Lecture Syllabus Biol1408 Biology for Non-Majors Fall 2017 MW: 1:00 2:15 pm Instructor: Chris Doumen, PhD E-Mail: cdoumen@collin.edu Phone: 972-881-5989 Office: G203 Course Number: Biol 1408 Course Title: Biology for non-majors Co-Requisite: BIOL 1408 Lab Course Description : For non-science majors. Survey of biology including molecular and cellular biology, genetics, DNA, microbiology, evolution, and ecology. Emphasis upon current topics in biology. Lab required. Course Credit Hours: 4 Lecture Hours: 3 weekly contact hours Lab Hours: 3 weekly contact hours Prerequisite: None Student Learning Outcomes: 1. Describe the metabolic processes that occur within the cells 2. Compare eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell structure 3. Describe the process of cell replication 4. Explain how diversity is genetically based 5. Discuss natural selection and how it leads to speciation 6. Demonstrate the collection, analysis, and reporting of data using the scientific method Withdrawal Policy: See the current Collin Registration Guide for the last day to withdraw Collin College Academic Policies: See the current Collin Student Handbook. Americans with Disabilities Act: Collin College will adhere to all applicable federal, state and local laws. It is the student s responsibility to contact the ACCESS office, SCC-G200 or 972.881.5898 (V/TTD: 972.881.5950) to arrange for appropriate accommodations. See the current Collin Student Handbook for additional information. Instructor s Name: Chris Doumen, Ph.D. Office Number: G203 Office Hours: Mon., Wed., Frid. : 8:45 9:45 am Mon., Tue., Fri. : 12:15 12:45 pm Mon., Wed. : 2:15 3:00 pm Phone: 972-881-5989 E-mail: cdoumen@collin.edu Department office, in case of emergencies or concerns: 972-881-5880 (F135)
Class Information : Section BIOL 1408 S03 MW 1:00 2:15 pm Room# K211 SCC Textbook: Campbell Biology: Concepts & Connections, 9 th.,taylor, Simon, Dickey, Hogan, Reece Custom for Collin College ( Split version text for 1408 only (chapters 1-16)). ISBN : 978-1-323-62960-4 Note : You will need MasteringBiology with this lecture. This is a computer driven lecture aid that will be used. The Collin College bookstore price includes the book and MasteringBiology access code. If MasteringBiology is not included with the textbook you obtained, you will need to purchase a code for use since it is required for this course. You can obtain a code for MasteringBiology at http://www.pearsonmylabandmastering.com using the register student button. Mastering Biology website : http://www.pearsonmylabandmastering.com The CourseID # for this MasteringBiology course is : doumen26098 Dr. Doumen s Website : http://iws.collin.edu/cdoumen Website: My website (iws.collin.edu/cdoumen) is an important tool to your studies since it will contain powerpoint notes, lecture notes, study guides and other important information. The address is listed above. It will have your courseid# as well in order to access the Mastering online component of this course. Method of Evaluation: Every effort will be made to ensure that grading is fair and equitable. Lecture grades will be based entirely on the student s performance on exams, quizzes, and other assignments. Grades earned by the student will reflect student performance. Effort put forth by the student is expected and important but is not a substitute for performance. Each student begins the semester with a zero and will add points toward the final grade with each exam. Lecture Exams : There will be five (5) exams given during the semester. Each exam will cover 2 chapters (some may be 3 chapters). Each exam will be worth 12% of your lecture grade. The 5 exams thus will make up 60 % of your lecture grade. 40 % of your lecture score will come from executing assigned home-work activities via Mastering A&P, for a total of 100 % of the lecture score. Mastering Biology Homeworks : Required homework assignments will be posted and need to be taken at the Pearson s Mastering Biology website (http://www.pearsonmylabandmastering.com) throughout the course of the semester. These will include tutorials, exercises, and practice quizzes for each chapter. These are designed to help your performance on the lecture exams- this is not busy work. You will earn points as you complete assignments on this site. Points earned will be based on the amount of time a question may require to complete as well as difficulty of the question. This homework average will represent 40% of your final lecture average. The less effort you put into this, the less points you will earn, and the less prepared you will be for the exams. Your final grade is a combination of Lecture and Lab score. Lecture makes up 70 % of your grade and lab makes up 30 % of your grade. So, do not neglect your lab assignments and attendance. The final grading scale is as follows. A = 90 to 100% B = 80 to 89.9% C = 70 to 79.9% D = 60 to 69.9% F = below 60% Tests: Exams will be mostly multiple choice questions and will be very similar in content as the Mastering Biology assignments. It is thus important that you obtain access to Mastering Biology as soon as possible and work the assignments attentively.
