Number and
title: BIOL 4120,
Neurobiology (CRN 87100)
Credit
hours: 3.0
semester credit hours
Catalog
description: This class is an in-depth
discussion of the biology of the nervous system. Topics include neuronal
structure and function, communication at the synapse (electrical and action
potentials), membrane receptors and intra- and intercellular signaling
systems, gene regulation, gross organization of the brain and spinal cord,
the
processing of sensory information and development of the nervous system.
Course
pre-requisite: BIOL3200
Computer
Requirement: Each CSU student is required to
have ready access throughout the semester to a notebook computer that meets
faculty-approved hardware and software requirements for the student's academic
program. Students will sign a statement attesting to such access. For
further information on CSU's Official Notebook Computer Policy, please go to http://itpchoice.clayton.edu/policy.htm
.
Computer
skill prerequisites: You
must be able to use Windows, Microsoft Word, Outlook Express (including
attaching and retrieving files via e-mail), a Web browser (Internet Explorer
preferred), and Microsoft Excel
Student
computers will be used in the classroom in this course, and will be required
for taking quizzes and exams. You should bring your
notebook computer to every class meeting. Computers will also be required to
access course materials and to communicate with your instructor.
Biology Outcomes:
- Knowledge of the basic principles of major fields of
biology (Biology outcome #1)
- Ability to
communicate orally and in writing in a clear, concise manner. (Biology
outcome #4)
- Ability to interpret scientific data/writing and
employ critical thinking to solve problems in biological science and
supporting fields. (Biology outcome #5)
- Appreciation for the impact of biological science on
the environment and society. (Biology outcome #7)
Course objectives:
- To understand basic principles of neurophysiology.
- To grasp the basic organization of the central and
peripheral nervous systems
- To be aware of the different sensory input into
nervous systems and gain further knowledge of specific sensory signaling.
- To understand how motor systems carry out the
response of nervous system integration
- To gain knowledge of vertebrate nervous system anatomy and
physiology by studying selected systems.
- To apply the above knowledge of nervous system
components in understanding how neural systems produce complex responses and
behavior.
Instructor information:
Instructor:
Dr. Barbara Musolf
Phone: (678) 466-4851
Fax: (678) 466-4899
E-mail: BarbaraMusolf@clayton.edu
Website: http://a-s.clayton.edu/bmusolf/
Office: Administration Building, A 16-C.
Office hours: MW 10:00 am
- 12:30 pm noon, 5:00 - 6:00 pm; T 3:30 - 4:30 pm
Class Meetings: MW 3:35 to 4:50 pm in B10
Textbook information:
Required texts:
Neuroscience, Fourth Edition. Purves, Augustine, Fitzpatrick, Hall,
LaMantia, McNamara and White. Sinauer Associates, Inc. ISBN
978-0-87893-554-3
Bundled with Neurons in Action 2,
Moore and Stuart. Sinauer Associates, Inc.
Writing Papers in the Biological
Sciences, Fourth Edition,
Victoria McMillan, Bedford/St. Martin’s, ISBN: 0-312-44083-1
Evaluation and grading:
Tentatively, the points will be distributed as follows:
| Item |
Points |
|
3
exams @ 100 pts each |
300 |
| Comprehensive
final |
130 |
|
Assignments |
120 |
| TOTAL |
550 |
Your final grade will be determined as follows:
| Grade |
Percentage
range |
| A |
90-100% |
| B |
80-89% |
| C |
70-79% |
| D |
60-69% |
| F |
Below
60% |
Mid-term Progress
Report
The mid-term grade in this course which will be
issued by October 7th,
reflects approximately 25% of the entire course grade. Based on this
grade, students may choose to withdraw from the course and receive a
grade of "W." Students pursuing this option must withdraw from the
course using the DUCK or fill out an official withdrawal form, available
in the Office of the Registrar, by mid-term, which occurs on
October 10th.
Course schedule
The course schedule is listed on a separate page.
Be sure to check it often to keep track of any changes in the due dates
of assignments and exams during the semester. Due dates for
assignments may be changed at the instructor's discretion. You are
responsible for keeping track of due dates and turning in your work when
it is required.
Please note that the schedule is tentative
and the dates of the exams and the chapters that each exam will cover
are tentative
and subject to change.
Exam dates are not set until they are announced in class, which will be
at least one week in advance.
Course policies
Attendance: You are expected to attend
all class meetings. Attendance will be taken at each class meeting by signing
the class roll.
