Course Syllabus - Introduction to Marine Biology 1060 A - Spring 2002

Professor: John F. Elder 2088 Bio/Chem Building Phone 333-5762

Email: jfelder@valdosta.edu

Section A: 9:00-9:50 am Monday, Wednesday, Friday Room 1025

Text Book: Marine Biology, 3rd Edition. Castro and Huber. McGraw-Hill. 2000.

Office Hours: 10:00 - 11;00 am M,W,R or by appointment. I also have an open door policy, I encourage students to drop by whenever they may need help with the course. Please understand however, that under these circumstances, you may have to wait until I am free of other things.

Course Objectives: Students are expected to demonstrate that they have learned a basic body of factual information about oceanic properties, marine organisms, marine ecosystems and an understanding of the basic processes of marine ecology. A reasonable amount of study and problem practice time should be allocated to this course. A few hours study, the night before exams will not be sufficient to score well in this course. Achievement of the above objectives will be evaluated based upon the students satisfactory completion of all class assignments as well as performance on tests and examinations. Please note, students are responsible for material from both lecture and the text book.

Grading policy: Final course letter grades will be assigned based upon a 10 point. scale. For a survey course such as this one, no curve is anticipated. There will be four tests during the quarter and a comprehensive final exam. Overall the grading values will be: Tests = 80%,and the final exam = 20%.

Missed exams: Don’t miss exams. No makeups will be given except in cases of extreme hardship. It is the students responsibility to make any such arrangements prior to the missed exam with me. A grade of zero will be assigned for all missed assignments otherwise.

Absentee policy: I have no attendance policy per se. However, I assume that students in this class are adults and are responsible for their own attendance and study habits. Students should also be aware of the following university policies which I have no choice in enforcing : (1) Students who miss 20% of lecture time will receive an automatic failing grade for the course. (2) Students who do not regularly attend lecture, as determined by taking class role, by the proof role date will be automatically dropped from the class. (3) Students who neither drop nor attend class by the midterm date will receive an automatic F for the course. Also note: students are responsible for the text and lecture material on exams regardless of whether or not they come to class routinely. It is unlikely that students can perform well on exams in this class with poor attendance.

 

ADA Statement: Students requiring classroom accommodations or modifications because of documented disabilities should discuss this need with the professor at the beginning of the quarter. Students not registered with the Special Services Program must contact the Special Services Offices in Nevin’s Hall, Room 226-A. The phone number is 245-2498.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tentative schedule:

Please note that test dates are tentative and may change depending on the rate at which material is covered. Tests may be postponed but will never be moved ahead.

January

Monday 7, 2002 – 1st Class Day

Monday 21, 2002 – Martin Luther King Holiday

Monday 28, 2002- Test I

February

Monday 18, 2002 – Test II

Wednesday 28, 2002 – Midterm – Last drop date

March

Monday 11, 2002 – Test III

Saturday 23, 2002 – Sunday 31, 2002 – Spring Break

April

Monday 8, 2002 – Test IV

Monday 29, 2002 – Last Class

May

Thursday 2, 2002 – FINAL EXAM 8:00-10:00 am