Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

Human Physiology Lab (Face-to-Face)

BIOL 2425-02

Course: BIOL 2425-02
Credits: 1
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: BIOL
CRN: 12470

Course Description

Lab to accompany BIOL 2420. One two-hour meeting 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 2420 Registration Restriction(s): Intensive English Program majors may not enroll Equivalent Course(s): BIOL 2423

Required Texts

Course Materials
  • Human Physiology Lab Manual- print at SUU Copy Shop in Library. The Copy shop can put it in a spiral binder for you.
  • Genius Scan or AdobeScan is a free app that uses your phone to take a picture of a document and convert it to a PDF that can then be uploaded to Canvas. If you choose to print and handwrite your labs, this app or something similar will be useful.
Technology & Submissions
This course requires proficiency with Canvas, email, and word processing.
  • Required Equipment: A working desktop/laptop (Mac/Windows) with a stable internet connection, a webcam, and a microphone. Alternatively, use an on-campus computer lab.
  • Required Software: Google Chrome browser.
  • PDF Submissions: You must be able to upload assignments as PDF files. I recommend using free phone apps like Genius Scan or AdobeScan to convert paper labs into a single, clean PDF.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate the physiological concepts presented in the lecture.
  2. Apply physiological concepts in experimental situations.
  3. Use and apply physiological measurement techniques.

Course Requirements

No Re-Dos Policy: One and Done
  • Can I re-do or resubmit an assignment? No. 🙅 In large college classes, continuous regrading is not feasible. Please read directions carefully and submit your best work the first time. Ask questions well in advance of the due date! ❓
Syllabus Quiz & Canvas Submissions
  • Syllabus Quiz: This quiz is required to participate in the course. No grades are assigned, but you must complete it to participate in lab exercises. 🔓
  • Submission Format: All assignments must be submitted and graded in Canvas only (no email submissions!). Upload files as PDFs or Canvas-readable types. 📄
  • Tip: If you complete work by hand, use free apps like Adobe Scan or Genius Scan to quickly create a single PDF from your photos. 📸
Lab Reports: Requirements and Integrity
  • Single File Rule: Labs must be submitted as a SINGLE file. Submitting multiple JPEGS or files = zero points. 🚫
  • Your Name is Required: All labs must include YOUR name on the document (even though you submit via Canvas). No name = zero points. 📛
  • Screenshots are Forbidden: Do not submit screenshots of your computer or phone. Screenshots = zero points.
  • Original Work: Unless otherwise specified, record your own personal data. Free response answers must be in your own words, not a group copy. Identical lab reports = everyone receives a zero. 🚨
  • File Check: After submitting, go back and LOOK at what you uploaded! Canvas cannot read files like .eml, .heic, or .pages. Unreadable file types = zero points.
  • Do not upload the lab instructions. 🗑️
  • AI Policy: Students are NOT permitted to use AI tools to generate content for Human Biology Lab. 🤖❌
Lab Grading (12 Labs, 10 Pts Each)
  • Labs are graded based on both accuracy and completion. Grading may be comprehensive or "spot-checked" (only selected questions graded).
  • Complete Everything! Since you won't know the grading method, complete all answers thoroughly for the best grade. It's better to turn in something for partial credit than nothing at all.
  • Deadline: All labs must be submitted before 11:59 PM the evening before our next class. 🌙
Grade Scheme
  • Grade Location: All official grades will be posted on Canvas.
  • Grade Visibility: Grades will not be posted until the Syllabus Quiz & Safety Contract are completed. 🔓
  • Check Regularly: Please check your grades often and alert me to any discrepancies immediately.
  • Grade Review Deadline: Discussion or changes to a posted grade will only be considered within 1 week of the grade being posted. ⏰
  • Written Work: Correct grammar, punctuation, spelling, and legibility are required for all written assignments. ✍️
  • Questions: Feel free to bring any questions about grading to your Professor. I am happy to review your answers and discuss strategies for improvement (via email or during office hours). 🤝
Grade Scale
  • No Adjustments: No grades will be dropped, adjusted, or curved.
  • Grade Calculation: While total course points may change if assignments are added or subtracted, the final grade percentages will remain as indicated below:
Letter Grade | RangeA | 100% to 92.45%
A- | < 92.45% to 89.45%
B+ | < 89.45% to 86.45%
B | < 86.45% to 82.45%
B- | < 82.45% to 79.45%
C+ | < 79.45% to 76.45%
C | < 76.45% to 72.45%
C- | < 72.45% to 69.45%
D+ | < 69.45% to 66.45%
D | < 66.45% to 62.45%
D- | < 62.45% to 59.45%
F | < 59.45% to 0%

