Biology 203-001 -- Human Sexuality and Reproduction, Summer, 2007

Course Objectives
  • To learn about the anatomy, physiology, and development of the male and female reproductive systems
  • To learn about human sexual response and sexual dysfunction
  • To learn about human reproduction, natural and assisted, and reproductive disorders
  • To learn about contraception and sterilization
  • To learn about sexually transmitted diseases
  • To learn about sexual attitudes and behaviors, sexual stereotypes, sexual orientation, and sexual assault
Instructor Dr. Christina B. Wilson
Office SL3310
Biology Office Phone (618)650-3927 (Leave messages regarding absences at this number.)
Dr. Wilson's Office Phone (618)650-2509 (DO NOT LEAVE VOICE MAIL MESSAGES--SEND EMAIL INSTEAD!)
SIUE Email cbwilso@siue.edu
Home Email weft00@gmail.com
URL (web page) http://www.siue.edu/~cbwilso/
Office Hours Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday mornings, with some exceptions and by appointment
Text Exploring the Dimensions of Human Sexuality, 2nd Ed., by Greenberg, et al. (textbook rental)

Lecture Topics

Sexual Anatomy Chapter 4, 5
Sexual Physiology (hormones, sexual differentiation and development from embryo through puberty and adulthood) Chapters 4, 5
Physiology of Sexual Response, Sexual Dysfunction Chapters 7, 15
Conception (fertilization, early embryonic development, disorders of development, reproductive dysfunction, assisted reproductive techniques) Chapter 9
Pregnancy and Childbirth (diagnosis, nutrition, exercise, stages, risks, disorders, labor and delivery) Chapter 9
Contraception, Sterilization and Abortion Chapter 8
Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Cancer of the Reproductive Tract (on-line handout) Chapters 14, 4, 5
Gender Roles and Sex Stereotypes Chapters 6, 3
Sex Research, NHSL Survey Chapter 2, 13
Sexual Orientation Chapter 11
Sexual Coercion Chapter 16

(Some topics may not be covered, depending on how the class progresses.)

Course Calendar:





Notes:

  1. YOUR CONTINUED ENROLLMENT IN THIS COURSE WILL INDICATE THAT YOU HAVE READ, UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED TO THE GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS COURSE AS STATED IN THIS SYLLABUS.
  2. INTERNET ACCESS:   All university students have internet access through the university.  You will need to use it for this course (activate your student account now!).  You are not required to have internet access from home, but you are expected to use resources on the internet for class.
  3. GRADING:   Your grade in this course will be based on four exams of equal weight, as given above.  There will be no extra credit assignments available, except perhaps questions on individual exams.
  4. EXAMS:   Exams will cover the material presented in class since the last test, plus videos, reading assignments, and handouts.  If there are pop quizzes, they will be added to the lecture exam grade for that part of the course, with no make-ups allowed.  Exam questions will be of various objective types and may include diagrams.  No exams will be dropped.
  5. RULES FOR EXAMS:   Sit in assigned columns/rows; turn off all cell phones; don't ask to leave the room; no whispering or other communication except with Dr. Wilson or proctor; keep your eyes on your own paper; put notes etc. away inside something so that no one can see them; fill out top of answer sheet completely; use either pen or pencil to make large dark circles for answers; staple answer sheet on top of question sheets when you're finished; no electronic devices of any kind may be used during exams.
  6. CELL PHONES:   All cell phones and other electronic devices must be turned off during classes and exams, except in cases of emergencies explained to Dr. Wilson before class.
  7. MAKE-UP EXAMS:   You may make up one exam. Make-up exams that are not taken before the exam given in class is returned will be essay format. If you must miss an exam, please call the biology office and leave a message for Dr. Wilson, explaining your excuse for missing it. If your excuse is acceptable to Dr. Wilson, you may make up the exam by making an appointment with the biology office or Dr. Wilson to do so. The biology office will supervise make-up exams that students begin between 9 and 10 a.m. or 1 and 2 p.m. No make-up exams will be returned to students, although you may look at them in class or by appointment.
  8. ATTENDANCE:   Class attendance is required, especially during a summer class, which covers material three times as fast as a normal semester. Since the tests cover mostly lecture material, which may not be in the text, plus material in videos and handouts, a good set of lecture notes is essential.  The easiest way to have a good set of lecture notes is to attend class and to have good note-taking skills.  The lectures serve as a guide to the material that is in the text, but are not limited to textbook material.  It is your responsibility to attend class, to obtain notes from other students, and to obtain copies of handouts if you cannot attend class, and to inform yourself of any announcements made in class.  The instructor assumes that all students are attending class regularly and on time and that they are therefore fully informed of any announcements made in class.
  9. FINAL COURSE GRADES:   Your final grade and all test grades in this course will be assigned according to an absolute (not curved) scale as follows: 90% or higher, A; 78-89%, B; 65-77%, C; 55-64%, D; less than 55%, F.  If you stop coming to class and taking exams without discussing it with Dr. Wilson, you will get a UW. If you withdraw from the class after the W date, you will get a WP only if your current average is over 50% (otherwise you will get a WF).  No INC grades will be given without a major familial or medical emergency as an excuse; none will be given for poor grades alone.  A signed contract is required for an INC grade.  Dr. Wilson does not post grades, but will reply to email messages in which you ask for your grades at the end of the course.
  10. VIDEOS:   If videos are shown in class, they are considered part of the lecture material covered on exams--TAKE NOTES!
  11. POOR GRADES/POOR NOTES:   Please come and talk to me if your grades on the early exams are not those you hoped for.  Sometimes I can clarify misunderstandings or suggest alternate ways of studying that may help.  A complete set of notes is extremely important to successful completion of this course.  Make a point of finding other students in the class with whom to compare notes so that you can fill in any points that you missed.  Studying with other students can also improve your understanding of the information presented in class. If you are absent, arrange to borrow and copy my copies of my transparencies for the class you missed.  When you are reviewing your notes, it is often helpful to do more than just read them over again and again.  Some people find it helpful to recopy them, to make up objective questions based on them, to write outlines from them, to make notecards or flash cards, to write and answer essay questions based on them, and/or to have an oral question/answer session with other students or family members.
  12. STUDENTS REGISTERED WITH Disability Support Services:   If any student has special needs they can contact the office of Disability Support Services for assistance.
  13. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:   Academic misconduct includes cheating (using unauthorized materials, information, or study guides), plagiarism (submitting others work as if it were your own), falsification of records, unauthorized possession of examinations, intimidation, and any other action that may improperly affect the evaluation of your performance.  It also includes assisting others in any such acts or attempts to engage in such acts.  Penalties may range from grade penalties (including lowering a student's semester grade, failing a student for the course, or requiring a substitute exam or paper) to official disciplinary action.  For more information see the Student Academic Code and the university policy on plagiarism.
Note:  This syllabus is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.  All changes will be announced in class and on the course web page.