BIOLOGY 1410 – HUMAN BIOLOGY
– Summer 2007
Instructor Information
Dr. Michael Dixon Office
Hours:
016 Cavness M
F 11:15 - 12:15
942-2189 ext.236 TWR
8:45 - 9:45
michael.dixon@angelo.edu
About This Course:
Daily the news media report on new discoveries in biology
including human genetics and medicine. This course will help you
understand these developments and make informed decisions regarding your
biological self. We will do this by studying the biological nature of
humanity with an emphasis on human structure and function.
The content of Biology 1410 includes generalizations and specifics
of human biology. You are expected to understand and remember the facts
presented and to demonstrate an ability to work with those facts. This
information will be presented during lecture, in the laboratory and through
reading your textbook and other assigned material.
Evaluation of each student will be based on performance in both
the lecture section (75%) and the lab section (25%).
Learning Outcomes:
As a result of successfully completing this course you should have an
understanding of the major systems of the human body, genetics and evolution.
Materials Required:
Human Biology, author Sylvia S.
Mader, 9th Ed.
Laboratory Manual for Human Biology, ed. Michael Dixon, 7th
Ed.
Internet Access and E-mail
Some assignments and course materials will be
available at the course web site, http://www.angelo.edu/faculty/mdixon/HumanBiology/ or on the Blackboard
web site http://blackboard.angelo.edu/.
You are expected to check your e-mail
regularly. Your Òusername@angelo.eduÓ address will be used for class
correspondence unless you enter a substitute address on Blackboard.
Attendance:
You are expected to attend all lecture and lab periods. The
single most important thing you can do to get a good grade in this course is to
show up. I will take attendance regularly. Quizzes and other
in-class activities may not be made up. You will get a zero on the
assignment if you are not present.
Exams:
There will be four tests given during the semester plus a final
exam. Each examination will include information presented in class and
from your textbook. Each test will be comprehensive - that is it will
include material presented at any time during the course. This is
unavoidable because early topics of discussion are built upon and expanded as
the course progresses.
Exams will be mostly multiple-choice but may include a few short
answer questions. You must bring a #2 pencil on exam days. Scantron answer sheets will be
provided. Exams will cover material covered up through the last class day
before the exam.
Missing an exam is a very serious matter. If you have a
documented legitimate excuse, such as severe personal illness, a death in your
family, or a university-sponsored event, you must notify me before the exam or
very promptly afterward. I will work with you if you act
responsibly. If you miss an exam for any other reason or do not notify me
promptly then I will use the score you get on the final exam to replace ONE
missing exam grade. If you have missed two or more exams you will receive
a zero for the other exam grades.
Angelo State University expects its students to maintain complete
honesty and integrity in their academic pursuits. Students are responsible for
understanding the Academic Honor Code, which is contained in both print and web
versions of the Student Handbook.
As a reward to those of you who put in the necessary work, the
final exam is optional if you have an ÒAÓ average in all of your work at the
end of the semester. This includes both the lab and lecture portions of
this course.
Laboratory:
Lab attendance is mandatory, missed labs cannot be made up.
Final Grade Calculation:
Your grade in this course will be determined by adding together
all of the points you earn on your tests, quizzes and any other assignments and
then dividing this number by the total number of points possible. ÒExtra
credit or bonusÓ assignments will be added in to the total you earned without
adding them into the number of possible points. This will be your lecture
average. It is worth 75% of your course grade.
All of the scores on your laboratory exercises will be averaged
together to determine your laboratory average. This is worth 25% of your
course grade.
An example of how to calculate your average is posted on the
course web site.
Special needs:
Angelo State University cannot require a student to disclose that
they have a disability. However, if you have a disability that requires
special accommodation, you should contact the Office of Student Life, Room 100
in the Hardeman Building, phone 942-2191. ASU Faculty have been
instructed by the University that Òin order to maintain consistency in services
across campusÓ, we are to provide no accommodation without authorization from
the Office of Student Life.
Withdrawal From the Course:
You are not automatically withdrawn from a course if you stop
attending. If you stop attending class and do not withdraw I am required
to submit a grade for you. This ÒFÓ cannot be removed.
Note: Course syllabi are intended to provide students with basic
information concerning the course. The syllabus can be viewed as a
ÔblueprintÕ for the course; changes in the syllabus can be made and students
will be informed of any substantive changes concerning examinations, the
grading or attendance policies and changes in assignments.
Test Dates: