ASCI 001 - Introductory Animal Science
Class: 11:00-12:15, T, Th in L/L Commons 315
Instructor: Dr. Tom McFadden
102 Terrill - 656-0155; tmcfadde@uvm.edu
Office Hours:  By appointment
FALL 2005 - Syllabus
08/30
09/01
 Introduction
Domestication of Animals
 Ch. 1
Ch. 2
09/06
09/09
 Animal Care & Use in Research and Teaching (Dr. Ruth)
The Scientific Method, Worldwide Agriculture (Emma Wall)
Ch. 3
09/13
09/15
 Classification of Animals
Classification of Animals
Ch. 4
09/20
09/22
 Worldwide Agriculture
Animal Behavior
Ch. 13
09/27
09/29
 Animal Behavior
Exam 1
 Ch. 13
10/04
10/06
 Animal Nutrition
Animal Nutrition
 Ch. 5,6
Ch. 6,7
10/11
10/13
 Animal Nutrition
MOVIE: Holy Cow
 Ch. 7
10/18
10/20
 Principles of Genetics
Genetics
 Ch. 8
Ch. 8
10/25
10/27
 Genetics/Animal Breeding
Exam II
 Ch. 9
11/01
11/03
 Animal Reproduction
Animal Reproduction
 Ch. 11
Ch. 11
11/08
11/10
 Lactation
Lactation
 Ch. 12
Ch. 12
11/15
11/17
 Biotechnology
Biotechnology/Animal Health
 Ch. 10
Ch. 10,14
11/22
11/24
 Animal Health
No Class - Thanksgiving Recess
 Ch. 14
11/29
12/01
 Exam III
Animal Health
Ch. 14
12/06
 Last class - Foods
 Ch. 28 (part)
12/12 Monday
 FINAL EXAM - 8:00 AM in L/L Commons 315

Textbook:  Introduction to Animal Science (Global, Biological, Social and Industry Perspectives), 3rd Edition, by W. Stephen Damron, Prentice-Hall Publishers

Objectives of Introductory Animal Science:
  1. To introduce the animals and disciplines that make up the Animal Sciences.
  2. To begin to understand the scientific method and the process of critical thinking to evaluate ideas and concepts in Animal Science.
  3. To understand the biological basis for the major processes that affect animal growth, development, nutrition, reproduction, health and welfare.
  4. To understand the role of animals and animal agriculture in the modern world.
Grading Policy:
Exam 1
 150
Exam II
 150
Exam III
 150
Quizzes
 (5 x 10 pts) =   50
Animal World Assignment
 120
Final Exam
*220
Laboratory
 **280
Total
 1120

NOTE:  There will be no makeup exams under any circumstances! If you miss an exam, you must contact Dr. McFadden -- preferably in advance or as soon as possible thereafter. If your absence is excused, then your score on the final exam will be used to replace the missing exam score.

*Final Exam Incentive Bonus: The final exam will be a comprehensive exam (i.e., covering the entire course) worth 220 pts and will serve as the make-up for any excused missed exams. In addition, if your score on the Final Exam is higher than for any one of your midterm exams, I will replace your lowest midterm score with your Final Exam score.

Quizzes:  There will be 5 quizzes worth 10 pts each. Quizzes will be take-home and will be available on WebCT, about every 2 weeks during the class. See lecture TA's for the schedule.

NOTE:  Attendance at all lectures and laboratories is expected for ALL students.  If you need to change laboratory sections for any reason you must consult the teaching assistant.

** See laboratory syllabus.  Note:  A passing grade in the laboratory is required to pass this course.

Lecture Teaching Assistants:

Emma Wall
 Emma.Wall@uvm.edu
Courtney DeHaan
 Courtney.DeHaan@uvm.edu
Office hours: 
 By appointment (email or see them in lecture).
 
Use of WebCT:

You are required to use WebCT for this course.  WebCT will be used to:
  1. Access the PowerPoint presentations for the lectures.
  2. Complete and send assignments and quizzes for class.
  3. Ask a question of one of the instructors, TAs, the class, or your lab section.
  4. Conduct a private discussion with your group for the debates in lab.
  5. Access useful Web pages
E-mail may be used in addition to WebCT.  Please be sure that you have forwarded your student account if you are using your personal account.

To use WebCT, go to:
https://www.uvm.edu/webct/

To get into the course you will need to enter:
There are a number of different services that are provided to help you with WebCT.  If you are having a hardware or equipment problem, please call the CIT helpline at: 656-2604 or the WebCT helpline at: 656-0909.

Animal World Project (Take home assignments)

You will be developing an integrative project during the semester. The project is based around your favorite animal (or any animal of interest) and is designed to allow you to investigate more thoroughly the scientific knowledge available on that animal.

You may pick any animal you want, but you should make sure there is adequate information available to complete the assignment (see below), AND you must use the same animal throughout the course of the project.

In order for your animal to survive it requires a habitat, specific behaviors and an adequate diet. The animal must be able to remain healthy and reproduce in order to perpetuate the species. Therefore, throughout the course you will be expected to describe the "Animal World" of your animal.  There will be an assignment for each of the six areas below:
  1. Introduction and place in the world (geography, habitat, etc)
  2. Behavior, or the most interesting facts about/uses of your animal
  3. Nutrition - diet, type of digestive system, etc
  4. Genetics/breeding
  5. Reproduction
  6. Animal Health
You will be expected to write a 1-2 page report on each of these sections as we progress through the course.  You will be given a due date to submit each section and each will be worth 15 pts. You will be expected to use text or journal references for the assignment, as well as some web resources. After all sections have been completed and returned to you, you will be given a due date to combine all the sections into an integrated report on your chosen animal. The final report will be worth 30 pts. Total points for this assignment = 120 pts.

LABORATORY
Laboratories will meet the first week of class (Aug 30-Sept. 3) to go to the Champlain Valley Fair. Your lab section will meet on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday afternoon. The location of each lab will be announced the week of that lab or see your LAB SYLLABUS

Laboratory Coordinator:
Ms. Fran Kinghorn
107B Terrill Hall
Email:  Frances.Kinghorn@uvm.edu
Phone:  656-0676

Graduate Teaching Assistants:
Emma Wall
KC Horigan
Devin Berthiaume
Kiera Finucane
Joe Morabito
 ewall@uvm.edu, 212 Terrill Hall
khorigan@uvm.edu, 211 Terrill Hall
Devin.Berthiaume@uvm.edu, 211 Terrill Hall
Kiera.Finucane@uvm.edu, 211 Terrill Hall
Joseph.Morabito@uvm.edu, 211 Terrill Hall

Some labs will be at the Miller Research Center, which is approximately a 20-minute walk from campus. On days that you have lab, wear clothes that are suitable for handling animals and are warm/dry enough for standing outside. You will receive coveralls and boots from Fran Kinghorn and coveralls will be left on hooks at the farm.

Please read the message on WebCT from Fran Kinghorn about your coveralls and boots.