Table of Contents and Lecture Schedule—Fall 2008

Overview:   Introduction to environmental toxicology, focusing on the fate and transport, biotransformation, and biochemical and physiological impacts of pollutants on humans and wildlife.  Heavy metals, organic contaminants including pesticides and Industrial solvents, and endocrine disrupting compounds will be examined in detail by using a case-study approach. 

Objectives:  Upon completion of this course, students should possess:

1.  A basic understanding of the science of toxicology.

2.  A knowledge of the basic types of toxins and toxicants, their sources, sinks, and biotransformation pathways.

3.  An understanding of the role of humans in production and distribution of pollutants.

4.  An appreciation for how organisms and communities adapt to pollutants.

Prerequisites and Preparation:  Students who enroll in this course are expected to have completed either Physiology (Biol 3306) or Cell Biology (Biol 3350).  Students who are enrolled in this course without having taken the prerequisite courses at SMU are urged to meet with the instructor early in the semester.

Corequisite:  Biol 4160 (Toxicology Lab) can be a co-requisite for this course, and although it is recommended to take the lab with the lecture, the lecture can be stand-alone.

Examinations: There will be five examinations during the semester.  Each exam will count 20% of your grade, and will cover the series of lectures since the prior exam.  Although the final exam is not cumulative, the case studies presented in the last section will draw on the knowledge obtained earlier in the semester.  The following Table shows the grade break-down for exams and the final grade.  You may not drop an exam.

Study Skills:  You should spend at least two hours outside of the classroom for every hour of lecture.  Students should spend this time studying by reading the text or manual, and re-writing or reviewing lecture notes.  Cramming the night before an exam will guarantee a poor grade.

Grading: Exams will be graded as rapidly as possible but may take as long as 7 days.  The instructor is available to discuss grading of examinations except on the day the exams are returned.  When a student asks for a question to be re-graded, please present, in writing, your reasons for the re-grading (this request provides a step to enhance learning).  The Instructor reserves the right to re-grade completely any exam paper where she deems such is necessary. 

Missed Examination: Should it be necessary for a student to be absent from an examination, it is expected that the instructor be advised prior to the date of the examination, the reason must be presented in writing; medical excuses require a receipt from the SMU Health Center or a physicians statement and must state that the student was too sick to take the exam.

A student who must miss a scheduled exam because of officially approved University activity will be able to take the examination prior to its scheduled time.  Traveling out of town for any reason other than University-sponsored events is not a valid reason for missing exams, unless this travel is for post-graduate work interviews (i.e. Medical School interviews).  As with the official University travel, missed exams due to interviews will be taken prior to the scheduled exams. If a DIRE emergency arises on your way to the exam, you should call my office immediately to let me know why you will be absent.  It is then up to my discretion as to whether you can re-take the exam.  T:  214-768-1241

Honor Code:  Intellectual integrity and academic honesty are fundamental to the process of learning and of evaluating academic performance.  Maintaining them is the responsibility of all members of an educational institution.  You will be required to sign and hand in an Honor Code statement and pledge prior to each exam.

Disability Accommodations:  If you need academic accommodations for disability, you must first contact Ms. Rebecca Marin, Coordinator, Services for Students with Disabilities (214-768-4557) to verify the disability and to establish eligibility for accommodations.  Then you should schedule an appointment with the professor to make appropriate arrangements.

Religious Observance:  Religiously observant students wishing to be absent on holidays that require missing class should notify their professors in writing a the BEGINNING of the semester, and should discuss with them, IN ADVANCE, acceptable ways of making up any work missed because of the absence. 

Excused Absences for University Extracurricular Activities:  Students participating in an officially sanctioned, scheduled University extracurricular activity will be given the opportunity to make up class assignments or other graded assignments missed as a result of their participation.  It is the responsibility of the student to make arrangements with the instructor prior to any missed scheduled examination or other missed assignment for making up their work.