Examinations

There will be four examinations during the course: one after each section of the course is completed and a final examination. The three section exams will be scheduled for 2 hours and will consist of approximately 50 multiple choice format questions prepared by the lecturers and conference leaders. These block exams can be postponed only for legitimate reasons including health problems or sickness in the immediate family. Notification of an absence from an exam must be made in advance by contacting the Dean of Student Affairs (500-5160) and the Biochemistry Department office (500-6281).

 

The final exam will be obtained from the National Board of Medical Examiners and will consist of multiple choice questions from their pool of biochemistry questions. This exam will be scheduled for two and one-half hours and generally consists of 90 - 120 questions. The normalized Subject Test Score, calculated and reported by the NBME, will be used as the score for this examination. A make-up of the final exam can be taken only after an examination has been reordered from the National Board and a new test scheduled.

 

Any protests of examination questions must be directed to the Course Director by E-mail no later than three working days after the answer keys have been posted . After consideration by the faculty, responses will be sent to individual protesters by E-mail. If any change in scoring is made as the result of a protest, the change will be made and announced for the entire class. It will not be possible to entertain protests for questions on the National Board final.

Grading Policy

Each of the four exams will contribute 25% to the final grade. Final grades will be assigned according to the Table below with the following qualification. To qualify for a grade of Pass, High Pass or Honors, a student must achieve a Subject Test Score of 62 (corresponding to approximately the 10 percentile nationwide) or higher on the National Board final; failure to achieve a score of 62 or more will result in a grade of Marginal Performance or Fail depending on the overall average score.

 

 

 

Student Counseling and Tutoring

Faculty conference leaders will be available for assistance concerning the subject matter of each section of the course and may be contacted through their locations and telephones indicated in the Faculty Directory for the Course. Conference leaders willingly provide individual help sessions upon request, provided that students have prepared by attending the lectures, reading the assigned text references and regularly attending conferences. For additional counseling or tutoring on course content, the Course Director may be consulted directly during office hours (MSB room 6.200C; telephone 500-6283) or by arrangement through the Biochemistry Office (MSB room 6.200; telephone 500-6281).

 

To arrange for a student tutor for biochemistry, please contact the Office of Educational Programs, JJL room 304, telephone 500-5140.

Summer Remediation

Summer remediation in Biochemistry will be offered only to students who received a Marginal Performance grade in the MS Biochemistry Course and who are qualified for remediation by the Student Evaluations and Promotions Committee. The SEP Committee does not make the determination of qualified students until all of the final grades are turned into the Committee after the close of the second semester.

 

Remediation will involve a self-directed course of study utilizing the syllabi from the three sections of the course as a guide. Three examinations, one for each section of the course, will be administered and must be taken on the days offered. To receive a Pass for the remediation course, students must achieve an overall average of 65 or greater on the three tests. Any student who scored less than 62 on the final examination in Biochemistry must also take a National Board subject examination in Biochemistry and score 62 or better in order to receive a Pass.

 

As a study aid and to help students prepare for the examinations, regularly scheduled help sessions will be offered by the faculty to respond to students' questions for specific sections of the course. Attendance at the help sessions is not mandatory but the examinations will be offered only as scheduled. If students successfully complete the remediation, their Biochemistry course grade will be changed to a Pass.

 

Remediation of a Fail must be by either repeating the MS Biochemistry course or by taking an approved course at another university during the summer.