Course Syllabus

Course Description:

Introduction to the major themes and principles in Biology through lecture, laboratory and field experiences. Students investigate topics ranging from molecules to the ecosystem. Meets general education requirements.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Distinguish questions that can be addressed scientifically from those that cannot, and identify basic components of the scientific method as it pertains to biological systems ranging from molecules to the biosphere.
• Identify basic components of the scientific method in laboratory setting.
• Recognize unifying theories and concepts in biology (e.g. structure & function, ecological relationships, organismal diversity, & inheritance) within an evolutionary context.
• Demonstrate the ability to comprehend current events related to a broad range of biological topics.
• Experience the sense of discovery achievable through science and demonstrate a motivation to continue learning about a broad range of biological topics outside the classroom.

Course Content:

Textbook:

Great news: your textbook for this class is available for free online!
Concepts of Biology from OpenStax, ISBN 1-947172-03-4 

You have several options to obtain this book:

• View online (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.)
• Download a PDF (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.)
• Order a print copy (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.) 
• Download on iBooks (Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.) 

You can use whichever formats you want. Web view is recommended -- the responsive design works seamlessly on any device.

Important Notes:

• All first week assignments need to be completed and submitted by the due date to avoid possibly being dropped from the class.

• Any student needing accommodations should inform the instructor. Students with disabilities who may need accommodations for this class are encouraged to notify the instructor and contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) early in the quarter so that reasonable accommodations may be implemented as soon as possible.  All information will remain confidential.
• Academic dishonesty and plagiarism will result in a failing grade on the assignment. Using someone else's ideas or phrasing and representing those ideas or phrasing as our own, either on purpose or through carelessness, is a serious offense known as plagiarism. "Ideas or phrasing" includes written or spoken material, from whole papers and paragraphs to sentences, and, indeed, phrases but it also includes statistics, lab results, art work, etc.  Please see the Chaffey College handbook for policies regarding plagiarism, harassment, etc.
• The final grade in the class is calculated as a percentage of the total possible points from the assignments listed below:
  • 4 Exams X 100 points each = 400 points
  • 20 Quizzes X 10 points each = 200 points
  • Lecture Assignments = 200 points
  • Lab Assignments = 200 points
  A+ = 98 – 100%           B+ = 88 – 89%            C+ = 78 – 79%            D = 63 – 67%
  A = 93 – 97%                 B = 83 – 87%               C = 70 – 77%               D- = 60 – 62%
  A -= 90 – 92%               B- = 80 – 82%             D+ = 68 – 69%             F = 0 – 59%