Contact

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Email: rmatson@kennesaw.edu

Office Location:

Office Hours:
By appointment only.

Biology 3315 Syllabus

Fall 2004

Instructor: Dr. Ron Matson
Lecture Room: NU 112*
Office: SC 310
Lecture Time: MW 9:30- 10:45
Office Hours: M 11:00 - 12:00
Laboratory: SC 245
W 11:00 - 12:00
Lab Time: W: 2:00 - 4:00
Others by Appointment
Office Phone: 770.423.6508
e-mail: rmatson@kennesaw.edu

Tentative Schedule

* Note: Lectures will be held in SC 245 on the following days: 13 September, 15 September, 27 September, 29 September, 18 October, 20 October.

1On the Web-based version of this syllabus, each topic is linked to an appropriate web page. Once at that page, make certain to click on links provided by the author(s).

2Text Book: Pough, F. H., C. M. Janis and J. B. Heiser. 2005. Vertebrate Life. 7th Edition. Prentice-Hall Inc., NJ

COURSE DESCRIPTION

BIOL 3315. Vertebrate Zoology. 3-0-3. Prerequisite: BIOL 2107, 2108. Corequisite: BIOL 3315L. An examination of the phylogenetic relationships, evolutionary origins and life history traits of the vertebrates.

COURSE PHILOSOPHY

Vertebrate zoology is an upper level course designed for biology and related majors. Prerequisites for this course are 10-quarter hours or 8 semester hours of majors level introductory biology. The lab is co-requisite for the lecture and the lecture is co-requisite for the lab. That is, you must be enrolled in both lecture and lab. Students without these prerequisites, or who are not enrolled in both lecture and lab, will be administratively withdrawn from the class.

The major emphasis of lectures will be on the evolution of vertebrates and on vertebrate biodiversity. Coverage of each taxonomic group will include discussion of characteristics, systematics, taxonomy, evolution, paleontology, biogeography and unique morphological, physiological, ecological and/or behavioral "adaptations." You will become aware of certain aspects of vertebrate natural history and will develop a better understanding of this important group of animals. You wil be able to synthesize principles from the cellular, organismal and ecosystem areas of biology as related to vertebrates. You will be able to discuss the impact of gene distribution in populations on evolution, adaptation, natural selection and speciation as related to vertebrates.

Please be aware that this syllabus is tentative. There is so much to talk about in such a course and not everything can be covered. If we decided to spend more time on a topic of interest at the expense of another, so be it! Furthermore, dates and total points are subject to change if there are circumstances, deemed by me, to be extenuating. You will be given verbal notification of any changes in class and/or it will be posted on the course web site (click here).

COURSE POLICIES

Attendance: Class attendance is highly encouraged. Much of the material for the lecture exams will be taken from the lecture and so it is in your own interest to attend each lecture. If you miss a lecture, it is your responsibility to obtain lecture notes from a classmate; my notes will not be made available to students. You are encouraged to ask questions during lecture. Make certain to obtain any handouts and assignments as well. I will have extra copies in my office but generally do not bring them to subsequent lectures .If, for any reason, you miss more than one week of lecture you should strongly consider withdrawing from the course.

Please arrive before the beginning of lecture so as not to disturb your fellow students. DO NOT bring other people (friends, spouses, children etc.) to lectures. Only people enrolled in the class are allowed in the classroom. Turn off all cell phones, pagers etc.

Examinations and Grades: There are two examinations scheduled during the semester along with a final exam. Each exam will cover the material covered in the lectures, readings, videos and laboratories since the last exam with emphasis being placed on the lectures. The final exam will primarily cover material since the last lecture exam but it will also contain material covered since the beginning of the course  (i.e., it will be cumulative/comprehensive). Exams may include matching, short answer and/or essay questions. For these questions, you are expected  to answer each question clearly, concisely and logically, using correct grammar, spelling and punctuation. You must take all exams on the date offered unless you provide an excuse deemed by me to be satisfactory (e.g., make arrangements in advance, provide a note from a physician). If an acceptable excuse is provided for either midterm exam, then you will receive the appropriate number of points for the missed exam on a pro-rated basis.  The number of pro-rated points received will be based on the mean percent of the points earned from the remaining midterm and final.  Pro-rating of exams will not be done retroactively (i.e., you cannot substitute a pro-rated score for an exam in which you received a lower score). If you miss an exam without an acceptable excuse, you will receive the grade of 0 (zero) for that exam. You must take the final exam to receive credit for this course; the final exam grade cannot be pro-rated. Tentative exam dates are given on the course schedule-- please mark your calendars. If an exam has to be canceled because of inclement weather (i.e., if the entire university is closed) it will be given during the next scheduled class period. If there are multiple days of inclement weather, I reserve the right to cancel an exam and adjust the total points for the course accordingly. If you receive 50% or less of the points on the first exam, please talk to me. Such a score indicates that you are having trouble in this class and you may need to consider withdrawing.

