Instructor: Dr. Eliza Nelson Phone: (305) Office: DM 201A (MMC) Fax: (305) Tuesday/Thursday 11:00-12:00 pm or by appointment

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1 COURSE SYLLABUS INTRODUCTORY BIO-PSYCHOLOGY PSB-4002-UHA (SPRING 2016) GENERAL INFORMATION PROFESSOR INFORMATION Instructor: Dr. Eliza Nelson Phone: (305) Office: DM 201A (MMC) Fax: (305) Office Hours: Tuesday/Thursday 11:00-12:00 pm or by appointment Send an for a fast reply in 24 hrs. Do not use Blackboard Messaging. Website: GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANT INFORMATION Instructor: Dea Garic Phone: (305) Office: DM 248F (MMC) Fax: (305) Office Hours: Wednesday 12:00-2:00 pm or by appointment dgari004@fiu.edu Send an for a fast reply in 24 hrs. Do not use Blackboard Messaging. COURSE DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE PSB 4002 is a course introducing students to the biological foundations of behavior, and should be taken by advanced undergraduate students (junior/senior status) only. The course is organized into four units: (1) the neural foundations of behavior, (2) motivation and emotion, (3) sensory systems, and (4) complex behavior. Topics include nervous system organization, drugs and addiction, movement, learning and memory, psychological disorders, and sleep and consciousness. COURSE OBJECTIVES By the end of the course, you will be able to: Describe and explain how the nervous system works Critically discuss the reciprocal relationship between biology and psychology Understand typical and atypical brain-behavior relationships

2 MAJOR & CURRICULUM OBJECTIVES TARGETED There are no listed Major & Curriculum Objectives targeted by this particular course. Should you have any questions, please contact the professor. TEACHING METHODOLOGY This course is a hybrid class. Half of the classroom time is replaced with online activites. You must be able to complete online assignments in a timely manner, and attend class each week on Tuesdays from 2:00-3:15 pm in PC 428. This course is not a fully online class. If you cannot reliably attend class on Tuesdays, you should not take this course. You are expected to maintain a courteous and professional manner when interacting with your professor and classmates both in class as well as online. Time spent on this hybrid course is no different from time you would expect to spend in a typical face-to-face course. You should plan to spend 9-12 hours per week on this course, including reading the textbook, completing online assigments, taking quizzes, attending class, and other activities to prepare for exams. A study guide prepared by your professor is distributed at the end of each of the four major units. A study workbook prepared by the publisher is also available for purchase to help you prepare for the course. We will use class time for: Expanding on the textbook to include newer/more advanced information Explaining and practicing difficult concepts Asking and answering questions Taking high stakes tests We will use online activities for: Giving an overview of major concepts, minor points, and how they fit together Completing assignments to prepare for class time Taking low stakes quizzes so that the professor knows which topics are most difficult Videos that provide examples of key concepts POLICIES IMPORTANT INFORMATION Please review FIU's Policies webpage. The policies webpage contains essential information regarding guidelines relevant to all courses at FIU, as well as additional information about acceptable etiquette for courses with an online component. You will be held to these policies, so please read them carefully. Office Hours Policies: You do not need an appointment to come to office hours. Your professor and any teaching assistant staff are available in their offices during the posted times and see students on a firstcome, first-serve basis. If you cannot make the posted times, please send an to make an appointment. If you are struggling with the material, please come in ASAP. If a significant personal or medical problem arises, do not wait to contact your professor to make appropriate arrangements. Do not wait until it s too late to get help!

