Course Description
IMC is a project-based course. In particular, you will complete four major projects in IMC. Each student will choose a medical condition that they are interested in, and that condition will be the “theme” for the four projects you complete in IMC. All projects are interrelated; each new project builds on the previous project.
Class Format
The IMC course format will depend on the pandemic and where students are located at or during the Spring 2022 semester. For class, we might meet online, in a Zoom classroom, or in person. If we have in-person class, we will meet in Andrew Belford Hall in classroom IL 308. Our class might also include directed learning activities (DLAs). A DLA consists of work that you do, on your own, outside of class time. For example, for a DLA, you might be asked to watch a recorded lecture and then complete a short assignment. The IMC course format may change throughout the semester if students travel to different countries or if students’ time zones are very different.
Contacting (or Meeting) Me
There are a couple ways that you can get ahold of me, and there are certain times when I will be “disconnected.” Feel free to send me an email at any point (my email address is tmckay@sgu.edu), or you can call my office phone at 444-4175 (extension 3886). If you are on campus, you can drop by my office any time from about 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. You can also book an appointment with me (in person or via Zoom) through tmckay.youcanbook.me. I am “disconnected” after 3:30 p.m., and I do not respond to email on weekends.
Course Objectives
In this course, students will apply their previously learned skills through researching medical journals, writing a medical research paper that is accessible to the general public, and conducting a patient informational session on the implications of a medical disorder. Students will improve skills in critical thinking, academic research, article analysis, synthesis, academic writing, and presenting professional informational sessions through project development. Overall, students will gain confidence in using the language and culture of medicine to clearly communicate medical topics to the general public.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Apply academic literacy skills to complete course tasks and assignments
- Analyze and evaluate medical research, peer writing, and personal writing
- Analyze and critically apply information in charts and figures
- Create sound arguments orally and in writing using information compiled and synthesized from various sources
- Apply appropriate linguistic registers in different communicative situations both orally and in writing
- Formulate constructive feedback in response to discussions and assignments
- Demonstrate reading strategies that improve comprehension
- Use formal and informal medical terminology appropriately
- Develop writing through feedback application
- Understand and apply the writing process
EMP Program Outcomes Met by IMC
- Prepare students for the medical and academic language and skills necessary to be successful at SGU and in clinical settings
- Extend understanding and skills for sociocultural communications in academic and medical contexts
- Engage in the application of critical thinking and analysis
- Develop and integrate skills for reading, writing, speaking and listening in an academic and medical context
Course Materials
You can find all the materials you need for IMC on our course’s Sakai page. There is no assigned textbook. To learn how to use Sakai, click on the following link:
SAS Grading Scale
A 89.5%-100%
B+ 84.5%-89.4%
B 79.5%-84.4%
C+ 74.5%-79.4%
C 69.5%-74.4%
D 64.5%-69.4%
F 0%-64.4%
Course Grading Requirement
To pass IMC, you need to meet the minimum academic standards for the Preclinical program and maintain the minimum required WMPG. At the end of the semester, you must have a 69.5% WMPG to pass IMC.
Grade Distribution
10% Attendance and professionalism
10% In-class and homework assignments
10% Peer review and drafts
70% Projects 1-4
100% Total
Course Requirements
In-Class and Homework Assignments (10%)
You will need to complete both assignments in class and as homework. The purpose of these assignments is to give you space to practice what you learn in classes. The due dates for assignments will vary, but I will clearly communicate assignment deadlines to you on Sakai and via email. Assignments might include readings, short writing assignments, watching videos, and completing worksheets. Assignments will be graded with an assignment rubric.
Peer Review and Drafts (10%)
In addition to in-class and homework assignments, you will take part in peer-review activities and drafts. The purpose of peer review and drafts is to give you space to give and respond to feedback and to engage with other students about topics that are important in the course. The guidelines for peer review and drafts will be posted at Sakai.
Projects 1-4 (70%)
Project 1 Graphic organizer and annotated bibliography (15%)
Project 2 Outline (15%)
Project 3 Literature review (25%)
Project 4 Social, cultural, and economic implications assignments (15%)
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a very serious issue in higher education. According to the St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020), plagiarism is the “theft of the work of someone else, which is then purported as the original work of the plagiarist” (p. 48). You can get into serious trouble not only for directly copying someone else’s work but by accidentally copying someone else’s work or giving credit to a different person or group of people.
