Psychology 355 - Biological Psychology – Section A
Fall 2010
Dr. John P. Galla 

HOW TO CONTACT ME

OFFICE: My office is in Kapelski Learning Center, room 137B.
 
OFFICE HOURS: My office hours for fall 2010 are M 1-3:50, W 1-2:00 PM and F 8-8:50 AM.  You may meet with me at other times if you make an appointment.

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.  I do not discuss grades over the telephone.

EMAIL:  You may also email me at jpgalla@mail.widener.edu.  However, due to the burden of unsolicited email, and of 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 A).
             Email without this information will be erased without  being opened.  I do not discuss grades via email. 

GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION

Time & Place:                            MWF 11:00 – 11:50 AM, LC 118
Text:                                         Kalat, J. W. (2009). Biological Psychology (10th ed.). Belmont,
                                                CA:  Wadsworth-Cengage.  ISBN 0495603007
Companion Study Site:              Companion study site

COURSE POLICIES

Attendance:  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, I reserve the right to reduce your grade by 5 percentage
                    points for each absence beyond six.

Arriving Late:  I expect you 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.  I reserve the right to reduce your grade by 5 percentage points for each late arrival beyond three (i.e., if you are habitually late). 

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.

Electronic Devices:  Cell phones, IPods, pagers, laptop computers, Bluetooth or wireless devices 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 any violation of this policy. This includes texting!  Please note that violation of this policy for any reason during an exam will be
                              considered evidence of cheating and you will be dropped from the course with an F for academic fraud.  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 2010-2011 Student Handbook,
               Undergraduate, Day Session.  Please note that use of an electronic device (e.g., cell phone) during an exam will be considered evidence of cheating
               and you will be dropped from the course with an F for academic fraud.

Assignments: Reading assignments appear on the course outline. You are 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, information not
                     found in the text will be presented during lecture and discussion.  In addition, Cengage Publications has a companion study site that contains a
                     number of learning aids including practice multiple choice and true/false quizzes.

Exams:  There will be 4 exams and an optional final (for those who qualify).  Exams will be based on information from lecture and the text.  The four exams will
              be averaged together to arrive at your final grade (i.e. each regular exam is worth 25% of the final grade).  If after completing all 4 exams you have an
              average not less than 55 and not more than 59, you may, at your option, take a cumulative essay final.  If you earn at least 70 points (out of 100) on
              the cumulative final, you will receive a D for the course.
  
              I expect you to take each exam on the scheduled date.  I have tentatively scheduled exams for Friday, September 24; Friday, October 15; Friday,
              November 5; and Wednesday, December 8.  If you miss 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 10, 2010 (the last day of classes). 

 GRADES:  Letter grades will be assigned as indicated

Grades:  Letter grades will be assigned as indicated in the table below.  Please understand what this table means.  If your final average is a minimum of 93
              you earn an A, below 93 you do not earn an A.  If your average is 80 you earn a B-, below 80 you do not earn a B-, and so forth.  I do not round up
              to the next highest grade.

Psychology 355 - Course Outline, Fall 2010 Semester