Cheating and Plagiarism: Cheating in any
form will not be tolerated; all work that you turn in must
be in your own words and must
be your own work. If your brainpower did not generate
what you turn in, it is considered cheating. The following are examples
of cheating: copying the work of another person, allowing another person
to do your assignment, working in a group on a graded item, copying or
closely paraphrasing referenced sources, using anything but your brainpower on
an exam, etc. Cheating in any form will result in a zero on the
assignment and academic misconduct forms will be filed with the Office of
Judicial Affairs for any violation.
Judicial procedures are described at
http://adminservices.clayton.edu/judicial/.
Disruptive Classroom Behavior1:
Disruptive behavior in the classroom can negatively effect the classroom
environment as well as the educational experience for students enrolled in the
course. Disruptive behavior is defined as any behaviors that hamper the ability
of instructors to teach or students to learn. Common examples of disruptive
behaviors include, but are not limited to:
 |
Eating in class |
|
Monopolizing classroom discussions |
|
Failing to respect the rights of other students to express their
viewpoints |
|
Talking when the instructor or others are speaking |
|
Constant questions or interruptions which interfere with the
instructor’s presentation |
|
Overt inattentiveness (e.g., sleeping or reading the paper in class) |
|
Creating excessive noise |
|
Entering the class late or leaving early |
|
Use of pagers or cell phones in the classroom |
|
Inordinate or inappropriate demands for time or attention |
|
Poor personal hygiene (e.g., noticeably offensive body odor) |
|
Refusal to comply with faculty direction |
Students exhibiting these types of behaviors can expect a
warning from the instructor or dismissal for the lesson in which the behavior
occurs. Failure to correct such behaviors can result in dismissal from the
course.
More extreme examples of disruptive behavior include, but
are not limited to:
|
Use of profanity or pejorative language |
|
Intoxication |
|
Verbal abuse of instructor or other students (e.g., taunting, badgering,
intimidation) |
|
Harassment of instructor or other students |
|
Threats to harm oneself or others |
|
Physical violence |
Students exhibiting these more extreme examples of
disruptive behavior may be dismissed from the lesson or the entire course.
Students dismissed from a lesson will leave the classroom
immediately or may be subject to additional penalties. Dismissed students are
responsible for any course material or assignments missed.
Students dismissed from a course have the right to appeal
the dismissal to the department head responsible for the course. Appeals beyond
the department head may also be pursued. If no appeal is made or the appeal is
unsuccessful, the student will receive a grade o WF (withdrawal – failing)
regardless of the current grade in the course.
Conditions attributed to physical or psychological disabilities are not
considered as a legitimate excuse for disruptive behavior.
1 The description of disruptive behavior and
listings of examples of disruptive behavior are taken from the Web sites of
James Madison University, the University of Delaware and Virginia Tech.
Making up missed work
- Make-up
examinations will be given only if they are taken before graded examinations
are returned to students (usually the next class period). In the event
that a make-up examination cannot be taken before exams are returned to
students, the missed examination will not count in calculating the course
grade. This means that other graded work will be responsible for a
greater weight in determining the course final grade. The
format of make-up exams will be up to the discretion of the instructor.
- In the event of a serious accident, birth of a baby,
death of a family member, or jury duty, written documentation is required for
the length of time absent. Routine doctor visits (i.e., annual eye exam, cleaning
of teeth, etc.) should not be scheduled during class time.
- If you know you have a conflict prior to a scheduled
test, see the instructor to arrange to take the exam prior to that
day.
- Please contact instructor ASAP if
you miss an exam.
Quizzes and exams: Quizzes and exams will be given at
the beginning of the class period. If you come in late and the exam is still in
progress, you may take the exam, but you will not be given any additional time
to work. You must turn in your work when time is called.
Taking exams and quizzes: All electronic
devices including cell phones, palm pilots, pagers, calculators, etc. are not
allowed during exams or quizzes unless indicated by the instructor. Possession and/or use of these items
during an exam or quiz will result in a zero on the graded activity.
Late assignments:
Assignments are due on the posted due date and by the end of my scheduled
appearance on campus that day. Any work that is not turned in on the due date
will be considered late and penalized.
E-mail: Important messages and
announcements will be sent to you via your CSU account. You must activate your
account and check your e-mail regularly. If you cannot use your CSU
account, it is your responsibility to send me an alternate e-mail address.
You are responsible for all e-mails sent to the class
list.
Website: Check my web page, http://a-s.clayton.edu/bmusolf/,
regularly for new postings. You are responsible for printing out any handouts or other important items posted on
the syllabus for this class.
General policies:
Individuals with disabilities
who need to request accommodations should contact the Disability Services
Coordinator, Student Center 214, 770-961-3719, disabilityservices@mail.clayton.edu.
