Course information

Immunology (AOKGEN025_1A)
2016/17 1st Semester

Prerequisite subject: Medical Biochemistry, Molecular and Cell Biology III.
Credits: 4
 

The Department of Genetics, Cell- and Immunobiology teaches  immunology  to 3^rd year students in the fifth semester. This course provides a basic knowledge of the structure and mechanisms of the immune system. Students obtain   a signature – according to the proposal of the practice teacher – at the end of the semester. According to the Academic and Examination Rules (17§ 7-8.), students must visit at least 75% of the classes (both the lectures and seminars), in order to have a  valid semester (i.2. in order to be admitted to the exam). We randomly check the presence of students at the lectures during the semester.  More than three absences from the lectures invalidates the semester. The absences at the seminars (practices) are registered weekly, and more than three absences invalidate the semester as well.

During the semester there is one midterm exam, on the 8^th week during the practice. The score of the midterm test is part (35%) of the final exam score [except for the second (or third) retake exam or in case a student is writing an exam in order to improve the score of a previous, successful exam]. If you miss the midterm exam, 0 (zero) points will be added to your exam score. (The midterm is not a requirement for the validity of the semester.) There is no opportunity to postpone the time of the midterm neither to improve the midterm result. For those students, who miss the midterm due to an acute illness, an additional midterm test is organised, if  the student show up the medical certificate to the practice teacher (or course coordinator) within one week. We announce its date and place via a Neptun message. For taking the exam, students have to prove their identity by an official formal personal document with a photo (i.e. passport, driving licence). During the semester students can collect 5 points for homeworks which are also added to the midterm scores.

Exam info

The semester is completed by a written exam. On the first and second exams, the grade will be calculated from the sum of the midterm scores and the exam scores (maximum 40 midterm points + 60 exam points = 100 points). Students have to reach more than 50 % of both the exam scores and the total scores to pass. (At the third and fourth exam, the scores of the midterm test don’t count to the final exam score  any more.)

The topics are based on the textbooks and the lectures, so attending the latter ones greatly helps students successfully prepare for the exam. At  the exam, it is not sufficient to repeat memorised topics from the textbook and presentations, butyou have to be able to synthesize and integrate your knowledge from different parts. The retake exam can be taken no sooner than on the 3rd day after the former exam.

The exam dates will be published one month before the beginning of the exam period. Registering for the exam dates (or modifying the registration) can be arranged exclusively online by the students’ registration system (NEPTUN). If you want to change your exam day, first you have to cancel your earlier sign up. Please, consider the registration deadlines (48 hrs before the beginning of the exam) for the exams. Since we have to book the exam rooms in advance, we cannot change (increase) the number of examinees. The announcement of the results takes two-four days, depending on the number of examinees. Here we would also like  to warn you  that in case of  postponing your  exam right to the end of the exam period, you may not be able to register to some of the subjects (which have Immunology  as a  prerequisite) of the next semester on time.

If you miss an exam, the second retake exam (and all others thereafter) can be taken upon payment of a retake fee. The receipt has to be presented to the examiner at the beginning of the exam.

During the semester, a two-round competition will be organised. The first round is the midterm exam, and based on the results of this, the department will invite students to the second round (taking place on about  the 13^th week). Students having the best scores get  a grade 4 or 5 offered to them and an exemption from the exam.

Useful hints

Do not forget that beside the text of the textbook, figures and drawings are also part of the subject. It is not sufficient to study from the textbook, but own lecture notes, draw schemes and flow charts are also important.

Literature:
Required textbooks:

• KUBY Immunology • W. H. Freeman and Company • New York • 2013

• Immunology seminars (e-book): http://gsi.semmelweis.hu (The user name and password is on course datasheet of the Neptun)

Recommended:

• Falus A. Immunology, Semmelweis PH, 2001. [You can buy this book in room 608 (6th floor NET Building)].

Contacts

We do not arrange students’ affairs through phone or other way of telecommunication (except NEPTUN).  The office hours of the course coordinator can be viewed the homepage of the department.