Syllabus for PSG-104

SLEEP DISORDERS

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Sleep Disorders provides students a solid foundation in the classification, evaluation, and differential diagnosis of sleep and arousal disorders. The course covers the classification of sleep disorders into appropriate categories, diagnostic criteria, essential and associated features, and polysomnographic evaluation of sleep disorders. It also reviews the most common sleep and arousal disorders in adults and children, focusing on those disorders evaluated using polysomnography or other objective clinical measures.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

After successfully completing this course, you should be able to:

1. Identify the major categories of sleep disorders according to ICSD-2.
2. Summarize the most common sleep disorders associated with each of the major classifications of sleep and arousal disorders.
3. Describe the signs and symptoms associated with each of the major categories of sleep and arousal disorders.
4. Describe the polysomnographic features of the most common sleep disorders for which polysomnography is required.
5. Describe the most commonly encountered sleep disorders seen in pediatric and elderly patients based on age-specific criteria.
6. Discuss the process of differential diagnosis in the evaluation of sleep, arousal, and other disorders.

COURSE MATERIALS

You will need the following textbooks to do the work of the course. The required texts are available from the College's textbook supplier, MBS Direct.

COURSE STRUCTURE

Polysomnography Scoring is a three-credit online course consisting of ten (10) modules. Modules include learning objectives, study materials (lecture notes, assigned reading, and PowerPoint presentations on select topics), and activities (online discussions and written assignments). Module titles are listed below along with their respective course and module objectives.

1. Module 1—Classification and Diagnosis of Sleep Disorders

1. Course objectives covered in this module: CO 1 and 2
2. Module objectives—On successfully completing Module 1, you should be able to:

1. Identify the major categories of sleep and arousal disorders.
2. Summarize and classify the most common sleep disorders according to the following parameters: acuity, primary sleep disorders, and intrinsic sleep disorders.

2. Module 2—Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders

3. Course objectives covered in this module: CO 3, 4, and 5
4. Module objectives—On successfully completing Module 2, you should be able to describe the signs and symptoms and polysomnographic features of the following sleep-related breathing disorders:

1. Obstructive sleep apnea

1. mixed apnea
2. hypopneas
3. upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS)
4. primary snoring

2. Central sleep apnea

1. primary
2. Cheyne-Stokes
3. periodic breathing
4. medical, drug, or substance related

3. Sleep-related hypoventilation-hypoxemia

1. idiopathic hypoventilation
2. medical related to pulmonary pathology
3. medical related to vascular/neuromuscular/chest wall pathology

3. Module 3—Sleep-Related Movement Disorders

5. Course objectives covered in this module: CO 3, 4, and 5
6. Module objectives—On successfully completing Module 3, you should be able to describe the signs and symptoms and polysomnographic features of the following sleep-related movement disorders:

4. Periodic limb movements in sleep
5. Restless legs syndrome
6. Bruxism
7. Medical, drug, or substance-related

4. Module 4—Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders

7. Course objectives covered in this module: CO 3, 4, and 5
8. Module objectives—On successfully completing Module 4, you should be able to describe the signs and symptoms and polysomnographic features of the following circadian rhythm disorders:

1. Delayed sleep phase syndrome
2. Advanced sleep phase syndrome
3. Jet lag disorders
4. Irregular sleep-wake rhythm
5. Shift work disorder
6. Medical, drug, or substance related

5. Module 5—Hypersomnias of Central Origin

9. Course objectives covered in this module: CO 3, 4, and 5
10. Module objectives—On successfully completing Module 5, you should be able to describe the signs and symptoms and polysomnographic features of the following hypersomnia disorders of central origin:

1. Narcolepsy
2. Recurrent hypersomnia
3. Idiopathic hypersomnia
4. Insufficient sleep syndrome
5. Medical, drug, or substance related

6. Module 6—Insomnia

11. Course objectives covered in this module: CO 3, 4, and 5
12. Module objectives—On successfully completing Module 6, you should be able to describe the signs and symptoms and possible polysomnographic features of the following insomnia disorders:

1. Acute/adjustment insomnia
2. Psychophysiological insomnia
3. Paradoxical insomnia
4. Idiopathic insomnia
5. Inadequate sleep hygiene
6. Medical, drug, or substance related

1. Module 7—Parasomnias

1. Course objectives covered in this module: CO 3, 4, and 5
2. Module objectives—On successfully completing Module 7, you should be able to describe the signs and symptoms and polysomnographic features of the following parasomnias:

1. Disorders of arousal (confusional arousals, sleepwalking, sleep terrors)
2. Parasomnias associated with REM sleep (RBD, nightmares)
3. Other parasomnias (catathrenia, sleep-related eating disorder)
4. Medical, drug, or substance related

2. Module 8—Sleep and Medical Disorders

3. Course objectives covered in this module: CO 5 and 6
4. Module objectives—On successfully completing Module 8, you should be able to identify the impact of the following medical disorders on sleep and discuss the process of differential diagnosis:

