BIOL 117: APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY
Fall 2026
COURSE DESCRIPTION (Catalog copy)
BIOL 117. Applied Physiology. 4 Units.
A lecture and practicum course reviewing the functions of all major organ
systems of the human body. Lectures use a systems-level approach with
physiological performance explained in the context of anatomical structures.
Practicum exercises include case studies analyzing how pharmaceutical drugs
work and the biological effects & side-effects of pharmaceutical drugs in both
normal and pathological states. Credit will not be given for this course if a
student has already received credit for BIOL 180. Prerequisites: Enrollment
limited to undergraduates in the Pre-Pharmacy Advantage program who have
received C or better grades in BIOL 061, BIOL 116, and CHEM 025 or CHEM 026.
COURSE DETAILS
CRN: 80605
Course location: BIOBLG 101
Course time: Mon, Wed, Fri 8:00am – 9:15am
Course URL: https://pacific.instructure.com/courses/146536
TEXTBOOK
Vander's Human Physiology: The Mechanisms of Body Function, 16th edition, 2023. Widmaier, Raff, & Strang. McGraw
Hill. ISBN: 9781264125739 or 9781264451128. You can also use the newest “2026 release” or the older 15th edition.
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Eric Thomas (he/him/his)
Email: ethomas@pacific.edu
Office: BIOBLG 242
Office phone: 209-946-3017
OFFICE HOURS: Tuesdays 1:00 - 2:00 pm and Wednesdays 1:30 - 2:30pm in BIOBLG 201, or by appointment.
HOW TO REACH ME
I encourage engagement and shared learning. I believe all students benefit from open discussion of ideas and questions
shared within the class; therefore, it’s my goal to promote interaction during shared meeting times. We’ll meet three
times each week in lecture, and you can attend drop-in, no-appointment-needed office hours twice each week. We’ll
also hold regularly scheduled review sessions before each exam. If you have class-related questions (textbook, lecture,
or exam content, etc.), please raise your questions during those times, or talk to me before or after class to make an
appointment if you can’t attend my office hours. You can also post questions on our CANVAS discussion board at any
time. To encourage open learning, if I receive individual emails about class content outside of class, I will hold my replies
until we’re back in class the next day, so that all students may benefit from the answer. That said, if you have a personal
urgent matter to deal with (e.g., you’re sick and can’t attend an exam), please email me and I’ll respond by email.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
In some science classes, memorization of an encyclopedia of information is expected. In other science courses, facts are
minimal and you are taught theories. In this class, we will attempt to strike a balance between these extremes. A key goal
of the course is to help you learn how to think critically about physiology across multiple levels of biological organization
(i.e. molecules, cells, organs, organ systems, organism). Exam questions will challenge you to extend concepts to questions
not specifically addressed in class and test your critical thinking skills. By the end of this class, your goal is to have an
adequate understanding of the basics of human physiology such that you can analyze, apply, and evaluate information
related to this subject.
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BIOL 117: APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY
Fall 2026
After completing this course, students will be able to:
1. Explain the normal functions and regulation of the major organ systems, organs and their structures, as would
be observed in healthy individuals.
2. Describe some common human diseases and disorders experienced in modern life, with their symptoms and
underlying causation.
3. Analyze physiological data and present the results in a clear and professional manner.
4. Apply information about the effects and side-effects of some pharmaceutical drugs to explain how the drugs
positively- and negatively-impact patients using them.
5. Communicate effectively with superiors, colleagues, and laypersons, in both spoken and written forms on the
subject of physiology.
These course learning outcomes align with the following Bachelor of Arts in Applied Science learning outcomes and with
the University-wide Core Competencies:
Bachelor of Arts in Applied Science Learning Outcomes
Use qualitative Demonstrate ability to Demonstrate and Effectively communicate
and quantitative
retrieve correct
apply disciplineverbally and in written
data in decision
information from
specific knowledge forms appropriate for
making
appropriate resources
and skills
the intended audience
Quantitative Reasoning
X
X
Information Literacy
X
X
X
University-wide
Critical Thinking
X
X
X
Core Competencies
Written Communication
X
Oral Communication
X
Copies of your work in this course may be retained by the Department of Biological Sciences to assess how the learning
objectives of the course are being met.
