Individuals with disabilities
who need to request accommodations should contact the Disability Services
Coordinator, Student Center 255, 678-466-5445, disabilityservices@clayton.edu.
Course description:
Number and title:
BIOL 3650L (CRN 85580, 85581, 85582), Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy Laboratory
Credit hours:
1.0 semester credit hours
Catalog description:
Laboratory to accompany BIOL3650.
Course pre-requisites:
BIOL1108/L
Course co-requisite:
BIOL3650, Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy. Withdrawal from BIOL3650L requires withdrawal from BIOL3650 and vice versa.
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, and Adobe Acrobat Reader.
In class use of Student Notebook Computers:
Student computers will be used in the classroom several times in the course. In addition, students will use their computers outside of class to access the internet, and to communicate with the instructor. Students are permitted to use their notebooks during class for taking notes or other appropriate uses. However, students who are found using their computer for activities not related to the course (including, but not limited to checking email, web surfing, instant messaging, etc.) will have their computer confiscated for the remainder of the class period and will NOT be allowed to use the computer in class in the future.
Course objectives:
 | To understand science as a process of inquiry. |
| To be able to apply principles of comparative anatomy to understand
evolutionary relationships between vertebrates and other animals.
|
Outcomes:
Biology Outcomes
BIOL3650L supports outcomes 1, 2, 4, and 5 of the biology major.
| 1. Students will display knowledge of the basic principles of major fields of biology. |
| 2. Students will display mastery of a broad range of basic lab skills
applicable to biology. |
| 4. Students will display the ability to communicate orally and in writing in a clear, concise manner. |
| 5. Students will demonstrate the ability to collect, evaluate and
interpret scientific data, and employ critical thinking to solve problems
in biological science. |
Term:
Fall Semester, 2007
Instructor information:
Instructor
Dr. Stephen Burnett
phone: 678-466-4774
fax: 678-466-4899
e-mail: sburnett@clayton.edu
internet address: http://a-s.clayton.edu/burnett/Office:
Arts and Sciences Building, room G110F
Office hours:
Mondays: 4:30-6:00pm
Wednesdays: 8:30-10:00am, 1:30-3:30 pm, and 4:30-6:00 pm
Fridays: 10-11:30 amDuring office hours, I will be in one of three locations: G110F (my office), the biology labs (C23, C29, or C32) or the research labs (C60 & C62). If I am not in my office, I will leave a note on my office door indicating where I can be found.
Class meetings:
Classroom
Business and Health Sciences Building, room C-32
Class time
9:00 am - 11:50 am (CRN 85580), 12:00 - 2:50 (CRN 85581), and 3:00 - 5:50 (CRN 85582) on Thursdays
Textbook information:
Required text:
Fishbeck, D.W., and Sebastiani, A. 2001. Comparative Anatomy: A Vertebrate Dissection Guide. Morton Publishing Co.
Text Coverage:
Chapters 1-7, 9-10, 12, 14-16, 18-21, 24-25, 27-29
Evaluation and grading:
Tentatively, the points will be distributed as follows:
Item Points 3 lab practicals 150 2 Class Reports 50 Attendance/Participation 20 TOTAL 220
Your final grade will be determined as follows:
Grade Points A 198 - 220 (90-100%) B 176 - 197 (80-89%) C 154 - 175 (70-79%) D 132 - 153 (60-69%) F Below 132 points
The mid-term grade in this course which will be issued by October 9th, reflects approximately 33% 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 fill out an official withdrawal form, available in the Office of the Registrar, by mid-term, which occurs on October 12th.
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. The exam date will be announced at least one week in advance.
Course policies:
General policies
Students must abide by policies in the Clayton State University Student Handbook. Students are also expected to abide by the guidelines in the "Basic Student Responsibilities" document. Of particular concern is disruptive behavior, where a student is not showing proper respect to the instructor or other students in the class. Such behavior will not be tolerated and a student engaged in such behavior will be required to leave the class, forfeiting the attendance points for that day as well as any other points that are associated with that day's activity. The ability of the student to return to class is determined by the instructor, based on the severity of the disruption, and can range from missing the current class period up to administrative withdrawal from the course. In addition, charges may be filed with the Office of Judicial Affairs.
