BIO 381-Pathophysiology Syllabus

Course Structure

Course Description

This course give students and opportunity to apply their knowledge of normal physiology in analyzing the consequences of pathophysiological processes and apply this analysis to basic diagnostic and treatment principles.  You will also have the opportunity to evaluate and analyze current medical advances using the scientific process.

Course Objectives

  1. In this course, you will apply your knowledge of (anatomy and) physiology as you analyze the diseases and disease mechanism of each organ system of the body.  (If you are rusty about the physiology, you need to review it.  For the most part we won’t cover normal physiology.)
  2. As you become adept at this process of applying your knowledge, you will be able to predict (to a large extent) the various manifestations of each disease we will cover.
  3. You also need to remember that:
    • What seems to make sense isn’t always true
    • Once we know the actual pathophysiological mechanisms involved, things really do make sense
    • What we all thought made perfect sense yesterday may turn out to make absolutely no sense today
    • The fact that our understanding of the body changes quickly makes it all the more fun and interesting
  4. Although we cover a lot of material in this course, the goal is NOT rote memorization.  Again, build upon what you already know and add to it this semester.
  5. The ultimate and final objective is for you all to apply what you will learn this semester and save lives.  Even for those of you who don’t end up in medical careers of one sort or the other, this objective still applies.
  6. Work hard (and you will be successful) and have tons of fun.  Your instructor does both of these things, and you should also.

Learning Model Architecture

  1. Study Guides: There are Study Guides posted for each textbook chapter.  It is suggested that you print each study guide then use that as a guide as you read and master each textbook chapter.  If textbook material is skipped in the study guide, you will not be held responsible for it.
  2. You will meet with your assigned case study group every other week starting in week 3 to complete a case study. You will meet a total of 5 times and each report submitted is worth 5 points.
  3. Exams: Exams will occur every other week.  The bulk of each exam will cover material covered subsequent to the previous exam, but some comprehensive questions will also appear.Each exam is closed notes/closed book and must be taken using an online proctoring software program. Exams are administered through I-Learn.
    • Wherever and however you take your exams, you will all be taking them on the school’s I-Learn 3.0 Brightspace system.YOUR EXAM SCORES WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL AFTER THE EXAM HAS CLOSED.For help, you can call the help desk at (208) 496-2361.
    • Each exam will cover the material covered in the study guide and relevant material in each textbook chapter.  If a particular topic (or textbook chapter) is not mentioned in the study guides, you won’t be tested on it.  The exams include true/false, multiple choice, and matching.  (Questions with different formats than these are rare, but not impossible.)
  4. What to study: Exam questions come from your textbook, study guides and vocabulary list.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Course Text

Pathophysiology, 4th Edition By Lee-Ellen C. Copstead-Kirkhorn, PhD, ARNP, NCC and Jacquelyn L. Banasik, PhD, ARNP
Publisher: Elsevier Saunders
ISBN: 978-1-4160-5543-3
It is acceptable to use the 5th Edition of this textbook.
ISBN for 5th Edition: 978-1455726509

GRADING POLICIES

Grading Scale

Your grade will be based on the following activities:

Exams: Each is worth 100 points

Case Studies: Each is worth 5 points

Final Exam: This is worth 200 points—100 points for the new material and 100 points for the comprehensive material.

Smaller Discussion Board Activities: Each is worth 5 points

Grades will be calculated by percentage and assigned according to the following schedule:

93 – 100 = A

80 – 82   = B-

60 – 64   = D+

90 – 92   = A-

75 – 79   = C+

55 – 59   = D

87 – 89   = B+

70 – 74   = C

50 – 54   = D- 

83 – 86   = B

65 – 69   = C-

Below 50 = F

If necessary (and it often is), the highest cumulative score will be scaled up to 100% and all scores adjusted accordingly.

Checking Your Grades

Your grades will be available to follow in the Gradebook of Brightspace.  Keep an eye on them and let your instructor know if something is incorrect.

RESOURCES

Communication with Your Instructor

Be sure to keep an eye on your official BYU-I email account.  Your instructor will email you frequently with reminders, clarifications, relevant comments, etc.

Online Support Center

The Online Support Center (OSC) is designed to help any students taking online courses at BYU-Idaho.  If you have questions about any online course or any feedback concerning online courses, instructors, or your online learning experience please contact the OSC.

OSC Contact Information

Phone: 208-496-1411

Text Messaging: 855-808-7102

Email: onlinelearning@byui.edu

Live Chat: Use the link below to access the live Chat feature

Website: https://www.byui.edu/online/online-support-center

Hours: Monday-Friday, 7 AM – 7 PM, MST