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES – PREFERRED NAMES & PRONOUNS:
Knowing and applying the names and pronouns that students use is a crucial part of developing a productive learning
environment that fosters safety, inclusion, personal dignity, and a sense of belonging across campus. Please let me know
your preferred name and pronoun anytime throughout the semester.
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES – NOTIFICATION OF CLASS SESSION RECORDING:
As a routine, I will NOT be recording daily lecture sessions for posting online. That said, I may occasionally record parts
of class sessions and post them on Canvas for learning purposes. Practicum and exam periods may also be photographed
or video recorded by me to maintain academic integrity.
Each student in our lecture section is allowed to audio (not video) record our meetings to help them with lecture note
taking. I also allow students to photograph the whiteboard when I’m writing class content or showing a presentation;
you are not however allowed to record or photograph other students in class. As a student in this class, please know
that your participation in class may therefore also be recorded. By participating in class, you give your consent to this
recording. If you as a student make an audio recording or take photographs in class, these can be used solely for your
own personal learning purposes; you may share it with other members of our class section, but you CANNOT share,
copy, lend, post, sell, or otherwise distribute these recordings or images to anyone outside of our lecture section – this
includes students in other sections of this class, students in other classes, or to any non-school website in any form
including social media, file sharing sites, or any other outlet. Finally, students must delete all recordings and images
when no longer needed for personal learning purposes, or upon completion of the course, or when the student is no
longer enrolled at the University (whichever comes first). Any violation of this agreement will be considered a violation
of the University’s Student Code of Conduct and may result in disciplinary sanctions up to and including dismissal.
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BIOL 117: APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY
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STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES – ATTENDANCE:
Attendance matters. It facilitates learning and is necessary for participating in discussion. Student are expected to be
motivated learners who arrive in class prepared for active engagement in discussion & problem solving.
That said, you must be healthy to attend class (see Pacific’s COVID-19 policies HERE). Students testing positive
for COVID-19 are not allowed to attend lecture until they complete the appropriate COVID-19
isolation/quarantine procedures (HERE). Students who experience other illnesses (not COVID-19) should
contact me about attending class vs. staying home; if you are allowed to attend class while feeling sick, please
wear a face mask while in the classroom. Any students seeking illness-related accommodations for extended
illnesses must provide an official medical note from Pacific’s campus Health Center or from a medical office.
Illness aside, attendance is required at all lecture periods regardless of whether or not there is a practicum that day.
Practicums occur weekly, but they can occur on any day of the week; therefore, students must attend every lecture to
avoid losing credit for missed practicums (see below). At the request of the School of Pharmacy, the lecture room doors
will be locked before practicums begin; any student arriving after the doors are locked will not be allowed in and will be
counted as absent from the practicum.
Participation points: Although students don’t earn points for attendance alone, students do get 5% of their credit from
participation (excluding practicums). With regard to participation points, to alleviate concerns of students who must
miss an occasional class for legitimate reasons (sickness, interviews, university functions, etc.), all students are
permitted to miss up to 5 days of lecture during the semester without impacting their participation ability or
participation score. No excuse notes need be provided, and no prorations are given for attendance excuses. Students
who miss more than 5 days of the semester because of extended illness or other valid reasons should discuss their
situation with the instructor and with the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities to determine if any SSD
accommodations are necessary. Note: This policy applies to participation points only. A separate policy applies to
practicums and other assignments:
Practicums and other Assignments: The first course assignments will be self-paced assignments completed
outside of class time, submitted via CANVAS. Later “Practicums” will be in-class assignments completed by
students working together in groups to answer questions. Since participation in group problem-solving is
integral to completing the assignments, students MUST BE PRESENT at the start and end of a practicum to
receive credit for the assignment.
Practicum Absences: Practicums cannot be made up, since by their nature they are group-work assignments.
