University of Central Arkansas

BIOLOGY 3402

CELL BIOLOGY

SPRING  2003

Purpose and Content| Texts |Instructor |Office hours |Class Meetings |Grading| Makeup Policy| Attendance Policy| Academic Integrity & Conduct | Disability Disclosure | Disclaimer| Advice |

Purpose and content of course: This course is designed to review principles of cellular biology at an intermediate level. The course will emphasize quantitative thinking and learning through the scientific method. It will be assumed that students have previously completed a year of freshman level biology (Biology 1410, 1430 & 1431 or 1440, 1441), genetics (Biology 2490), a course in college algebra (Math 1390), physics (Physics 1410) and chemistry through Organic I (Chemistry 2401). The course is intended primarily for biology majors and serves as a prerequisite for upper division courses in Endocrinology and Plant and Animal Physiology.

Texts: Alberts, B. et al., 1998. Essential Cell Biology, Garland Publishing; Choinski, J.S., Jr. 1997. Experimental Cell and Molecular Biology, 2 nd edition, Wm. C. Brown Publishers

Instructor: Dr. John Choinski, Professor of Biology

Lewis Science Center (LSC) 019 or LSC 026 (Research laboratory)

Office hours: 830-1130a M, F or by appointment

Phone: 450-5918 (leave message on answering machine)

E-mail: johnc@mail.uca.edu

Class meetings: 925-1040 TTH; laboratories: 900-1150, 1400-1650 W

Grading:

*Lowest exam score will be dropped.

The final grade will be computed based upon the percentage of the possible points achieved. For example, 90-100% or 450-500 points will result in an "A" grade.

Makeup exams: NO MAKEUP EXAMS WILL BE GIVEN. IF YOU MISS AN EXAM FOR ANY REASON, THAT WILL COUNT AS YOUR DROPPED EXAM.

Late assignment policy: All assignments are due on the indicated day. Normally, late assignments will not be accepted. Under extraordinary circumstances (and with prior arrangements having been made) late assignments may be accepted with an assessed penalty of 10% of the earned grade for every day the report is late.

Attendance: Lecture attendance will not be monitored. Laboratory attendance is mandatory. TWO MISSED LABORATORIES CAN RESULT IN A "WF" GRADE BEING GIVEN.

Academic Integrity & Conduct: Students are expected to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity. Incidences of academic honesty and conduct such as cheating on exams/quizzes or plagiarism on lab reports will be dealt with severely. In particular, it is a policy of this course that even though lab data is gathered in a group, lab reports must be entirely independently written by each student. Students found in violation will be dismissed from the class with a WF (or F ) and a report filed with the appropriate academic advisor. Students are also expected to show respect for the instructor and their fellow students while in class and (other than asking relevant questions) refrain from talking or disrupting the class. Should you be asked to leave the class for any conduct violation, you will be dropped with a WF (or F) grade. NOTE: Cell phones must be turned off in class. The entire class will be penalized 2% on the next exam each time a cell phone rings during lecture.

Disability Disclosure: Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the instructor and Disabled Student Services (Bernard 205; 450-3135) at the beginning of the semester.

Disclaimer: Every attempt will be made to keep within the schedules set by this syllabus, although from time to time changes may be made. The instructor will endeavor to inform the class of these changes as soon as possible.

Advice: Many students have a hard time with this class. The major sources of difficulty seem to center around weaknesses in mathematics (problem solving) and in organic chemistry. If you fall into these categories, remember that you will have to work harder in these areas. Remember: Keep up with the material. Read and study every day, not just the day before an exam.