CourseSyllabus;Spring2017
120:111:63HUMANBIOLOGY
INSTRUCTORS:
OFFICE/OFFICE
HOURS:
COURSE
LOCATION(S):
Robert A. O’Brien
EMAIL:
[email protected]
Via Email; and by Appt.
COURSE
WEBSITE:
Blackboard
MEETINGTIME(S): THURS. 6-9 PM
Boyden 413
COURSEDESCRIPTION:
This course takes a different look at the brain. It is an intriguing foray into the nature and examination
of a number of areas of mental health and disease and addresses particular questions which today’s
students will face during their education and their lives after leaving the university. It covers areas in
basic biomedical science and health that we are often questioned about, but often do not have an
explanation or an answer for. It will also be an enhancing stimulus for students who have a potential
desire to attend medical or dental school or one of the other health sciences.
PREREQUISITES:NPR
REQUIREDTEXT:
TheBrainBookbyKenAshwell,FireflyPress.2012
LEARNINGOBJECTIVES/GOALS:
Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:
1. Describe the basic concepts of several neuroscience principles which govern the function of the
human brain.
2. Interpret symptoms and evaluate treatments for many childhood and adult diseases in the mental
health area.
3. Become a Patient Advocate. Discuss medical issues with their primary care physicians or with a
health care provider which may play a major role in their own, their family’s or another’s future health.
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4. Discuss the major issues facing society today as they relate to such topics as Aging, Alzheimer’s
Disease, drug abuse and addiction and the costs of modern medicine.
5. Provide assistance to family and /or others in the diagnosis and immediate treatment of ischemic or
hemorrhagic stroke.
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CourseSyllabus:Spring2017
120:111:63HUMANBIOLOGY
SCHEDULEANDCOURSEOUTLINE:Dateslistedbyweek;lectureswillmeetonceeveryweekunlessotherwisenoted.Dates
ofexamsarelisted,butpleasenotethattherewillbestudentpresentationsthroughoutthesemester.
WEEK
Week1
1.19
Week2
1.26
Week3
2.02
Week4
2.09
Week5
2.16
Week6
2.23
Week7
3.02
Week8
3.09
Week9
3.16
Week10
3.23
Week11
3.30
Week12
4.06
Week13
4.13
Week14
4.20
Week15
4.27
NOTES/READING
ASSIGNMENTS/EXAMS
MEETINGTOPIC
COURSEINTRODUCTION
YOURBRAINVS.ASUPERCOMPUTER;
PRINCIPLESOFPATIENTADVOCACY
THELANGUAGEOFTHEHUMANBRAIN;
INTROD.TONEUROCOMMUNICATION
FROMJUNKFOODTOMORPHINE,THEPATHSTO
ADDICTION
Handout;text,pp.14-87;Bb
Text,pp.70-87
Textpp.292-303
EXAM
EXAM
MARIJUANA,AGATEWAYDRUG?
BATHSALTS,ICEMOLLY
Bb.articles;mjrrs
THEABNORMALMINDI:DEPRESSION,BIPOLARDISEASE
Text,pp.250-253
EXAM;METHAMPHETAMINEFILM
EXAM;FILM
THEABNORMALMINDII;SCHIZOPHRENIA,BULIMIA,
ANOREXIA
Text,pp.254-255
SPRINGRECESS
WHENYOURCHILDISDIAGNOSEDWITHADHD,AUTISM
Textpp.217,257,301,Bb
ADHD;AUTISM.4PDF
ALZHEIMER’SDISEASE
Text,pp.320-322;Bbarticles
EXAM;FILM
EXAM;FILM
WHYDODRUGSCOSTSOMUCH?
THEDRUGDEVELOPMENTPROCESS
STROKE:WHATISIT?
HOWTODIAGNOSEYOURFAMILYMEMBERORA
STRANGEROREVENYOURSELF.
REVIEWOFPATIENTADVOCACY
Bbarticles:DRUGDISC.&DEV.(2)
Text,pp.119;306-307;320-327;Bb:
Comm.Stroke;Ischem.Cascade
DATEOFFINALEXAM:MAY4,2017
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GRADINGPOLICY:
Yourgradeforthiscoursewillbedeterminedbasedonthecategorieslistedinthetablebelow.
ATTENDANCE
5-110555TBDT10
EXAMS
88088088080
STUDENTPRESENTATIONS(TBD)
TBDT
CLASSROOMDISCUSSION
1110101110
11(999
TOTAL
100
ATTENDANCE,MAKE-UP,ANDLATENESSPOLICY:
Ifyoumustmissclassforavalidreason,pleasediscussmakingupthemissedmaterialwithyourinstructorassoonas
possible.Examgradesarebasedonfourscheduledexams.Therewillbenomake-upexams;discusswithyourinstructor
regardingfurtherinformationongradeassessment.
AcademicDishonesty:Thecoursehasazerotolerancepolicyforacademicdishonesty,includingplagiarismandcheating.
InstancesofdishonestywillbepunishedbyazeroontheassignmentandconsultationwiththeAcademicIntegrityOfficers
todetermineiffurtheractionisrequired.Ifyouhaveanyquestionsaboutwhatconstitutesplagiarismorcheating,please
askyourinstructorsorrefertotheacademicintegritywebsitesforRutgersandNJIT:
!
!
!
http://academicintegrity.rutgers.edu/academic-integrity-at-rutgers
http://studentconduct.rutgers.edu/
http://www.njit.edu/academics/integrity.php
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