NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Course title: Introduction to Biology

Course prefix, number, and section number: 1408-500

Semester/Year of course: Spring 2022

Semester start and end dates: January 17-May 14, 2022

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

Class meeting location, days, and times: Tuesday and Thursday 3:30-4:50pm

Lab meeting location, days, and times: Thursday 5:00-6:50pm

Semester credit hours: 4

Course description: Provides a survey of biological principles with an emphasis on humans, including chemistry of life, cells, structure, function, and reproduction.

Course prerequisites:

Required course materials: Inquiry Into Life, 16th ed., Mader & Windelspecht

ISBN  9781260231700 and the access code for McGraw Hill Connect

Name of instructor: Anne Coltman

Office location: Flower Mound, MSU building, room 222

Telephone number: 972-899-8345

E-mail address: acoltman@nctc.edu

Office hours for students:  Monday: 12:30-2:30pm; Tuesday: 9:30-10:30am; Wednesday: 10:00am-2:00pm; Thursday: 9:30-10:30am.  All other times are by appointment

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:

Lecture assignments: Sixteen graded assignments at twenty points each

Unit exams: Five exams, including the final, at one hundred points each

Laboratory: 10-11 labs in the laboratory. There will be a quiz on the previous weeks lab the week following. These quizzes will be worth 20 points each.

Lab exams: Two to three lab exams at one hundred points each

Extra credit: At the instructor’s discretion

Make-up policy: Students will not be allowed to make up an examination or other assignments or labs missed due to absence unless they have reasons acceptable to the instructor.

Final grade scale:  Grades are determined as follows: A= 90-100%; B= 80-89%; C= 70-79%; D=60-69% F=<60%

Late work policy: All assignments are due on the due date.  For every day late, ten percent of the grade will be deducted.  Considerations will be made for technical issues.

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)           Academic probation for the rest of the semester

2)           In the case of a 2nd offense, there will be immediate suspension for the semester

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 sickness or emergencies which are approved by the instructor, or due to participation in an approved college-sponsored activity (which requires written approval from the appropriate Dean or Director).

    The instructor is responsible for judging the validity of any reasons given for 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.

    Students may be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been unjustifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course's objectives.

    Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories may be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College.

    Students may be dropped from a developmental course required for the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) purposes for non-attendance. Official NCTC TSI rules state that students not passing all sections of the THEA, Compass, or the TSI Assessment test must be enrolled in at least one area of remediation each semester they are enrolled or until all sections are passed or all remedial requirements have been met.

    Simply logging in to an online course does not constitute attendance. The U.S. Department of Education calculates the last date of attendance by the last time a student participated in an online discussion or made contact (interacted) with a faculty member and this standard is applied to online courses.

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, 2022

Student Learning Outcomes:

Lecture Learning Outcomes

1. Distinguish between prokaryotic, eukaryotic, plant and animal cells, and identify major cell structures.

2. Identify stages of the cell cycle, mitosis (plant and animal), and meiosis.

3. Interpret results from cell physiology experiments involving movement across membranes, enzymes, photosynthesis, and cellular respiration.

4. Apply genetic principles to predict the outcome of genetic crosses and statistically analyze results.

5. Describe karyotyping, pedigrees, and biotechnology and provide an example of the uses of each.

6. Identify parts of a DNA molecule, and describe replication, transcription, and translation.

7. Analyze evidence for evolution and natural selection

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. Effectively communicate the results of scientific investigations.

4. Distinguish between prokaryotic, eukaryotic, plant and animal cells, and identify major cell structures.

5. Identify stages of the cell cycle, mitosis (plant and animal), and meiosis.

6. Interpret results from cell physiology experiments involving movement across membranes, enzymes, photosynthesis, and cellular respiration.

7. Apply genetic principles to predict the outcome of genetic crosses and statistically analyze results.

8. Identify the importance of karyotypes, pedigrees, and biotechnology.

9. Identify parts of a DNA molecule, and describe replication, transcription, and translation.

10. Analyze evidence for evolution and 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.

QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS