Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Human Physiology (Face-to-Face)

BIOL 2420-03

Course: BIOL 2420-03
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: BIOL
CRN: 31011

Course Description

Systematic study of the functions of the human body from the cellular to the systems. Three (3) hours of lectures per week. A minimum grade of "C" (2.0 or above) must be earned in this course before it can be counted in a biological science major or minor or as a prerequisite for any other biology course. (Fall, Spring, Summer) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Co-requisite(s): BIOL 2425 or BIOL 2423 Prerequisite(s): BIOL 1610 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C

Required Texts

“Human Physiology” 2nd edition, Paul Pillitteri, Kendall Hunt Publishing, ISBN: 9798385111787

This textbook will be available via Inclusive Access in Canvas. You will need to opt-out of Inclusive Access in the tab on Canvas if you do not want to purchase the electronic version of the textbook. If you would like a physical copy of the textbook, you can purchase it through the SUU Bookstore or directly from the publisher: https://he.kendallhunt.com/product/human-physiology

Learning Outcomes

  1. Gain Factual Knowledge and Fundamental Principles of How the Human Body Works. Students will:
    • gain a basic understanding of the functions of each of the body’s major systems.
    • develop an understanding of scientific terminology as it relates to human physiology.
    • develop an understanding of the connectedness of physiological variables to the cells, organs, and systems of the body.
  2. Learn to APPLY Course Material (Improve Thinking, Problem Solving), in the Study of Human Physiology. Students will:
    • understand how the various major systems function together to sustain life.
    • be able to apply physiological mechanisms to changes in the body’s function.

Course Requirements

Course grades will be based on the following percentages:

  • Four exams                      50% of your final grade          (50-55 multiple choice/true-false/matching/fill-in-the-blank questions per exam)
  • Daily Assignments           25% of your final grade          (quizzes, in & out of class handouts/activities/practice questions, etc.)
  • One final exam                 20% of your final grade          (half new material and half cumulative) 
  • Attendance                         5% of your final grade          (three unexcused absences allowed before attendance will affect your grade)

*You get a total of three drop Daily Assignments in this category per semester. Daily Assignments may be turned in late with a 40% off late penalty per day late. If too many students start to abuse the late or attendance policy, the Instructor reserves the right to revoke the late policy anytime during the semester and/or make assignments only available during class time.

All grades will be entered in the Grades tab on Canvas, enabling you to keep track of your grades and always be able to see your current course grade. The following grading scale is used in this course:

    Points        Letter Grade
  372 ‐ 402  = A (100‐92.45%)
  360 ‐ 371  = A‐ (92.44‐89.45%)
  348 ‐ 359  = B+ (89.44‐86.45%)
  332 ‐ 347  = B (86.44‐82.45%)
  320 ‐ 331  = B‐ (82.44‐79.45%)
  308 ‐ 319  = C+ (79.44‐76.45%)
  292 ‐ 307  = C (76.44‐72.45%)
  280 ‐ 291  = C‐ (72.44‐69.45%)
  268 ‐ 279  = D+ (69.44‐66.45%)
  252 ‐ 267  = D (66.44‐62.45%)
  239 ‐ 251  = D‐ (62.44‐59.45%)
      0 ‐ 238  = F (59.44‐0%)
 
