NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Course title: Biology for Majors 11

Course prefix, number, and section number: BIOL 1407 500

Semester/Year of course: Spring 2022

Semester start and end dates: January 18 to May 14

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

Class meeting location, days, and times:

Lab meeting location, days, and times: Flower Mound campus Room FM215, Wednesday, 2:00 pm-4:50 pm

Semester credit hours: 4

Course description: The course consists of a survey of key concepts in biology, biological chemistry, cell structure and function, genetics, evolution and ecology. The diversity and classification of life will be studied, including animals, plants, protists, fungi, and prokaryotes. Special emphasis will be given to anatomy, physiology, ecology, and evolution of plants and animals. Lab required.

Laboratory activities will reinforce study of the diversity and classification of life, including animals, plants, protists, fungi, and prokaryotes. Special emphasis will be given to anatomy, physiology, ecology, and evolution of plants and animals. Biotechnical approaches will be discussed and applied in the laboratory. This course consists of 48 lecture hours and 48 laboratory hours, earning 4 credits hours of science.  This course will fulfill a core curriculum requirement for biology majors and help the student decide whether a career in biology or biomedical science is an agreeable choice.

Course prerequisites: BIOL 1406

Required course materials: Text: Required: Biology, 11^th edition, Campbell & Reece, et al. ISBN 978-0-13-409341-3

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 will need the access code to access the course.  This is NECCESARY to perform the assigned homework, which represent 5% of your grade. 

Laboratory Manual: Required: Encounters with Life, 7^th edition, Wachtmeister and Scott.

Recommended: Van De Graaff’s Photographic Atlas for the Biology Laboratory, Adams and Crawley.

Name of instructor: Diana Avila, PhD

Office location: Flower Mound campus FM222

Telephone number: 972-899-8351

E-mail address: davila@nctc.edu

Office hours for students:

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:

- 60% Lecture composed of:

45% exams (5 including final)

5% quizzes (4)

5% my lab and mastering homework (16-18)

5% participation (varies per chapter)

-40% Laboratory composed of. 

            15% lab practical (2)

            10% quizzes (6-7)

            2.5% post lab worksheets (10-11))

            2.5% case studies (7-8)

            5% project (1)

            5% participation (varies per laboratory)

Final grade scale: 

            90 – 100          A

            80 – 89                        B

            70 – 79                        C

            60 – 69                        D

            59 – 0              F

Late work policy: Late work may be accepted after student presents explanation. If the late work is accepted a 10% subtraction of value will be applied for every week it is missed.

Missed exams will be recorded as 0; no extensions will be granted unless the student has informed me and we come to some sort of agreement.  You must take the final comprehensive exam. Exams will require a Scantron, Form No. 882E and require a #2 pencil.

Missed quizzes, will be recorded as 0, no exception.  Quizzes cannot be made up or taken at any other time other than the schedule times in class.

Extra Credit Opportunities:

Students should not anticipate that extra credit will be offered. At the instructor's discretion, extra credit assignments may be offered to the class.  There will be no extra credit opportunities after the course has been completed.

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 constitute a violation of college rules and regulations and is punishable as prescribed by Board policies. Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be limited to cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion. 

Cheating

• Using  materials not authorized by the person giving the test.  Cellular phones, Pads, smart watches and any other electrical equipment will not be allowed so do not have them open during the quiz or tests. That is what the lockdown browser does.
• Collaborating with another student during a test.
• Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in whole or part the contents of a test.
• Bribing another person to obtain a test from that semester or any other previous semester.

Plagiarism means the appropriation of another’s work and the unacknowledged incorporation of that work in one’s own written work offered for credit.

Collusion means the unauthorized collaboration, unless allowed by the instructor, with another person in preparing written work offered for credit. Possible punishments for academic dishonesty may include a grade of 0 or F in the particular assignment, failure in the course, and/or recommendation for probation or dismissal from the College System. (See the Student Handbook)

Attendance Policy: Regular attendance to assigned class/ day, watching required videos and lab performance and participation is essential for learning. Students with 3 class meeting absences may be dropped from the class.  Students are responsible for all material and assignments provided. If a class is missed, it is the student's responsibility to use the CANVAS resources to determine what was missed or contact other students to see what was covered or assigned on that day. Students are also expected to complete all assigned quizzes, exams, and other work on the assigned day see “Evaluation” section for further information.

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: April 4

Student Learning Outcomes:

Lecture Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

1. Describe modern evolutionary synthesis, natural selection, population genetics, micro and macroevolution, and speciation.
2. Describe phylogenetic relationships and classification schemes.
3. Identify the major phyla of life with an emphasis on plants and animals, including the basis for classification, structural and physiological adaptations, evolutionary history, and ecological significance.
4. Describe basic animal physiology and homeostasis as maintained by organ systems.
5. Compare different sexual and asexual life cycles noting their adaptive advantages.
6. Illustrate the relationship between major geologic change, extinctions, and evolutionary trends.
7.  

Lab Learning Outcomes

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. Demonstrate knowledge of modern evolutionary synthesis, natural selection, population genetics, micro and macroevolution, and speciation.
5. Distinguish between phylogenetic relationships and classification schemes.
6. Identify the major phyla of life with an emphasis on plants and animals, including the basis for classification, structural and physiological adaptations, evolutionary history, and ecological significance.
7. Describe basic animal physiology and homeostasis as maintained by organ systems.
8. Compare different sexual and asexual life cycles noting their adaptive advantages.
9. Illustrate the relationship between major geologic change, extinctions, and evolutionary trends.

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.

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS