NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE

COURSE SYLLABUS

COURSE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION

Course title: Biology for Non-Science Majors II

Course prefix, number, and section number: BIOL 1409 0340

Semester/Year of course: Fall 2025

Semester start and end dates: Aug. 25, 2025- Dec. 13, 2025

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

Class meeting location, days, and times: Full lectures are prerecorded and online on Canvas.

Lab meeting location, days, and times: Online in Canvas.

Semester credit hours: 4 (48 lecture hours + 32 laboratory hours)

Course description: This course will provide a survey of biological principles with an emphasis on humans, including evolution, ecology, plant and animal diversity, and physiology. Laboratory activities will reinforce a survey of biological principles with an emphasis on humans, including evolution, ecology, plant and animal diversity, and physiology. Upon completion, students will be able to describe modern evolutionary synthesis, natural selection, population genetics, micro and macroevolution, and speciation; describe phylogenetic relationships and classification schemes; 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; describe basic animal physiology and homeostasis as maintained by organ systems; compare different sexual and asexual life cycles noting their adaptive advantages; illustrate the relationship between major geologic change, extinctions, and evolutionary trends; apply scientific reasoning to investigate questions and utilize scientific tools such as microscopes and laboratory equipment to collect and analyze data; use critical thinking and scientific problem solving to make informed decisions in the laboratory; communicate effectively the results of scientific investigations.

Course prerequisites: None

Required course materials: Textbook Title: OpenStax Concepts of Biology (Chapters 11-18) (access code not required), ISBN: 978-1-50669-653-9, Publisher: OpenStax

Name of instructor: Audrey Whaley

Office location: Virtual in Canvas.

E-mail address: awhaley@nctc.edu

Office hours for students:

Thursdays: Online in Canvas via Webex, 2:00pm-3:00pm.

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:

 1 Lecture Group Project 100 pts

4 Lecture Quizzes 20 pts each

4 Lecture Exams* 100 pts each

12 – 10 pt Laboratory Assignments

4 Laboratory Group Projects 20 pts each

*The fourth exam will be offered as a make-up for a missed exam.

Final grade scale: 

90% & up = A

80-89% = B

70-79% = C

60- 69% = D

59% and below = F

Late work policy:

Assignments are due by the stated time on the syllabus, Canvas, and/or the date on the worksheet. No late assignments will be accepted. The Canvas Calendar can be used to keep track of due dates. It is strongly encouraged for students to turn in assignments early. All assignments except for the exams will be open when the Unit opens.

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.

Consequences for academic dishonesty may include:

1) A zero “0” for the assignment and/or Exam.

2) A “Scholastic Dishonesty Report Form” will be submitted regarding the incidence.

Attendance Policy:

Class is online and work for the week should be completed by the assigned due dates.

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, November 3, 2025.

Artificial Intelligence Policy: AI STATEMENT

Use of or consultation with generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or other similar technologies shall be treated analogously to assistance from another person, agency, or entity. In particular, using generative AI tools to substantially complete an assignment or exam is not permitted. Students should acknowledge the use of generative AI (other than incidental use) and default to disclosing such assistance when in doubt.

When students use generative AI to replace the rigorous demands of personal engagement with their coursework, it runs counter to the educational mission of the college and undermines the heart of education itself. Artificial Intelligence, large language models, and technologies hold promise for deploying knowledge in service to others and accelerating the discovery of new knowledge. However, such technology poses new challenges to pedagogy and to integrity. Within the context of the teaching mission of the college and consistent with the Student Code of Conduct, the authority to define the appropriate use, study, and deployment of these technologies rests with the faculty.

Individual course instructors, in coordination with their divisions, set policies regulating the use of generative AI tools in their courses, including allowing or disallowing some or all uses of such tools. Course instructors will set such policies in their course syllabi and clearly communicate such policies to students. Students who are unsure of policies regarding generative AI tools are encouraged to ask their instructors for clarification.

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.

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. Define modern evolutionary synthesis, natural selection, population genetics, micro and macroevolution, and speciation.
5. Describe 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