It is expected that all students will develop a working knowledge of the principles, structures, and mechanisms of nervous system function, from the cellular to the organismic and behavioral levels, as well as current methodological approaches for studying the biological bases of behavior. The prerequisites for this class are minimal and students from diverse academic backgrounds are encouraged to enroll. Please keep in mind that this is a Psychology class, and thus the ultimate goal is to learn about behavior. Gaining an understanding of the biological underpinnings of behavior is one route to that goal. Note that this class is not necessarily more difficult than other Psychology courses, but the study strategies needed and content will differ considerably from many other Psychology courses.
Daily attendance is critical to the student s success.
For best results, I recommend that you give the book a quick read before coming to class. After the lecture, you should then re-write or reorganize your lecture notes using the book for clarification, relevant figures, etc. The key here is to study actively. In this course, we will have four exams during the semester each worth 50 points . You may be asked to draw a structure or process, and explain its actions and functions.