SS 2730

BioPsychology

Fall 2009

MWF 9:30 – 10:20 AM

SS 347

Professor’s Name: Dr. Lauren Fowler

Professor’s e-mail: LFOWLER@WEBER.EDU or WebCT Mail Tool

**This is by FAR the best way to contact me!

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

Office Hours: Mon, Wed, Fri 9:00–9:30 AM; Tues 11:45–12:15 PM; Also by appointment

Office Location: SS 368

Web Site: http://weber.edu/lfowler (WebCT is http://online.weber.edu)

I. Required Materials

A. Textbook: Kalat, J. W. (2007). Biological Psychology (9^th ed.). Pacific

Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company. (8^th edition will work, too).

B. #2 Pencils for taking exams

C. 50 cents, for purchasing exam scan-tron sheets

D. Desire to learn and have fun with BioPsychology!

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 and Projects

1. Four preliminary examinations will be given during the semester

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

Social Sciences Testing Center. See end of syllabus for information on testing

center hours. You have 3 days to take each exam.

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

December 4^th – 8^th in the Social Sciences Testing Center.

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

exam, so please schedule your time wisely. We will not have class on the day

of the exam. If you have a scheduling conflict, you may schedule to take an

exam a day 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. Extra Credit will be offered on each exam. As the name implies, this is credit

for work above and beyond what most students normally do. This means that

the grading for extra credit is more rigorous, and it is all or none. If you

perform in a substandard fashion, you may not receive any credit. You may not

go back at the end of the semester and try to bring your grade up by

completing numerous extra credit assignments. The only opportunity for

extra credit is found on the examinations.

5. A written research project pertaining to a topic in biopsychology will count for

20% of your grade. This project will be described in greater detail on a

separate handout. The research project is due no later than November 9^th at

the beginning of class. Your grade for late projects will be deducted 5%

points off per day late (beginning 5 minutes after the start of class on the

9^th).

B. 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 Exam Date________

(1), 2, 3 1 Sept 17^th – 19^th

4, 5 2 Oct 14^th – 17^th

6, 7 3 Nov 12^th – 14^th

14, 15 4 Nov 25^th – 30^th**

Comprehensive Final Dec 4^th – 8^th

**There is no class on 9/18, 10/16, 11/13, and 11/30. The 4^th exam is unique, in that it

begins on Wednesday AFTER our class and continues through Monday (the 30^th of Nov).

IV. Additional Information

A. Attendance

Attendance is not required for this class. However, anything discussed

in class may be included on an exam, even if that information is not

found in the textbook or study guide. In addition, I frequently show video

clips or longer videos that cannot be viewed at any time other than during

class. Thus, it is in everyone’s best interest to attend, and it is STRONGLY

suggested!!!

**IF you miss class, there are two things you can do to get the material you

missed. You may get the outline from the PowerPoint online, and/or you may

get notes from someone in class. PLEASE do not come to my office and ask

me IF YOU MISSED anything or if I will re-teach the material that you

missed. I will be more than happy to answer your questions, but you have to

put in the time to learn the material first!

B. Class Contact

Often it is necessary to miss a part or all of class. When that happens,

or when you have questions that you cannot answer on your own, it is

helpful to have the name and number of another student in class. Please use

the space below to write down the name, email, and phone number of at least

one student in this class who you can call (or you can use WebCT to email!):

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

C. Class Courtesy

This is a large class, so please be courteous to others when coming late to or leaving early from class. Also, please refrain from talking during class lecture, unless you are participating in a class discussion. Eating and drinking in class are allowed, as long as it is not disruptive to the learning environment. PLEASE TURN OFF CELL PHONES IN CLASS!! Any disruptive behavior will be addressed immediately, and if the behavior does not cease, you will be asked to leave class.

D. 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 me at the end of the class period. You will receive a

response, and any grade adjustment necessary, by the next class period.

THIS IS THE ONLY WAY that your concerns will be addressed. ONLY

written questions THAT YOU SUPPORT will be evaluated for grade changes.

E 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[u1] 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. If you have any questions about whether or not your work might be plagiarized, please give me a draft of your work prior to turning in the final draft. I can help you determine if there is plagiarism, but only if you ask me BEFORE you turn in your final version.

WSU subscribes to TurnItIn.com, an electronic service that verifies the originality of student work. Enrollment in this course may require you to submit some or all of your assignments to it this semester, and documents submitted to TurnItIn.com are retained, anonymously, in their databases. Continued enrollment in this course constitutes an understanding of and agreement with this policy.

F. Students with Disabilities

Any student requiring accommodations or services due to a disability

must contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) in room

181 of the Student Service Center. SSD can also arrange to provide

course materials (including the syllabus) in alternative formats if

necessary.

G. 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 ______

Project ______

Final Exam ______ Final Grade =

Average of 4 exams (your lowest is dropped after the final exam) and your project (each counts 20%)

VII. Testing Center Hours

All exams will be taken in the Social Sciences Testing Center, located in the basement of the Social Sciences building (SS 036). In order to take an exam, you must show up on the correct date at the appropriate times (listed below) with a form of picture ID. You also need 10 cents to purchase a scan-tron for each exam. You will not be allowed to take the exam without a picture ID or if you show up after hours. Please see the Social Science Testing Center hours listed below.

http://departments.weber.edu/testingcenter/hours.htm

Monday – Thursday

7:30 AM – 9:00 PM (Must show up by 8:00 PM to take an exam)

Friday

7:30 AM – 5:30 PM (Must show up by 4:30 PM to take an exam)

Saturday

9:00 AM – 4:30 PM (Must show up by 3:30 PM to take an 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.