BCSC 240: Syllabus
Fall 2025
Time & Location
Monday, Wednesday and Friday:
10:25 11:15 AM
Lower Strong Auditorium
Credit Hour Policy
This course follows the College credit hour policy for four-credit courses. This course meets three times weekly (three lectures at 50 minutes each) for three academic hours per week. The course also includes a recitation for one academic hour per week.
Personnel
Course Instructor: Dr. Kevin Davis
Office hours F 1-2 PM, or by appt.
What is this Course About?
Neurobiology is the study of the cells and circuits of the nervous system that mediate behavior. You will be introduced to the structure, organization and function of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nervous system and its many roles, including control of sensation, perception, and action. We will progress from understanding the basic components of the nervous system toward an appreciation for how these components work togeth er to produce complex an d highly coordinated behaviors.
Course Objectives and Outcomes
In this course, the goals are: (1) to learn about the cellular makeup of the nervous system, its gross organization and development; (2) to describe how cells work and communicate with one another at the synapse ; (3) to examine how the brain processes sensory information about the environment and controls movement; and (4) to explore the neural control of species survival behaviors including sleep, hunger, thirst, learning and memory and emotion.
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
- identify the major cell types of the nervous system and describe their functions.
- analyze the electrical and chemical signals generated by neurons and how they contribute to information processing in the nervous system.
- compare and contrast the organization and function of different sensory systems (e.g., vision, hearing, touch).
- predict the functional consequences of damage or dysfunction in specific brain regions or neural pathways.
- communicate effectively about neurobiology concepts, both orally and in writing, using appropriate scientific terminology.
- appreciate the interdisciplinary nature of neuroscience and its connections to fields like biology, psychology and medicine.
Course Requirements
The textbook for the course is: Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain Bear, Connors and Paradiso 4th edition
The aim of this course is to introduce students to topics in lecture that may be supplemented with other resources, including the textbook. You will not be tested specifically on material in the text book that is not covered in lectures. However, the textbook covers in more detail many topics presented in the lectures, thus providing you with a greater understanding of the material. It may be helpful to review the relevant textbook chapters before lectures readings are listed in the lecture schedule.
How Will I Be Graded?
You will complete 4 unit exams in class. All exams will have a multiple choice /short answer type format. Unit exams will cover the course content immediately preceding the exam and will not be (per se) cumulative . Each unit exam will be individually curved, and worth 25% of your total numerical grade. All unit exams are mandatory!
In an effort to reduce anxiety over exam performance, you will be given the opportunity to eliminate the impact of your worst grade. During the final exam period, you will have the opportunity to take an optional cumulative final exam which will cover material from the whole course. If you perform better on this (curved) exam than your lowest unit exam grade, then that unit grade will be discarded and replaced by the grade earned on the cumulative final.
Thus, your total grade will be calculated as follows: the average of 4 unit exams or the average of 3 unit exams + 1 final exam (4 x 25%) = 100%. Average grades are rounded to the nearest integer and letter grades assigned: A, 93-100; A 90-92; B+, 87-89; B, 83-86; B-, 80-82; etc.
All exams will take place in the lecture hall either during regularly scheduled class time for unit exams or the time set by the Registrar for the final exam. The dates of these exams are identified on the lecture schedule. Please note the dates and times for the unit and final exams. If you believe you have a conflict that would prevent you from attending an exam, such as a school sanctioned event, or you have missed an exam due to an extraordinary personal situation or illness, please email Dr. Davis as soon as possible.
Exam grades will be posted on Blackboard and an announcement sent out when they are available. Final letter grades will be posted via the Registrar after the final exam date.
Only sufficient proof of illness or other extenuating circumstances will be considered for allowing you to complete course exams at a different time or to arrange a make up. You will not be permitted to arrange a make up on the basis of personal obligations, or because you have multiple exams on the same day. Please note the exam schedule before making travel arrangements. There will be no exceptions to this rule.
Where Do I Look for Course Information?
The course syllabus, lecture schedule, exam schedule, lecture slides and associated reading, as well as announcements and grade updates are available on Blackboard.
How Do I Get Help with the Course?
Recitations
In addition to Dr. Davis’ office hours, Teaching Assistants (TAs) will run four recitations per week, and one review session before each unit exam. Attendance is optional, but will help ensure success in the course. During these meetings, TAs will review concepts from the lectures and answer questions from students. It is up to you to come prepared with questions and utilize this resource. TA’s will not simply reteach the lecture slides.
Recitations will begin the first week of class (August 26th and available days/times and locations will be posted on Blackboard.
To contact the TAs for questions, or to arrange individual meetings:
Nicole Popp
Elisabeth Sohn
Elizabeth Ginzburg
Yukiko Yamamoto