Course Description
Prerequisite for 300-level courses and above. Fundamental principles of biology including botany, zoology, evolution, and ecology. A passing grade in lecture and laboratory must be achieved for successful completion of this course. Corequisite: BIO 112L; Note: May not be taken more than twice.
Syllabus
Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:
Students successfully completing this course will be able to:
- Describe biotic and abiotic interactions at hierarchical levels that include individuals, populations, communities, ecosystems, and biomes.
- Describe the sources of genetic variation, and the mechanisms of inheritance, evolution, and speciation.
- Describe major events in earth’s history and patterns in contemporary diversity.
- Describe how living organisms are highly ordered, dynamic entities, and how energy is harvested and utilized to maintain the order and fuel activities associated with life.
- Describe how living organisms regulate and maintain their internal environment in response to internal physiological change(s) and external environmental change(s).
Course Grading Information:
| Activity/Performance Measure | Percentage/Points |
|---|---|
| Class Activities | 20% |
| Homework | 10% |
| Pre/Post Assessments | 10% |
| Exams (1-4) | 60% |
(This course does NOT offer extra credit assignments – your instructor is NOT required to ‘round’ grades)
Grading Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 92.1-100% | A |
| 90-92% | A- |
| 88-89.9% | B+ |
| 82.1-87.9% | B |
| 80-82% | B- |
| 78-79.9% | C+ |
| 72.1-77.9% | C |
| 70-72% | C- |
| 68-69.9% | D+ |
| 62.1-67.9% | D |
| 60-62% | D- |
| 0-59.9% | F |
Attendance/Participation:
You are not directly graded on attendance in this course; however, class attendance is required in order to earn credit for class activities and pre/post class assessments.
Course Materials Purchased by the Students:
e-textbook: How Life Work (2024; 4th edition) by Morris et al.. Your ebook is included with First Day Complete.
Scholarly Perspectives
This course engages diverse scholarly perspectives to develop critical thinking, analysis, and debate and inclusion of a reading does not imply endorsement.