3 Policies: Please address your Dear Professor and sign your name at the bottom. Include your PID in all correspondence. Your professor and any teaching assistant staff reserve the right not to respond to hey you or otherwise unprofessional s. Blackboard does not send an alert for messages; do not use the Blackboard system to contact your professor. In this class, the typical response time for an is 1 day. Classroom Policies: Please be respectful of class time and your peers. Kindly refrain from talking, texting, or using technology for non-class related activities. If you are disruptive (including arriving late), your professor has the right to ask you to leave. You cannot earn credit for in-class activities in you arrive late or leave early. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS/SKILLS One of the greatest barriers to taking a hybrid course is a lack of basic computer literacy. By computer literacy we mean being able to manage and organize computer files efficiently, and learning to use your computer s operating system and software quickly and easily. Keep in mind that this is not a computer literacy course; but students enrolled in online courses are expected to have moderate proficiency using a computer. Please go to the What s Required page to find out more information on this subject. You are responsible for ensuring that you have access to a computer that is compatible with Blackboard, that you have access to a reliable internet connection, and that you check your FIU at least daily. This course utilizes the following tools online: 1. Discussion Boards 2. Online Private Journal 3. Annoucements and s Please visit our System and Technical Requirements webpage for additional information. ACCESSIBILITY AND ACCOMMODATION This course utilizes the following tools online: 1. Discussion Boards 2. Online Private Journal 3. Annoucements and s Please visit our ADA Compliance webpage for information about accessibility involving the tools used in this course. Please visit Blackboard s Commitment to Accessibility webpage for more information. For additional assistance please contact FIU s Disability Resource Center. Disability students should submit DRC paperwork in the first week of class for accommodations.

4 COURSE PREREQUISITES There are no prerequisites required for this course. However, this is an upper-level course and your professor recommends that students with freshman or sophomore status wait to take this course. PROCTORED EXAM POLICY There are no proctored exams for this course. All exams are taken during class time. TEXTBOOK (REQUIRED) Brain & Behavior: An Introduction to Biological Psychology (4 th edition) Bob L. Garrett Sage Publications (2015) ISBN: BUNDLE ISBN: (unique to FIU Bookstore) You may buy your textbook online at the FIU Bookstore. If you buy the textbook bundle in the bookstore, you will get the study guide workbook for just $5 more. The bundle discount is not available through online retailers. If you are not purchasing the study guide, there are options for finding the textbook as an used paper copy, an e-book, or a rental to save on cost. STUDY GUIDE WORKBOOK (OPTIONAL) Study Guide to Accompany Bob Garrett s Brain & Behavior: An Introduction to Biological Psychology (4 th edition) Gerald Hough Sage Publications (2015) ISBN: BUNDLE ISBN: (unique to FIU Bookstore) You may buy your study guide online at the FIU Bookstore. If you buy the textbook bundle in the bookstore, you will get the study guide workbook for just $5 more. The bundle discount is not available through online retailers. There are also options for purchasing an used copy of the workbook online.

5 EXPECTATIONS IN THIS COURSE This is a hybrid course. Hybrid courses require self-motivation and self-discipline. Technology skills sometimes make hybrid courses more demanding for some students. If you find that you are having difficulty keeping up with the out-of-class work, send an to your professor. Students are expected to: Review the how to get started information located in the course content Interact online with instructor/s and peers Review and follow the course calendar Log in to the course at least two times per week Respond to s within two business days Submit assignments and quizzes by the corresponding deadline The instructor will: Log in to the course at least three times per week Respond to s within one business day Grade assignments and exams within five days of the due date Things you need to do every week: Read assigned sections in the textbook and take your own notes. Download lecture slides and take your own notes. Complete Class Preparation Assignment prior to coming to class (in your private journal). Submit possible exam questions with answers when there is an assigned video to watch (post on public discussion board). Take the quiz at the end of each module by the deadline. Attend and participate in every class. Come with questions. Work on extra credit assignments (don t wait until the last minute!) Things I will do: Prepare lessons that address challenging topics. Be available for office hours for 2 hours every week and by appointment as needed. Engage you in class discussions and meaningful activities. Update your gradebook at least weekly. Communicate with you. I will respond to s within one day. COURSE COMMUNICATION COURSE DETAILS Communication in this course will take place via . The feature is an external communication tool that allows users to send s to users enrolled within the course. s are sent to the students FIU on record. The tool is located on the Course Menu, on the left side of the course webpage.