At various times during the semester, a "class reading assignment" will be given, usually involving reading a paper that I will provide and/or visiting a Web site. You will be expected to read the paper, answer several questions about it and should be prepared to discuss the paper in class/lab. Points for these class assignments will be given based on the timely completion of these assignments; your TYPEWRITTEN responses will be due at the beginning of class on the due date(you will loose points if your paper is not typewritten). If you are absent from class on the day one of these assignments is given, then you will receive a grade of 0 (zero) for that assignment. Assignments will NOT be accepted at the end of the semester nor will they be regraded at that time.

The grading procedure for this course is as follows:

Exam I 120 pts.
Exam II 130 pts.
Final Exam 130 pts.
Readings 20 pts.
Total 400 pts.

Your grade for this course will be based on the following point distribution: A = 400-360 points; B = 359-320 points; C = 319-280 points; D = 279-240 points; F = < 239 points. There is no extra-credit." The final grading scale may be adjusted at the discretion of the instructor. If you have any questions about the grading of an exam, please discuss the situation with me immediately after receiving the graded exam. If I decide to re-grade an exam, the entire exam will be re-graded, not just a specific part. Grades can go up, down or remain the same upon being re-graded. Exams or other assignments will not be re-graded at the end of the semester. Assignments are due at the beginning of class and will be considered late if turned in any time after class. Papers, assignments etc. that are turned in late will have 5 points per day (including holidays & weekends) deducted from the total. NO assignments will be accepted more than three (3) calendar days after their due date and no assignment will be accepted after the last day of lecture. All assignments must be STAPLED (not paper-clipped, folded etc.; you will loose points if they are not stapled). Any material not picked-up by the end of the semester will be discarded within 60 days of the end of the semester. I reserve the right to adjust the point totals for this course if the need arises. You will be notified of such changes in lecture and/or via the class web site.

GRADES WILL NOT BE POSTED at the end of the semester. Please check Owl Registration to view your grades.

Accommodations: Any student with a documented disability or medical condition needing academic accommodations of class-related activities or schedules must contact the instructor immediately. Written verification from the KSU disAbled Student Support Services is required. No requirements exist that accommodations be made prior to completion of this approved University documentation. All discussions will remain confidential.

Academic Honesty: Every KSU student is responsible for upholding the provisions of the Student Code of Conduct, as published in the Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs. Section II of the Student Code of Conduct addresses the University's policy on academic honesty, including provisions regarding plagiarism and cheating, unauthorized access to University materials, misrepresentation/falsification of University records or academic work, malicious removal, retention, or destruction of library materials, malicious/intentional misuse of computer facilities and/or services, and misuse of student identification cards. Incidents of alleged academic misconduct will be handled through the established procedures of the University Judiciary Program, which includes either an "informal" resolution by a faculty member, resulting in a grade adjustment, or a formal hearing procedure, which may subject a student to the Code of Conduct's minimum one semester suspension requirement.

You are expected to follow the regulations as stated on pages 244-248 of the 2004-2005 of the Kennesaw State University Undergraduate Catalog. Plagiarism and cheating of any kind will not be tolerated. This includes copying papers and not providing proper literature citations. Any violations of the Student Conduct Regulations will be handled through the University Court.

Withdrawal Policy: Effective Fall 2004, there is a new withdrawaly policy in effect. The withdrawal policy as stated on page 42of the 2004-2005 Kennesaw State University Undergraduate Catalog will be followed; see also the current schedule of classes. For this semester, the last day to withdraw without academic penalty is 18 October 2004. Make certain to follow all procedures if you decide to withdraw; failure to do so will result in your being assigned a grade of  "F" for the course. If you withdraw from this course, make certain to withdraw from Biology 3315L as well (they are corequisite to each other and you must be enrolled in both). Please note, that while there is no academic penalty for withdrawing, there can be financial and other types of penalties. For example, a grade of "W" does count against hours attempted for Hope scholarship purposes. A pattern of withdrawing can hurt you in your attempt to get a job or into graduate/professional school. Do not make a habit out of withdrawing.

Recycling Policy: REDUCE WASTE AND RECYCLE. If possible, please use (purchase) recycled goods. On campus, paper can be recycled in the bins found in the front of each classroom and aluminum cans can be recycled in theappropriate containers in the hall.  Please do not mix waste with the materials to be recycled. It's your planet, your campus, your health and well being and your economy -- help them all by recycling. See page 252 of the current catalog for the KSU Position Statement on Environmental Awareness.

URL: Copies of this syllabus, along with other material relevant to this course, can be found on the course Homepage. The URL for the course Homepage is:

http://facultyweb.kennesaw.edu/rmatson/index.php

Click here to find web sites related to this course. You will be required to utilize this web site to obtain course materials. See me if you have any trouble accessing this web site. I will post messages relating to any changes to this syllabus on this website (click here). You are responsible for any changes posted.

Office Hours: My office hours are listed on the first page of this syllabus. I encourage you to avail yourself of them. If you cannot make it to any of these scheduled hours, please make an appointment. I'm certain that we can find a mutually acceptable time to meet. Furthermore, note that my e-mail address is on the top of the first page. Feel free to e-mail me. I will respond as soon as possible.

Your continued presence in this course signifies your acceptance of the policies and procedures outlined above.

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