Course Syllabus and Overview: SCB 710

Time:  3:30-4:45 Fridays, Olin 206

Course director: Dr. Jacquelyn Fetrow

Office: Manchester 236 & Olin 301B

Email: fetrowjs(at)wfu(dot)edu

Web page: http://www.wfu.edu/~fetrowjs/Teaching.htm

Office Hours: Dr. Fetrow 5:00-6:00 T (physics office); 1:30-2:30 M (computer science office)

Course objectives: This course serves as a common course for students in the Structural and Computational Biophysics Track.  It can be taken during the first or second year of graduate school. The following are the learning objectives for this course:

  • To gain confidence in reading and critically evaluating the peer-reviewed literature
  • To learn to identify areas in which personal knowledge is deficient
  • To improve problem-solving skills
  • To learn to organize logical arguments based on available evidence

Textbook: No textbook required for the class.  A collection of relevant review and research articles will be distributed in class as required reading and objects for discussion.

Blackboard: Papers, syllabus and schedule will be posted on Blackboard under the SCB 710 course number.

Students with disabilities: If you have a disability that may require an accommodation for taking this course, then please contact the Learning Assistance Center (758-5929) within the first two weeks of the semester.

In the event of closure of the university for a significant part of the semester: In the event that the university closes due to pandemic or other disaster, please read and study the required papers (see reading list on the schedule). Work the exercises (to be distributed either through Blackboard, email, or postal mail) that are listed on the schedule and send the solutions to: Jacque Fetrow (fetrowjs(at)wfu(dot)edu, if the internet is available; or 1014 Oaklawn Avenue, Winston-Salem, NC 27104). You will be mailed or e-mailed a mid-term test and a final examination. The return dates for the examinations will be specified in the mailing.

Problem-based learning: This course will follow a non-traditional, problem-based learning (PBL) format. The course uses series of classic research articles on protein folding to introduce students in the Structural and Computational Biophysics Track to the disciplines of biophysics and biochemistry. Each article constitutes a rich multidisciplinary problem from which students identify and pursue those topics (learning issues) they need to learn or review outside of class in order to understand the article as a whole. (See http://www.udel.edu/pbl/ for more information on PBL.)

Software/hardware required: You will often find a laptop computer useful in this class, for identifying references or other items of information for class discussion.

Grading:   

            Individual writing assignments                                                             120 points

            Group assignments                                                                             100 points

            Class participation, observations, and creativity                                 100 points

            Midterm examination                                                                           100 points

            Final examination                                                                                100 points

            Total:                                                                                                   520 points