Course Syllabus

Psychology 4353, Physiological Psychology

Fall 2009 [Updated August 30^th]

Department of Behavioral Sciences

College of Arts and Humanities

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is a study of the physiological basis of behavior, with an emphasis on learning the relationship between the nervous system and observable behavior. Neurodevelopment, the effects of drugs, and the biological basis of psychopathology will be some of the topics covered.

COURSE SEQUENCE IN CURRICULUM AND PREREQUISITE INFORMATION

Prerequisites: PSYC 1313 BIOL 1404, 2404, 2475, or 2414 and WRIT 2306

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Name: Robert C. Morecook PhD

E-mail: [email protected] and [email protected] [first two weeks]

Phone: 281-265-8060 daily 8 am to 9 pm

Office Location: To be announced

Office Hours: After Class

Web Page Address: http://RMorecook.fortunecity.com [at first]

This will eventually change to the HBU Blackboard system.

LEARNING RESOURCES

• Course Text(s): Freberg, Laura A. (2010). Discovering Biological Psychology [2nd Ed]. New York: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

• Supplementary Text(s): Freberg, Laura A. [2010]. Study Guide: Discovering Biological Psychology [2nd Ed.] New York: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

• Other materials – as announced in class and/or posted to my web page.

RELATION TO THE PURPOSE STATEMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY

Given that Houston Baptist University is founded on Christian principles and values, this course is taught in a manner that encourages honesty and accountability. Open inquiry and the integration of scholarship, service, and spirituality will be supported in this course. Furthermore, this course will provide part of a foundation for integrating a psychological perspective in many service and community contexts.

RELATION TO COLLEGE GOALS AND PURPOSES

This course supports the general goals of the College of Arts and Humanities through its constructivist approach, practical application, and appropriate use of technology.

RELATION TO DEPARTMENTAL GOALS AND PURPOSES

This course supports the goals and purpose of the Behavioral Science Department through its emphasis on the study of scientifically based approaches to understanding mental processes, affective states, and behavior. Furthermore, application of the course material to people with various concerns and in various settings will be discussed. This course encourages collegiality and sensitivity among students as well as in the greater community. Evaluation of course comprehension will be consistent, fair, challenging, and performance based. The opportunity to develop communication, critical thinking skills, teamwork, and application of learned materials will be provided.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to demonstrate mastery of key ideas in biological psychology by satisfactorily passing course examinations.

TOPICAL OUTLINE

Sept 25^th Test One – Selected Elements of Chapters One to Four

Oct 23^rd Test Two – Selected Elements of Chapters Five to EIght

Nov 20^th Test Three – Selected Elements of Chapers Nine to Twelve

Final Exam – All of the above PLUS Selected Elements of Chapters Thirteen to Sixteen

The content of this outline and the attached schedule are subject to change at the discretion of the professor.

TEACHING STRATEGIES

The primary teaching method will be lecture, using power point and videos as appropriate.

ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING

Course requirements

There will be three tests in the course and a final examination. The final examination is comprehensive. The tests and the final exam will be equally weighted.

The tests will consist of multiple-choice, fill in the blank, and essay type questions. There may also be drawings to label and or drawings to create from memory of biological structures or figures from the text or lecture.

You may use one 3” by 5” card -- front and back -- with your own notes while you are taking tests and the exam. These may be typed or hand written.

Grading standards

A = 90 or better. B = 80 to 89. C = 70 to 79. D = 60 to 69. F = 59 or less.

Extra Credit - Method One - Good Attendance

If you have perfect attendance beginning the second week of class through the end of the course I will add three points to your final course average. If you miss once, I will add two points to your final course average. If you miss twice, I will add one point. Three late arrivals count as one absence. If you come to class late, you must see me that same day after class and ensure that I mark you present. I do not change attendance rolls for prior days. If you arrive late and also leave early I will also count you absent that day. I also lower your final average one point starting with the fourth absence, and one more for each absence thereafter.

Extra Credit - Method Two - Writing Assignment - Due at the Time of Each Test or Exam

Internet Assignment: Go to the American Psychological Association website, the American Psychiatric Association website, or the American Neurological Association website. Find an article of interest to you related to the nervous system and behavior. [You may also use any other legitimate nervous system and behavior article you find on the internet.] PRINT OUT the article that you selected. Then summarize or critique and TYPE about 300 words describing your assessment of what you read. Use good grammar and writing skills. For each ‘successful paper' [good expression – content and grammar] I will add one point to the test grade. You can add up to 3 points to EACH TEST this way. For three points credit on each test, write three successful papers. CAUTION: do NOT 'simply copy' material from the internet to your own paper [or otherwise engage in plagiarism]. If you do, you will lose ALL extra credit for that test and prior tests and you will not be allowed to submit extra credit papers on future tests.

Student appraisal

Students will be able to provide feedback on the course using the standard methods at HBU.

CLASS POLICIES

Absence and Tardy Policies of HBU

• Attendance in class is important and it is university policy that students must attend class and that faculty will require attendance with penalties for non-compliance. Please see the catalog currently in use for the university’s policy on classroom absences caused in the course of student representation of the university, such as athletics, chorale, and mock trial activities.