If the student cannot take an exam, or misses an exam at the scheduled time, the instructor must be advised before the exam is given. If the reason is acceptable, alternative arrangements will be made to take the exam. Such make-up exam must occur within one week of the scheduled exam. If the student fails to follow this and ends up not taking the make-up exam within the scheduled period of timeattempt to make up exam, he or she will be given a zero (0). Exams will be returned in class for a brief review. Thereafter, exams will be kept on file in the instructor s office and will be available for review during scheduled office hours. All issues regarding exam questions and exam grades must be resolved within one week after exams have been reviewed in class. Exam questions are to be reviewed but not copied by the student when asked for review. It is the student s responsibility to keep up with their standing in class. It is a matter of simple math when calculating your grade. Maintain a grade sheet where you can note down your scores on exams and quizzes. For those that missed an exam and want to make up an exam, keep in mind that an identical test cannot be given once the exams are handed back to the class for review! In keeping with the spirit of FERPA, grades and/or grade information will not be given to anyone other than the student and will not be discussed over the phone. Discussion of grades via email will only be allowed if the request for such discussion is initiated by the actual student, and only via your cougar account email address. A note on Bonus Points: There are ample opportunities to do well in this class. Bonus points will therefore not be part of the exams and extra credit assignments will not be given to adjust grades at the end of the semester. Your efforts during the semester will determine your final grade. Course expectations: Students are expected to learn the material at the college level. It is not anticipated that the student will grasp everything immediately as presented in the classroom. It is the student s responsibility to learn the material, and most of this learning will take place outside the classroom. The MasteringBiology assignments are therefore key to this goal. Mastering Assignments are to be done BEFORE each Exam. The deadlines are posted on the Mastering Website and you are expected to have them done at that specific time. It is your responsibility to finish these assignments on time. Academic Ethics Every member of the Collin College community is expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. Collin College may initiate disciplinary proceedings against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts, or omissions related to applications for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission of one's own work material that is not one's own. Scholastic dishonesty may involve, but is not limited to, one or more of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion, use of annotated texts or teacher's editions, use of information about exams posted on the Internet or electronic medium, and/or falsifying academic records. While specific examples are listed below, this is not an exhaustive list and scholastic dishonesty may encompass other conduct, including any conduct through electronic or computerized means: Plagiarism is the use of an author's words or ideas as if they were one's own without giving credit to the source, including, but not limited to, failure to acknowledge a direct quotation. Cheating is the willful giving or receiving of information in an unauthorized manner during an examination; collaborating with another student during an examination without authority; using, buying, selling, soliciting, stealing, or otherwise obtaining course assignments and/or examination questions in advance, copying computer or Internet files, using someone else's work for assignments as if it were one's own; or any other dishonest means of attempting to fulfill the requirements of a course.
Collusion is intentionally or unintentionally aiding or attempting to aid another in an act of scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to, failing to secure academic work; providing a paper or project to another student; providing an inappropriate level of assistance; communicating answers to a classmate about an examination or any other course assignment; removing tests or answer sheets from a test site, and allowing a classmate to copy answers. In cases where an incident report has been filed for alleged violation of scholastic dishonesty, faculty are requested to delay posting a grade, for the academic work in question, until the Dean of Student's Office renders an administrative decision of the case. Students found responsible for scholastic dishonesty offenses will receive an authorized disciplinary penalty from the Dean of Students Office. The student may also receive an academic penalty in the course where the scholastic dishonesty took place. The professor will determine the appropriate academic penalty which will include but not limited to receiving a zero for that work. See the current Collin Student Handbook for additional information. Student Conduct The college expects students to conduct themselves in such a way as to not interfere with or disrupt the educational process. Students are to communicate and act in a respectful manner toward their fellow students and the professor. Those who participate in inappropriate behavior such as excessive talking, cell phone or pager use, verbal altercations, or blatantly disregarding instructor's directions will be asked to leave the class and may be permanently removed. Lateral transfer Policy Lateral transfers will not be granted after the 4th week of class or after the first lecture exam, which ever comes first. Exceptions to this are for documented changes in work schedule and family emergencies. If a student does transfer to another section, all previous grades will accompany the student. However, the new instructor can require the student to retake any exam or quiz. For questions concerning this policy, contact the Biology Department Chair. Withdrawal Policy - Course Drop Limit Provisions Students who enroll as an entering freshman or a first-time college student in undergraduate courses at any Texas public community college, technical institute, health sciences institution, or any public university offering undergraduate courses must comply with the legislation of TEC51.907. TEC51.907 states that students who enroll for the first time during the fall 2007 semester or any subsequent semester are subject to the course drop limit of six course drops. This includes any course a transfer student has dropped at another institution. Collin College began to count dropped courses starting with the fall 2008 semester. NOTE: You will not be allowed to withdraw from classes at Collin if your official transcripts (required for admission) are not on file. For more information see Collin Student Handbook. IF YOU HAVE DIFFICULTIES First contact your instructor. If you are unable to resolve the prob-lem, contact the divisional secretary at your campus.
Course Calendar (Course Calendar may be subject to change) Week of Day Chapter 8/28 M Orientation to the course W Intro to Biology, Scientific Method 1 9/4 M No Class on Monday 9/4 W Scientific Method /Chemical Basis of Life 1,2 9/11 M Chemical Basis of Life 2 W Chemical Basis of Life & Review Exam 1 2 9/18 M Exam 1 (9/18) W Molecules of the Cell 3 9/25 M Molecules of the Cell 3 W Tour of the Cell 4 10/2 M Tour of the Cell 4 W Tour of the Cell & Review Exam 2 4 10/9 M Exam 2(10/09) W The Working Cell 5 10/16 M The Working Cell 5 W The Cell and Chemical Energy 6 *** Last Day to Withdraw 10/20*** 10/23 M The Cell and Chemical Energy 6 W The Cell and Chemical Energy & Review Exam 3 10/30 M Exam 3(10/30) W Photosynthesis 7 11/6 M Photosynthesis 7 W Cellular Reproduction 8 11/13 M Cellular Reproduction 8 W Cellular Reproduction & Review Exam 3 8 11/20 M Exam 4(11/16) W *** Thanksgiving Holiday (11/22-11/26)*** 11/27 M Pattern of Inheritance 9 W Pattern of Inheritance 9 12/4 M Molecular Biology of the Gene 10 W Molecular Biology of the Gene 10 12/11 Exam 5 (Wednesday 12/13) Note : 1) M = Monday ; W = Wednesday 2) Review may be skipped if material still needs to be covered.