SS 2730

BioPsychology

Summer 2007

ONLINE

 

Professor’s Name: Dr. Lauren Fowler

Professor’s e-mail: lfowler@weber.edu OR Through WebCT mail tool

**(This is BY FAR the best way to contact me!)

Professor’s Office Phone: 801-626-7620 (answering machine)

Office Hours:  By appointment; Weekly Chat Sessions

Office Location: SS 368

Web Site:  http://vista.weber.edu (or through student portal);  http://faculty.weber.edu/lfowler

 

I.  Required Materials

      A.  Textbook: Kalat, J. W.  (2006).  Biological Psychology (9th ed.).  Pacific

                  Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company.  NOTE:  8th edition will also work!

B.     Computer access for WebCT class site

C.     A desire to learn and ENJOY the class!

 

II.  Course Grade

 

                 No exams or assignments can be made up after the last day of

                 classes.  There are no exceptions to this rule!

 

      A.  Examinations

        

          1.   Four preliminary examinations will be given during the semester

                   (each will make up 20% of your grade).  All exams will be taken using WebCT. 

                     You will have 4 days to take each exam.

 

   2.  A comprehensive final examination (20% of grade) will be given

                     August 1st – 4th, again using WebCT.

 

               3.  You may NOT make-up any exam that is missed.  You have 4 days to take each

                     exam, so please schedule your time wisely.  If you have a scheduling conflict,

                     you may schedule to take an exam early at no penalty (you must notify me in

                     writing to do this).  NO EXAMINATIONS WILL BE GIVEN AFTER THE

                     EXAMINATION PERIOD IS OVER.  Your lowest exam grade will be dropped. 

                     So, if after the 4 preliminary exams you have an A average, you do NOT have

                     to take the final exam! So do well during the semester J

 

4.     Your lowest exam grade will be dropped at the end of the semester.  If you have an A after the 4th exam, you do not need to complete the comprehensive final, unless you would like to!

 

5.      All exams will be taken using WebCT.  You will have 4 days to take each exam.  You take these exams from ANY computer (not a WSU computer lab).  Each exam will be TIMED (the amount of time will be listed with the exam).  All exams are to be taken with no external help (book, notes, other people, etc.).  You are on your honor to make sure each exam represents YOUR knowledge.  You will be asked to indicate that you received no outside help for each exam.  All exams must be completed no later than midnight on the due date (always a Saturday).  That means you should complete your exam no later than 11:59 PM on the date the exam is due.  At 12:01 Sunday morning, you will not be able to submit your exam.

 

      B.  Homework

                      

             Four homework assignments should be completed throughout the semester. 

                     You have 1 assignment for each exam during the semester (you do not have a

                     homework assignment for the final).  See homework due dates on the course

                     outline.  All assignments together count 20% of your final grade, but your

                     lowest assignment is dropped.

 

      C.  Grading Scale

             The course grade will be assigned according to the scale indicated

                     below:

                                   

                        Numeric Score                                               Letter Grade

                             90-100                                                               A

                             87-89                                                                 B+

                             83-86                                                                 B

                             80-82                                                                 B-

                             77-79                                                                 C+

                             73-76                                                                 C

                             70-72                                                                 C-

                             67-69                                                                 D+

                             60-66                                                                 D

                            Below 60                                                             E

 

 

 

 

III.  Course Outline

 

                     Chapters                     Assignment              Date________

                                    1, 2,                                     Homework 1                    June 20th

                                                                                    Exam  1                       June 20th – 23rd    

 

                                    3, 4                                      Homework 2                   July 3rd

                                                                                    Exam 2                        July 3rd – 7th  

 

                                    6, 7                                      Homework 3                   July 18th

                                                                                     Exam    3                    July 18th – 21st  

 

                                    14, 15                                  Homework 4                   July 25th

                                                                                      Exam 4                      July 25th – 28th   

 

                                    Comprehensive                          Final                        August 1st – 4th  

 

 

IV.  Additional Information

 

      A.  Grade Appeals

                     If, after receiving an exam back during class, you think a mistake has

                     been made in the grading of your exam, please do not ask about this

                     during class.  Write down on a sheet of paper what your questions are,

                     provide reference to notes in class or specific pages from the book, and

                     turn in these questions to the instructor at the end of the class period. 

                     You will receive a response, and any grade adjustment necessary, by the

                     next class period.  You may also do this with homework assignments.  THIS IS

                     THE ONLY WAY that your concerns will be addressed.  ONLY written

                     questions THAT YOU SUPPORT will be evaluated for grade changes.

 

B.  Plagiarism/Cheating

      Whenever you try to pass off someone’s work that is not your own, that

         is cheating.  If you cheat on ANY assignment (even extra credit!), you will

         receive a grade of E (Failing) for the course.   Please refer to the following

         web site for a complete listing of infringements that constitute cheating. 

 

                        http://documents.weber.edu/ppm/6-22.htm

 

         Plagiarism is when you represent someone else’s ideas or words as your own. 

For a very detailed description of plagiarism, please go to the web site and review the PLAGIARISM description (in the file HOW TO AVOID PLAGIARISM BY REALLY TRYING).  You are responsible for knowing what constitutes plagiarism.  ANY plagiarism (even unintentional) will result in a failing grade for the course.

 

C. Students with Disabilities

    Any student requiring accommodations or services due to a disability

      must contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD).

 

D.  Students’ Rights and Responsibilities

          Please refer to the following web site for a complete listing of all WSU

                student rights and responsibilities. 

                              http://documents.weber.edu/ppm/6-22.htm

 

V.    Course Objectives

 

A. This course will teach students how Biological Psychologists attempt to

      relate behavior and experience to the activities of the brain and the

      rest of the body.  Specifically, human and non-human behaviors will be

      studied to determine how they relate to specific brain activities and

      functions.

 

B.    Students will learn about the relationship between the nervous system of

                 the human body and how a body reacts to its environment.  Students will

                learn how physiological systems, including parts of the nervous system,

                sensory systems, perceptual systems, and regulatory systems, interact

                with the environment to produce behaviors and provide functioning in a

                variety of situations.

 

VI.  Grade Record

       

                        Please keep a record of the grades you receive on each exam.  This will help insure that you are always aware of your academic progress in this class.  You may also check your grades on the MY GRADES tool on WebCT.

 

                        Exam #1             ______

 

               Exam #2             ______

                                                                                   

                        Exam #3             ______

              

               Exam #4             ______

 

               Final Exam           ______              Final Grade =

                                                            Average of 4 exams (your lowest is dropped after the final exam)

   

**The course syllabus provides a general plan for the course; deviations may be necessary. By continuing in the course after reading the syllabus, you are indicating that you accept the terms of the syllabus.