Course information

Please note that because of possible unforeseen changes of the virus situation, there might be changes to the regulations described below. In case of any changes we inform you on the startup page of the website of the department and by Neptun messages http://gsi.semmelweis.hu/index.php/en/

Course Description: This course provides a basic knowledge of the structure and mechanisms of the immune system, immunological responses in health and disease.

Prerequisite subject: 
Molecular Cell Biology I, Medical Biochemistry II

Course Instructors and Contact Information:

Course instructor: Dr. Marianna Csilla Holub, PhD
Office: NET 618
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
Emails must include your full name and student number and have a descriptive subject line.
Expect an average response time of 2 business days. Email will not be checked on weekends or holidays.
Office hours: Because of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic situation, educational administration is managed electronically. In case of questions and/or concerns better addressed in person, ask about the possibility of personal administration at the education administrator's phone number or e-mail address.

Education administrator: Némethné, Molnár Mária; office: NET 623, Phone: 210-2950, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Lecturer and Chairman of the Department: Prof. Dr Edit Buzas, MD, DSc
Office: NET 717 - If you wish to discuss something with her, please email to set up an appointment.
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Evaluation:

Attendance of a minimum of 75% of the practices is necessary for the end-term signature. The presence at the seminars (practices) are registered weekly, more than three absences (of any reason) from the seminars invalidate the semester. It is your task to keep track of your absences, they will only be summarized at the last week of the semester.
It is YOUR responsibility to get to class on time – more than 10 minutes delay means an absence. Plan to be on campus early on test days; transit and/or traffic issues happen but you cannot be given extra time to write. Plan to be at exams early.

Resources:

Required Textbook:            

• Abbas, Lichtmann, Pillai, Basic Immunology 5th Edition,Elsevier, 2015
• Immunology seminars (e-book): http://gsi.semmelweis.hu/ (The user name and password is on the course datasheet of the Neptun.)
• Lecture and practice ppt presentations http://gsi.semmelweis.hu/ and on Moodle system. (If you are not able to see the subject in Moodle, please contact the Education Administrator of the Department.)

Further Information

In the rooms of the NET building it is compulsory for everyone to wear a mask that covers both the nose and the mouse. Violation of this rule excludes a student from the practice/seminar or lecture and will have legal consequences according to the directive of the Rector and Chancellor (E/19/2020. (VIII. 28.). see http://gsi.semmelweis.hu/files/2020-21_1/Safety_Regulations_COVID.pdf.

You will be responsible for material presented in class and associated textbook sections. The textbook is your resource and will help you understand this material. It contains many of the visuals presented in the lectures. Pay careful attention to the Figures and to the questions and guidelines for study at the end of each chapter.

Midterm expected through the Moodle system:

There are two written tests on the 6th and 12th weeks of the semester.
The midterms will consist predominantly of multiple choice questions. The topics are based on the textbooks, the lectures, the practices and the ebook.
The attendance and the success of the midterm is not a requirement to validate the semester, but based on their total scores, you receive bonus points for the semi-final exam. The scores of the first and the second midterms are added together, and are converted to bonus points according to the table below.

Bonus points are only credited to those who have passed the exam. (achieved at least grade 2)
Recording of the midterm tasks is NOT permitted. Students in violation of these policy may have legal action taken against them.
All test scores will be posted to Neptun when available. Do not email asking when grades will be posted or for your scores; these emails will not receive a response.
There is no opportunity to postpone the time of the midterm neither to improve the midterm result. Missed Midterm/Exam – General Policies: Students must have an urgent reason for missing a course test, such as illness, voluntary work in hospital, etc., Supporting documentation (e.g., attending physician’s statement) is required and must be shown up to the practice teacher (or course coordinator) within one week. Valid documentation for medical situations consists of a current “Attending Physician’s Statement” Only the current form will be accepted. If you do not use the current form, you will be asked to return to your physician to have the correct form filled in. A note that simply says you were seen in the clinic will not be accepted. Any documentation should cover the date of the missed test.  If you have a valid reason for missing the original midterm, make up dates will be scheduled. We announce its date and place via a Neptun message.

Semi-final exam:

The semester ends up with a colloquium (semi-final exam; exam period: May 16, 2022 – July 1, 2022, date and time set by Neptun).
The semifinal exam is an online Moodle exam – 45 min. long test with personal attendance.
The written Moodle exam is divided in two parts in the time and date of the exam:
First students have to complete a Pop-up test with 15 MC questions.  For those who completed 13 out of 15 MC questions the exam continues. For those who had less than 13 correct answers, the exam is finished with grade 1. The MC questions of the pop-up test are available on Moodle and on the website of the Department from the end of 12th week of the semester. Second: The exam test consists multiple choice, may consist short answer, table fill-in, matching, drawing type question, short open questions for 45 points.
The topics are based on the textbooks, practices and the lectures as well, so attending the latter ones greatly helps students to successfully prepare for the exam. At the exam, it is not sufficient to repeat memorized topics from the textbook and presentations, but you have to be able to synthesize and integrate your knowledge from different parts.
The exam dates will be published one month before the beginning of the exam period.
Registration 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. Since we have to book the exam rooms and Moodle virtual rooms in advance, we cannot change (increase) the maximum number of examinees. The announcement of the results takes one workday, depending on the number of examinees.
For taking the exam, students have to prove their identity by an official formal personal document with a photo (i.e. passport, student card). According to the Study and examination rules: "Students are not allowed to take an examination without identifying themselves. Students may identify themselves at the examination by any suitable document, which contains both a signature and a picture. If the student is unable to verify his/her identity, a “did not appear” note has to be recorded on the examination sheet and in NEPTUN, which does not reduce the number of exam opportunities, yet the student is obliged to pay an exam administration fee, which is specified in the Regulations of Refunds and Allowances."
According to this, the photo of any ID, presented on a phone is not suitable for proving identity.
If you miss an exam, the second retake exam (and all others thereafter) can be taken upon payment of a retake fee. If you miss the exam for a valid reason you must request deferred standing. To request deferred standing you must submit a supporting documentation to the Students Administration Office of the Department (not to the Secretary) (NET 623) within 3 business days of the missed exam. Doctor’s notes are NOT sufficient for missed exams; you MUST have your doctor fill out the Attending Physician’s Statement (please make sure you are using the current version of the Attending Physician’s statement form – no other versions will be accepted).

Consultation in the exam period:

In the exam period the Department keeps an official 45 min consultation, once per week. The exact dates will be published on the website prior to the exam period.