Therefore, all students will be allowed to miss TWO assignments (from either the group practicum sessions or
from the CANVAS assignments) without incurring any grade deduction. Each additional missed assignment,
regardless of reason for the absence (excused or not), will result in a class grade deduction of approximately 35% per assignment, the exact value determined by the total number of practicums offered in the semester.
Students who arrive late may not be allowed to participate in practicums and will earn a zero for the
assignment. Also, students who attempt to complete a practicum remotely will not receive credit for the
assignment. Attendance will be recorded at the beginning of each class period with swipes of student ID cards.
If a student is caught leaving class after swiping in, swiping in for students other than themself, or having other
people swipe in for them, the incident will be treated as an Honor Code violation as described below; the
student will receive ZERO credit for any practicum administered that week and will receive a 10% reduction in
their final class grade as described below.
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BIOL 117: APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY
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Exams: All exams will take place in-person during lecture time. Exam questions will be a mixture of factual questions,
theoretical questions, and problem-solving questions. Simply memorizing vocabulary will not be sufficient to succeed in
this course.
Exam Absences: Students who must miss exams due to participation in university-sanctioned events must notify
the instructor by email of all scheduled absences within two weeks of the start of the semester, or within three
days of the initial scheduling of the event; such notifications must include an official notice from a university
program director validating the absence; failure to provide such notification in the time indicated above will
result in the absence being counted as UNEXCUSED. Students who miss exams due to illness must inform the
instructor by email within 24 hours following the scheduled time. Such absences must be documented in writing
by the Pacific Health Center or the student's personal doctor. There are no make-up exams. Excused missed
exams (except final exams, see below) will be prorated off the final exam. Students who miss an exam without
an appropriate excuse will receive a zero for that exam.
Final Exam Schedule Policy: Students must take their final exams on the scheduled day and time. Exceptions to the
policy may only be granted by the Senior Associate Dean of the College and are granted only for personal emergencies
such as a death in the family. If a student misses the final due to illness, they will be given an incomplete and must
return to take the final at a later date.
DISTRIBUTION OF CREDIT ASSIGNMENTS/ACTIVITIES
Activity/Exam
Practicums/Assignments (10; drop 2)
Participation (based on attendance)
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3
Final Exam
Percent of Course Grade
30%
5%
15%
15%
15%
20%
COURSE GRADES
Your final grade is based on the total number of points that you accumulate in the semester. Letter grades will be
assigned according to the scale shown below. This scale may be “curved” (adjusted downward) at the professor’s
discretion, but it will not be raised. No letter grades will be assigned until the end of the course. Errors in grading of
exams must be brought to the attention of the professor within 1 week after the exams are returned.
B+
87 to 89.9%
C+
77 to 79.9%
D+ 67 to 69.9%
A
93 to 100%
B
83 to 86.9%
C
73 to 76.9%
D
60 to 66.9%
A90 to 92.9%
B80 to 83.9%
C70 to 72.9%
F
0 to 59.9%
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
If you are a student with a disability who requires accommodations, please contact the Office of Services for Students
with Disabilities (SSD) for information on how to register for services and request accommodations:
1. Student must first register for services by completing the intake and registration process and provide supportive
documentation found at the SSD website.
2. Each semester, student must use the SSD Student Portal found at the SSD website to request that
accommodation(s) letters be sent to all instructors for classes in which the student seeks accommodations.
3. After accommodations are requested online, student must meet with their professor to coordinate the
appropriate range and delivery of accommodations.
a. Students who do not initiate this conversation may not receive accommodations in a timely manner.
To ensure timeliness of services, it is preferable that you obtain the accommodation email letter(s) from SSD within
the first two weeks of classes starting. The Office of Services for Students with Disabilities is located in the McCaffrey
Center Room 229, 2nd floor. Phone: 209-946-3221. Email: ssd@pacific.edu. Online: SSD website.
