Pathophysiology

Course Overview:

This course investigates general pathology and organ system pathology.  It includes a brief review of normal structure and function, followed by more in-depth descriptions of specific pathologic processes. Students will use textbooks and Internet resources to learn the basic characteristics, etiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnostic tools including medical imaging procedures, prognoses, and therapies for each of the specific pathologies.  Students will participate in online discussions and a pathology report in this course.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, a student will:

• Describe how pathologic processes affect normal structure and function.
• Identify the basic characteristics, etiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, and diagnostic tools including medical imaging procedures, prognoses, and therapies for specific pathologies.
  • Create a pathology report with an APA in-text citations and APA reference list.
• ~

Students must have reliable and continual computer and Internet access. All course activities will be completed using Blackboard.

Teaching Strategies: Independent reading assignments, Blackboard open book module quizzes, development of pathology presentation, and proctored Blackboard open book final examination.

Modules

The course content is divided into modules by chapters.  Additional resource material is available through the Internet.  Each module has a quiz.  See the Course Schedule at the end of this syllabus for quiz deadlines.

Independent Reading Assignments

Students should complete the reading assignments, answer the chapter objectives, review the Internet resources, and review the questions at the chapter end before attempting the open book module quizzes.  See the Course Schedule at the end of this syllabus for specific information about module quiz due dates. 

WebCT Open Book Module Quizzes - 35%

When a student has reviewed a module and is ready for the quiz, he or she will log on to WebCT and receive a customized timed module quiz consisting of randomized multiple choice questions.  See the course schedule for the open and close dates for the quizzes.

It is important to know the module content before attempting the module quizzes because they are timed.  Quiz scores will be available immediately after a student submits his or her quiz for grading.

Quizzes must be completed and submitted by the completion date as indicated on the course schedule. Quizzes not completed by the indicated due dates will be graded as zero (0). Students should contact the instructor in extenuating circumstances; such cases will be dealt with on an individual basis.

If students have technical difficulties during a quiz, they should use the "Help" link at the top toolbar in WebCT, contact the MSU Information Systems Support Staff, and send an email to the course instructor explaining what happened.

If a student finds a faulty quiz test item or believes that a quiz question has been scored incorrectly, he or she should send an email to the course instructor that includes the following:

w  Module Quiz Number (I –VI)

w  Question Stem

w  Answer Scored as Correct by the Computer

w  Answer the Student Thinks Should be Correct

w  Rationale Supporting Why the Student's Answer is Correct

w  Page numbers must be included when referencing the textbook in a rationale

For example, a student can not send the message "I think question number ten is wrong on quiz four" because each student gets a quiz of randomly generated test items.  The instructor has to know the question stem to find the question in the database. 

After reviewing the case, if the course instructor thinks a revision is justified, the student's quiz score will be revised to reflect the additional points and the test bank will be updated.  It may take several weeks for the student to receive a response because the instructor works on batches of questions for a particular quiz at a time.

Pathology Report - 30%

Topic: The course instructor must approve each student's pathology topic selection.  Students must submit their topic requests to the appropriate discussion board forum by the due date indicated on the course schedule. Two students within the same section cannot have the same topic.  Approval will be made through the appropriate discussion board.  To avoid duplication, students can review the pathologies already selected by classmates. Students may NOT use pathology reports submitted previously in other classes.  Students who submit the same report will receive a zero on this assignment.

Manuscript Format: Students must also use appropriate APA format for in-text citations and for the reference page. APA compliance counts as part of the report grade. For help with APA Format, see the resources linked to the course WebCT page including the sample paper which is provided. 

Sources: Students must synthesize and paraphrase the information they find and cite the sources of the information appropriately.  Students should use reliable scholarly sources for information to write this pathology report.  No more than two internet sources can be used.  The remaining sources must be from published, scholarly journals, or other scholarly sources. NO CUT AND PASTE from websites is allowed. Use only credible medical website such as the CDC, etc.  Wikipedia is NOT a credible source!

When students use a passage from a source word-for-word, they must enclose the passage in quotation marks and use the appropriate APA citation for a direct quote, including the page number.  Unless information is common knowledge, the source should be cited.  Refer to the Honor System section of this syllabus, the course instructor, and the links within WebCT for more information on academic dishonesty.

Personal experiences should not be described for this report. 

Students must consult with a radiologist when preparing this report.  The information from the radiologist must be cited as a personal communication in the text of the report.

Report Audience: For this report, the intended reader is a staff radiographer.  This means, for example, that students do not need to explain how x-rays are produced to support that a chest x-ray is an appropriate diagnostic method to demonstrate tuberculosis.  All staff radiographers know how x-rays are produced. 

Organization: Organization counts as part of the report grade. The pathology report should be clearly labeled with the sections identified in the list below (Submission Format).  Students must use baccalaureate-level writing skills including complete sentences and correct grammar. 

