Sam Byrne

This Fall 2025 semester, there were some changes made to the course compared to past semesters. There were no longer take-home exams, reportedly due to issues of cheating in previous semesters, and the in-person exams felt somewhat unfair in how they were graded. I remember talking to people who took Eco Evo before and hearing that it was a more relaxed class, with exams that were easier to manage because of opportunities to earn points back through “Exam Wrappers.” However, that did not always seem to remain true for this semester, even with the Exam Wrappers. At times, Professor Byrne’s grading felt strict, and the class averages for each exam were not very high. There was an instance where I answered a question correctly but still lost points because I included an equation that he considered unnecessary (even though it was relevant to the topic). Although we were allowed to use a front-and-back reference sheet to include information from slideshows, readings, and homework assignments, even when that information was written down accurately on the exam from the provided course materials, it sometimes felt as though responses were still marked as incorrect or incomplete. I also felt that the lab component was very time-consuming, particularly with the Skill Builders and the amount of statistical work involved. At times, it felt more like a statistics lab than a biology lab. However, Professor Nurok was always very accommodating and kind, and was willing to meet with students to help with any questions. Overall, Professor Byrne as a person is very kind and a chill professor. Attending his office hours before and after exams was especially helpful, as he explained concepts more clearly during those meetings. At times the course felt boring, and that lack of engagement made it difficult to stay motivated throughout the semester. However, even with this in mind, my overall experience was okay, and I would recommend Professor Byrne as a professor due to his kindness and willingness to help students.

This Fall 2025 semester, there were some changes made to the course compared to past semesters. There were no longer take-home exams, reportedly due to issues of cheating in previous semesters, and the in-person exams felt somewhat unfair in how they were graded. I remember talking to people who took Eco Evo before and hearing that i …Read more

Really good survey course on a variety of topics in global health. We don’t go in to as much depth on any one topic as some may like, but a great course for people interested in the field and wanting to explore different areas. Frequent readings and a couple projects but softer grading on the whole.

Byrne is a great teacher. He is very engaging and nice, although the course and his teaching are rather disorganized. We had reading is really the only taxing part of this course as they are inconsistent, can be quite long and time consuming and dense. The class is discussion based and very interesting. I would definitely recommend this if you are interested in health, economy or the healthcare field whatsoever. There arent a lot of assignments for this course, but there are a few projects which all unfortunately piled up in the last few weeks of the semester.

Byrne is a great teacher. He is very engaging and nice, although the course and his teaching are rather disorganized. We had reading is really the only taxing part of this course as they are inconsistent, can be quite long and time consuming and dense. The class is discussion based and very interesting. I would definitely recommend t …Read more