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BIOL 117: APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY
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HONOR CODE
University of the Pacific holds all Pacific students to a strict standard of academic integrity. The full Academic Honesty
Policy can be found in the Student Code of Conduct Handbook, formerly known as the Tiger Lore Student Handbook
(HERE), and includes the following:
Pacific students are expected to:
• act honestly in all matters.
• actively encourage academic integrity
• discourage any form of cheating or dishonesty by others.
• inform the instructor and appropriate university staff if the student has a reasonable and good faith belief
and substantial evidence that a violation of the Academic Honesty Policy has occurred.
There are many types of Honor Code violations. Obvious examples include using cheat notes, electronic devices or other
unauthorized resources during exams or assignments, looking at another student’s exam, exchanging information with
other students during exams, and plagiarism. Other types of violations include failing to comply with an instructor in
class or with a university official, lying to an instructor or providing any misrepresentation of information in order to
receive any academic advantage or accommodation, etc. This includes, but is not limited to, falsifying excuse notes or
SSD accommodation notes, changing an exam answer after its submission and requesting additional credit, and any
attendance or participation misrepresentations such as having another student sign you in for attendance, signing in for
anyone other than yourself, and signing in for attendance credit then leaving the classroom before the period ends
without the instructor’s consent. In general, if you are doing something in class which is not explicitly authorized in class,
it probably is cheating.
If a student is observed in class behaving in a way that appears to constitute an Honor Code violation, the student may
be photographed or video recorded during the commission of said behavior and the photos/videos will be used as
evidence of the violation. In the case of a suspected violation of the University's Honor Code policy, the alleged incident
will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards, which will begin a formal review. If the
student is found responsible, the violation will be documented as part of their academic record. The student may
receive a range of penalties depending on the specific violation and the student’s prior history. Minimally,
• the student will receive an automatic “0” grade for the assignment and an automatic deduction of 10% from
their final class grade.
• the student will be prevented from dropping or withdrawing from the course, even if the deadline to do so has
not expired; if the student has already withdrawn from the course prior to the resolution of the case, the
student will be reinstated to the course.
• appropriate notifications will be made to any university athletic programs in which the student participates, and
to any Pacific professional programs into which the student applies.
• If the review process reveals the student has a history of other academic or student conduct violations,
additional penalties may be imposed, including but not limited to failure of the course, suspension, or dismissal
from the University.
Honesty and integrity are key character traits of people seeking to care for others, especially for those who will be
dispensing medications that can help or harm a patient. Pacific’s School of Pharmacy puts a premium on student
academic integrity. Please read the following letter from a student who was caught cheating in another BIOL class (BIOL
128). The lessons learned by that student and the consequences they experienced are wisdom for future students in all
classes, especially if they are pre-professional:
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BIOL 117: APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY
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In Spring 2024, a student was caught cheating in BIOL 128. The following is an open letter written by the student after
the incident, encouraging future students not to make the same mistake they made. Prior to the cheating incident, this
student was doing well in class; they were ready to graduate and they had already been accepted to dental school for the
coming Fall semester. After the incident, they had to update their dental school application to inform the school that they
had committed an honor code violation. At the time the following letter was written, the student was waiting to find out if
they had lost their place in dental school.
An open letter to current/future students:
I was a student in BIOL 128. I am writing here to tell everyone of how I was caught cheating in
BIOL 128 and why cheating is never worth it, or even to think of doing so.
I was taking a quiz for this course. I decided to look at the person sitting next to me and copy
answers from him. The professor saw me looking and he could also see that my scantron answers
were very similar to the scantron of the person sitting next to me.
After the quiz, the professor notified the class that someone had cheated. I knew it was me, so
I approached the professor and confessed. Because I confessed, the professor only gave me a
zero on the assignment (not a harsher penalty) when he filed the student conduct report. That
zero on my quiz was enough to drop my class grade at the end of the semester.
My decision to cheat was very bad on my record and very detrimental for my GPA. I was a predental student. I was in my final semester at Pacific and I was already accepted to start at
Dugoni in the Fall. Not only did this dumb decision cost me a lower grade in the course, but I had
to notify the Admissions Office at Dugoni that I was caught cheating. This may cost me my
entrance to dental school next Fall.
I hope my decision and my actions will encourage you guys moving on to not cheat and to always
protect the integrity of the class, as it is very disrespectful to your own hard work and to the
hardworking professors on this campus.
Sincerely, a former BIOL 128 student
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BIOL 117: APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY
Fall 2026
COURSE SCHEDULE: (any changes to schedule will be announced in class or via CANVAS):
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Date
Aug 24
Aug 26
Aug 28
Aug 31
Sep 2
Sep 4
Sep 7
Sep 9
Sep 11
Sep 14
Sep 16
Sep 18
Sep 21
Sep 23
Sep 25
Sep 28
Sept 30
Oct 2
Oct 5
Oct 7
Oct 9
Oct 12
Oct 14
Oct 16
Oct 19
Oct 21
Oct 23
Oct 26
Oct 28
Oct 30
Nov 2
Nov 4
Nov 6
Nov 9
Nov 11
Nov 13
Nov 16
Nov 18
Nov 20
Nov 23
Nov 25-27
Nov 30
Dec 2
Dec 4
Finals Dec 09
Topic # Topic Description
Ch. Readings Practicum/ Assignments
01 Introductions & Study Skills
1.1 – 1.2; 1.9 Homeworks (online):
01 Biomolecules
2.1 – 2.4 Student Info card due 9/4
3.8 – 3.13 8/28 Online lecture: no class
01 Biomolecules
01 / 02 Biomolecules / Energy Metabolism
Learning groups due 9/4
02 / 03 Energy & Intermediary Metabolism
3.14 – 3.16 Excel worksheet due 9/5
9/4 Last day to add/drop
03 Intermediary Metabolism
Labor Day Holiday - NO CLASS
04 Movement of Molecules
Practicum (in-class)
4
04 Movement of Molecules
1.3-1.8; 16.6-16.7 Review session 9/15 5-6:30pm
05 Homeostasis
Room BIOBLG 101
EXAM 1 (thru Homeostasis lectures)
06 / 07 Chemical Messengers/ Endocrine System
5, 11
9/18 Last day for pro-rated refund
07 Endocrine System
Practicum (in-class)
07 Endocrine System
11
08 Nervous System
9/25 Early grades submitted
08 Nervous System
Practicum (in-class)
Exam 1 corrections due 9/30
6
08 Nervous System
Fall Student Break – NO CLASS
09 Sensory Mechanisms
Practicum (in-class)
09 Sensory Mechanisms
7
10/09 Online lecture: no class
09 Sensory Mechanisms
10 Skeletal Muscle
9.1 – 9.7 Review session 10/13 5-6:30pm
Room BIOBLG 101
EXAM 2 (thru Sensory lectures)
10 Skeletal Muscle
9.1 – 9.7 10/12 Spring ‘27 schedule available
10 Skeletal Muscle
9.1 – 9.7 Practicum (in-class)
10 Smooth & Cardiac Muscle
9.8 – 9.10
10/19-10/30 Spring 2027 advising
12
11 Cardiovascular System
11 Cardiovascular System
Practicum (in-class)
11 Cardiovascular System
12
10/30 LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW
11 Cardiovascular System
12 Respiratory System
Practicum (in-class)
12 Respiratory System
13
11/02 Spring ‘27 registration begins
12 Respiratory System
Review session 11/12 5-6:30pm
13 Urinary System
14
Room BIOBLG 144
13 Urinary System
EXAM 3 (thru Respiratory lectures)
13 Urinary System
Practicum (in-class)
14
Digestive System
15
13 Digestive System
14 Regulation of Metabolism
16.1 – 16.5
Thanksgiving Holiday – NO CLASS
14 Regulation of Metabolism
16.1 – 16.5
16 Reproduction
12/11 Last day to petition to walk in
17
Spring Commencement
16 Reproduction
Wednesday: FINAL EXAM 8:00-11:00 AM
7
Review session 12/08 6-7:30pm
Room BIOBLG 101