BI390– Embryology Fall 2017
M/W/F 8-8:50am Room 100 T Berry, Fayette Campus
Instructor: Jessica Epple-Farmer, M.S. & Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Anatomy & Physiology
Phone: 660-248-6367 (division office)
Note: the best way to contact me is through email.
Email: jepplefarmer@centralmethodist.edu
Office: Rec Center Multipurpose Room 101
Office Hours: M/W/F 9-10:45
CMU MISSION STATEMENT:
Central Methodist University prepares students to make a difference in the world by emphasizing academic and professional excellence, ethical leadership, and social responsibility
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In this course we will be introducing students to the concepts of embryonic development. These topics include gametogenesis and fertilization; cell communication, differentiation, and migration; organogenesis; stem cells, sex determination, and the germ line, as well as the expansion of these topics into the fields of medicine and ecology. The design of this course will include basic lecture and small group discussions many of which will be conducted online.
COURSE REQUIRED TEXTBOOK AND READINGS
Developmental Biology, by Gilbert & Barressi. 11th Ed. Sinauer Associates Inc. Sunderland Massachusetts U.S.A. (2016) Hardcover ISBN – 9781605354705
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon successful completion of the course, each participant should be able to:
- Detail the steps involved within gametogenesis and fertilization.
- Trace the early developmental pathway through gastrulation and axis formation.
- Detail the tissues involved with organogenesis and nervous system formation.
- Link developmental disturbances to issues of health, disease, and the environment.
COMMON CORE COMPETENCIES
Students will explore the nature of the universe in a variety of dimensions and will develop their values and beliefs.
GRADING BREAKDOWN (with included curve)
A: 89.5 and up; B: 79.5-89.4; C: 69.5-79.4; D: 59.5-69.4; F: 59.4 and below
COURSE ASSESSMENT
Weekly Discussion Forum (15x 20pts each) 300 points
Exam (5 X 140pts) drop lowest 800 points
Final Exam 140 points
Total 1000 points
COURSE ASSIGNMENT INFORMATION:
Weekly discussion Forum: Every Monday morning I will post a new topic for discussion that relates to the material currently being covered in class. The content of this discussion will typically be in the form of a video or article. As a student you will typically be expected to compose a 3 paragraph response post for 10pts. Then you are expected to read and respond in a single paragraph to 2 other posts by your class mates for 5 pts each. In order to give your classmates plenty of time to read and respond to your posts, I would like all initial posts to be up by Thursday midnight so that all responses can be completed by Sunday midnight
EXAMS- These 5 exams will be over the material covered in class notes/ PowerPoints as well as textbook definitions. Exams will include a variety of questions including but not limited to: definitions, multiple choice, true/false (if false, correct the statement to make it true), fill in the blank, labeling of diagrams, short and/or long essay questions.
Extra credit- 10points extra credit may be applied to your exam score if you hand write out all of the definitions from the chapters covered on the test. These will be the bold words within the text of the chapters. They are due on the day you take the exam and will not be accepted late since their sole purpose is to help you better prepare for the exam. This is an all or nothing score! I will allow a 5 term buffer for small mistakes or miscounts but beyond that there will be no partial extra credit points applied to the test
Final Exam: This exam will be cumulative covering information from the whole semester. It will be in the format of multiple choice!
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Students enrolled in this course are expected to attend all classes. I will be keeping track of attendance throughout the semester. If you miss class for a university-sponsored event, let me know before that class date. If you miss a lecture you are responsible for obtaining from a classmate (not the instructor) the notes on the materials covered in class that day and any announcements that are made. Excused absences include: university sponsored activities, interviews, illness, etc. Excused absences must be discussed with me before the absence occurs (except in cases of emergencies). If you have an excused absence from class when an in- class assignment or out-of-class assignment is due, you may turn in the assignment the following lecture day for full credit, and a 50% reduction in credit for each weekday afterwards. Late assignments due to unexcused absences will be accepted with a 50% reduction in credit for each weekday that it is late No make-up quizzes or exams will be given without an excused absence. I adhere to the university’s policy on absences, which can be found in the course catalog (http://www.centralmethodist.edu/catalogs/clas/policies/academic-regulations.php ) and reserve the right to withdraw any student from my class for excessive unexcused absences totaling more than 2 weeks of class meetings.( In other words you can’t miss more than 6 of our classes)
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES POLICY:
“Central Methodist University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or federally defined disability/state defined handicap ("disability"). This includes but is not limited to recruitment and admission of students, educational programs, services, activities, financial aid, and scholarship programs. The University complies with all federal and state non-discrimination requirements.”
The procedures, described in the university’s catalog, are intended to guide and assist faculty, staff, and students in complying with this policy and in determining reasonable accommodations to be made for the federally defined disability claimed. All materials and information regarding disabilities will be governed by the University’s normal policies regarding privacy.
To request reasonable accommodations for a disability, students must fill out and submit the application and information forms and provide professional documentation of the disability (These forms can be found at http://www.centralmethodist.edu/academics/learning-teaching/disability-accommodations.php ).
The information must be received by the staff of the Center for Learning and Teaching before reasonable accommodations are provided. Please see the website for the Center for Learning and Teaching for more information (http://www.centralmethodist.edu/academics/learning-teaching/ )
You may also want to read the recommended syllabus statement from the University of Missouri Disability Center (http://disabilitycenter.missouri.edu/faculty/syllabus.php).
ACADEMIC CONDUCT:
Students are expected to follow Central Methodist University's code of academic conduct and honesty as outlined in the current CMU catalog and on the CMU website. Any evidence of cheating or plagiarism may have any or all of the following consequences: 1. Grade of zero on the individual assignment 2. Grade of F in the class. 3. Dismissal from the class. 4. A notation of academic misconduct on your transcript.
COURSE SCHEDULE:
Notice this schedule contains general topic covered, the corresponding text book chapter, as well as all exam dates.