Biology V01 ~ Principles of Biology

Tuesday and Thursday, 5:30-6:50pm
Room: UV-2

Instructor Information:

Suvi Flagan
sflagan@vcccd.edu
Office Hours, by appointment

Course website:
http://academic.venturacollege.edu/sflagan

Course Objective:

The course provides an introduction to the basic principles of biology and covers the biochemistry, physiology, morphology, behavior, genetics, evolution, taxonomy and ecology of living things. The companion laboratory course provides hands-on activities to illustrate these principles. This course is designed for non-biology majors.

Student Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this course, students who have succeeded in the course should be able to:
1. Describe relevant biological concepts in everyday life.
2. Apply critical thinking skills in recognizing the impacts of biology in the society.
3. Identify the relationships among chemicals, cells, and organisms.

Material:

Texts: "Biology Life on Earth with Physiology" by Audersirk, Audersirk, & Byers, 8th edition
A shorter, custom addition, designed for this class, is available at the bookstore.
Do not purchase the International edition: some of the end-of-chapter questions are different.

Grading:

Your grade will consist of 6 exams, 17 homework assignments, and a final exam. All grades will be curved such that the average of the class is a B. The spread of the grades will change with each assignment and exam, according to the progress of the class average. After each exam, I will post the average score for the exam and the overall curve to give you a sense of where you stand. Keep a running total of your points to have an accurate assessment.

Lecture Exams: There will be six exams worth approximately 70 points each. The final is worth approximately 120 points. The final is cumulative, but will emphasize on the last chapters. There are no make-up exams/final. In case of a rare emergency (for example, car accident, hospitalization, contagious disease) you must contact me BEFORE the exam via email and have verifiable proof of the emergency.

Homework: There will be one homework assignment per chapter worth 5 points, due at the beginning of the next class period. At the end of the last lecture for each chapter, I will announce which questions from the end of the chapter are to be written up for next time. These will also be posted on the class website after the lecture. Late homework will lose 2 points each class period they are late. By the third class period, they will no longer be worth any points.

Attendance: Attendance is required in this class. Tests and homework will be based on my lectures. The textbook is meant to supplement the lectures. You will be responsible to make up any missed material. The online lecture notes are not a replacement for attending class.

Withdrawal Policy:

Any student that misses more than two assignments or one exam before the official census date (Sept 11) will be dropped without penalty. If you decide to drop the class after the census, it is YOUR responsibility to drop the class in person through the campus Admission Office, by phone, or on-line. After the census date, I will not drop you; if you are still on the roll sheet, you will receive an "F" in Biology 1.

Academic Integrity:

Academic dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism, etc.) is forbidden and will not be tolerated in this class. If you are caught cheating your indiscretion will be reported to the college and you will receive an "F" in Biology 1.
Some examples of cheating are: talking to another student, looking at another student’s paper, sharing your answers with another student, or using notes during the exam. It is your responsibility to cover your answers during an exam and quizzes. Other students cheating off your work can have a negative impact on your grade. See Course Catalogue for more info.

Policies:

There are no make-up exams. You are responsible for any material missed which may show up on an exam. Students who are habitually late or absent should not expect to pass this class. Turn of all cell phones/pagers during class. If you are seen talking on the phone or being disruptive in any manner, you will be asked to leave the class.

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