[Home][up][Lecture schedule][course info][messages]

Comparative Animal Physiology
Biology 4434
Summer 2010

General Course Information

    Course Meets: Mondays & Wednesdays 3:00-5:30pm

    Room: 3209 Bayou Bldg.

    Instructor: Dr. Rick Puzdrowski

Office: Faculty Suite 3525 office #4

Office phone: 281-283-3750

Email: puzdrowski@uhcl.edu

                    I am most easily contacted by email!

Office hours: Tues. & Thurs. 5:00-6:00pm, & by Appointment.

Course webpage: http://sceweb/puzdrowski/

Prerequisites: 1 year of general biology and 1 semester of chemistry. This is a senior level course and assumes that the student has mastered basic biology and basic chemistry. Some knowledge of either organic chemistry or biochemistry will also be helpful, but is not necessary for doing well in the course.

Learning Objectives:

• To gain an appreciation of the complexity of the physiologic functions that occur in animals.
• To gain an understanding of how animals respond and adapt physiologically to environmental challenges.
• To describe and understand the functioning of the different physiologic systems at work in the body of animals and the differences and similarities between these systems.
• To comprehend the physical/chemical/biological laws that govern the functioning of physiologic systems.
• To develop skill at applying knowledge of physiologic principles in answering questions and writing essays.

Required Text: Animal Physiology: Adaptation and Environment, 5^th edition, by Knut Schmidt-Nielsen, Cambridge University Press. This book is available at the UHCL bookstore.

Lecture Attendance: Lecture attendance is strongly recommended. The exam questions will focus on the material covered in lecture. HOWEVER, YOU WILL BE EXPECTED TO DO THE ASSIGNED READINGS AND ANY MATERIAL FROM THESE READINGS IS FAIR GAME FOR EXAM QUESTIONS.

As a courtesy to the class, all pagers and cellular telephones should be set to “vibrate” during lecture. Responses to cellular phones should be restricted to emergencies. If you need to respond to a phone call during lecture, please leave the room.

Exams: There will be four exams given on the dates shown in the tentative lecture schedule. The exams will consist of multiple choice, True/False, matching, and essay questions. Each exam will be worth 100 points. The exam schedule and format may be changed at the course instructor’s discretion. No make up exams will be given, unless you can provide a verifiable excuse acceptable to the instructor. Doctors excuses must have the original signature of the physician that diagnosed your illness, and the doctors phone number.

Grades: Final grades will be based on the total points accumulated from the four exams. No make up exams will be given, unless you can provide a documented excuse acceptable to the instructor! The total possible points for the course is 400. Your final grade will be determined as a percentage of this total (for example 300/400= 75%). Letter grades will be assigned according to the scale, 90-100=A, 80-89=B, 70-79=C, 60-69=D, and less than 60 =F. I want everyone to get an ‘A’ in the course, so study hard, ask questions, and good luck! If you feel that you are having trouble with the material, please see the instructor immediately, so that help can be provided. PLEASE, don’t wait until the last exam if you are having difficulties!

Honor Code: Students will be expected to adhere to the UHCL Academic Honesty Policy. This policy is detailed on pages 71-74 of the 2009-2010 UHCL Undergraduate Catalog. A student found in violation of this honor code will be held accountable for his or her behavior.

Students with Disabilities: If you are certified as disabled and entitled to accommodation under the ADA Act, Section 503, please tell me immediately so that arrangements can be made. If you are not currently certified and think you may qualify, please contact the Health and Disability Services Office.

Drop Date: The last day to drop the course and receive a WX on your transcripts is July 15th, 2010.

Note: It is your responsibility to initiate the drop process; I cannot drop you from the class. If you simply stop attending the course and have not taken the exams I will be required to assign you a grade of ‘F’.

Assignment of an Incomplete Grade: The UHCL policy regarding assigning incomplete grades (‘I’) states that a student must be making "satisfactory progress" in order to receive an incomplete. I interpret this to mean that you must have a grade of ‘C’ to receive an incomplete (‘I’) for the course.

6 Drop Rule Limitation: Students who entered college for the first time in Fall 2007 or later should be aware of the course drop limitation imposed by the Texas Legislature.  Dropping this or any other course between the first day of class and the census date for the semester/session (June 14th) does not affect your 6 drop rule count.   However, dropping a course between the census date and the last day to drop a class (July 15th) for the semester/session will count as one of your 6 permitted drops.  You should take this into consideration before dropping this or any other course. Visit www.uhcl.edu/records for more information on the 6 drop rule and the census date information for the semester/session.