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Graduate Course Proposal Form Submission Detail - PHZ6716
Tracking Number - 2923

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Current Status: Approved by SCNS - 2013-02-26
Campus: Tampa
Submission Type: New
Course Change Information (for course changes only):
Comments: to GC 12/3. for PhD in Appled Physics. Replacing selected topics course. GC approved 12/3/12. to SYS 12/4/12. to SCNS 12/12/12. Appd eff 2/1/13

Detail Information

  1. Date & Time Submitted: 2012-09-04
  2. Department: Physics
  3. College: AS
  4. Budget Account Number: 125300000
  5. Contact Person: Casey Miller
  6. Phone: 81397477771
  7. Email: millercw@usf.edu
  8. Prefix: PHZ
  9. Number: 6716
  10. Full Title: Biophysics II
  11. Credit Hours: 3
  12. Section Type: C - Class Lecture (Primarily)
  13. Is the course title variable?: N
  14. Is a permit required for registration?: N
  15. Are the credit hours variable?: N
  16. Is this course repeatable?:
  17. If repeatable, how many times?: 0
  18. Abbreviated Title (30 characters maximum):
  19. Course Online?: C - Face-to-face (0% online)
  20. Percentage Online: 0
  21. Grading Option: R - Regular
  22. Prerequisites: PHZ 6715 (being proposed simultaneously)
  23. Corequisites:
  24. Course Description: This is part two of the two-semester introductory course in cellular and molecular biophysics.

    The course is designed to extend the concepts introduced in the prior semester to explore the

    connection between molecular structure and cellular functions.

  25. Please briefly explain why it is necessary and/or desirable to add this course: Replacing Selected Topics with Permanent number; already listed in program
  26. What is the need or demand for this course? (Indicate if this course is part of a required sequence in the major.) What other programs would this course service? This graduate level course has been offered every spring semester since 2002. This course is vital to the success of students engaged in biophysics research, which is one of three major research areas in the Applied Physics PhD.
  27. Has this course been offered as Selected Topics/Experimental Topics course? If yes, how many times? Yes, 3 or more times
  28. What qualifications for training and/or experience are necessary to teach this course? (List minimum qualifications for the instructor.)
  29. Objectives: The objective of this course is to extend and add to the concepts we introduced in

    the prior semester to explore the connection between molecular structure and

    cellular functions.

  30. Learning Outcomes: Students will (a) understand behavior of lipids and cell membranes (self-assembly of

    lipids, mechanics of lipid bilayers, transport across lipids, mechanical equilibrium

    across bilayers) (b) determine the role of charges and charge-screening on the

    behavior of macromolecules and in generating membrane potentials (c) explore the

    passive and active propagation of electrical signals in excitable cells

  31. Major Topics: Cell Membranes – Mechanical structure of cells: filaments and membranes;

    Mammalian cell membranes; Phase separation: Self-assembly of lipids into micelles

    and bi-layers; Mechanics of lipid bi-layers and polymer networks; Lipid bilayers in

    biological systems (student presentations) Osmotic Equilibrium, Transport and

    charges across membranes – Osmotic pressure and mechanical equilibrium across

    membranes, Transport across membranes, Screening of macromolecular charges

    by small ions (Debye-Hueckel Theory); Resting potentials across the cell membrane

    (Nernst-Planck Equation); Ion pumps: charge separation across cell membranes,

    Protein involved in solute and ion transport across membranes (student

    presentations) Electrical Properties of Cells – Cell communication and electrical

    potentials, Passive propagation of electrical signals, Voltage gated ion channels

    (student presentations), Active propagation of electrical signals (section potentials,

    H-H model) Motility of Cells – Molecular motors and active transport in cell (student

    presentations), Brownian motors as model for molecular motors

  32. Textbooks: example:

    Molecular and Cellular Biophysics, by Meyer B. Jackson Cambridge University

    Press, New York, 2006

  33. Course Readings, Online Resources, and Other Purchases:
  34. Student Expectations/Requirements and Grading Policy:
  35. Assignments, Exams and Tests:
  36. Attendance Policy: Course Attendance at First Class Meeting – Policy for Graduate Students: For structured courses, 6000 and above, the College/Campus Dean will set the first-day class attendance requirement. Check with the College for specific information. This policy is not applicable to courses in the following categories: Educational Outreach, Open University (TV), FEEDS Program, Community Experiential Learning (CEL), Cooperative Education Training, and courses that do not have regularly scheduled meeting days/times (such as, directed reading/research or study, individual research, thesis, dissertation, internship, practica, etc.). Students are responsible for dropping undesired courses in these categories by the 5th day of classes to avoid fee liability and academic penalty. (See USF Regulation – Registration - 4.0101,

    http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/ogc%20web/currentreg.htm)

    Attendance Policy for the Observance of Religious Days by Students: In accordance with Sections 1006.53 and 1001.74(10)(g) Florida Statutes and Board of Governors Regulation 6C-6.0115, the University of South Florida (University/USF) has established the following policy regarding religious observances: (http://usfweb2.usf.edu/usfgc/gc_pp/acadaf/gc10-045.htm)

    In the event of an emergency, it may be necessary for USF to suspend normal operations. During this time, USF may opt to continue delivery of instruction through methods that include but are not limited to: Blackboard, Elluminate, Skype, and email messaging and/or an alternate schedule. It’s the responsibility of the student to monitor Blackboard site for each class for course specific communication, and the main USF, College, and department websites, emails, and MoBull messages for important general information.

  37. Policy on Make-up Work:
  38. Program This Course Supports: PhD in Applied Physics
  39. Course Concurrence Information:


- if you have questions about any of these fields, please contact chinescobb@grad.usf.edu or joe@grad.usf.edu.