Grades will not be communicated by phone or email - graded materials can only be picked up by the individual to whom it belongs.
Visitors, including children, are not allowed in the classroom.
No smoking, other use of tobacco, eating, or drinking is permitted at any time in the classroom.
Academic integrity
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: falsifying data from an experiment, 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 Student Conduct for any violation. Judicial procedures are described on the webpage of the Office of Student Conduct.
Attendance
You are expected to attend all class meetings and be on time. Attendance of all of the labs is REQUIRED and will be checked at each lab period. Unexcused absences from laboratory result in a grade of zero (0) for any graded work that was assigned that week as well as a loss of attendance points for that week's lab. You cannot turn in assignments from a lab you missed. Late arrivals will result in loss of attendance points for that week's lab. There are NO exceptions to this rule. Due to the nature of the laboratory exercises in this course, attendance at all lab meetings is vital to learn the material - any student who misses more than 50% of the lab periods (whether excused or unexcused) will be automatically withdrawn from the course. Attendance will be taken at each class meeting by signing the class roll, so it is vital that you sign the roll sheet even if you are late! Attendance and participation in class activities will be considered as part of your class grade. You are expected to remain in lab for the full time, so do not schedule other appointments during this time.
If you have a written excuse from a competent authority (doctor, judge, etc.), the missed points for the laboratory will not count against you. Excuses will not be accepted for routine procedures (checkups, teeth cleanings, eye exams, etc). Students should not schedule such appointments for lab times. If you miss lab, you are still responsible for the lab material on the lab practical. Be aware that being delayed due to traffic will NOT be accepted as a valid excuse for missing labs (including lab practicals).
There are NO makeups for lab practical exams. If you have a VALID excuse and you miss a practical you have 2 options. It is ultimately up to your instructor, which option is most applicable to your situation. PLEASE discuss it with your instructor.
You can take the practical in another lab section if you have permission from your lab instructor; however, arrangements must be made in a timely manner (i.e., this option will NOT be available the day of the practicals).
You can forfeit taking the practical and your total points in the lab will be adjusted accordingly (meaning that all the other assignments will make up a greater part of your final grade). YOU WILL BE UNABLE TO MISS MORE THAN 1 PRACTICAL REGARDLESS OF THE EXCUSE. MISSING MORE THAN ONE PRACTICAL IS CONSIDERED UNREASONABLE SINCE THE PRACTICALS ACCOUNT FOR THE MAJORITY OF YOUR GRADE. FOR THE SECOND MISSED EXAM, YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE A GRADE OF ZERO (0).
Electronic Devices
Turn off all unnecessary electronic devices during class. Unauthorized use of cell phones, MP3 players, etc. during class may result confiscation of the device and loss of attendance points for that day. All electronic devices including cell phones, palm pilots, pagers, calculators, etc. are not allowed during exams or quizzes. Possession of these items is forbidden during any graded activity, which means that they cannot be clipped on your belt, in your pocket, etc.) Possession and/or use of these items during an exam or quiz will result in an automatic zero on the graded activity.
Lab exercises
You are expected to prepare for the current week's lab topic prior to lab so that you will already be familiar with the subject matter. This will enable to you to work through the lab on your own, asking the instructor when you have questions. You are responsible for printing handouts and bringing them to lab.
Late assignments2
Unless otherwise stated by your instructor, lab reports and other assignments are due at the beginning of lab on the assigned days. Assignments that are not turned in at the beginning of lab lose 20% of their points. They lose an additional 20% per day. Under NO circumstances will lab reports be accepted more than one week after they are due. Turn in all of your lab materials together. No supplemental materials may be added once you have turned in you lab report or assignment.
Practical exams
The lab practicals will start at the beginning of the class period. If you come in late and the practical is still in progress, you may take the practical, but you will NOT be given any additional time to work. You must turn in your work when time is called.
Important messages and announcements will be sent to you via your CSU account. You must activate your account and check your e-mail regularly. Except under extenuating circumstances, the class e-mail list will be the sole means of contact by e-mail.
Website
Check my web page regularly for new postings. Handouts given in class and other important items will be posted on the web page for this class.
This page last updated July 29, 2008