Course Assessments
Final grades will be determined based on percentage of points earned for exams, quizzes, article reviews, and special topic presentations.
Exams
There will be three exams in this class. Exams will consist of multiple choice, true/false, short answer, and essay questions. Exam dates are listed as tentative, exact dates will be announced one week prior to the exam. The Final Exam will be cumulative and will consist of ~50% new material not covered on previous 2 exams, and ~50% cumulative material covered on previous 2 exams.
Quizzes
Approximately 6 quizzes (1 per module/topic) will be given throughout the semester and will consist mostly of information from recent lectures and material from required readings. The quizzes are meant to be opportunities to learn and to practice using the concepts you have learned in the class. The lowest quiz will be dropped.
Article Reviews
You will have the opportunity to search for, read, and critically evaluate peer-reviewed journal articles pertaining to certain topics covered in class. More details will be provided for each article review prior its due date.
Special Topics Presentation (Group)
You will have the opportunity to present on an approved topic of your choice (I will provide a list of options). Each student will use peer-reviewed publications pertinent to their chosen topic and will be responsible for proposing their presentation topic, generating an annotated bibliography on their topic, and then presenting their topic. More details will be provided for each step in the process in class.
Demonstration of Competency and Mastery
This component reflects each student’s demonstrated understanding and mastery of course material beyond formal assessments. Evaluation is based on the quality of in-class engagement, including asking thoughtful questions, answering questions posed by the instructor or peers, contributing meaningfully to discussions, integrating course concepts across topics, and demonstrating scientific reasoning during conversations and activities. Emphasis is placed on depth of understanding, accuracy, and the ability to apply physiological principles rather than frequency of participation alone. Merely being present does not guarantee full credit; students must demonstrate active and informed engagement. This grade is qualitative rather than quantitative and reflects sustained intellectual engagement over the semester.
Grading System
You will be provided with a final letter grade based on the following grading criteria below. Please review your graded assignments regularly and let me know as soon as possible if I make a mistake.
Exam 1 | 10%
Exam 2 | 10%
Final Exam | 15%
Attendance/Participation | 10%
Quizzes | 10%
Article Reviews | 15%
Special Topics Presentation | 25%
Demonstration of Competency & Mastery | 5%
Total | 100%
Grading Scale
A: 94–100 | C+: 77–79.9
A-: 90–93.9 | C-: 70–72.9
B+: 87–89.9 | D+: 67–69.9
B: 83–86.9 | D: 63–66.9
B-: 80–82.9 | D-: 60–62.9
C: 73–76.9 | F: <60