1. Cardiopulmonary disorders affecting sleep  
2. Sleep disorders and degenerative neurologic disorders
3. Sleep disorders and vascular disorders
4. Sleep disorders and seizure disorders

3. Module 9—Sleep and Psychiatric Disorders and Related Phenomena

5. Course objectives covered in this module: CO 5 and 6
6. Module objectives—On successfully completing Module 9, you should be able to identify the impact of the following psychiatric and other disorders on sleep and discuss the process of differential diagnosis:

1. Psychiatric disorders that affect sleep
2. Environmental sleep disorder
3. Apparently normal variants

1. Module 10—Pediatric Sleep Disorders 

1. Course objectives covered in this module: CO 3, 4, and 5
2. Module objectives—On successfully completing Module 10, you should be able to describe the signs and symptoms and polysomnographic features (if appropriate) of the following pediatric sleep disorders:

1. Behavioral insomnias (sleep-onset association disorder, limit-setting sleep disorder)
2. Sleep-related breathing disorders (apnea of prematurity, apnea of infancy, OSA)
3. Enuresis
4. Restless legs syndrome
5. Rhythmic movement disorder
6. Parasomnias

ASSESSMENT METHODS

For your formal work in the course, you are required to participate in online discussion forums, to submit written assignments, to take a proctored online midterm examination, and to complete a final project. See below for more details.

Consult the course Calendar for due dates.

Discussion Forums

Polysomnography Scoring requires you to participate in ten (10) graded discussion forums worth 23% of your course grade. There is also an ungraded but required Introductions Forum in Module 1.

Communication among fellow students and with the mentor is a critical component of online learning. Participation in online discussions involves two distinct activities: an initial response to a posted question (discussion thread) and subsequent comments on classmates' responses. Meaningful participation is relevant to the content, adds value, and advances the discussion. Comments such as "I agree" and "ditto" are not considered value-adding participation. Therefore, when you agree or disagree with a classmate, the reading, or your mentor, state and support your agreement or disagreement. You will be evaluated on the quality and quantity of your participation. Responses and comments should be properly proofread and edited, professional, and respectful.

Deadlines for posting discussion topics and comments are given in the course Calendar.

Click the link below for an evaluation rubric that will aid in the grading of online discussion forums.

1. Evaluation rubric for online discussions

Written Assignments

Each module concludes with a written assignment, collectively worth 23% of your course grade.

Your answers to the written assignment questions should be well developed and convey your understanding of the course materials. Formulate responses in your own words, citing reading materials and other sources where appropriate and in an appropriate manner.

Click the link below for an evaluation rubric that will aid in the grading of written assignments.

1. Evaluation rubric for written assignments

Examinations

You are required to take a proctored online midterm exam administered through the course Web site. Consult the course Calendar for the official date of midterm exam week.

The exam requires that you use the College's Online Proctor Service (OPS). Please refer to the "Examinations and Proctors" section of the Online Student Handbook (see General Information area of the course Web site) for further information about scheduling and taking proctored online exams and for all exam policies and procedures. You are strongly advised to schedule your exam within the first week of the semester.

Midterm Examination

The midterm exam, worth 25% of your course grade, is two hours long and covers all topics and material from Modules 1–6 of the course. It consists of 100 multiple-choice questions based on the lecture notes and assigned reading.

Statement about Cheating

You are on your honor not to cheat during the exam. Cheating means:

1. Looking up any answer or part of an answer in an unauthorized textbook or on the Internet, or using any other source to find the answer.
2. Copying and pasting or in any way copying responses or parts of responses from any other source into your online test. This includes but is not limited to copying and pasting from other documents or spreadsheets, whether written by yourself or anyone else.
3. Plagiarizing answers.
4. Asking anyone else to assist you by whatever means available while you take the exam.
5. Copying any part of the exam to share with other students.
6. Telling your mentor that you need another attempt at the exam because your connection to the Internet was interrupted when that is not true.

If there is evidence that you have cheated or plagiarized in your exam, the exam will be declared invalid, and you will fail the course.

Final Project

For your final project, you will write an in-depth research paper (10 pages minimum, with references) on one of the sleep disorders discussed during this course. The final project is worth 29% of your course grade and is completed in two steps:

1. Step 1: Proposal (4%)
2. Step 2: Final Paper (25%)

Please see the Final Project section of the course Web site for further details about the project. Consult the course Calendar for the deadline date of each step.

Click the link below for an evaluation rubric that will aid in the grading of the final project.