When and how should Daily Assignments be submitted?
  • Any homework assignments given out in class or in-class assignments we complete as a group should be uploaded to Canvas by the next class. If you miss class, check Canvas to see if an assignment can be completed and upload it before the next class to get credit. Some in-class assignments cannot be made up outside of class, which is why you get three drop Daily Assignments for the semester. 
  • Whenever you upload work on Canvas, please make sure you upload only images (.jpg, .jpeg, .png) or files in approved formats (.doc, .docx, .pdf, .rtf). Also, if you submit the wrong assignment or a blank document in place of the actual assignment and do not fix it before the due date, you will not receive credit for the assignment. It is your responsibility to make sure you submit the correct assignments and they successfully submit on Canvas.
Is extra credit offered in this course?
  • Yes. There will be opportunities for extra credit offered throughout the semester posted in Canvas. DO NOT email the instructor asking for additional personal extra credit. There will NOT be any individually assigned or individual last minute extra credit given at the end of the semester.
Can I use electronic devices in lecture class?
  • Yes, you may use electronic devices during lecture to look up content, view and take notes, as well as view the course PowerPoints. Using an electronic device on an exam is prohibited and is considered a violation of academic integrity. Please note it is disrespectful and disruptive to be checking email, surfing the web or having your phone ring/vibrate loudly while other students are trying to be engaged in classroom activities. If I notice other students becoming distracted by your electronics usage, or if I become distracted by it, expect to be asked to put away your electronics device. If the distraction happens more than once, you may be asked to leave the classroom.

Course Outline

This class consists of three lectures each week. Lectures will be a mix of board work, PowerPoint, and practice exercises. Doing well in this course begins with coming to class prepared, participating, and asking questions.
BEFORE coming to lecture class meetings, it is highly recommended that you read the textbook chapter and write down any questions you have about the material. If you wait to see this content for the first time in lecture, it is easy to get overwhelmed and miss the important details. Then during lecture class, the instructor will go over the major content you are expected to know, answer questions, and give you exercises to practice the content. Students who regularly attend class gain a greater understanding of course material and consistently get higher grades than those who skip class.
I am here to help you not only learn the material covered in class, but also develop skills that will assist you in learning throughout your academic and professional careers. To that end, please feel free to ask questions inside or outside of class if there is something you do not understand – one of my primary objectives is provide a supportive community for learning. To facilitate learning, please be respectful of your classmates by adhering to the following:
  • Be prepared for class (review the chapter content BEFORE we talk about it in class).
  • Do not be late to class AND stay the entire time (if you must leave early, let the instructor know at the start of class).
  • Avoid conversations with others during class when instructor is speaking.
  • Silence all noise making devices and do not be distracted by them during class.
If you cause a significant, continuous disruption to the class, the students around you, or me for any reason, you will be asked to leave the room and NOT return.

In this course, you will learn the specialized terminology, physiology, and functions of structures within the following body systems/topics:
Homeostasis, Physiological Control Mechanisms, Neurons and Membrane Potentials, Central Nervous System, Peripheral Nervous System, Autonomic Nervous System, Special Senses, Muscle Physiology, Endocrine Physiology, Digestive Physiology, Cardiovascular Physiology, Immune/Lymphatic Physiology, Respiratory Physiology, Urinary Physiology, and Reproductive Physiology.

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Can I turn in Daily Assignments late?
  • There is a 40% off per day penalty for late assignments. This applies if the assignment is even 1 minute late. Being absent from class does not grant you an extension on work; if something is due the day you miss, you are still expected to submit the work on time. If you are absent, you should check Canvas to see if anything was assigned to be due the next class meeting so you can complete the work. Not every assignment will be possible to complete if you do not make it to class. Refer to Canvas to see due dates and times for all assignments. 
  • Some in-class assignments cannot be made up outside of class, which is why you get three drop Daily Assignments for the semester. 
  • Note that you can ask me for an extension on an assignment in advance if personal issues arise, but this should not occur frequently out of fairness to the other students.
Can I makeup an exam?
  • See attendance policy section on what to do if you must miss an exam.

