WIDENER UNIVERSITY
Social Science Division
Psychology 355 - Biological Psychology - Section B
Fall 2008
Dr. John P. Galla 

HOW TO CONTACT ME:

OFFICE: My office is in Kapelski Learning Center, room 137B.  I invite you to talk to me about any questions or problems concerning this course.

OFFICE HOURS: My office hours for fall 2008 are M 8-8:50 AM and 2-2:50 PM, W 8-8:50 AM and 2-2:50 PM, and F 8-8:50 AM.  My schedule is posted on my office door (LC 137B) and in the Social Science suite (LC 226).

PHONE: You may call me at (610) 499-4371.  If I am not in my office, leave a voice message that includes your name, number where I can reach you, the times I can reach you, and the reason for your call. Please note:  I will not discuss grades over the telephone.

EMAIL: You may also email me at jpgalla@mail.widener.edu.  However, due to the continuing increase in unsolicited email, and in destructive viruses carried in email, I will only respond to your email if your name, and the number and section of your course appear in the subject line (e.g., Your Name, Psy 355, Section B) .  Email without this information will be erased without being opened.  Please note:  I will not discuss grades via email. 

GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION

Time and Place:  Sec B Lecture:  M/W/F  09-09:50AM, LC 118

Text: Garrett, B. (2009). Brain & Behavior: An Introduction to Biological Psychology (2nd Edition), Sage Publications, Los Angeles, CA.  Note: Please bring your textbook to all classes.

COURSE POLICIES

Attendance: From my perspective it is imperative that you attend all classes.  Historically, poor attendance in this class is significantly correlated with low-test grades.  You are allowed six absences (provided they do not occur on the day of a scheduled exam).  These allowed absences are provided so that you won't be penalized for the occasional "doctor's appointment" or "away game."  However, your grade will be reduced by 5 percentage points for each absence beyond six.

Arriving late:  Students are expected to be on time for class.   If you do find yourself late for class I ask that you enter the classroom in an unobtrusive manner and find the nearest available seat.  Those who are habitually late (more than three times after the lecture has started) will have their final course averages reduced by 5 percentage points for each late arrival.

Recording: Recording lectures is generally prohibited.  A student with special needs may be allowed to record lectures if 1) official documentation regarding the special need is presented and 2) a standard contract is signed regarding the use and disposition of the recorded lectures.

Cell Phones, Lap Tops, and Pagers:  All cell phones, lab top computers, and pagers must be turned off during the class period. I subscribe to the campus alert system and my own cell phone will remain on during class in case of an emergency.  I will deduct 5 percentage points from your final grade for each cell phone / lap top / pager incident.  Sorry - no exceptions. 

Cheating: Although I have never had a cheating incident in this course, we will adhere to the cheating policy which appears in the 2008-2009 Student Handbook, Undergraduate, Day Session. In the event of a cheating incident, the cheating policy will be rigorously enforced!

Assignments: Reading assignments appear on the course outline. You are required to read the assigned chapters and to be prepared to discuss them in class. Although you are responsible for all material in the assigned chapters we will not cover everything found in the chapters in class.  Moreover, additional information not found in the text will be presented during lecture and discussion.  

To help you comprehend the reading, your text has a companion study site at:  www.sagepub.com/garrettbb2study   This site includes the following:

·       Flash cards that allow for easy reviewing of key terms and concepts;

·       Self-quizzes that can be used to check their understanding of the material or can be sent in to the professor for a grade;

·       Web resources and exercises that direct students to various sites on the Web and offers suggestions for using the sites;

·       Suggested Readings and Discussion Questions – which gives suggestions of original research students can review on their own or for course credit,
   along with questions that ask them to reflect on the reading; and

·       Thirteen animations of 16 key figures in the text to give students a dynamic look at various biological processes

EXAMS AND GRADES:

Exams:  There will be 4 exams and a cumulative final.  Each exam is worth 15% of your final grade.  The cumulative final is worth 40%. Questions will consist of essay questions, multiple choice questions, key term definitions, or some combination of these. The final will consist of 100 multiple choice questions.  The exams are tentatively scheduled for: 9/26, 10/31, 11/21, and 12/10.  The registrar will schedule the final.

I expect you to take each exam on the scheduled date.  If (however unlikely) I excuse you from taking an exam on a scheduled exam date, you will have to take a make-up exam.  All make-up exams will be given on Friday, December 12, 2008.

Please understand that if you miss an exam without prior written permission from me (or the end of the world as we know it), you will receive a zero for the missed exam.

Note:  Remember to take the self-quizzes for each chapter at the companion website:  www.sagepub.com/garrettbb2study

Grades:  Letter grades will be assigned as follows

Psychology 355 - Course Outline, Fall 2008 Semester

Dr. Galla's Home Page
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This page was last updated on 09/04/08.