BIOL/CHEM 4900 - Biocomputing
Course Syllabus - Fall 2009

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/CHEM 4900 (CRN 87450).  Biocomputing

        Credit Hours:

        3.0 semester credit hours

        Course Description:

The human genome project and the web revolution present new challenges and opportunities for biologists. The only way to deal effectively with the information explosion in biology is to use computers.  Students in this course will use computer applications to search databases, perform calculations and develop models concerning biological problems.

        Course Prerequisites:

        Prerequisites: BIOL 3250, BIOL 4201 and  MATH 1231

        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:

In-class Use of Student Notebook Computers:

Student notebook computers will be used during EVERY class meeting in this course. Computers will also be required to access course materials and to communicate with your instructor. 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 lose attendance points.  This same limitation applies to the use of any other electronic devices in class (including, but not limited to cell phones, personal digital assistants, etc.).

Course Objectives:

Student Learning Outcomes:

Biology Outcomes: BIOL/CHEM 4900 supports outcomes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the biology major:

Instructor Information:

Dr. Stephen Burnett
phone: 678-466-4774
fax: 678-466-4797
office: Faculty Hall - A28A
e-mail: sburnett@clayton.edu
Internet address: http://a-s.clayton.edu/burnett/
Office hours: Tuesday 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm, Wednesday 3:00 - 5:00 pm, Thursday 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm, some lab times, and by appointment.  During office hours, I will generally be in one of three locations:  A28A (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.


Dr. Richard Singiser
Office phone: (678) 466-4792
Fax: (678) 466-4797
Office: Faculty Hall - A31F
e-mail: Rsingiser@clayton.edu
Internet address: http://a-s.clayton.edu/rsingiser/
Office hours: Tuesday & Thursday: 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm (Faculty Hall 31F)
Wednesday 9:00 am - 12:00 pm (Faculty Hall 31F)
or by appointment

Class Meetings:

Days Times Room
T, R 3:35  - 4:50 pm B13

 

Textbook Information:

Fundamental Concepts of Bioinformatics by Krane and Raymer.  Pearson Education, 2003.  ISBN:  0-8053-4633-3

Victoria E. McMillan.  Writing papers in the biological sciences, 4th edition.  Bedford/St. Martin's.  New York.

Evaluation:

Your evaluation in BIOL 4900 will be based upon the following components:  

component

points
Assignments 100
Exams (midterm and final) 200
Final project 75
Attendance 15
Appropriate Behavior*

10
TOTAL

400

*Appropriate behavior applies primarily to the use of unauthorized electronic devices during class time.  Use of cell phones, IPods, pagers, PDA's, etc. by any student during lecture will result in a loss of these points for ALL students in the class.  Specifically, any student using such devices during class (e.g., texting during lecture) will cost the ENTIRE class 2 points.  If any such device plays its ringtone or makes any other noise during class, the ENTIRE class loses 5 points.  At the beginning of each class, your instructor will remind you about this policy.  Students who routinely violate this policy may have additional points removed from their individual scores.  For other types of disruptive behavior, the instructor reserves the right to remove points from offending students as well.

Grading:

The grade you receive in BIOL 4900 will be based upon the following distribution:

letter grade percentage range point range
A 90% or greater 360-400
B 80% - 89% 320-359
C 70% - 79% 280-319
D 60% - 69% 240-279
F less than 60% < 240

 


Mid-term Progress Report

The mid-term grade in this course which will be issued by October 6th, 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 9th.

Tentative 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. The instructors reserve the right to change the schedule as necessary and will communicate any changes clearly to the class. 

Course Policies:

Assignments:

Homework assignments will vary in length and format, and will be graded. Details for each assignment will be announced in class and posted on the course website. Each student must submit their own work for grading. Each homework assignment must be completed on a word processor, printed and turned in on the due date, which will be announced in class and will be on the course web site. Homework assignments will not be accepted via email. Any work that is turned in after class on the due date will be considered late and penalized 10%.  Assignments will be penalized an additional 10% for each extra day late.  Under no circumstances can an assignment be turned in more than 9 days late. Problems with printing, including SmartPrint, are not acceptable valid excuses for late work.