1. Evaluation rubric for final project

GRADING AND EVALUATION

Your grade in the course will be determined as follows:

1. Online discussions (10)—23%
2. Written assignments (10)—23%
3. Midterm examination—25%
4. Final project (proposal)—4%
5. Final project (research paper)—25%

All activities will receive a numerical grade of 0–100. You will receive a score of 0 for any work not submitted. Your final grade in the course will be a letter grade. Letter grade equivalents for numerical grades are as follows:

To receive credit for the course, you must earn a letter grade of C or better (for an area of study course) or D or better (for a nonarea of study course), based on the weighted average of all assigned course work (e.g., exams, assignments, discussion postings, etc.).

STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS

First Steps to Success

To succeed in this course, take the following first steps:

1. Read carefully the entire Syllabus, making sure that all aspects of the course are clear to you and that you have all the materials required for the course.

2. Take the time to read the entire Online Student Handbook. The Handbook answers many questions about how to proceed through the course, how to schedule exams and arrange for proctors, and how to get the most from your educational experience at Thomas Edison State College.

3. Arrange to take your midterm examination by following the instructions in the Online Student Handbook. You must make arrangements to take your examination before the end of the first week of the current semester.

4. Familiarize yourself with the learning management systems environment—how to navigate it and what the various course areas contain. If you know what to expect as you navigate the course, you can better pace yourself and complete the work on time.

5. If you are not familiar with Web-based learning be sure to review the processes for posting responses online and submitting assignments before class begins.

Study Tips

Consider the following study tips for success:

1. To stay on track throughout the course, begin each week by consulting the course Calendar. The calendar provides an overview of the course and indicates due dates for submitting assignments, posting discussions, and scheduling and taking examinations.

2. Check the Announcements regularly for new course information.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Students at Thomas Edison State College are expected to exhibit the highest level of academic citizenship. In particular, students are expected to read and follow all policies, procedures, and program information guidelines contained in publications; pursue their learning goals with honesty and integrity; demonstrate that they are progressing satisfactorily and in a timely fashion by meeting course deadlines and following outlined procedures; observe a code of mutual respect in dealing with mentors, staff, and other students; behave in a manner consistent with the standards and codes of the profession in which they are practicing; keep official records updated regarding changes in name, address, telephone number, or e-mail address; and meet financial obligations in a timely manner. Students not practicing good academic citizenship may be subject to disciplinary action including suspension, dismissal, or financial holds on records.

Academic Dishonesty

Thomas Edison State College expects all of its students to approach their education with academic integrity—the pursuit of scholarly activity free from fraud and deception. All mentors and administrative staff members at the College insist on strict standards of academic honesty in all courses. Academic dishonesty undermines this objective. Academic dishonesty takes the following forms:

1. Cheating
2. Plagiarizing (including copying and pasting from the Internet without using quotation marks and without acknowledging sources)
3. Fabricating information or citations
4. Facilitating acts of dishonesty by others
5. Unauthorized access to examinations or the use of unauthorized materials during exam administration
6. Submitting the work of another person or work previously used without informing the mentor
7. Tampering with the academic work of other students

Academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action and possible dismissal from the College. Students who submit papers that are found to be plagiarized will receive an F on the plagiarized assignment, may receive a grade of F for the course, and may face dismissal from the College.

A student who is charged with academic dishonesty will be given oral or written notice of the charge. If a mentor or College official believes the infraction is serious enough to warrant referral of the case to the academic dean, or if the mentor awards a final grade of F in the course because of the infraction, the student and the mentor will be afforded formal due process.

If a student is found cheating or using unauthorized materials on an examination, he or she will automatically receive a grade of F on that examination. Students who believe they have been falsely accused of academic dishonesty should seek redress through informal discussions with the mentor, through the office of the dean, or through an executive officer of Thomas Edison State College.

Plagiarism

Using someone else's work as your own is plagiarism. Although it may seem like simple dishonesty, plagiarism is against the law. Thomas Edison State College takes a strong stance against plagiarism, and students found to be plagiarizing will be severely penalized. If you copy phrases, sentences, paragraphs, or whole documents word-for-word—or if you paraphrase by changing a word here and there—without identifying the author, then you are plagiarizing. Please keep in mind that this type of identification applies to Internet sources as well as to print-based sources. Copying and pasting from the Internet, without using quotation marks and without acknowledging sources, constitutes plagiarism. (For information about how to cite Internet sources, see Online Student Handbook > Academic Standards > "Citing Sources.")

Accidentally copying the words and ideas of another writer does not excuse the charge of plagiarism. It is easy to jot down notes and ideas from many sources and then write your own paper without knowing which words are your own and which are someone else's. It is more difficult to keep track of each and every source. However, the conscientious writer who wishes to avoid plagiarizing never fails to keep careful track of sources.

Always be aware that if you write without acknowledging the sources of your ideas, you run the risk of being charged with plagiarism.

Clearly, plagiarism, no matter the degree of intent to deceive, defeats the purpose of education. If you plagiarize deliberately, you are not educating yourself, and you are wasting your time on courses meant to improve your skills. If you plagiarize through carelessness, you are deceiving yourself.