KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE COURSE PROPOSAL OR REVISION,
Cover Sheet (10/02/2002)
Course Number/Program Name BIOL 6399 - Seminar
Department Biology and Physics
Degree Title (if applicable) Master of Science in Integrative Biology
Proposed Effective Date Fall 2104
Check one or more of the following and complete the appropriate sections:
X New Course Proposal
Course Title Change
Course Number Change
Course Credit Change
Course Prerequisite Change
Course Description Change
Sections to be Completed
II, III, IV, V, VII
I, II, III
I, II, III
I, II, III
I, II, III
I, II, III
Notes:
If proposed changes to an existing course are substantial (credit hours, title, and description), a new course with a
new number should be proposed.
A new Course Proposal (Sections II, III, IV, V, VII) is required for each new course proposed as part of a new
program. Current catalog information (Section I) is required for each existing course incorporated into the
program.
Minor changes to a course can use the simplified E-Z Course Change Form.
Submitted by:
Approved
Scott A. Reese
Faculty Member
Oct. 11, 2013
Date
Not Approved
Department Curriculum Committee Date
Approved
Approved
Approved
Approved
Approved
Approved
Not Approved
Department Chair
Date
College Curriculum Committee
Date
College Dean
Date
GPCC Chair
Date
Dean, Graduate College
Date
Not Approved
Not Approved
Not Approved
Not Approved
Not Approved
Vice President for Academic Affairs Date
Approved
Not Approved
President
Date
KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE COURSE/CONCENTRATION/PROGRAM CHANGE
I.
Current Information (Fill in for changes)
Page Number in Current Catalog
___
Course Prefix and Number
___
Course Title
___
Class Hours
____Laboratory Hours_______Credit Hours________
Prerequisites
___
Description (or Current Degree Requirements)
II.
Proposed Information (Fill in for changes and new courses)
Course Prefix and Number BIOL 6399____________________________
Course Title _Seminar________________
___________
Class Hours 1 ____Laboratory Hours____0___CreditHours____1____
Prerequisites Admission and enrollment in the Master of Science in Integrative
Biology program.
Description (or Proposed Degree Requirements)
Sections will cover selected topics of current interest. Each section will be
defined by the instructor of record.
III.
Justification
The BS in Biology is undergoing significant revision. As part of that
revision, we are requiring our undergraduates to take a senior seminar
class (BIOL 4399) to increase the interaction between students and active
research in the field. We are tying these seminars to active (MBIG and
EEBOB) and proposed (MICRO) research seminars that already invite
scientists outside and inside the university to give talks. These research
seminars are also useful for our graduate students and we require all of
them to take 2 seminars during their degree. This class is intended to be
the cross-listed version of the undergraduate seminar class. We currently
only have a single graduate seminar class in a given semester and the
topic for that class is highly variable. By expanding the opportunities for
seminars (4 in the Fall 2014 schedule), we hope to better serve the
academic needs of the graduate students while still providing them with
important academic interactions.
IV.
Additional Information (for New Courses only)
Instructor: Martin Hudson, Anthony Golubski, Donald McGarey, Scott Reese
Text: None
Prerequisites:
Admission and enrollment in the Master of Science in Integrative Biology
program.
Objectives:
This course is designed to introduce graduate students to active
researchers in a number of specializations. Students will be able to:
-interact with active research specialists among varied disciplines
-evaluate the validity of experimental evidence presented and ask
appropriate questions to probe the usefulness of results.
-communicate appropriately in a scientific setting to adjudicate the
answer to a scientific question using appropriate data.
Instructional Method
The primary instruction method entails bringing in active researchers to
present their research followed by detailed discussions of the research
with the scientist. Other active researchers will be present during the
discussions to model good scientific argumentation and guide student
inquiry.
Method of Evaluation
The primary method of evaluation will be attendance and participation in
the post-presentation discussions. There will also be a number of written
assignments asking students to elaborate on a given research presentation
to assess students’ ability to communicate in writing and to generate a
more in-depth scientific argument.
V.
Resources and Funding Required (New Courses only)
Resource
Amount
Faculty
Other Personnel
Equipment
Supplies
Travel
New Books
New Journals
Other (Specify)
TOTAL
Funding Required Beyond
Normal Departmental Growth
Given that these seminars already exist and this is just a graduate cross-listing, it is
unlikely we would need any additional resources. That said, seminars are not always
cheap to run and additional resources to support external speakers are always an
important consideration.
VI. COURSE MASTER FORM
This form will be completed by the requesting department and will be sent to the Office of the
Registrar once the course has been approved by the Office of the President.
The form is required for all new courses.
DISCIPLINE
COURSE NUMBER
COURSE TITLE FOR LABEL
(Note: Limit 30 spaces)
CLASS-LAB-CREDIT HOURS
Approval, Effective Term
Grades Allowed (Regular or S/U)
If course used to satisfy CPC, what areas?
Learning Support Programs courses which are
required as prerequisites
BIOL
6399
Seminar
1-0-1
Fall 2014
S/U
APPROVED:
________________________________________________
Vice President for Academic Affairs or Designee __
VII Attach Syllabus
BIOLOGY 6399 – Seminar
Instructor: Scott Reese, Ph.D.
Office: SC 323
Office Hours:
Office Phone:
770-423-6168
e-mail: sreese3@kennesaw.edu
URL: http://science.kennesaw.edu/~sreese3
Lecture Room:
Lecture Time:
Course Online: D2L
Skype: doctor_reese
SCHEDULE
Topic
Aug 20
Aug 27
Sept 3
Sept 10
Sept 17
Sept 24
Oct 1
Oct 8
Oct 15
Oct 22
Oct 29
Nov 5
Nov 12
Nov 19
Nov 26
Dec 3
Introduction and Presenting Research
Reese-Opening Presentation
No Class-Labor Day.
Internal/Student Speaker
External Speaker
Internal/Student Speaker
External Speaker
Discussion of written paper
Internal/Student Speaker
External Speaker
Internal/Student Speaker – Paper 1 due
External Speaker
Internal/Student Speaker
External Speaker
Internal/Student Speaker – Paper 2 due
Reese-Final Discussion and evaluation
COURSE DESCRIPTION
BIOL 6399 - Seminar
COURSE POLICIES
Attendance/Participation: Class attendance and participation is expected and will be used in the grading scheme.
You will be expected to critically read articles from the primary literature and come to class prepared to discuss their
content. You are expected to be an active participant in all of these discussions. Please arrive before the
beginning of class so as not to disturb your fellow students. Mute all cell phones, pagers, etc. There are 2 papers
required for the semester. Details of the papers can be found on the D2L, please read over the material before
coming to class.
Pass
Participate in 13-16 sessions; turn in 2 papers
Fail
Participate in <13 sessions; turn in <2 papers
The final grading scale may be adjusted at the discretion of the instructor and will be announced via WebCT.
Accommodations: Any student with a documented disability or medical condition needing academic
accommodations of class-related activities or schedules must contact the instructor immediately. Written verification
from the KSU disAbled Student Support Services is required. No requirements exist that accommodations be made
prior to completion of this approved University documentation. All discussions will remain confidential.
Academic Honesty: Every KSU student is responsible for upholding the provisions of the Student Code of Conduct,
as published in the Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs. Section II of the Student Code of Conduct addresses the
University's policy on academic honesty, including provisions regarding plagiarism and cheating, unauthorized
access to University materials, misrepresentation/falsification of University records or academic work, malicious
removal, retention, or destruction of library materials, malicious/intentional misuse of computer facilities and/or
services, and misuse of student identification cards. Incidents of alleged academic misconduct will be handled
through the established procedures of the University Judiciary Program, which includes either an “informal”
resolution by a faculty member, resulting in a grade adjustment, or a formal hearing procedure, which may subject a
student to the Code of Conduct's minimum one semester suspension requirement.
You are expected to follow the regulations as stated on pages 233-236 of the 2003-2004 of the Kennesaw State
University Undergraduate Catalog. Plagiarism and cheating of any kind will not be tolerated. This includes copying
papers and not providing proper literature citations. Any violations of the Student Conduct Regulations will be
handled through the University Court.
Recycling Policy: REDUCE WASTE AND RECYCLE. If possible, please use (purchase) recycled goods. On
campus, paper can be recycled in the bins found in the front of each classroom and aluminum cans can be recycled
in the appropriate containers in the hall. Please do not mix waste with the materials to be recycled. It's your planet,
your campus, your health & well-being and your economy -- help them all by recycling. See page 248 of the current
catalog for the KSU Position Statement on Environmental Awareness.
URL: Copies of this syllabus, along with other material relevant to this course, can be found on the course
Homepage. The URL for the course Homepage is:
D2L
Office Hours: My office hours are listed on the first page of this syllabus. I encourage you to avail yourself of
them. If you cannot make it to any of these scheduled hours, please make an appointment. I'm certain that we can
find a mutually acceptable time to meet.
Your continued presence in this course signifies your acceptance of the policies and procedures outlined above.