Psychology 321-
Biological Basis of Behavior
Instructor: Professor Senqi HU
Office: HGH 116B
Phone No.: (707) 826-5262
Regular Office Hours: T Th 1:00-3:00pm (Or by appointment)
E-mail address: sh4@.humboldt.edu
Class Meeting Location: 226 HGH
Class Meeting Time: MW: 1:00-2:20pm
Required Textbook:
James W. Kalat, Biological Psychology, 2007, 9th edition.
Course Objective:
The major goal is to introduce you to enough of the fundamentals of behavioral neuroscience that you can read, with both enjoyment and critical understanding, articles intended for the educated layperson that appear in places like Scientific American and The New York Times. I hope that the course is stimulating enough that you will want to keep up with discoveries in this exciting field throughout your adult life. A minor goal is to prepare students for more advanced work that relates to the neuroscience.
Grades:
There will be three mid-term exams and one final exam. Each exam will count 100 points. The final will be worth 100 points (therefore, the final is not more important than any of the other exams). So, a total of 400 points can be earned by examinations. Exams will include materials from assigned chapters in the text and from class lectures.
Class Attendance policy:
Class participation is required.
Additional Points:
During the semester, you may be provided opportunities to earn additional points. The way for you to earn additional points is by voluntarily participating in an experiment. Your participation in experiments serves two important purposes. Not only does it provide you with first hand insights into scientific methods and procedures, it also creates a pool of available subjects for ongoing research at the university. For each hour you will receive one point which will be added to your final point total. However, you can earn points only from the experiments conducted by Professor Hu and his students.
By completing above requirements, you can earn a total of 400 points. Letter grades will be based on this 400 points with:
A = 372-400
A- = 360-371
B+ = 348-359
B = 332-347
B- = 320-331
C+ = 308-319
C = 292-307
C- = 280-291
D+ = 268-279
D = 252-267
D- = 240-251
F = 0-239
Tentative Class Schedule
March 7
Exam 2
April 2
Exam 3