Attendance:

Attendance is required, and is a component of your grade in the course. If you are more than 10 minutes late to class you will be marked as absent. If you are absent from more than 50% of the classes this semester (excused or unexcused) you will be automatically withdrawn from the class. Come to class prepared. If you do not have your computer with you in class, you are unprepared and will lose attendance points for that day. Absences may be excused if you provide the instructors with a note from a competent authority (doctor, judge, etc.). The excuse must specifically indicate the dates that are to be excused, and must be presented upon the first class day that the student returns to school.

Academic Irregularity:

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 any information submitted on course assignments, copying the work of another person, allowing another person to do your assignment,  working in a group on a graded item that is not intended as group work, 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 on the webpage of the Office of Judicial Affairs.

Exams:

There will be one in-class midterm examination and one 2-hour final (comprehensive). All examinations are closed book. Attendance is mandatory.  If a student has an excused absence on an exam day, the student's final exam percentage score will be used in place of the missed exam score.  No make-up exams will be given. Without a valid excuse, a grade of zero points will be assigned for any missed work. Exams will be given at the beginning of the class; if you arrive late, you may be permitted to take the exam as long as the materials have not been collected from the class.  However, you will be required to turn in the assignment at the same time as the rest of the class - NO extra time will be given. 

NOTE: Excuses for graded assignments can only be applied if you were NOT present to take the assignment.  If you take the exam/quiz, you cannot ask not to count that assignment in your grade after the fact.  In such situations, you will receive the score you earned on the assignment.  If you know of an extenuating circumstance, it is in your best interest to discuss it with your instructors ASAP.

For any excuse to be "acceptable", you must provide me with a note from a competent authority (doctor, judge, etc.).  For this purpose, a note from your parents is NOT acceptable.  The excuse must specifically indicate the dates that are to be excused and must be presented upon the first class day that the student returns to school.  In addition, excuses will not be accepted for routine procedures (checkups, teeth cleanings, eye exams, etc).  Students should not schedule such appointments for class times.

If a cell phone or other electronic device makes noise (by ringing, buzzing, etc.) and disrupts the testing environment, the instructor will penalize the responsible student(s) by taking points from their exam score.

Disruption of the Learning Environment

Behavior which disrupts the teaching–learning process during class activities will not tolerated.  While a variety of behaviors can be disruptive in a classroom setting, more serious examples include belligerent, abusive, profane, and/or threatening behavior.  A student who fails to respond to reasonable faculty direction regarding classroom behavior and/or behavior while participating in classroom activities may be dismissed from class.  A student who is dismissed is entitled to due process and will be afforded such rights as soon as possible following dismissal.  If found in violation, a student may be administratively withdrawn and may receive a grade of WF.  A more detailed description of examples of disruptive behavior and appeal procedures is provided at: http://a-s.clayton.edu/science/Biocomputing/Disruptive Classroom Behavior.doc

Conditions attributed to physical or psychological disabilities are not considered as a legitimate excuse for disruptive behavior.

E-mail

Each student must activate his/her e-mail account at Clayton State University. The class list serve will be the only method for communicating with the class by email.  Important announcements will be sent to the class on the class list serve.  You should also check the course web page regularly for new postings. Handouts given in class and other important items will be posted on the web page for this class.

Communication from personal email accounts (e.g., Yahoo, gmail, etc.) is acceptable, as long as the following requirements are met:

  1. You clearly identify yourself in the body of the email
  2. You clearly identify which class you are writing about
  3. The subject line of your email is suitably descriptive that it is clear that it is not Spam or a virus (e.g., do not send emails with a subject of "Hello", etc.)
  4. You do not ask specific questions concerning grades, as they cannot be discussed by email.

Emails that do not meet these requirements will not receive a response.

Other Class Policies:

Syllabus Acknowledgement

All students are required to read, understand, and follow all the guidelines/requirements listed in this syllabus.  To verify that you have read the syllabus, you are required to fill out this form and click on the submit button to send the information to your instructors.  This requirement will be worth 3 points as an assignment.  If it is not completed by the end of the first week of class, you will receive a zero for those points.

Please identify and describe yourself:

      First Name 
       Last Name 
Clayton State ID Number

I have read and understand all stated policies and procedures contained within the Fall 2009 syllabus for BIOL4900:

yes


Drs. Burnett & Singiser
Copyright © 2009 Clayton State University. All rights reserved.
Revised: 05/06/10