Main Content
Syllabus
The information contained on this page is designed to give students a representative example of material covered in the course. Any information related to course assignments, dates, or course materials is illustrative only. For a definitive list of materials, please check the online catalog 3-4 weeks before the course start date.
HLS/AGBIO 520: Agricultural Biosecurity: Protecting a Key Infrastructure (3 credits): Course will explore intentional and unintentional threats to the agriculture-food system, history and current approaches for safeguarding this key infrastructure. Prerequisite: HLS/PHP 510 or permission of the instructor
Overview
Agricultural Biosecurity covers a wide range of topics related to protecting the agriculture food system from intentional and unintentional threats. The course is introduced with an overview of the scope and nature of the agriculture food system including identification of professionals operating within this arena. This is followed by appropriate historical context and several lessons on specific threats to plant and animal agriculture, and the food system, and a discussion of the social impacts agro-terrorism. The threat of accidental introduction of exotic species and their potential to become invasive is also discussed. The course concludes with a series of lessons focused around the central concept of prevent, detect, respond and recover. We end with a discussion on looking to the future which will summarize the course by identifying areas that are still in need of improvement and areas for future research.
Course Objectives
The objective of this course is to provide a structure for students with little or no background in agriculture to learn about agricultural biosecurity.
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
- Outline historical and contemporary events that are relevant to agricultural biosecurity
- Describe the threats both intentional and accidental to plant and animal production and food systems
- Explain the roles of different levels of government and which agencies are responsible for safeguarding agricultural biosecurity
- Outline the four basic steps in agricultural biosecurity and describe specific actions that are used in each step
- Explain current limitations and unmet needs in agricultural biosecurity and be able to suggest possible solutions
- Discuss agricultural biosecurity and explain it to those unfamiliar with it
- Appreciate the importance of the agriculture-food system as a key infrastructure
Interacting with the Course TA
Your course may have a TA. The course TA interacts with teams and individual students through discussion forums, e-mail, or E-Live. The TA provides guidance and feedback, as needed, with respect to team and individual activity assignments. Finally, the TA serves as a resource to students for general questions regarding lesson content and regarding preparation for the essay, research proposal, and final exam.
Netiquette
Library and Electronic Reserves
Library
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
Technical Requirements
For this course we recommend the minimum World Campus technical requirements listed below:
| Operating System | Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8*; Mac OS X 10.5 or higher *Windows 8 support excludes the tablet only RT version |
|---|---|
| Processor | 2 GHz or higher |
| Memory | 1 GB of RAM |
| Hard Drive Space | 20 GB free disk space |
| Browser | We recommend the latest ANGEL-supported version of Firefox or
Internet Explorer. To determine if your browser fits this criterion,
and for advice on downloading a supported version,
please refer to the following ITS knowledge base article: Supported Browsers and Recommended Computers.
Note: Cookies, Java, and JavaScript must be enabled. Pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. Due to nonstandard handling of CSS, JavaScript and caching, older versions of Internet Explorer (such as IE 6 or earlier) do not work with our courses. |
| Plug-ins | Adobe Reader [Download from Adobe]
Flash Player (v7.0 or later) [Download from Adobe] |
| Additional Software | Microsoft Office (2007 or later) |
| Internet Connection | Broadband (cable or DSL) connection required |
| Printer | Access to graphics-capable printer |
| DVD-ROM | Required |
| Sound Card, Microphone, and Speakers | Required |
| Monitor | Capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
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Course Schedule
Course Schedule
Note that assignments are due based on the Eastern Time zone (EST or EDT). This ensures that all students have the same deadlines regardless of where they live.
- Course length: 15 weeks
| Activity | |
|---|---|
| 1: Course Orientation and Introduction |
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| 2: History of Biological Warfare and Bioterrorism Targeting Agriculture |
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| 3: Agricultural Biosecurity is an Old Problem: Introduced and Invasive Species |
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| 4: Threats to Animal Agriculture |
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| 5: Threats to Plant Production |
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| 6: Threats to Food Biosecurity |
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| 7: The Role of Federal, State, and Local Governments in Ensuring Agricultural Biosecurity |
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| 8: Mid-Term Exam |
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| 9: Prevent |
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| 10: Detection and Diagnosis |
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| 11: Respond |
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| 12: Recover |
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| 13: Forensics and Attribution |
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| 14: The Role of Research: Looking to the Future |
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| 15: Final Assessment |
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Course Access
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Graduation
Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please refer to Graduation at the Chaiken Center for Student Success.
Grading
Grading Categories
| Grading Category | Percent of Overall Course Average |
| Team Project Report | 25% |
| Individual Research Paper | 20% |
| Reports | 15% |
| Reflections | 15% |
| Midterm Exam | 15% |
| Other Assignments | 10% |
Grading Scale
| Grade | Percentage |
| A | 93%-100% |
| A- | 90% -92% |
| B+ | 87%-89% |
| B | 83%-86% |
| B- | 80%-82% |
| C+ | 77%-79% |
| C | 73%-76% |
| C- | 70%-72% |
| D | 60%-69% |
| F | less than 60% |
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity (for undergraduate students in undergraduate courses) and policy GCAC-805 Academic Integrity (for graduate students and undergraduate students in graduate courses), an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity or GCAC-805 Academic Integrity as appropriate). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and personal
integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and property; and help
create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the
fruits of their own efforts. An environment of academic integrity is
requisite to respect for oneself and others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, procedures allow a student to accept or contest/appeal the allegation. If a student chooses to contest/appeal the allegation, the case will then be managed by the respective school, college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. Review procedures may vary by college, campus, or school, but all follow the aforementioned policies.
All academic integrity violations are referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response, which may assign an educational intervention and/or apply a Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, or Expulsion.
Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page.
University Policies
Deferred Grades
If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.
For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.