To avoid plagiarism, there are a couple steps you should follow. First, be sure to double check your IMC assignments before you hand them in. Second, be sure to do honest work, credit other people’s work in the main text of your writing and in your reference list, and follow the University’s Honor Code. Plagiarism and cheating will be taken very seriously at SGU, but you can avoid plagiarizing by following these few important steps.
I will submit all of your written work to Turnitin plagiarism-detection software. Turnitin is a tool that I can access through our IMC Sakai page. When your written work is submitted to Turnitin, I can see how much text you plagiarized from other sources and what specific sources (e.g., a website, a journal article) you copied the text from. If you plagiarized any text on any written assignment, you will receive a zero on that assignment and will need to discuss your plagiarized text with me. If you continue to plagiarize, you will need to meet with the SELP director and may face more serious consequences with SGU.
Attendance and Professionalism
Attendance and professionalism are essential in IMC and will be worth 10% of the overall course grade. For each class, your attendance and professionalism will be scored using the rubric below. Please note: If you are more than ten minutes late to any class (without having talked with me first), you will receive “0” for that day and be marked absent. The most important thing is to talk with me before you have a problem or before a deadline; if you communicate with me often and early, we can work through any personal or academic challenges you might be having.
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0 |
1 |
2 |
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Attendance |
Student was absent or joined class after ten minutes. Asynchronous session was not done before the next class.
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Student joined class late but within ten minutes or left within first ten minutes. Asynchronous session was done late. |
Student was on time and prepared. Asynchronous sessions was done in a timely fashion. |
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Professionalism |
Student is disruptive or unresponsive in a way that material is not processed. |
Student is occasionally disruptive or unresponsive in communication and/or assignment submissions.
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Student is professional in communications, is prepared for class, and submits assignments on time. |
School of Arts and Sciences Master Syllabi — Info for All Sections
Academic Integrity
The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:
“Plagiarism is regarded as a cardinal offense in academia because it constitutes theft of the work of someone else, which is then purported as the original work of the plagiarist. Plagiarism draws into disrepute the credibility of the Institution, its faculty, and students; therefore, it is not tolerated” (p. 48).
Plagiarism also includes the unintentional copying or false accreditation of work, so double check your assignments BEFORE you hand them in.
Be sure to do good, honest work, credit your sources and reference accordingly and adhere to the University’s Honor Code. Plagiarism and cheating will be dealt with very seriously following the university’s policies on Plagiarism as outlined in the Student Manual.
Your work may be subject to submission to plagiarism detection software, submission to this system means that your work automatically becomes part of that database and can be compared with the work of your classmates.
The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:
“Students are expected to attend all classes and or clinical rotations for which they have registered. Although attendance may not be recorded at every academic activity, attendance may be taken randomly. Students’ absence may adversely affect their academic status as specified in the grading policy. If absence from individual classes, examinations, and activities, or from the University itself is anticipated, or occurs spontaneously due to illness or other extenuating circumstances, proper notification procedures must be followed. A particular course may define additional policies regarding specific attendance or participation” (p. 9).
The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:
“All matriculated students are expected to attend all assigned academic activities for each course currently registered. Medical excuses will be based on self-reporting by students. Students who feel they are too sick to take an examination or other required activity on a specific day must submit the online SAS medical excuse, which is available on Carenage. Students are only allowed two such excuses a year. Upon consultation with the Director of University Health Service, the third excuse will result in a mandatory medical leave of absence. The policies regarding make-up examinations are at the option of the Course Director” (p.46).
For additional specific examination policies and procedures, refer to the St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020), pages 31 through 37.
The St. George’s University Student Manual (2019/2020) states as follows:
“A student with a disability or disabling condition that affects one or more major life activities, who would like to request an accommodation, must submit a completed application form and supporting documentation to the Student Accessibility and Accommodation Services (SAAS) located in the Dean of Students Office. It is highly recommended that students applying for accommodations do so at least one month before classes begin to allow for a more efficient and timely consideration of the request. If a fully completed application is not submitted in a timely fashion, an eligibility determination may not be made, and accommodations, where applicable, may not be granted prior to the commencement of classes and/or examinations” (p. 8).
It is the responsibility of the student to read and understand the policies, laws, rules and procedures that while they could affect your grade for a course, have not been specifically outlined in the course syllabus. These are contained in the St. George’s University Student Manual.