Fall 2008

Dear Online Student:

Welcome
Welcome to Saint Charles Community College's Telecourse BIO 265 Pathophysiology. The format of this course is Powerpoint presentations and assignments on the Web, with three mandatory meetings on Campus. My name is Zoe A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D. and I will be your instructor for this course.

Course Content
This course addresses the basic mechanisms of human diseases including cellular and genetic mechanisms, infectious diseases, immune diseases and disorders, fluid and electrolyte imbalances, and cancers. Emphasis is on the conditions most commonly encountered by today’s health professionals.

The pre-requisites for the course are completion of Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2.

Course Assignments
The course is taught with the same high standards as an on campus class. The grade in the course is based on the following assignments:

1. 15 Quizzes over the chapters. These are submitted on line and you will receive your grades on line.
2. One Disease trifold brochure, one term paper and discussion board topics
3. Midterm
4. Final

Important Dates
The dates and times for the three mandatory meetings on campus are as follows:
Orientation: 7 p.m. Friday August 15 in TECH 202 OR 10 a.m. Saturday August 16 in TECH 202.

Midterm: 7 p.m. Friday October 3 in TECH 202 OR 10 a.m. Saturday October 4 in TECH 202.

Final: 5:30 p.m. Friday December 5 in TECH 202 OR 8 a.m.Saturday December 6 in TECH 202.

Orientation
At orientation I will tell you about course content and term paper requirements. You also will be given instruction on the use of WebCT/Blackboard.

Course materials
Textbooks: 1. Understanding Pathophysiology by Sue E. Huether and Kathryn L. Mc Cance by Mosby, 4th edition
2. Study Guide and Workbook for Understanding Pathophysiology by Sue E. Huether and Kathryn L. Mc Cance

Computer skills and requirements
What you need for the course:

1. You need to know how to use a computer. You will be accessing the course over WebCT/Blackboard and you will receive an orientation to WebCT/Blackboard at the first meeting and your password. During orientation you will obtain your password and submit a practice course quiz. We will have a few exercises to review the various components of WebCT/Blackboard; however; we assume that you have some solid computing skills.
2. You need an Internet connection and an Internet browser such as Netscape 3,4 or Internet Explorer 4
3. You will need Windows software (version 3.1 or higher)
4. The address for the course will be given to you during orientation
5. The WebCT/Blackboard program has its own e-mail capabilities so you will be able to send messages to other students and private e-mail to the instructor.

Questions
As your course instructor, I will be available to answer questions and discuss the assigned material. You can reach me by e-mail or come by during my regular office hours. I wish you success in the course, and I will see you at the orientation. Do not e-mail me about technical problems. If the system goes down due dates will be changed.

Call the help desk with technical computer problems.

WebCT/Blackboard courses will not be available to students until five days prior to the start of the semester.

Zoe A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D.
Professor of Science
zfitzgerald@stchas.edu