BSC 104 – Introduction to Biology For Non-Majors Fall Semester 2015 5 – 7:20 Tuesday/Thursday Hurricane High School Instructor: Seth Perry Office: Room 221 Phone: 304-562-9851 E-Mail: perry99@marshall.edu / swperry@ k12.wv.us Office/Hours: After class or by appointment University Policies: By enrolling in this course, you agree to the University Policies listed below. Please read the full text of each policy be going to www.marshall.edu/academic-affairs and clicking on “Marshall University Policies.” Or, you can access the policies directly by going to http://www.marshall.edu/academic-affairs/?page_id=802 Academic Dishonesty/ Excused Absence Policy for Undergraduates/ Computing Services Acceptable Use/ Inclement Weather/ Dead Week/ Students with Disabilities/ Academic Forgiveness/ Academic Probation and Suspension/ Academic Rights and Responsibilities of Students/ Affirmative Action/ Sexual Harassment Course Description: Fundamentals of biology with emphasis on the unity of life, energetics, genetics, evolution, classification of organisms in the kingdoms of life. Intended for non-science majors. Course Objectives: 1. Students will understand the methods and applications of biological science. 2. Students will be able to apply biological science in the laboratory setting. 3. Students will gain knowledge of the unity and diversity of life on Earth. 4. Students will understand that biological evolution occurs through the process of natural selection. 5. Students will compare the living and non-living components of the ecosystem and understand how they interact. Required Texts, Additional Reading, and Other Materials Lecture: Campbell Essential Biology, 5th Edition. Eric J. Simon, Jean L. Dickey, Jane B. Reece. ISBN: 978-0-321-78823-8 Lab: Introduction to Biology for Non-Majors Laboratory Manual, 16th Edition. Susan Weinstein. ISBN: 978-1-61740-191-6 Course Evaluation: Assignments Points 3 Lectures Exams 300 1 Final Exam 150 15 Labs 150 10 Reading Quizzes 100 Total 700 Grading Scale A: 90 – 100 B: 80 – 89.9 C: 70 – 79.9 D: 60 – 69.9 F: 0 – 59.9 Attendance Policy Attendance to class is extremely important and will directly be related to how well you do in the class. If you do know that you will not be attending class please be sure that you notify me through e-mail and it will be your responsibility to make up any lectures or labs that you will be missing. I know that unforeseen things may happen and I completely understand that you may not make it. I just strongly encourage you to make it to each class lecture and lab. All absences that fall under the excused absence policy will be honored. For a list of excused absences please visit: http://www.marshall.edu/academic-affairs/policies/#ExcusedAbsences Course Schedule This schedule is tentative and subject to change depending on weather and school system situations. Week Dates Topic Chapter(s) 1 8/25 – 8/27 Introduction: Scope of Life and Evolution / The Process of Science 1 2 9/1 – 9/3 Essential Chemistry / The Molecules of Life 2, 3 3 9/10 Tour of the Cell 4 4 9/15– 9/17* The Working Cell / Exam 1 5 5 9/22 – 9/24 Cellular Respiration / Photosynthesis 6, 7 6 9/29 – 10/1 Cellular Reproduction / Patterns of Inheritance 8, 9 7 10/6 – 10/8 The Structure and Function of DNA / How Genes are Controlled 10, 11 8 10/13 – 10/15* DNA Technology / Exam 2 12 9 10/20 – 10/22 How Populations Evolve / How Diversity Evolves 13, 14 10 10/27 – 10/29 The Evolution of Microbial Life 15 11 11/3 – 11/5 Plants, Fungi, and the Move to Land 16 12 11/10 – 11/12* The Evolution of Animals / Exam 3 17 13 11/17 – 11/19 An Introduction to Ecology / Population Ecology 18, 19 14 11/23 -11-25 Thanksgiving Break 15 12/1 – 12/3 Communities and Ecosystems / Review 20 16 12/8* Comprehensive Final Exam 1-20 *Exam Dates (Tentative)