• Apart from the absences caused when students represent the university, students might need to miss class and/or lab sessions from time to time due to illness or other reasons. Instructors will permit students to be absent from a maximum of three class meetings that are scheduled in this syllabus for MWF and for TTH courses during the Fall and Spring semesters. Upon the fourth absence, faculty will begin to penalize a student’s grade in the course as the professor deems appropriate. For summer session courses that meet throughout the week, instructors will permit students to be absent a maximum of 2 class meetings. For courses that meet once a week, whether regular semesters or in the summer, instructors will permit students to be absent a maximum of one or two class meetings (upon the discretion of the instructor) before penalties are applied. Students are advised to use the allowed absences for illnesses and significant events beyond their control. Regular attendance in class is important for student success. University policy also states a student must be present for at least two thirds of the classes to get credit for a course.

Dr. Morecook’s Attendance Policy

• After three absences [starting with the fourth absence] I will lower your final course average by one point for each additional absence. [See Extra Credit above for bonus for good attendance.] You must be present for at least two thirds of the classes to get credit for the course.

Academic Honesty

• Please refer to the current catalog for the university's policy and procedures regarding academic honesty. Note that the university utilizes "Turn-It-In" and other programs to investigate possible plagiarism activities. All major papers for this course will be submitted to the plagiarism prevention software, Turnitin.com on or before a paper’s due date. No paper will be graded without meeting this requirement beforehand. A separate handout will be provided to give detailed instructions on this process which must include the class identification number and class password.

• In accordance with FERPA, and to best protect the students’ privacy, no personal identification (e.g., name, social security number, H number) should be uploaded with the text of student papers. However, Turnitin will ask for the student’s name and e-mail address when setting up a personal account. This identifying information will be used by the professor to evaluate the student’s paper and cannot be viewed by other faculty or students. To further increase confidentiality, the student may choose to use a pseudonym (false name) when setting up his or her personal Turnitin account.

• If a pseudonym is used for Turnitin, the student must provide this identifier next to his/her typed name on the paper copy which is submitted to the professor.

Children in Classroom

• In almost all instances, children are not allowed in the classroom nor are they allowed to be on campus unattended. Class sessions are for enrolled students only unless other arrangements are approved by the instructor in advance.

Classroom Behavior Expectations

• The classroom environment is to be conducive to learning and is under the authority of the instructor. In order to assure that all students have the opportunity to gain from the time spent in class, students are expected to demonstrate civil behavior in the classroom and show appropriate respect for the instructor and other students. Inappropriate behavior toward the instructor, in or out of the classroom, may result in a directive to the offending student to leave the classroom or the course entirely.

• Classroom behaviors that disturb the teaching-learning experiences include the following behaviors: activated cellular phone or other device, demands for special treatment, frequent episodes of leaving and then returning to the class, excessive tardiness, leaving class early, making offensive remarks or disrespectful comments or gestures to the instructor or other students, missing deadlines, prolonged chattering, sleeping, arriving late to class, dominating discussions, shuffling backpacks or notebooks, disruption of group work, and overt inattentiveness.

• Laptops are allowed for use in my classroom.

Early Alert

• As an instructor, I am committed to your success, not only in this class, but in all aspects of HBU life. To ensure that every student takes full advantage of the educational and learning opportunities, HBU has implemented an Academic Early Alert Referral System (EARS). If I think you would benefit from some of these special programs or services available to you, I will make the appropriate referral. You, in turn, will be expected to take advantage of the help offered to you.

Email Policy

• All university and class email communication will be sent to your HBU email account. You are responsible for checking this frequently. If you choose, you may reroute your HBU email to another email address. Your emails should be in a professional format with correct spelling, capitalization, and grammar.

Grievance Procedures

• The Academic Grievance Policy may be found in the catalog currently in use, in the Academic section of the HBU Forms section of the HBU Portal, and on the Registrar’s page on the HBU Website.

Late Work

• I do not take late extra credit work.

Learning Disabilities/Academic Accommodations

• Houston Baptist University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 regarding students with disabilities. Any student who needs learning accommodations should inform the professor immediately at the beginning of the semester that he/she will be requesting accommodations. In order to request and establish academic accommodations, the student should contact the Coordinator for Learning Disability Services (Alison Childers) at 281-649-3274, Hinton Bldg #101, to schedule an appointment to discuss and request academic accommodation services. Academic Accommodations must be applied for and written each semester. If academic accommodations are approved, a Letter of Accommodations will then be sent to the professor(s).

Missed Tests

• If you are absent from a test and want a makeup, you must notify the instructor in the second week before final exams that you want a makeup. All makeups are given at 12 PM the last Friday of the course. If you do not ask for one or if you ask for one and do not show up, your final exam score will be used for the skipped test.

PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING SYLLABUS

Robert Morecook PhD developed this syllabus.

Robert Morecook

[Electronic signature] August 23, 2009

_____________________________________ ________________

Instructor’s Signature Date