Attendance Policy

Do I need to attend every lecture in-person?
  • Yes. The vast majority of students who miss class do not do well in this course.
 What should I do if I must miss lecture class?
  • Attendance will be recorded throughout the semester. You are allowed three unexcused absences before they start impacting your grade. If you are missing class due to an SUU sanctioned event, email your instructor IN ADVANCE with documentation to have your absence excused. If you must miss class for an inexcusable reason, you do not need to notify the instructor.
  • You can get notes from another student and go to Canvas to get any assignments that were done in class. You will not get an extension on assignments, so make sure you check Canvas and complete any assignments available by their due date and time. 
What should I do if I must miss an exam?
  • Note that all exams will be taken in the Testing Center. The four exams during the semester will be open (available for you to take there) for three days. The Final Exam will be open for all four days of Finals Week. Therefore, you should be able to work around your obligations to still take your exam when it is available in the Testing Center. If that is not possible, please read below:
  • Only absences for SUU sanctioned events will be considered legitimate reasons for missing an exam. Family trips, personal trips, and vacations are NOT excused absences. For all other reasons, the instructor reserves the right to accommodate students for missing an exam on a case-by-case basis. If you are going to miss an exam, you should email the instructor at least one week in advance (or ASAP) and include: 1) why you are going to miss, including documentation, and 2) what days and times within 3 business days are you available to take your exam in the Testing Center. Note that this does not guarantee you will be accommodated; the instructor must approve your request first. 
  • If you are extremely sick, or are in a car accident, or have some sort of legitimate unexpected circumstance (i.e. death in the family) that prevents you from taking an exam, you must: 1) contact me via email before or on the day of the exam or ASAP, 2) provide a note from your doctor or other appropriate documentation for the absence, and 3) if approved by the instructor, 4) take the makeup within 3 days of the scheduled exam date. Failure to do all four of these things will result in a zero for that exam. The earlier you contact me about an absence, the better.

Workload Expectation

Keep in mind that you get two separate grades for lecture and lab, but they should really be thought of as a single course. In order to be successful in any course, you should expect to spend 2-3 hours outside of class/lab either studying or completing assignments for every hour you spend in the classroom/lab every week. At 4 cumulative credit hours between lecture and lab, this means you should be spending 8-12 hours outside of class/lab time studying or working on assignments for human physiology every week.

AI Policy

As far as we have seen with generative AI like ChatGPT (or even when doing a general search online), it sometimes has correct/incorrect information. So as usual, the lab manual/course textbook are the best places to find correct information outside of class. When searching online or using generative AI, you will want to use various sources and compare the information to ensure it is true. Generative AI is likely not going away, so please make sure you know how and when to use it properly. If you have questions about this, please talk to your instructor.

Please note that to get credit, all assignments you submit in this course should be your own work; if you use generative AI to help you with completing assignments, you should still put information in your own words and not just copy/paste from the internet. Copy/pasting from another source without putting it in your own words risks you violating academic integrity.

Academic Misconduct

I take academic misconduct VERY seriously. If you are caught cheating in any of my courses, or violating academic misconduct in another way, I will take actions as outlined in SUU’s Academic Misconduct Policy #6.33. This includes documenting the instance with the Office of Student Affairs and could result in any one or more of the following penalties: a warning, a zero on the assignment, an F in the course, documentation on your transcript next to this course that you violated academic misconduct, and expulsion from the University.

●     CHEATING IS DEFINED by SUU Policy #6.33 as: Unauthorized use or attempted use of materials, devices, information, notes, study aids, Artificial Intelligence, fellow Students, or other assistance during any academic assessment such as examinations, in or out of class assignments, or other forms of assessment. Cheating is a type of Academic Misconduct.”
●     PLAGIARISM IS DEFINED by SUU Policy #6.33 as: The intentional or unintentional appropriation of another person's ideas, processes, results, or words, without giving appropriate credit. Plagiarism includes the unattributed verbatim or nearly verbatim copying of sentences and paragraphs from another's work, which materially misleads the reader regarding the contributions of the author. It does not include the limited use of identical or nearly-identical phrases which describe a commonly-used methodology. Plagiarism is a type of Academic Misconduct.
●     COMPLICITY IS DEFINED by SUU Policy #6.33 as: Assisting or attempting to assist another person in any act of Academic Misconduct. Complicity includes, but is not limited to, allowing other Students to copy one’s own work, paying for resources or assistance, providing material of any kind that may be misleading to Faculty, and providing unauthorized information about any assessments to other Students or uploading any information/work created by Faculty to any website without the written consent of Faculty to do so. Complicity is a type of Academic Misconduct.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.