Which class at URI has been your favorite? Graphic by: Maddie Bataille | Photo Editor
As spring starts, so does fall class registration at the University of Rhode Island, and students believe that teaching styles and professor attitudes are crucial parts of building their class schedules.
Third-year health studies major Brian Gouvin’s favorite class during his time at URI is HLT 100G: Perspectives on Public Health in the 21st Century. Recalling his experience in the class last semester, Gouvin stated that professor and sociologist Nekehia Quashie made the class unforgettable.
“I loved the topic, but the teacher was so great,” Govin said. “She brought a lot of background experience from her time in the field and I just really enjoyed it.”
Second-year biomedical engineering and French double major Kaitlyn Lum’s favorite class is BME 207: Introduction to Biomechanics.
Lum said that she liked the way her professor, Frederick Vetter, taught and talked to students.
“I went into his office hours once and we just talked for half an hour after I came in to ask about a test,” Lum said. “We talked about internships and about the way he thinks when he grades, and… it was cool.”
Class environment and discussion are important to Brooke Bolster, a second-year biological sciences major.
Bolster’s favorite classes so far at URI have been BIO 220 and BIO 221, the lecture and laboratory sections of the Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology. She took the BIO 220 with professor Jess Adams.
“After every exam, students would respond to how they thought they did,” Bolster said. “Their responses were always kinda funny, and you don’t usually see that in class responses.”
Second-year chemical engineering major Marcus Orr took his favorite class, CHE 212: Chemical Process Calculations, last semester with professor Samantha Meenach.
“Mennach helped us out and walked us through everything, and it turned out fun and I’m still here!” Orr said. “The learning curve was really steep at first, so it went from really hard to really easy, but once everything clicked, it all became so cool.”
Jeffs Wang, a third-year chemical engineering major, explained that professor Robert Coyne made his experience in PHY 112: General Physics II “not so bad” during his first spring semester.
“Coyne made it so easy on me,” Wang said. “He just explained everything with vivid details and stated everything so clearly and thoroughly. He really showed care towards his students.”
Third-year health studies major Alessandra Ferlaino’s favorite class, COM 100: Communication Fundamentals, was taught by communication studies professor Mark August. August “pushed people out of their comfort zones” during the class, and made it “a really interesting experience,” according to Ferlaino.
Ainsly Zaik, a fourth-year communicative disorders major, said CMD 361: Introduction to Audiology with professor Rachel Smith changed her perspective on her major.
“Studying speech, I never thought I wanted to do anything with audiology,” Zaik said. “I learned a lot of things about the ear that I would have never thought were interesting, and I found that audiology actually does apply to speech.”
Second-year biological sciences major Ginger Kohanek took her favorite class, BIO 101: Principles of Biology I, her first year with professor Niels-Viggo Hobbs.
Kohanek, recalling her time with Hobbs, said “a professor can really make or break the class.”
Second-year civil engineering major Jason Zimmitti’s favorite class, CVE 205: Basic Surveying, intertwined lecture and experience.
“I thought that [the class] was really cool because half was in the classroom being taught, and half the classroom was out on campus using equipment to measure distances,” Zimmitti said. “It was all real-world stuff, which we can apply to careers in the future.”
What is your favorite class that you’ve taken at URI?