NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Course title: General Biology for Majors I

Course prefix, number, and section number: BIOL 1406.0341

Semester/Year of course: Fall 2022

Semester start and end dates: August 22 thru December 10, 2022

Modality (Face to face/Synchronous or Asynchronous online/Hybrid): Online

Class meeting location, days, and times: Online

Lab meeting location, days, and times: Online

Semester credit hours: 4

Course description: Fundamental principles of living organisms will be studied, including physical and chemical properties of life, organization, function, evolutionary adaptation, and classification. Concepts of cytology, reproduction, genetics, and scientific reasoning are included.

Course prerequisites: None

Required course materials:

Text: Campbell Biology, 12^th ed., using ebook with My Lab and Mastering

Textbook Publisher Website:  You will need to purchase an access code for mastering. You need to connect to mastering through CANVAS which will take you directly to my course and you will need the access code to access the course.  This is NECCESARY to perform the assigned homework, which represent 20% of your grade. 

Laboratory Material: Hands-on labs must be purchased from eSciencelabs.com. Kit # 1821. A limited number of kits are available through the NCTC Bookstore. Access codes for kits available by mail are available thru all NCTC Bookstores.

Name of instructor: Robert Fenton

Office location: Online – I can be available to meet at the Corinth or Denton campuses by appointment

Telephone number: 940-668-4252 (Wendy Perkins; department assistant)

E-mail address: rfenton@nctc.edu

Office hours for students: Online

SYLLABUS CHANGE DISCLAIMER

The faculty member reserves the right to make changes to this published syllabus if it is in the best interest of the educational development of this class. Any such changes will be announced as soon as possible in person and/or writing.

SUMMARY OF COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

List of graded assignments: 

6    Lecture exams  =  30%

19  Homework assignments  =  20%

13  Lab reports  =  30%

Final Exam  =  20%

Final grade scale:

            90 – 100           A

            80 – 89            B

            70 – 79            C

            60 – 69            D

            59 – 0              F

Late work policy:

      Unit exams will be taken online using Respondus Webcam Lockdown Browser or at a NCTC Testing Center.  In the interest of being fair to all students, NO MAKE-UP EXAMS will be given.  Chapter Assignments and Labs are due the date of the Unit Exam and access will close. 

SEE CANVAS FOR THE COMPLETE COURSE CALENDAR, OUTLINE, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF GRADED WORK, AND OTHER RELATED MATERIAL.

COURSE POLICIES

Academic Integrity Policy:

            Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, academic falsification, intellectual property dishonesty, academic dishonesty facilitation and collusion.  Faculty members may document and bring charges against a student who is engaged in or is suspected to be engaged in academic dishonesty.  See Student Handbook, “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct ([FLB(LOCAL)]”. 

Consequences for academic dishonesty may include:

1.  Loss of grade for the assignment of exam   
2.  Grade of “F” for the course and removal from class

Attendance Policy:

            Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered.  All absences are considered to be unauthorized unless the student is absent due to illness or emergencies as determined by the instructor.  It is the student responsibility to provide documentation as to the emergency for approval and judgement by the faculty member.  Approved college sponsored activities are the only absences for which a student should not be held liable and only when provided by a college official ahead of the absence.  Valid reasons for absence, however, do not relieve the student of the responsibility for making up required work.  Students will not be allowed to make up an examination missed due to absence unless they have reasons acceptable to the instructor.  A student who is compelled to be absent when a test is given should petition the instructor, in advance if possible, for permission to postpone the exam.  Student will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been justifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course’s objectives.    Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories will be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College.

Withdrawal Policy

A student may withdraw from a course on or after the official date of record. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate and complete a Withdrawal Request Form.

Last day to withdraw from the course with a “W” is: Monday, October 31.

Student Learning Outcomes:

At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:

1. Describe the characteristics of life.

2. Explain the methods of inquiry used by scientists.

3. Identify the basic requirements of life and the properties of the major molecules needed              for life.

4. Compare and contrast the structures, reproduction, and characteristics of viruses, prokaryotic cells, and eukaryotic cells.

5. Describe the structure of cell membranes and the movement of molecules across a       membrane.

6. Identify the substrates, products, and important chemical pathways in metabolism.

7. Identify the principles of inheritance and solve classical genetic problems.

8. Identify the chemical structures, synthesis, and regulation of nucleic acids and proteins.

9. Describe the unity and diversity of life and the evidence for evolution through natural selection.

Lab Learning Outcomes for Labs

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

1. Apply scientific reasoning to investigate questions and utilize scientific tools such as microscopes and laboratory equipment to collect and analyze data.

2. Use critical thinking and scientific problem-solving to make informed decisions in the laboratory.

3. Communicate effectively the results of scientific investigations.

4. Describe the characteristics of life.

5. Explain the methods of inquiry used by scientist.

6. Identify the basic properties of substances needed for life.

7. Compare and contrast the structures, reproduction, and characteristics of viruses, prokaryotic cells, and eukaryotic cells.

8. Describe the structure of cell membranes and the movement of molecules across a membrane.

9. Identify the substrates, products, and important chemical pathways in metabolism.

10. Identify the principles of inheritance and solve classical genetic problems.

11. Identify the chemical structures, synthesis, and regulation of nucleic acids and proteins.

12. Describe the unity and diversity of life and the evidence for evolution through natural selection.

Core Objectives:

Critical Thinking

Communication

Teamwork

Empirical and Quantitative Analysis

COLLEGE POLICIES

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the Student Handbook.

ADA STATEMENT

NCTC will adhere to all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Office for Students with Disabilities to arrange appropriate accommodations.  See the OSD Syllabus Addendum.

STUDENT SERVICES

NCTC provides a multitude of services and resources to support students.  See the Student Services Syllabus Addendum for a listing of those departments and links to their sites.

ADDENDUMS

THE OFFICE FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides accommodations for students with disabilities. OSD counselors and advisors also provide strategies for academic success; individual, career, and academic counseling services as well as referrals to campus and community services and assistance with admission and registration.

It is not necessary that a student with a disability disclose his/her disability to college officials if he/she is not requesting any accommodations.

OSD is federally funded through the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Federal Grant.

NCTC is committed to making its degree and certificate programs accessible to all qualified persons in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA Amendments Act, and The Rehabilitation Act (1973), Section 504.

REQUEST SERVICES

New Students

Accommodations require advance preparation.  Please make your request before the semester begins. 

Documentation is required before any accommodations can be provided.  Depending on your diagnosis, this documentation should come from a medical doctor, psychologist or other licensed or properly credentialed professional.

Current Students

Contact the OSD at the beginning of each semester well in advance of registration.

Contact Us

Please reach out to us to schedule and intake or if you have questions or concerns.

Wayne Smith, OSD Manager, kwsmith@nctc.edu, (940) 498-6207

Yvonne Sandmann, OSD Advisor, ysandmann@nctc.edu, (940) 668-3300

http://nctc.site/student-services/disability-services/index.html

STUDENT SERVICES

Student Services Syllabus Addendum SPRING 2022 1-14-2022.pdf

LIBRARY

NCTC has brick-and-mortar libraries on the Gainesville, Corinth, Flower Mound, or Bowie campuses that are staffed by credentialed librarians wanting to help you succeed in your college career. All students are welcome at any library.

On campus? Visit our website www.nctc.edu/libraries.

Off-campus? Our research databases are now available in OneLogin.

For Virtual Assistance from a librarian, please use https://www.nctc.edu/ask-a-librarian or schedule a virtual appointment in Upswing, accessed through OneLogin.

Please visit www.nctc.edu/libraries for the operating hours, phone number, and email of the library nearest you.

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS