Course Syllabus BISC 165H Spring 2014; Honors Recitation
Section 01 Th 11-11:50am, 05 Th 1-1:50pm, Shoemaker 114
Dr. Carol A. Britson
Office: 206 Shoemaker
Phone: 915-7988
Email: cbritson@olemiss.edu
Office Hours: Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10-11:30am, or by appointment
Nature of Course Content: In this recitation section we will focus on the status and future of healthcare both from a scientific
and societal perspective. We will be using the books The Healing of America and The Quest for the Cure as our starting points for
discussion. Throughout the semester we will address historical precedence, how science affects policy and vice versa, ethics, the
scientific method, communication of science, and what makes a good discussion of the readings. Where applicable, we will address
topics covered in lecture (BISC 162) and successful methods for mastering topical material.
Learning Outcomes: After completing this course, students will have an understanding of the conflicts between providing,
developing, paying for, and receiving healthcare. Students will also demonstrate an awareness of how their academic training (i.e., the
science) interacts with their professional and/or personal goals (i.e., the provision and reception of healthcare). This class will
encourage independent reading and critical analysis and will include student-led discussions and presentations.
Course Textbook (required):
Reid, T.R. 2010. The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care. Penguin
Books, New York. ISBN: 978-0-14-311821-3.
Stockwell, B.R. 2011. The Quest for the Cure: The Science and Stories Behind the Next Generation of Medicines.
Columbia University Press, New York. ISBN: 978-0-231-15212-9.
BlackBoard: All students at the University of Mississippi have a WebID (and associated password) that is used to access online
resources (e.g., registering for classes, etc.) and the university’s course management system BlackBoard
http://blackboard.olemiss.edu/. You are already enrolled as a BlackBoard user for this course (and perhaps several other courses as
well). I will be posting announcements, web links, and other information on BlackBoard.
Grading: The grade scale is shown below. For additional information on the plus/minus grading system, please visit
http://www.olemiss.edu/info/grading.html.
Grade
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD
F
Your performance will be assessed in the following areas.
Category
Attendance, participation, and engagement
Group presentation #1
Group presentation #2
Percent Score
93-100
90-92.99
87-89.99
83-86.99
80-82.99
77-79.99
73-76.99
70-72.99
60-69.99%
0-59.99%
Percentage Value
50
25
25
Academic Integrity: Academic integrity is essential to all the values upon which the university is founded. Honors students must
therefore embody academic honesty in all aspects of their work. A student with a documented case of plagiarism or academic cheating
in an honors course will face the possibility of receiving the grade of F for the course and being dismissed from the Honors College.
Specific consequences of such behavior will be determined by the administration and individual faculty member.
Attendance Policy: I expect attendance and participation at all class meetings. Honors courses are small classes, usually taught in
seminar style with no more than fifteen students. They are reading, writing and discussion intensive. Student participation is therefore
essential. In addition, the university commits extensive resources, especially in terms of faculty time, to these small classes. For these
reasons, the Honors College has an attendance policy for all honors courses, both required and departmental. Students are entitled to
one absence in this class. Consequences of additional absences will be determined by the individual faculty member, but additional
absences will lower your grade. If you must miss a class because of illness or family emergency, I expect you to contact me.
Participation Policy: Students are required to have read the materials before coming to class. For each class period, students must
submit 1-2 discussion questions on an index card. These discussion questions will be used during the class session. Also, students must
verbally contribute to the discussion during each class session. Three class sessions without verbal contribution AND submitted
discussion questions will lower your grade for the course by one full letter grade.
Student conduct: (1) All electronic devices (including, but not limited to, laptop computers; cell phones; iPods; blackberries;
etc.) must be turned off during class. Exceptions will be allowed only when there is a need to locate reference works to further our
discussion. There will be no other exceptions, and violators will be asked to leave. (2) Use correct grammar in written
correspondence (including email), and refrain from using “texting” lingo. (3) Do not enter faculty offices without knocking. (4) Do not
call me at home. My email and voicemail keep date and time records of any messages.
Inclement Weather: In the event that the University cancels classes due to inclement weather, we will adjust the schedule by
shifting our topic or event to the next class period.
Course Schedule:
Week of:
Discussion Topics/Book Chapters
Discussion leaders
January 22
Introductions and opening discussion
January 27
Reid: Prologue, Chapters 1-2
February 3
Reid: Chapters 3-5
February 10
Reid: Chapters 6-7
Group 1
February 17
Reid: Chapters 8-9
Group 2
February 24
Reid: Chapters 10-11
Group 3
March 3
Reid: Chapters 13-14, Afterword
Group 4
March 10
Spring Break
March 17
Stockwell: Chapters 1-2
March 24
Stockwell: Chapters 3-4
March 31
Reid: Appendix
April 7
Stockwell: Chapters 5-6
Group 1
April 14
Stockwell: Chapters 7-9
Group 2
April 21
Stockwell: Chapters 10-11
Group 3
April 28
Stockwell: Chapters 12-13
Group 4