Submission Format: Online Pathology Reports should be submitted as Microsoft WORD documents to the appropriate assignment dropbox in WebCT on or before the due date indicated at the end of the syllabus.  Do NOT email your instructor the report. Due to the nature of this assignment, late submissions will NOT be accepted. Any report not submitted or submitted after the deadline will be assessed a grade of zero. Early submissions are appreciated; however, they will not be returned until the end of the semester after all reports have been graded.

The instructor will not accept Microsoft WORKS or WordPerfect files.  The report must be submitted as one document that includes the title page, text, and reference list.

One of the following two standard fonts must be used: 12 pt Times New Roman or 12 pt Arial. Margins must be set at 1" margins.

The pathology reports must:

·         Be typed and double-spaced

·         Include the standardized MSU RS Cover Page as page #1. 

·         Include ONLY the following in clearly labeled sections and follow the page restrictions as indicated below.

·         Points will be deducted for exceeding or not meeting the page restrictions.

Starting on page #2:

Description of Pathology (1-2 pages in length)

·         Describe this pathology.

·         What other names are used for this pathology, if applicable? 

·         What causes this pathology?

·         How does this pathology affect normal physiology?

Diagnostic Methods (2-3 pages in length)

·         Specifically describe medical imaging procedures (i.e., CT, US., NM, etc.) used to aid in the diagnosis of the pathology.

·         Explain how this pathology may alter these procedures.

o    For example: What needs to be done differently and/or what follow up imaging studies need to be performed and /or how will the pathology appear on the images?

·         Each student is required to interact with at least one RADIOLOGIST about using medical imaging for this pathology.  This personal communication should be cited in the report, but does not have to be included in the Reference List, according to APA guidelines.

·         As an appendix, include 2 images of this pathology. One must be a plain radiographic image and the second must be from a different imaging modality. If plain radiography is not appropriate, use two images from two different imaging modalities. The appendix does not need to be in APA format.  

Treatment & Prognosis (1 page in length)

·         What drugs and treatments are used?

·         How do the drugs and treatments affect this pathology?

References (starts on a new page)

·         Reference List –Identify all the sources of information, to include only the course textbook, credible medical Internet sites, journals, and/or other scholarly sources. Other physiology or radiology books are not acceptable.

·         Use CORRECT current APA format for the in-text citations and reference list.  If you do not have a 6^th edition APA Manual, GET ONE!

·         Three to six references are expected.

Note: All assignments received are considered complete and will be graded as such.

Comprehensive Final Exam - 35%

The comprehensive proctored open-book final exam will be administered using WebCT.  Each student must have a proctor and test site approved by the course instructor before taking the exam.  Students are not allowed to print the final exam.  Note that the Comprehensive Final Exam closes at 5:00 pm Central Time, so students need to schedule accordingly

Proctor Guidelines and the Proctor Application form are available from WebCT.  The MSU Radiologic Sciences department now uses a standardized protocol and proctor application.  Students must provide the proctor with the Proctor Guidelines.  Students should submit the completed proctor application to the appropriate section instructor (fax, snail mail, or email from proctor) by the scheduled due date at the end of this syllabus.  All inquires about the proctor application should be directed to the appropriate section instructor.

Evaluation:

Module Quizzes 35%

Final Exam 35%

Presentation 30%

Grade Scale:

A = 100 - 90

B = 89 - 80

C = 79 - 70

D = 69 – 60

F = 59 and below

The assignments should be written using standard technical writing skills. This includes appropriate spelling, grammar, sentence structure, transitions, text flow, currency of knowledge, and scope of research.

If a student cannot meet these requirements for electronic submission, he or she should meet individually with the faculty member to make other suitable arrangements.

All assignments must reflect baccalaureate level effort. Unless otherwise indicated, all assignments must be submitted as a single Word document attachment to the appropriate assignment dropbox.

Assignments must be submitted on time; late submission will not be accepted.

This is an online course and there are no mandatory sessions.  However, the student should be vigilant in logging onto Blackboard.  Regular checks will ensure that messages from the instructor are received in a timely manner. This course is on a schedule that will be strictly adhered to.

Honor System: RADS 3203 adheres to the MSU Code of Conduct.  In particular, academic dishonesty, however small, creates a breach in academic integrity.  A student's participation in this course comes with the expectation that his or her work will be completed in full observance of the MSU Code of Student Conduct.  A student should consult the course syllabus and current Student Handbook for answers to any questions about the code.

Academic dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism, etc.) will not be tolerated in this class. Whenever a student is unsure of whether a particular situation will be interpreted as academic dishonesty, he/she should ask the instructor for clarification.  If students are guilty of academic dishonesty, a grade of zero (0) may be given for the quiz, assignment, etc.  Cases may also be referred to the Dean of Students for possible dismissal from the university.

By enrolling in this course, the student expressly grants MSU a "limited right" in all intellectual property created by the student for the purpose of this course.  The "limited right" shall include but shall not be limited to the right to reproduce the student's work product in order to verify originality and authenticity, and for educational purposes. Specifically, faculty may submit student papers and assignments to an external agency to verify originality and authenticity, and to detect for plagiarism.