Pharmacology 588

Tuesday and Thursday: 5:00-6:30pm, Med-Dent Bldg, NE403  3 Credits

Instructors 

Summer Rozzi Kathol  sjr65@georgetown.edu

Carrie Leonard  cel72@georgetown.edu

Office Hours: By Appointment

I. Rationale

This course is designed for students with an interest in brain function and dys- (or altered) function, as well as brain pharmacology

II. Course Aims and Objectives 

Aims

To familiarize students with the science of the diseases and disorders that affect brain function and behavior, as well as the relevant pharmacology.

Specific Learning Objectives:

By the end of this course, students will have:

• factual knowledge about normal functioning of the brain as it relates to specific diseases/disorders
• basic mechanisms of neural function and dysfunction
• clinical presentations of nervous system diseases
• treatment options and mechanisms of therapeutic action
• the ability to knowledgeably discuss and critique papers
• the ability to weigh the value and validity of different animal models of disease
• the ability to weigh the pros and cons of competing theories
• familiarity with the wide variety of methods used in neuroscience research.
• an understanding of pharmacology as both a tool to explore and a therapy to treat brain dysfunction.

III. Format and Procedures

This course meets twice a week.  Classes will alternate between lectures in which new material will be presented and a paper discussions, in which students will lead a critical analysis of a paper(s) relevant to the preceding lecture

IV. Course Requirements

1. Class attendance and participation policy: 

Attendance and participation are mandatory.  You are expected to participate in both the lectures (by asking questions and answering questions) and the paper discussions (by leading discussions and asking questions during discussions you are not leading).  While attendance and participation will not be averaged into your grade, they will be taken into account when determining your final grade in the class (e.g., the difference between an A and A-, or B and B+ when your grade is borderline).

2. Course readings: 

The course schedule lists readings posted to the course blackboard website.  In addition to background readings (due the day of class), there will be articles for discussion (due the day prior to presentation). You are responsible for the knowing the information in the readings. Before every paper discussion, students not responsible for leading the discussion must submit 2 questions about the paper by 9am on the day prior to the presentation. Late questions will be given half-credit if submitted within one week of the presentation. Questions must be submitted via the course Blackboard site (campus.georgetown.edu).

V. Grading Procedures

Midterm Examination = 30%
inal Examination = 30%
Presentation(s) = 30%
Paper Questions = 10%

The lowest grade out of the midterm, final, and paper presentation grades may be replaced by an optional term paper (details below).

Term Paper  An optional paper on a topic of your choosing, which must be focused on a dysfunction or disease covered in class. You must get approval of your topic from an instructor beforehand, no later than 4/15. When you bring your topic for approval, please come prepared with a preliminary thesis statement and 1-page outline incorporating at least 3 primary sources (not including review articles). The paper is due the same day as the final exam.

Your paper must be at least 8 pages in length and must include at least 8 primary sources not used in class (n.b. this does not include review articles). If you have questions about appropriate sources, please ask an instructor.

VI. Academic Integrity

Each student in this course is expected to abide by the Georgetown University Honor Pledge. Any work submitted by a student in this course for academic credit will be the student’s own work.  Any violation of the Honor Pledge will result in no credit for the given assignment and automatic reporting of the violation to the Honor Council.

VII. Presentation Grading Rubric

VII. Class Schedule 2011