uwloo

HLTH 341Principles of Pathobiology

Units
0.50
Faculty
Health
Subject
Public Health Sciences

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

An introduction to the study of biological factors governing disease in humans that will use selected diseases to identify risk factors and illustrate pathogenic mechanisms. The role that behaviour has in modifying biological response to disease may also be considered.

Prerequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • Must have completed the following:
      • BIOL273 - Principles of Human Physiology 1 (0.50)
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • CHEM333 - Metabolism 1 (0.50)
      • CHEM237 - Introductory Biochemistry (0.50)
      • HLTH217 - Biochemistry for Health Sciences (0.50)
      • KIN217 - Human Biochemistry (0.50)

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

No course lists it as a requisite.

Fall 2026 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 0013094258 / 270TTh 14:30–15:50

Reviewed on UW Flow

66% liked it45% easy79% useful

From 62 ratings and 27 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • Its a mistake taking this course if ur taking it with some guy called John milk. Made the course so fucking hard, doesnt even fucking post the fucking notes like what the fuck am I gonna study for the fucking tests?!?!?!?! :D Idk who told John Milk to teach this course cuz its actually so ass doesn't even give clear instructions or guidelines on how to study for a fucking test or do a fucking assignment. John Milk made this BS. Bring back prof Jandu, man I miss that girl. We desperately need Jandu.

    Oct 2025 · didn’t like it · 10 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Lowest marks I’ve ever seen in my life. Absolutely no resources to work with and test formatting is unlike anything I’ve seen before.

    Oct 2025 · didn’t like it · 8 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • I have no clue what the hell happened to this course.. the test averages are insanely low (60% average) and there is almost no direction with teaching (he just talks for a while), no direction on assignments or tests, no review, and the test questions are crazily poorly phrased. I'm on the 'higher side' of grades in the course (like an 80%) and I still think the way this course is going is fucking ridiculous.. John Mielke fucked over this course so hard and it does not feel like he wants you to succeed whatsoever. Update: Finished the course with an 84%, still would never recommend. Exam was like 80% on guest lectures and he changed the final exam format to MC + short answer at the end of…

    Nov 2025 · didn’t like it · 6 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • DO NOT TAKE THIS WITH JOHN MIELKE. I went to his office hours after the first exam (that had a 60% average) and he said he "wanted" the class to be around a C. Does not feel like he wants students to succeed at all, with no rubrics, no study guides, slides with barely any content, and overly complex exam questions. He did provide a study guide for the final exam, but that may be because a lot of students (including myself) went to our academic advisors with our concerns and they said they will try to see what they can do. This is not a typical course where if you put in the effort, you will get a decent grade. No, you need to know every minute detail he mentions throughout the course. As…

    Dec 2025 · didn’t like it · 4 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • John Mielke is an intelligent mind but he made this course extremely challenging compared to previous terms. Lectures cover what you need to know but you have to have a comprehensive understanding of every little detail and nuance in order to do good on the tests.
    Two papers worth 20% each that were very critically graded and two term tests worth 25% MC only and a 35% with MC + short answer (the 35% one during the exam period but it was not cumulative). The papers and the first test pretty much ensure you pass the course but the final is what determines if you end up with a good or bad grade. He puts an excessive amount of thought into each individual test question and they are extremely…

    Dec 2025 · didn’t like it · 3 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

12 posts and comments in 12 threads mention HLTH 341, December 2015 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Spring 2024

Fall 2023

courses for honours science? 1 point, 16 comments

“posted this a while back but no one responded so hopefully i could get some responses this time :( idk which courses to take for honours science, i just wanna take courses that could potentially …”

u/hamstrings10: “Taking biology courses offered by the health faculty is a good way but idk if it’d count for your program. Stuff like hlth 341 and hlth 310 were good courses imo”

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Spring 2023

Winter 2022

Admissions into Health Sciences 0 points, 8 comments

“Hi, I'm a student in grade 11 currently hoping to get into the health sci program at Waterloo (also planning on joining co-op). My final grades as of right now round up to an 86.5%. …”

u/jpavlov20: “i’m currently in the health studies program at uw and i had a 91-92% in my last sem of gr12! i got early acceptance as well at uw and a conditional offer as long as my avg was kept above the minimum …”

u/jpavlov20: “… i believe you must take hlth 340 or 341, but i happened to take both!). i’m not sure what health sciences is like now w all the new changes and requirements (another ex. …”

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Spring 2021

Spring 2020

Spring 2018

Fall Course Selection need advice on Biology courses: BIOL 350, 309, 439, 447, 458, 486 6 points, 14 comments

“I am in 4th year biol med major and am taking 300/400 level biol courses to fulfill the 300/400 lvl+ requirements this fall 2018. …”

u/MazdaCam: “… Look into courses like HLTH 341 which is also known to be easy. My fall schedule was going to be only 1 biol course, 1 hlth course, and 1 kin course with the other two courses being electives. …”

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Fall 2017

Any way to disable UWCourseLinker from posting? 16 points, 26 comments

“posting a reply to my comment I find the bot annoying.”

u/Jackhofmann: “PSYCH 483 PSYCH 484 PSYCH 485 PSYCH 486 PSYCH 490R PSYCH 499A PSYCH 499B PSYCH 499C PSYCH 621 PSYCH 630 PSYCH 677A PSYCH 704A PSYCH 704B PSYCH 707 PSYCH 710 PSYCH 714 PSYCH 717 PSYCH 720A PSYCH 721A …”

u/Jackhofmann: “… HLTH 201 HLTH 202 HLTH 204 HLTH 273 HLTH 301 HLTH 303 HLTH 305 HLTH 320 HLTH 333 HLTH 340 HLTH 341 HLTH 344 HLTH 355 HLTH 405 HLTH 407 HLTH 410 HLTH 432A HLTH 432B HLTH 442 HLTH 448 HLTH 458 HLTH 472 HLTH 473 HLTH 601 HLTH 605 HLTH 606 HLTH 619 HLTH 620 HLTH 641 HLTH 701 HLTH …”

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Spring 2017

Fall 2015

Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar