I. ASCRC General Education Form (revised 9/15/09)
Group
(submit
separate forms
if requesting
more than one
general
education
group
designation)
Dept/Program
Course Title
Prerequisite
III. Language
III Exception: Symbolic Systems *
IV: Expressive Arts
VII: Social Sciences
VIII: Ethics & Human Values
IX: American & European
V: Literary & Artistic Studies
X: Indigenous & Global
VI: Historical & Cultural Studies
XI: Natural Sciences
w/ lab X
w/out lab 
*Courses proposed for this designation must be standing requirements of
majors that qualify for exceptions to the modern and classical language
requirement
Applied Arts and Sciences /Science
Course #
SCN 260N
The Biology of Behavior
SCN100N Issues in Biology
Credits
3
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Please type / print name Signature
Linda
Eagleheart
Requestor
Phone / Email 406-243-7906
linda.eagleheart@umontana.edu
Gregory Peters
Instructor
Phone / Email 406-243-7848
greg.peters@mso.umt.edu
Program Chair Cathy Corr
Dean
Date
Barry Good
III. Type of request
New
X
One-time Only
Reason for Gen Ed inclusion, change or deletion
Change
Remove
Please see Purpose (justification for
new course) in section IV
Description of change
Please see Course Description in
section IV
IV. Description and purpose of new general education course:
Course Description:
SCN 260N: The Biology of Behavior is an introduction to the biological foundations of
human behavior. Required laboratory exercises reinforce concepts discussed in
classroom meetings through student-driven investigations, discussion questions
designed to foster creative thinking, and topically related online exercises from the
textbook publisher. The biological concepts explored in this class include human
nervous system functioning, sensation, learning, emotion, and issues such as obesity,
anxiety, and addiction. Broad biological principles that are explored through these
topics include cellular structure, function, and transport, human genetics, the influence
of evolution, and growth and development. Concepts are presented within the broad
context of science as an ongoing, investigative process.
IV. Description and purpose of new general education course (continued from page 1):
Purpose (justification for new course):
SCN 260N: The Biology of Behavior course content will contribute to learning
objectives for students pursuing degrees with Social Work and Addiction Studies
emphases. The course will give these students a unique opportunity to deepen their
understanding of core biological principles along with content that contributes to their
overall educational goals. The Biology of Behavior will provide a valuable opportunity
for these students to fulfill their Natural Sciences with a laboratory course requirement.
Because the course will explore general topics in Biology such as cell structure and
function, human sensation, and gene expression, completion of this course will also
serve many students in the Health Professions at the COT. The laboratory component
of this course further allows students to explore the process of science while studying
several basic biological concepts through an exploration of human behavior.
V. Criteria:
1. Courses explore a discipline in the
natural sciences and demonstrate how the
scientific method is used within the
discipline to draw scientific conclusions.
2. Courses addresses the concept of
analytic uncertainty and the rigorous
process required to take an idea to a
hypothesis and then to a validated
scientific theory.
3. Lab courses engage students in
inquiry-based learning activities where
they formulate a hypothesis, design an
experiment to test the hypothesis, and
collect, interpret, and present the data to
support their conclusions.
1. The Biology of Behavior provides students
direct opportunity to understand the scientific
method through several simple, questiondriven laboratory investigations and
subsequent instructor feedback. The lab
investigations focus on an introductory
examination of the biological basis of human
behavior.
2. The Biology of Behavior addresses this
criterion by exposing students to current
research methods and the historic context of
some influential scientific discoveries
concerning the biology behind human
behavior. These discussions of the processes
that biologists undergo to develop theories
about human behavior reinforce student
understanding of both the scientific method
and the nature of science as an ongoing
process.
3. The Biology of Behavior laboratory includes
both online exercises designed to examine
course concepts from a new perspective as
well as inquiry-based laboratory
investigations. These investigations explore
the biological aspects of the human nervous
system and human behavior and require
students to articulate research questions and
hypotheses, test their hypothesis, record
data, and interpret data in written lab reports.
VI. Student Learning Goals:
Learning goals:
1. understand the general
principles associated with
the discipline(s) studied.
2. understand the
methodology and activities
scientists use to gather,
validate and interpret data
related to natural processes.
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. understand the general biological principles associated with
human behavior, including:
- Cell structure and function
- Diffusion and solute transport
- Human sensation
- Biological basis of learning and emotion
- Biological basis of behaviors such as anxiety, obesity,
and drug addiction
2. understand the methods scientists use to develop and
explore questions, through:
- Direct application of the scientific method as a
component of lab activities
- Discussing the validity of scientific arguments
encountered in textbook readings and student
investigations
- Discussing the history of changing interpretations of key
concepts presented by scientists over time
3. detect patterns, draw
3. observe patterns, develop hypotheses, and test them by
conclusions, develop
appropriate means and experiments, through:
conjectures and hypotheses,
- Developing novel questions based on observations of
and test them by appropriate
common human behaviors
means and experiments.
- Writing, sharing, and testing reasonable scientific
hypotheses designed to explore the questions raised
- Collecting and analyzing data, and then interpreting the
results gathered from hypothesis testing
4. understand how
scientific laws and theories
are verified by quantitative
measurement, scientific
observation, and
logical/critical reasoning.
4. understand how scientific theories are verified by
measurement, observation, and critical reasoning, through:
- Sharing findings from laboratory investigations to
enable learning and constructive critique from peers
- Discussion of guiding theories of the biological basis of
human behavior, including the process involved in
developing theory through repeated hypothesis testing
5. understand the means
5. understand the how uncertainty is communicated in the
by which analytic
natural sciences, through:
uncertainty is quantified and
- Recognizing and describing uncertainty in interpretation
expressed in the natural
of findings from lab investigations
sciences.
- Classroom discussion of the special challenges involved
in hypothesis testing and data interpretation of scientific
testing with human subjects
VII. Justification:
NA – course is 200 level with only one prerequisite
VIII. Syllabus:
SCN260N: Biology of Behavior
Fall 2010
Instructor: Greg Peters
Contact: greg.peters@mso.umt.edu or (406) 207-6154
Office Hours: T & Th 12:10-2:00 in HB 02
Text: Carlson. Physiology of Behavior, 10th ed. Pearson Publishing
Course Overview:
In this course we explore the biological basis of human behavior. The foundation for this
exploration is an understanding of the structure and function of the nervous system and its cells,
the neurons. We will examine neuron function and neurotransmitter activity as examples of
cellular structure and functioning. Topics related to human behavior will include exploration of
human sensation, the phenomenon of learning, and the biological basis of common behaviors such
as obesity, addiction, stress, and anxiety.
Assessment:
4 Exams (100 pts ea.)
8 Lab Reports (25 pts ea.)
TOTAL:
points
400
200
600
grades
90-100% = A- to A
80-90% = B- to B+
70-80% = C- to C+
60-70% = D- to D+
< 60% = F
Course Policies & Recommendations:
Use of the BlackBoard course supplement is essential, as it provides the following resources:

