Dr. Stuart S. Sumida
California State University San Bernardino; Department of
Biology
BIOLOGY 622 – Fall 2013
GRADUATE SEMINAR IN ZOOLOGY
Major Features of Early Tetrapods
Tuesday 2:00-3:50 P.M.
ENROLLMENT: STUDENTS MUST BE ENROLLED IN THE COURSE TO PARTICIPATE IN LECTURES, CLASS EXERCISES, AND LABORATORIES. ENROLLMENT IN BIOLOGY 622 CONSTITUTES LEGAL ACCEPTANCE OF ALL THE GUIDELINES LISTED BELOW. PLEASE READ THEM CAREFULLY.
COURSE PREREQISITES: Biology 342
COURSE GOALS AND
OBJECTIVES: Biology 622 is an
extension of Biology 342, comparative vertebrate anatomy, with special topic
coverage. In Winter 2013, that special
topic coverage will be a detailed overview of the evolution of the earliest
tetrapod vertebrates. By the end of the course, all students should be
intimately familiar with the major skeletal changes from crossopterygian fishes
to basal non-batrachomorph tetrapods
(“amphibians”).
REQUIRED READING:
Clack, J. A. 2012. Gaining Ground – The Origin and Evolution of Tetrapods. Second Edition. Indiana University Press, Bloomington, Indiana. 523 pages.
RECOMMENDED TEXT:
Steyer, S. 2012. Earth Before the Dinosaurs. Indiana University Press, Bloomington, Indiana. 182 pages.
Grading Procedures and criteria: 100 total points aRE available. There will be five points for each of nine weekly summaries (40 pts), 40 points for class participation/discussion, and 20 points for quality of the presentation on which the student leads. The course is not graded on a curve. Letter grades are not assigned for individual components; rather they are based on the cumulative points. Grades will be assigned according to the criteria listed below.
WEELKLY SUMMARIES: As stated above, students will turn in a summary of the assigned chapter weekly. Each summary will be worth five (5) points, and may be no longer than two typed pages. (Minimum font size 12 pt.) Presenting students’ will have their five points determined as part of their presentation.
|
Grade |
Percentage of Total
Points |
|
|
|||
|
A |
93-100 |
B- |
80-81 |
D |
60-69 |
|
|
A- |
90-92 |
C+ |
77-79 |
F |
Below 60 |
|
|
B+ |
87-89 |
C |
72-76 |
|
|
|
|
B |
82-86 |
C- |
70-71 |
|
|
|
SCHEDULE and READING ASSIGNMENTS
Week
|
Date
|
Topic(s) |
Lead Presenter |
|
1 |
1/8 |
Course Mechanics and Introduction. Chapters 1 |
Sumida |
|
2 |
1/15 |
Chapter 2,3 |
|
|
3 |
1/22 |
Chapter 4 |
|
|
4 |
1/29 |
Chapter 5 |
|
|
5 |
2/5 |
Chapter6 |
|
|
6 |
2/12 |
Chapter 7 |
|
|
7 |
2/19 |
No presentation. Dr. Sumida away at a conference. |
|
|
8 |
2/26 |
Chapters 8 |
|
|
9 |
3/5 |
Chapter 9 |
|
|
10 |
3/12 |
Chapter 10 |
|
|
|
3/22 |
Final Examination Due; no later than 12:00. |
|
Office
Hours: Dr. Sumida’s office hours will be held on Tuesdays 12-2 in room
BI-314 or the class laboratory. Additional hours will be added once students’
schedules are evaluated. E-mail is checked by the instructor daily. Dr.
Sumida's e-mail address is: ssumida@csusb.edu.
SERVICES TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: If you are in need of an accommodation for a disability in
order to participate in this class, please let the professor know as soon as
possible, and also contact Services to Students with Disabilities at UH-183,
(909) 537-5238. Please note: it
is the student's responsibility to seek academic accommodations for a
verified disability in a timely manner.
LEGAL ISSUES FOR ALL
COURSES: Cheating and plagiarism are
not tolerated. Students caught using
unauthorized materials, or attempting to use/copy other students’ work, on
exams or quizzes will be given a zero (0 points) grade for that course
component. Please see the “Academic Regulations and Procedures" in the
CSUSB Bulletin of Courses for the university’s policies on course withdrawal,
cheating, and plagiarism.
On-Line
Presence for Biology 622: Biology 622
course materials will not be present on Blackboard. All course materials, lecture outlines, and
abbreviated versions of power point presentations may be accessed at the
instructor’s website: www.stuartsumida.com. Questions are accepted and encouraged via
e-mail. To assure proper attention to
the message, please refer to Biology 622 in the subject line. Dr. Sumida's e-mail address is: ssumida@csusb.edu.
As soon as generated by
class participants, and handouts, PDFs or PowerPoint files will be posted to
the course website.
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