6 Visit our Writing Resources webpage for more information on professional writing and technical communication skills. ONLINE CPA JOURNAL 15% OF FINAL GRADE There are 15 CPAs (course preparation assignments) throughout the course each CPA is answered in your private online journal. Your professor and the TA will read the journals weekly. Other students will not read or respond to your personal reflections on the material. In order to mitigate any issues with your computer and online assessments, it is your responsibility to make sure your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements. Assessments in this course are not compatible with mobile devices and should not be taken through a mobile phone or tablet. If you need further assistance please contact FIU Online Support Services. If you have a technical issue while completing the journal, you must contact FIU Online Support Services. You will not be allowed to make-up journal entries for technical reasons if you have not filed a report with the help desk. All entries must be posted online to your journal for credit. No paper or copies will be accepted. CPA Expectations: The CPA is 1 question based on the assigned material for that week. Your response should be 10 sentences in length. Responses posted by Sunday at 8 pm on the due date receive full credit (10 points). Late entries with documentation of an excused absence will earn full credit (10 points). Late entries without documentation are given half credit (5 points). Any entry not meeting the length requirement (minimum of 10 sentences) will be penalized 2 points whether it s posted on-time or late to your journal. The last day to turn in CPAs, including #15, is Friday April 29 th by 8 pm (the last day of spring semester). Please note that the last due date is a Friday, not a Sunday. List of CPA Questions and Due Dates: 1. What would be the effect if there were no constraints on the free flow of ions across the neuron membrane? Due 1/17 by 8 pm 2. What strategy do you think has the greatest potential for restoring function in braindamaged patients? Why? Due 1/24 by 8 pm 3. Do you think the rights of humans and animals are adequately protected in research? Why or why not? What would be the effect of eliminating the use of animal subjects? Due 1/31 by 8 pm 4. Is it morally right to treat addictions with drug antagonists, aversive drugs, and antidrug vaccines? Is your opinion the same for drug agonists? Due 2/7 by 8 pm 5. What do you think a complete program of obesity treatment would look like? Due 2/14 by 8 pm 6. Stress and pain involve considerable suffering, but they are necessary. Explain. What makes the difference between good and bad stress and pain? Due 2/21 by 8 pm

7 7. Several of the controls of eating seem to duplicate themselves. Is this wasteful or useful? Explain. Due 2/28 by 8 pm 8. Make the argument that chimps possess language, though at a low level. Then argue the opposite, that their behavior does not rise to the level of language. Due 3/6 by 8 pm 9. Explain why the visual system analyzes an object s edges, texture, and color and then detects the object, instead of the other way around. Due 3/13 by 8 pm 10. Judging by the examples given of movement disorders, what are the points of vulnerability in the motor system? Due 3/27 by 8 pm 11. Imagine a robot with a humanlike body. It is programmed to walk, reach, and grasp. It has visual and auditory capacities, but no body senses. What would its movement be like? Due 4/3 by 8 pm 12. If you were building an electronic learning and memory system for a robot, is there anything you would change from the human design? Why or why not? Due 4/10 by 8 pm 13. Give an overview of what produces deviant behavior (going back to earlier chapters as well as this one). What effect does this have on your ideas about responsibility for one s behavior? Due 4/17 by 8 pm 14. Intelligence is subject to physical disorders and genetic and environmental deviations. Speculate about why intelligence is so vulnerable. Due 4/24 by 8 pm 15. What was your favorite topic of the semester, and why? Due 4/29 by 8 pm (Due date is a Friday) ONLINE VIDEO DISCUSSION BOARD POSTS 5% OF FINAL GRADE There are 10 videos throughout the course. For each video, you will be asked to write one possible exam question and post it to a public discussion board for that video. Questions can be multiple choice or true or false, and must include the answer. If you do not provide an answer, you will receive half credit (2.5 points). Your professor reviews the questions and chooses up to 5 student submissions for the exam. Discussion Board Post Expectations: Keep in mind that the discussion board is public, and everyone in the class can read it. The deadline to post is Sunday by 8 pm the week that module is due. Once the deadline has passed, no make-ups are permitted without an excused absence. You are not required to reply to other video discussion board posts. You will not be able to see the video discussion board until you post. The last day to turn in late video discussion posts is Friday April 29 th by 8 pm. ONLINE QUIZZES 30% OF FINAL GRADE There are 15 quizzes throughout the course one quiz for every module. Each module corresponds to one chapter in the textbook. There are lecture slides for each module but you are REQUIRED to read the textbook on your own and take your own notes in a notebook dedicated to biopsych. Your professor will check your notebook at the start of class to ensure you are staying on track. You are responsible for all of the content presented in the textbook. All quizzes are based on the textbook. Quizzes are due by 8 pm on Sundays to ensure that your professor can adjust the content of the class meeting based on the class needs.

8 In order to mitigate any issues with your computer and online assessments, it is your responsibility to make sure your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements. Assessments in this course are not compatible with mobile devices and should not be taken through a mobile phone or tablet. If you need further assistance please contact FIU Online Support Services. If you have a technical issue while taking the quiz, you must contact FIU Online Support Services. You will not be allowed to make-up a quiz for technical reasons if you have not filed a report with the help desk. Quiz Expectations: Quizzes will be available from Tuesday 3:15 pm Sunday 8:00 pm EST. Each quiz will be available for 10 minutes only once started. There are 10 questions on each quiz. You can go back to a previous question. All quiz questions are in True/False format and worth 2 points each. Quiz questions are in random order for each student to prevent collusion. Quiz questions are based on the corresponding chapter in the textbook. Your score will be immediately available after you finish the quiz. Correct answers will be available after the deadline to take the quiz has passed. Once the deadline has passed, no make-ups are permitted without an excused absence. No special browser is required to take the quizzes. IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES 10% OF FINAL GRADE Attendance is required in this course. There are 10 in-class activities throughout the semester. The graded activity may occur at any point in the class, including the first 15 minutes or the last 15 minutes. If you are not present, you cannot earn credit. This means that if you are late or leave early, you cannot earn credit that day. There are no exceptions to this policy. In-Class Activity Expectations: The activity may be on your own, in pairs, or small groups. Always come prepared with paper and something to write with. Each activity is worth 10 points. Points are earned in an all-or-nothing manner based on effort. No make-ups are permitted without an excused absence. Make-up deadlines will be set with Dr. Nelson on a case-by-case basis. IN-CLASS EXAMS 40% OF FINAL GRADE There are four non-cumulative exams in this course and they are weighed equally. Exam Expectations: Each exam is worth 100 points. Format may include multiple choice, matching, true/false, fill in the blank, short answer. Once an exam has been turned in, you will not be allowed to take the test if you re late. Make sure to allow extra time on exam days to get to class. No exam make-ups are permitted without an excused absence. The dates of the exams are posted at the start of the semester and are non-negotiable.

9 All exams are in class to allow students to ask the professor questions. There is no final exam in this course. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY Any instance of academic misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, cheating, collusion, dishonesty) will be reported to the University and Department of Psychology for further action. Please refer to your student handbook, or ask me if you are unsure about what constitutes misconduct. Details can also be found at this website: The policy for this course is an automatic 0 for academic misconduct on an exam. Other instances of academic misconduct will be handled on a case-by-case basis. GRADING This course uses the FIU Early Alert System. Alerts are sent to students/advisors after the first exam. Your professor may also send you a personal if you are struggling in the course. Course Requirements Number of Items Points for Each Total Points Available Weight Online CPA Journal % Online Video Discussion Board Posts % Online Quizzes % In-Class Activities (Attendance) % In-Class Exams (Non-Cumulative) % Total 54 N/A % Letter Grade Range Letter Grade Range Letter Grade Range A 94 and Above B D A C D B C F 59 and Below B C You must earn a C or better for the Psychology major. WHAT HAPPENS IF I HAVE TO MISS CLASS OR AN ASSIGNMENT? Make-up work is only permitted for excused absences with documentation. This includes, but is not limited to, doctor s excuses (for yourself or immediate relatives), athletic events, FIU-related scholarly events (e.g., conference), death in the family, religious observances, or auto accident (not a traffic jam). Work-related excuses will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Approved work-related excuses are one-time absences, not regular occurrences. Vacation is not a onetime occurrence. Weather is not an excused absence. Traffic and parking are not excused absences. Please do not take this class if it conflicts with your work schedule or you cannot attend the face-to-face portion of the course.

10 Also, keep in mind that documentation must be dated for the assignment or exam that you missed. As soon as you are able to, contact Dr. Nelson directly by to discuss your situation. Do not wait until the end of the semester to discuss an ongoing sitation with Dr. Nelson. Come early for help. TIPS FOR SUCCESS IN THIS COURSE 1. Give yourself ample time to do the readings, review lectures, and practice flashcards. 2. Take your own notes from the book to prepare for the quizzes in your biopsych notebook. 3. Do the CPAs and video discussion posts these components are graded on effort. 4. Come to class regularly activities are graded on attendance/effort. 5. When you re preparing for the exam, work through everything on the study guide. 6. If you don t understand something, come to office hours or send an . Ask! 7. Do not cram for exams. Study over multiple days. Get a good night s sleep before exams. 8. Do not wait until the last minute to do your extra credit. Get assignments in early! 9. If you have an emergency, contact Dr. Nelson as soon as you are able. If you will miss a test, you need to get in touch as soon as possible. Absences must have documentation to be excused. It s your responsibility to understand the excused absence policy. 10. Budget your time. Stick to it. Be sure to plan for 9-12 hours per week on this course. HOW CAN I IMPROVE MY GRADE? There are two ways to earn extra credit in this course: (1) answering bonus questions correctly on exams and (2) completing article assignments. For each chapter, there are accompanying articles on the SAGE textbook website ( For each article, there is a set of posted questions (typically 3 per article, but four of the chapters have an article with 4 questions hint: picking a 4-question article earns more points). You must answer all the questions for the article you chose. Responses are graded on effort. You are allowed to do 1 article per chapter, and you earn 1 point per question. Extra credit will post to a separate column in your gradebook on Blackboard so that you can track it throughout the semester. Type your extra credit and submit a Word document or a PDF by directly to Dr. Nelson (elnelson@fiu.edu). Assignments are not accepted through Blackboard or in print copy. Make sure your name and PID are at the top of the document, and in the file name. Type the chapter number and the citation of your article (copy from webpage) at the top of the file. For each question, type the question first, and then your answer underneath. You should aim for 2-3 sentences per question. If you do not use the proper format, it will be returned to you for correction. If you are planning to submit more than one article, please put all of your responses into the same file and send one attachment when you re finished instead of 15 separate s. You can earn up to 49 points towards your total for the class by completing extra credit article assignments. Extra credit can be turned in any time, but the deadline is Friday April 29 th by 8 pm. No late extra credit assignments will be accepted for any reason.

11 COURSE CALENDAR TUESDAY Face-to-Face ONLINE (Due Sundays by 8 pm) 2:00 3:15 pm PC 428 Week 1 01/12: Course Welcome Modules Due 01/17: Q #1, Q #2, CPA #1, VIDEO #1 Week 2 01/19: In-Class Activity #1 Modules Due 01/24: Q #3, Q #4, CPA #2, VIDEO #2 Week 3 01/26: In-Class Activity #2 Complete Exam 1 Study Guide Due 01/31: CPA #3 Week 4 02/02: IN-CLASS EXAM 1 Chapters 1-4 Module 5 Due 02/07: Q #5, CPA #4 Week 5 02/09: In-Class Activity #3 Module 6 Due 02/14: Q #6, CPA #5, VIDEO #3 Week 6 02/16: In-Class Activity #4 Modules Due 02/21: Q #7, Q#8, CPA #6 Week 7 02/23: In-Class Activity #5 Complete Exam 2 Study Guide Due 02/28: CPA #7 Week 8 03/01: IN-CLASS EXAM 2 Chapters 5-8 Module 9 Due 03/06: Q #9, CPA #8, VIDEO #4 Week 9 03/08: In-Class Activity #6 Module 10 Due 03/13: Q #10, CPA #9, VIDEO #5 SPRING BREAK: NO CLASS 3/14-3/20 Week 10 03/22: In-Class Activity #7 Module 11 Due 03/27: Q #11, CPA #10, VIDEO #6, VIDEO #7 Week 11 03/29: In-Class Activity #8 Complete Exam 3 Study Guide Due 04/03: CPA #11 Week 12 04/05: IN-CLASS EXAM 3 Chapters 9-11 Modules Due 04/10: Q #12, Q#13, CPA #12, VIDEO #8 Week 13 04/12: In-Class Activity #9 Modules Due 04/17: Q #14, Q #15, CPA #13, VIDEO #9, VIDEO #10 Week 14 04/19: In-Class Activity #10 Complete Exam 4 Study Guide Due 04/24: CPA #14 Week 15 04/26: IN-CLASS EXAM 4 Chapters Complete Course Evaluation Due 04/29: CPA #15 (Note: Due date is Friday) Important Reminders: All late online assignments (CPAs or Video posts) are due by Friday 8:00 pm. All extra credit is due by Friday 8:00 pm. Other make-up work/exams excused by Dr. Nelson will be due on a case-by-case basis.