Human Genetics

BIOL-106-B   TR   1:40-2:55  LE 008

BIOL-106-M   TR  5:10-6:25  LE 008

Aims:  Human Genetics is designed to introduce the principles of genetics in the context of human biology and society.

Instructor:         Dr. Matthew D. Halfhill

Office:              Lewis Hall, 202B

Phone:              563-333-6381

Email:               halfhillmatthewd@sau.edu

 

Office hours:   M -   2:00-3:30

                         T-    12:30-1:30

                        W -   2:00-3:30

                         F -   2:00-3:00

Text: Human Genetics: Concepts and Applications, Seventh or Eighth Edition.  Ricki Lewis, 2007.

Assessment:

Exams:  Four exams will be given (100 points for each exam, each exam is worth 20% of final grade, exams count for a total of 80% of the class).  Attendance at each exam is mandatory, and no scheduled make-up exams will be given.

Quizzes:  Instead of traditional assignments, this course will use on-line quizzes from the Human Genetics Blackboard site.  To get to this site, use the SAU Blackboard site (below) and click your Human Genetics class.  For each chapter, an online multiple choice quiz is available.  For the 16 assigned chapters, take the multiple choice quiz for 0.69% of the total grade (11% total for the quizzes).  Take the quiz by Monday at 3:00 pm of the week after the chapter was assigned.  The quiz will not be available after the due date.

SAU Backboard site:  https://blackboard.sau.edu/

Debates:  The class will be broken into 6 teams, who will debate three topics in the field of human genetics.  Each team will actively debate in one of the three debates, and each student will listen to the debaters in the other two debates.  Each debate will be worth 15 points (3% of the final grade) to the presenting teams, and a winning team will be determined by audience voting.  Of the 15 points, two points will be given for winning the debate.  Resources will be provided for each debate, although extra research will help convince the audience for your side of the argument (one debate per team). 

Debate Instructions web site:  http://web.sau.edu/biology/faculty/halfhill/human_genetics_debates.htm

Grading Scale:

A         90-100%

B+       85-89%

B          80-84%

C+       75-79%

C         70-74%

D         60-69%

F          59% and below           

Attendance:  This course is challenging, and active participation in class discussions will greatly add to the understanding of the material.  Success in this class will require almost 100% attendance.  Attendance will be recorded daily and regular attendance and participation will be noticed and appreciated.  Each student is allowed three absences, and all subsequent absences will result in a 1% deduction from the student’s final grade.  Also if your percentage lands near a grade borderline, attendance and participation will be considered as important factors.

Text Messaging Policy:  This class will have a no tolerance policy for text messaging.  If a student is caught texting, I will ask the student to immediately leave the class.  It is clear that the text messaging student has something better to do, and I want all students to not waste their time.   The time will be better spent if the student goes and actually talks with the person they are text messaging, rather than distracting the other students, the professor, and themselves.  

Honor Policy:  All members of the St. Ambrose community are called upon to uphold the standards of academic integrity.  Academic dishonesty in any form (cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized assistance, multiple use, falsification or fabrication, complicity, and/or abuse of academic materials) is not tolerated and will be dealt with according to university policies.

In Human Genetics, all intellectual dishonesty is strictly forbidden.  Cheating will be handled swiftly, with a zero score given for the dishonest action.  If you have any questions in regards to a specific action, please contact me.

Students with Disabilities Statement:  Students with disabilities who believe that they may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities at 333-6275 as soon as possible to ensure that accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.

Student Success Center:  The Student Success Center offers academic and tutorial support to all St. Ambrose students in a low pressure setting at no cost.  Peer tutoring is available for most 100- and 200-level courses, and tutors are certified by the College of Reading and Learning Center Association.  Please use this important resource, and call 333-6331 with any questions about the services available to you (Ambrose Hall, room 243).

Tentative Schedule: