Vanguard University of Southern California
Biological
Psychology
PSYC 340-01
Spring 2016, T/TR 3:00-4:15
Heath, Room 109
Instructor: Michael Hanna, PhD
E-Mail: michael.hanna@vanguard.edu
Voice Mail: (949) 236-7062
Office: Psychology 106
Office Hours: MW 1:00-3:00pm,
TTh 2:00-3:00pm, & by appointments
Course Description
Required Text:
Welcome to Biological Psychology! Beginning with a basic understanding of
brain structures, students will gain an understanding of how brain structure
relates to brain function and to behavior. Topics covered include brain
structure, neuronal communication, drugs and hormonal influences on the
brain, visual sensation and perception, sleep and waking states, sexual
behavior, brain lateralization, language, and psychological disorders. A $25
fee will pay for dissection materials. Prerequisite: PSYC 103C.
Discovering Behavioral Neuroscience:
An Introduction to Biological (3rd ed.).
Freberg, L.A. (2015). Psychology
ISBN: 978-1-305-08870-2
Relation of Course to the Psychology Major:
Biological Psychology fulfills the “Biological Perspectives” component of
the Psychology major.
Classroom Diversity Statement:
As students and faculty at Vanguard University of Southern California, and
foremost as Christian believers, we endeavor to communicate with honesty
and confidentiality, to speak with encouraging and edifying words, and to
create a safe environment where we shelter one another with love when
vulnerabilities arise. This classroom intends to foster a Christ-centered
community that promotes appreciation and respect for individuals, enhances
the potential of its members, and values differences in gender, ethnicity, race,
abilities, national origins, and generation.
Disability Services:
The Disability Services Office offers resources and coordinates reasonable
accommodations for students with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations
are established through an interactive process between you, your instructor(s)
and the Disability Services Office. If you have not yet established services
through the Disability Services Office, but have a temporary or permanent
disability that requires accommodations (this can include but not limited to;
mental health, attention-related, learning, vision, hearing, physical or health
impairments), you are welcome to contact the Disability Services Office at
714-619-6484 or disabilityservices@vanguard.edu
Biological Psychology
Important Dates:
1/22 – Last day to add a course
1/22 – Last day to drop a course w/o
it appearing on transcript
3/4 – Last day to drop a course w/o
academic penalty
Exam Dates:
Exam 1: 2/4
Exam 2: 3/3
Exam 3: 3/31
Exam 4: 4/28
Final Exam: 5/5
Online Quiz Dates:
Quizzes are to be completed by 10pm
Quiz 1: 1/16
Quiz 2: 1/23
Quiz 3: 2/13
Quiz 4: 2/20
Quiz 5: 2/27
Quiz 6: 3/12
Quiz 7: 3/26
Quiz 8: 4/9
Quiz 9: 4/16
Quiz 10: 4/23
RELATION OF COURSE TO INSTITUTIONAL STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Institutional Student
Learning Outcome
Integration of Faith &
Learning
Cultural Competency
and Citizenship
Course Student Learning Outcomes
SLO Fulfilled Through

Understand mental and neurological illnesses from a
scientific, psychological, and faith perspective.
Examine the impact of neurological and psychological
disorders on society



Communication



Describe current research and new advances in the field
of biological psychology.
Explain the role and functions of specific brain functions
Critical Thinking

Be able to evaluate and interpret data from experiments

Holistic Living

Understand factors, both psychological and sociological,
that contribute to healthy neurological aging and brain
functioning





Online quizzes
In-class discussions
In-class discussions
and reading
assignments
Video summary
assignments
Sheep brain
dissection
In-class videos, video
summary
assignments
online quizzes
Reading assignments
In-class discussions
MOODLE:
I will be using Moodle to post Powerpoint slides, study guides, handouts, and grades. You can access this course from
your MyVU account.
USE OF ELECTRONICS:
There is a no computer policy; use of a computer (or iPad) will result in a loss of participation points.
EVALUATION:
Your grade is determined by the total number of points you have at the end of the semester. Your final course grade will
be determined on the basis of four unit exams (200 points each), three video summaries (20 points each), ten online
quizzes (6 points each), participation in a dissection lab (20 points), and attendance (60 points). Point totals will be
posted throughout the term to enable you to track your grade.
1) Four Unit Exams (200 points each, 800 points total)
The unit exams will cover text material, lectures, videos and other class material. The questions will include multiple
choice, “fill-in-the-blanks,” and labeling of diagrams. The diagrams that will be on the exam will be posted on the study
guide. There are no make-up exams for this class. If a unit exam is missed, the points may be made up by taking the
final exam.
2) Three Video Summaries Assignments (20 points each, 60 points total)
For each video, provide a detailed summary of the video, referring to the names of the individuals mentioned in the
video. Five short-answer questions will be given after watching each video. You may use your notes that you take while
watching the video to answer the questions. The last 25 minutes of class will be given to complete the assignment. Video
summary assignments are due at the end of the class period. If you miss the lecture in which the video is shown, ½ credit
will be given to assignments turned in within a week of the day in which the video was shown.
3) Brain Dissection (20 points):
Two-person student teams will proceed through a guided dissection of a sheep brain. Participation in the dissection class
is worth 20 points. The purpose of the sheep brain dissection is to familiarize you with the major structures of the brain.
There are many similarities between the sheep brain and the human brain, and we will frequently refer throughout the
semester to brain structures that we study in this dissection.
Biological Psychology
4) Ten Online Quizzes (6 points each, 60 points total)
There will be ten online quizzes posted on Moodle. Each quiz will cover the material of that week as well as that week’s
reading from the textbook. Each quiz is due by 10:00pm on the due date (see syllabus for due dates). Quizzes submitted
after the deadline will not receive any credit. It is expected that students complete the online quizzes independently,
without the help of other classmates, as a matter of academic integrity and honesty. You may consult your textbook or
class notes in the process of completing quizzes.
5) Attendance and Participation (3 point for each lecture, 60 points)
Attendance and participation are important to your learning in this class. Your participation and on-time presence
(within the first five minutes of class) for the full class period will result in 3 point being awarded for every lecture you
attend (excluding classes in which a video will be shown). There is a no computer policy; use of a computer will result
in loss of attendance/participation points for that particular lecture.
6) Final Exam (200 points, OPTIONAL):
A comprehensive objective final exam will be given. This final exam will provide you with an opportunity to improve
your grade. Students who are satisfied with their course grade after the last unit exam are not required to take the final
exam. For students who take the final exam, the score on the final exam will replace the lowest unit exam score. Taking
the final exam cannot lower your course grade.
LATE POLICY:
No credit will be given for online quizzes submitted after the deadline.
HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR GRADE:
Exams (4x200):
800 points
Video Reactions (3 x 20):
60 points
Brain Dissection (1 x 20):
20 points
Online Quizzes (10 x 6):
60 points
Attendance (3 x 20):
60 points
Total:
1000 points
Biological Psychology
Grade
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
DF
Score
930 –1000 pts
900 – 929 pts
870 – 899 pts
830 – 869 pts
800 – 829 pts
770 – 799 pts
730 – 769 pts
700 – 729 pts
670 – 699 pts
630 – 669 pts
600 – 629 pts
599 or lower
Percentage
93%-100%
90%-92.9%
87%-89.9%
83%-86.9%
80%-82.9%
77%-79.9%
73%-76.9%
70%-72.9%
67%-69.9%
63%-66.9%
60%-62.9%
< 59.9%
STATEMENT ON PLAGIARISM from Vanguard University Academic Catalog:
To plagiarize is to present someone else’s work—his or her words, line of thought, or organizational
structure—as our own. This occurs when sources are not cited properly, or when permission is not obtained
from the original author to use his or her work. By not acknowledging the sources that are used in our work,
we are wrongfully taking material that is not our own. Plagiarism is thus an insidious and disruptive form of
dishonesty. It violates relationships with known classmates and professors, and it violates the legal rights of
people we may never meet. Another person’s “work” can take many forms: printed or electronic copies of
computer programs, drawings, oral presentations, papers, essays, articles or chapters, statistical data, tables
or figures, etc. In short, if any information that can be considered the intellectual property of another is used
without acknowledging the original source properly, this is plagiarism.
1. Minimal plagiarism is defined as doing any of the following without attribution:
a. inserting verbatim phrases of 2-3 distinctive words.
b. substituting synonyms into the original sentence rather than rewriting the complete sentence.
c. reordering the clauses of a sentence.
d. imitating the sentence, paragraph, or organizational structure, or writing style of a source.
e. using a source’s line of logic, thesis or ideas.
2. Substantial plagiarism is defined as doing any of the following without attribution:
a. inserting verbatim sentences or longer passages from a source.
b. combining paraphrasing with verbatim sentences to create a paragraph or more of text.
c. repeatedly and pervasively engaging in minimal plagiarism.
3. Complete plagiarism is defined as doing any of the following without attribution:
a. submitting or presenting someone’s complete published or unpublished work (paper, article, or chapter).
b. submitting another student’s work for an assignment, with or without that person’s knowledge or
consent.
c. using information from a campus file of old assignments.
d. downloading a term paper from a web site.
e. buying a term paper from a mail order company or web site.
f. reusing or modifying a previously submitted paper (e.g., from another course) for a present assignment
without obtaining prior approval from the instructors involved.
Consequences
Minimal plagiarism. At the professor’s discretion, assignments may be rewritten and resubmitted, with or
without a grade penalty. Repeated instances of minimal plagiarism may, at the professor’s discretion, be
treated as substantial plagiarism. If the professor plans to exercise his or her discretion in cases of minimal
plagiarism, procedures and consequences should be clearly described in the course syllabus.
Substantial plagiarism. For a first offense, the student typically receives a failing grade on the assignment
that has been plagiarized, and a Report of Plagiarism is submitted to the Provost’s Office. For a second
offense, the student typically receives a failing grade in the course, and a Report of Plagiarism is submitted
to the Provost’s Office. For a third offense the student should be recommended for expulsion from the
University. Action is taken at the discretion of the Provost.
Complete plagiarism. For a first offense, the student typically receives a failing grade in the course, and
Report of Plagiarism is submitted to the Provost’s Office. For a second offense, the student is typically
expelled from the college. Action is taken at the discretion of the Provost.
Biological Psychology
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
Date
1/12
1/14
1/19
1/21
1/26
1/28
2/2
2/4
2/9
2/11
2/16
2/18
2/23
2/25
3/1
3/3
3/8
3/10
3/15
3/17
3/22
3/24
3/29
3/31
4/5
4/7
4/12
4/14
4/19
4/21
4/26
4/28
5/5
Biological Psychology
Lecture Topic
Course Overview
Introduction to Biological Psychology
Divisions of the Nervous System
Brain Anatomy Part 1
Brain Anatomy Part 2
Sheep Brain Dissection
Video 1
EXAM 1 (Ch. 1-2)
Cells of the Nervous System
The Action Potential
Neurotransmitters – Part 1
Neurotransmitters – Part 2
Psychopharmacology
Development
Video 2
EXAM 2 (Ch. 3-5)
Vision
Vision
No Class: Spring Recess
No Class: Spring Recess
Sexual Behavior
Sleep Cycle
Video 3
EXAM 3 (Ch. 6, 10, 11)
Learning and Memory
Learning and Memory
Brain Lateralization
Neurological Disorders
Neurological Disorders
Psychological Disorders
Video 4
EXAM 4 (Ch. 12, 13, 15, 16)
FINAL EXAM (OPTIONAL), 1:00-3:00pm
Reading
None
Ch. 1
Ch. 2
Ch. 2
Ch. 2
Ch. 3
Ch. 3
Ch. 4
Ch. 4
Ch. 5
Ch. 5
Ch. 6
Ch. 6
Ch. 10
Ch. 11
Ch. 12
Ch. 12
Ch. 13
Ch. 15
Ch. 15
Ch. 16