Course documents, such as the syllabus & instructions for writing lab reports

Portions of lecture slides used in class

Student grades

Lab instructions and instructions for Lab activities

Access to supplemental weblinks, including MyPsychKit
Make-up exams will only be offered for compelling reasons and with documentation. No early
finals will be offered, so make any travel plans accordingly.
Students with disabilities will receive appropriate accommodations. Please contact me and provide
a letter from your DSS coordinator so that accommodations can be made.
University policies on drops, adds, changes of grade option, or change to audit status will be
observed in this course. Please note that after November 1st, such changes are NOT automatically
approved; they may be requested by petition, but the petition must be accompanied by
documentation of extenuating circumstances. Requests to drop a course or change the grade basis
to benefit a student’s grade point average will not be approved. A grade of C or higher will be
considered a passing grade for the P/NP option.
Lab Activity Guidelines
Each two hour class period will include one hour of lecture and one hour of lab activities (lab
credit hours are calculated based on 2 hours/week = one credit). The lab activities need to be
completed before the due date of the Lab Report. It will be necessary to have access to the internet
for completion of some portions of the lab activities, and each student must be registered and have
access to the MyPsychKit online supplement for our textbook. Each Lab Report asks you to
summarize two days of these lab activities as outlined on the syllabus. Lab reports will lose 10% of
their value each class meeting they are late.
Each Lab Activity (scheduled over two class meetings) will consist of 3 basic parts:
A) online exercises
B) investigations and activities
C) thought questions
To access the MyPsychKit for lab exercises:
1) Go to www.mypsychkit.com
2) Click on “Students” in the tan “First-time users” box
3) Click “Buy Access” next to: Carlson Physiology of Behavior, 10/e
4) Click “accept”
5) Select “no”
6) Fill in appropriate info
 the next time you use to mypsychkit.com, you select "returning user" student, and log in
Lab Report Directions
You may format the report as you like, but I am asking that this be limited to ONE typed page to
force you to be brief and select the most important information for your lab summary (although
putting your sketches and such on the back is a great idea). Include in your lab report:
1) Your name and the Lab Report title and #
2) Summarize your experience with part A (online exercises) by recording things like:
a) which aspects of the exercise were most helpful
b) which aspects were the least helpful
c) what you learned that was most new or surprising to you
d) what (if anything) is still confusing or difficult to understand
e) any terms or concepts that you might find particularly challenging or worth reviewing
3) Respond to part B (investigations and activities) by completing the investigations as instructed
and then writing asummary including the:
 Purpose of your investigation
 Hypothesis you formed
 Methods used to complete the activity
 Findings (the results are the data collected)
 Interpretation (why do you think you found what you found?)
4) Respond to the thought questions in part C
Class Schedule
Date:
Unit One:
Aug 31
Sep 2
Sep 7
Sep 9
Sep 14
Sep 16
Sep 21
Sep 23
Lecture Topic:
The Nervous System
Course introduction
Nervous system cells
Neuron activity
Neuron communication
Neurotransmitters
Nervous system features
Nervous System structure
EXAM 1
Unit Two: Sensation and movement
Sep 28
Vision
Sep 30
Audition
Oct 5
Vestibular system
Oct 7
Somatosenses
Oct 12
Taste and olfaction
Oct 14
Control of movement
Oct 19
EXAM 2
Unit Three: Influences on Behavior
Oct 21
Emotions
Oct 26
Learning
Oct 28
Learning
Nov 2
No Class: Election Day
Nov 4
Sleep, Food
Nov 9
Drug action
Nov 11
No Class: Veteran’s Day
Nov 16
EXAM 3
Unit Four: Diversity of Behavior
Nov 18
Drug addiction
Nov 23
Obesity and Anorexia
Nov 25
No Class: Thanksgiving
Nov 30
Neurological disorders
Dec 2
Anxiety
Dec 7
Stress
Dec 9
Course wrap-up
Dec 15
Read pages:
Lab Topic:
Assignment:
-Lab Policies
Ch. 2 (29-41) MyPsychKit intro
Ch. 2 (41-52) Lab 1: Neurons
Ch. 2 (53-66) Lab 1: Neurons
Ch. 4 (111-124 Neurotransmitters Lab report 1
Ch. 3 (69-75) Neurotransmitters
Ch. 3 (82-100) Exam 1 prep
Lab report 2
-Ch. 6 (170-185) Exam 1 review
Ch. 7 (213-228) Vision, Audition
Ch. 7 (234-237) Vision, Audition
Ch. 7 (238-248) More senses
Ch. 7 (250-260) More senses
Ch. 8 (263-268) Exam 2 prep
--
Lab report 3
Lab report 4
367-383 & 396-9 Exam 2 review
Ch. 13 (440-453) Lab 5: Learning
Ch. 13 (454-464) Lab 5: Learning
296-9 & 409-415 Food, Drugs
Ch. 4 (103-111) Exam 3 prep
Lab report 5
Lab report 6
-Ch. 18 (614-622) Exam 3 Review
Ch. 12 (427-437) Addiction
Ch. 15 (532-548) Addiction
Ch. 17 (586-601) Stress & Anxiety Lab report 7
Ch. 17 (601-611) Stress & Anxiety
Exam 4 prep
Lab report 8
Final Exam Wednesday, 8:00 am, same room
Please note: Approved general education changes will take effect next fall.