microbiology together with Dr. Aroian. Dr. Gus really knows her stuff and genuinely cares about the well-being of her students. Very accessible outside of class. The course was based in primary literature and very challenging. Thoroughly recommend it thought, since it teaches you to how think.

Had Dr.Gus for BIMM 121 and 124. She is an AMAZING lecturer! Very clear and helpful and loves to tell you nerdy jokes/stories. These 2 classes are my favorite at UCSD. Both classes are definitely challenging but totally worth all the studying. It was really fun studying and reading for these classes too! Dr.Gus needs to teach more classes!!

Dr Gus is a FANTASTIC lecturer. This class has no peer in the BioSci dept, but it is every bit one of the most interesting upper div bio classes UCSD has to offer. She is crystal clear, her reader is interesting, her exams are fair... just keep up with the reading and film material, and you will do well.

Great professor & lecturer, and you'll have a great time in her class if you get involved and go to OH's. But yes, BIMM 121 was a lot more work than it should have been for 4 units, as she acknowledged. And her questions/grading can be extremely detail oriented. But overall, you'll learn a lot and you can get an A if you put in the work.

Wow this class is hard. You will read 2-3 research articles per week along with book readings as well as lecture slide material. You will write papers and be quizzed left and right. A VERY involved class but still by far one of the best at Ucsd: engaging and fun. Thanks dr g!

Wonderful professor! I very nearly dropped the class before it started because I was scared of the grading distribution. But if you stay on top of everything, you're going to be fine. She's a very sweet person and really cares about her students. Would especially recommend class to publicglobal health majors. Best class I ever took at UCSD.

Dr. Gus is the MOST interesting professor I've ever had; Only professor that kept me paying attention in lecture. She's the opposite of boring! So alive and energetic; has so much passion! She's a joker; lots of funny stories! Yet, the class is difficult. Lots of readings and YOU NEED TO KEEP UP. If you have the time, you'll absolutely love her!

She posts podcasts of her lectures, and class is only mandatory when guest speakers come, which is awesome because it allows flexibility when studying for other classes. She baked brownies for the class for finals, which is pretty cool I guess. I would definitely recommend her.

Dr. Gus is an amazing lecturer and always held my attention despite it being a 6pm course. She cares a lot about the topic and posts A LOT of resources on her page for students who need extra help or would like additional outside reading. I will try to take more of her other courses, as she is an amazing professor and role model that I look up to.

Wow. Absolutely one of the best teachers I've ever had. Yes the class was hard and yes I had to work a ton, but I learned so much. She made me so interested in the topics that I enjoyed the research and reading and lectures. I loved this class so so much and I would absolutely take another class with her as my prof.

One of the best and valuable teachers from the UCSD faculty that I've ver had. This HIV/AIDS class is not hard if you follow her advice and study for a little each week. If you wait, the readings and the material will be overwhelming because this course is very content-heavy. Other than keeping up, I found this class very fascinating and enjoyable.

Great teacher. Interesting class. I would take her again.

Im 30 now, about 10 years out of school, and I STILL cite this class in discussions. Its one of my top 5 recommended classes at UCSD. Take microbiology lab with her too. Tough, frank, and interesting! I took her summer class so maybe it was a bit more intensive.

This class is pretty hard, but if you commit the time to it, it's doable, and you will become terrified by the horrible ways microbes will find to kill you. I was dreading taking the class because I'm not interested in medicine, but it was still really cool to learn about all of the different things in the class.

This professor is AMAZING. I'm not good at biology, and when I enrolled in her class I was a little nervous because of her ratings. I took her summer session II course, and still managed to get a B in her class dedicating the recommended hours of studying each week. If you need help, just go to office hours. Cindy is MORE than happy to help!

The class itself is SUPER interesting, but the exams are SO HARD. There is a lot of information presented in the class to begin with and you really are expected to know every single bit of it, down to statistics, acronym names, disease, and pathogen names, etc. Definitely make sure to keep up with the class or you might get overwhelmed towards end.

The reader is mandatory. Exams are on both material from lecture and reader; watch out for material from lecture that is not in the reader. Class material covers both SOCIAL and BIOLOGICAL aspects of HIV, prepare to memorize a lot. Outside of lecture she's fun to talk to and truly wants to get to know you.

I took BILD 10 with Gus-Brown over the summer, and she has responded to the online format amazingly! I enjoy Gus-Brown's philosophy that emphasizes short, consistent studying each day instead of cramming. Each week, in addition to lectures, we were given bite-sized readings and mini-modules, and it made the material that much more approachable.

Dr. Gus was very passionate about her material. Reccommended taking for pass no pass. She went above and beyond to clarify her lecture material and was eager to answer many of the students questions.

She knows what she's talking about. You have to read an entire textbook and take quizzes every week on 60-80 pages of the reading. If you can stay on top of this then you'll do fine in the course. She's extremely understanding so reach out to her for any questions or concerns.

Professor Gus is a great teacher and preps you to the best of her ability. She focuses on critical thinking rather than memorizing and her test reflect it. Lots of reading before and after class though so be ready. Also her exams are rough but in the end she standardized them to the average. Challenging class but great teacher

It's not difficult to get a good grade in Dr. Gus's class if you stay on top of your work. She assigns textbook readings and homework assignments, and the class has 2 midterms and a final. The class is curved as well. You also have to watch 2-3 films depending on the quarter. As a non-bio major, this class was great for my bio credit.

She really cares about her students and is very passionate about biology. For a non-bio class, this one is more difficult than it needs to be but Dr. Gus's passion makes up for it! Homework is easy, but the tests are difficult and involve a lot of short answer/essay responses. Study hard, or take the class pass/no pass!

By far one of the best classes I've taken at UC San Diego, very informative and interesting. Everything is fair game so be very thorough when studying for quizzes or exams as figures or even small details mentioned in the textbook or lecture can and have been asked about. Very content heavy but don't fall behind especially on reading.

Readings before lecture was a lot but it genuinely helped me understand the material better. Two lab reports wasn't that bad but they will grade you harshly on those! Don't know your grade until the end but she curves. Exams are fair but be prepared to remember small things. I'd love to take her class again if I could, def one of the better profs.