HUMAN PATHOPHYSIOLOGY Course Syllabus
1997-98 Biol. 320-321 Goshen College 3 credit hrs. / semester
Time: 2:00 MWF
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course describes the basic biology of various disease processes. It builds on the knowledge that you gained in Human Anatomy & Physiology. Building upon this basic background in human biology, the manifestations of various disease can be explained by the way these diseases disrupt normal physiology, anatomy and biochemistry. Knowing how diseases disrupt normal physiology can also help to understand the rationale behind many types of treatment. This will be the basic objective of this course -- understanding the biology of disease processes. Knowing the functional basis for diseases, you will be able to better understand what is happening to your patients, and the rationale for various kinds of therapy.
LECTURE OBJECTIVES: Lectures will generally follow the content of the text. My goal in lectures is to promote learning in various ways; in some cases by simplifying and better organizing what is in the text, in others by elaborating on what is in the text. I will try to explain things that may be unclear, and emphasize what is most important. I will frequently organize material in a completely different sequence than the text when I believe that is helpful. Occasionally I will bring in material not covered in the text, especially recent research that is relevant.
STUDY TIME: It pays to keep up and study your textbook, study guide, and class notes on a regular basis! Lectures will emphasize core concepts and relationships. Lectures will not cover everything your are responsible for.
HUMAN ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY: A sound background in human anatomy and physiology is absolutely essential to success in this course. The textbook does give a good review of the anatomy and physiology which is most important to each section. Because Human Anatomy & Physiology is a prerequisite to this course, we will not spend a lot of class time reviewing anatomy and physiology - you will need to review some of this on your own. It is very important that you understand the basic A&P! Understanding basic human anatomy and physiology is essential in order to make sense of diseases which create their effects by altering normal anatomy and physiology. There is also a lot of medical terminology covered in the text; it is not possible to explicitly cover all of this in class. As a guide to your studies, you are responsible for all material in the text, including the A&P, unless it is specifically excluded. All material covered in the textbook will be given approximately equal weight on tests.
SEATING ARRANGEMENTS: For the four tests and the final exam, you will be assigned seats. For other class sessions you may pick your own seat. However, to facilitate keeping attendance records, it would be helpful if you would stick with one location. I am asking that you pick a seat by Monday, Sept. 1. I will make a seating chart according to where you are sitting that day. Henceforth, if you are not in that seat at the beginning of class, I will count you absent. If you do sit at a different location, please let me know after class. If you would like to regularly sit at a different location, just let me know and I will change your location on the seating chart.
EVALUATION: Unless otherwise stated, you are responsible for all material covered in the class, textbook and study guide. However, unless I make an exception, tests will only cover material that has been assigned and/or covered in class since the previous test. Likewise, quizzes will include material covered since the previous test or quiz. The final exam will be comprehensive.
Please bring a pencil for use with every quiz and test. A mechanical pencil will work just as well as a regular one.
WEIGHT
|
GRADING SCALE
| ||||
4 Tests |
64% |
90-100% |
A | ||
Quizzes |
11% |
80-90% |
B | ||
Final Exam |
25% |
70-80% |
C | ||
TOTAL |
100% |
60-70% |
D | ||
<60% |
F | ||||
I will stick very closely to this percentage scale for grades. However, scores on tests and the final may be adjusted before they are returned to you (only in the upward direction). For example, a score of 40/50 may be returned to you with a mark of 85% instead of 80%. These adjustments are made on the basis of the difficulty of the test, not as a curve. I have statistical measures of the difficulty of the tests. Therefore, it is possible for everyone to get an 'A' on a test.
GRADEBOOK POLICY: I practice an open grade-book policy. You may see your records at any convenient time at my office.
;1. ATTENDANCE: I do not include attendance in the calculations that determine your class averages. It may make a difference in the case of borderline grades. In any case, I do expect you to attend all classes and labs, and to be on time, unless you are excused by me in advance (except in emergencies). To facilitate taking attendance, I will ask that you sit in the same seat after the first week of classes. If you want to change after that, please see me. In cases of borderline grades, attendance may affect the outcome. The following may be acceptable for approval of an excused absence:
2. Grading & Testing: I consider quizzes and tests to be useful not only for evaluating your work, but also as part of the learning process. For that reason, I allow you to leave the class with the quiz or test (EXCEPT NOT the final exam), so that you can immediately look up items that you have questions about, or are curious about. For the same reason, I return the results the next class period if at all possible, so that you get rapid feedback. It is OK to look at old quizzes and tests from previous years if you find that helpful. (Except NOT old final exams - I keep those.) If you would like to do that, but don't know where to get any, please ask me.
3. Questions about tests items: If something on a quiz or test seems ambiguous, please feel free to ask me about it during the test. If I can help you without 'giving away' the answer, I will do so. If you have questions about an item on a test after scores are returned, please feel free to ask me about that as well. However, to reserve class time for regular activities, please bring such questions to my attention after class. This can be immediately after class, or during lab, or any other convenient time. If you can convince me that there is a good reason why an answer other than the one I selected should be counted correct, I will give you credit for it. If you think that the computer has incorrectly scored your answer sheet, please see me about that as well.
I practice an open grade-book policy. You can at any time see the records that I have for you. I also try to always keep a current average, which you may also see.
3. Makeup policy
Questions about Lectures: If you have a question or comment during lecture that you think would be of interest to others in the class, please raise your hand. If the question or comment is likely to be of interest only to you or a few people, please wait until after class if you can. I would be glad to answer it then.
EXTRA HELP: If you have any problems with reviewing the background material from Human Anatomy & Physiology, or if you have problems with any other aspect of the course, at any time, please see me promptly. You may see me after class or at my office. I will give you any help I can. If helpful, arrangements can be made to obtain a tutor. There also may be occasional review sessions.
OTHER COMMENTS: Please feel free to stop by my office at any time. If I am in, the door is usually open. My office hours are posted on my door and on the web. You may also call and make an appointment if you would like a definite time to talk to me.