Course Outline

Lab topics covered in this course include:

  • Lab 1 Neurophysiology
  • Lab 2 Reflexes
  • Lab 3 Sensory Physiology
  • Lab 4 Special Senses
  • Lab 5 Neuromuscular
  • Lab 6 Muscle Physiology
  • Lab 7 Digestion
  • Lab 8 Electrocardiography
  • Lab 9 Cardiac Physiology
  • Lab 10 Blood Pressure
  • Lab 11 Blood Physiology
  • Lab 12 Respiration & Spirometry
  • Lab 13 Renal Physiology

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

 Documenting Excuses for Extensions

To request an extension without late penalty, you must provide official documentation as soon as possible via email:

  • Medical or Legal Excuses: Submit an official medical note 🩺 or legal document ⚖️.
  • Bereavement: Provide a copy of the death certificate, obituary, or memorial service evidence. 🕊️
  • Mental Health: Mental health issues are treated the same as physical illness; documentation from a licensed healthcare professional is required for an extension.
 Late Work Policy & Deadlines

All dates and deadlines are considered final to ensure equitable treatment for all students. Any extra credit opportunities will be available to the entire class.

  • Proactive Planning is Essential: "Computer problems" or "not understanding how to submit" are not acceptable excuses for late work. You should plan to complete and submit assignments at least 24 hours prior to the deadline to account for time to correct any technical issues. ⏳
  • Late Penalty: Post-due date completions are subject to a 10% per day late penalty, no questions asked. Assignments 10+ days late will receive no credit. 📉
  • Emergency Extensions: Documented medical or legal emergency situations are evaluated at the discretion of the Professor, but typical grade reduction penalties (10% per day) still apply in most cases.

Attendance Policy

 Attendance and Absences

Due to the hands-on nature of the course, attendance and active participation are essential for success.

 Planned Absences

If you know you will be absent, you must plan ahead:

  • Arrange a Make-up: Complete the lab activity in another section OR investigate a remote lab option.
  • Submit a Plan: Look over the lab, decide what you ARE able to do, and email me your plan for demonstrating content understanding before the lab date. More options are available prior to the lab! 💡
  • SUU-Sponsored Events: If absent due to an official event, email me at least 1 week prior detailing the date, the content you will miss, and your plan for completion. ✈️
  • Alternative assignments are available for some labs (see Start Here Module), but attendance is required for most labs and there are no makeups available if those labs are missed.
 Emergency Absences

If you have a documented medical or legal excuse 🩺⚖️, please contact/email me before class (or within 12 hours) to discuss arrangements.

Course Fees

1 Credit(s) | $13.50 Fee

Communication, Feedback, and Student Resources

University classes require timely communication. Please adhere to the following guidelines:

  • Email Policy: Always include your Course and Section Number (or class day/time) in all emails to ensure a faster response.
  • Response Time: My goal is to respond to student messages within 1 business day.
  • Feedback/Grading: Grades and detailed assignment feedback will be provided within 5 6 7 business days of the assignment's due date.

Accessing Feedback

 Communication with Your Professor
  • Communicate Early and Often! Introduce yourself before/after class or during office hours. Knowing you personally allows me to write stronger Letters of Recommendation ✍️ for study abroad or professional programs.
  • Need Support? Reach out immediately! 🆘 If you are experiencing issues that may affect your performance, let me know early. Waiting until the last minute severely limits my ability to provide meaningful support or accommodations.
 Canvas Information

Canvas is the where course content, grades, and communication will reside for this course.

 SUU Campus Resources and Services

SUU has several resources and services available to support you during your time here at SUU, please review this list of SUU Campus Resources and Services and the Student Handbook. For more information on Canvas and other technologies, and their statements on Accessibility and Privacy statements please review our Vendor Resources page.

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.