The instructor makes too many jokes during class, which can be distracting and disrupt the learning environment. Important concepts are often not explained clearly enough, and the material is covered too quickly. Overall, the class feels very self-directed, requiring students to learn much of the content independently.Rate My Professors ↗
Current instructor
Erik Dent
What students say
Original student reviews · all captured dates
Erik is among the worst professors I have dealt with at the UW. He rushes through lectures, jokes around, and does not explain the material thoroughly. While I earned an A in the class, that was achieved entirely through self-studying. Please do not take Biocore 383, get out while you can!Rate My Professors ↗
Dr. Dent is my favorite professor and he makes me laugh so hard every lecture with his wonderful sense of humor :) And that's on top of teaching the material well!Rate My Professors ↗
While somewhat humorous, he leaves too much explaining to the book. Tends jump from concept to concept a lot without providing clear explanations, which isn't conductive to studying (esp. since his slides have very little text). Compared to the previous two sections of the class, you'll most likely have to do a lot more outside work to do well.Rate My Professors ↗
Great professor, my favorite of the 3 for Biocore 303. Has a great personality. Very interesting material, exam is very fair.Rate My Professors ↗
There is alot of information to learn in a short amount of time, but Dent does a great job of covering and emphasizing the most important information, great sense of humor, very helpful in terms of answering questions quickly and wanting students to succeed, test was not meant to be a "trick"Rate My Professors ↗
Personal experiences, not a representative survey. Profile matching and captured coverage are shown in the source details.
Classes with Erik Dent
Cellular Biology
3 creditsAn intermediate-level course on the cellular and molecular basis of life, covering cell structure, energy flow, and the regulation of genetic information.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Past student reviews · Erik Dent
Erik Dent's lectures often relied on humor and brief slides, leading students to report that concepts were rushed and left for independent study. Many reviewers felt the class required significant outside work to succeed because explanations were not thorough.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026Selected Topics in Physiology
1–3 creditsCovers advanced cardiovascular physiology, advanced respiratory physiology, advanced endocrinology, membrane transport physiology and neurobiology.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Directed Study
1–4 creditsDirected Study (NEURODPT 699) involves independent work where students apply coursework concepts to real-life situations, search scientific literature, and develop critical thinking.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Recent recorded grades — Fall 2015: 3.90 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=5 letter grades); Spring 2022: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=3 letter grades); Fall 2022: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=6 letter grades).
historical GPA · grades
Fall 2022–Spring 2026Research and Thesis
1–9 creditsResearch and Thesis course where students conduct research supervised by individual faculty members.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Research and Thesis
1–12 creditsResearch and thesis course focusing on independent neuroscience research and broad understanding of general principles.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Explores animal models of human CNS diseases, including brain architecture birth defects, visual system defects, neurodegeneration, and stroke.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
Recent recorded grades — Spring 2026: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=19 letter grades). Includes jointly taught sections.
historical GPA · grades
Spring 2023–Spring 2026 · limited sampleSenior Honors Thesis
1–4 creditsMentored individual research and study for students completing a thesis in an Honors program.
Offering recorded · Spring 2027 · Sources
No recorded grade history
Recorded teaching history
Distinct courses recorded per term
Explore courses taught by this instructor →Browse recorded courses
| Term | Course | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Spring 2027 | BIOCORE 383 | Cellular Biology |
| Spring 2027 | NEURODPT 675 | Selected Topics in Physiology |
| Spring 2027 | NEURODPT 699 | Directed Study |
| Spring 2027 | NEURODPT 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Spring 2027 | NTP 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Spring 2027 | ZOOLOGY 655 | Modeling Neurodevelopmental Disease |
| Spring 2027 | ZOOLOGY 682 | Senior Honors Thesis |
| Fall 2026 | NEURODPT 699 | Directed Study |
| Fall 2026 | NEURODPT 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Fall 2026 | NTP 990 | Research and Thesis |
| Fall 2026 | ZOOLOGY 681 | Senior Honors Thesis |
Teaching history may be incomplete. Course pages contain course-specific feedback and citations.
Instructor identity & provenance
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