Syllabus
Biology Fundamentals

Biology Fundamentals

BIOL-1308

Credit Fall 2019
08/26/2019 - 12/15/2019

Course Information

Section 030
Lecture
MW 09:00 - 10:20
CYP5 2221
Eric VanGorkom

Office Hours

  • M W
    11:00am - 12:00pm
    Cypress Creek Campus, Room 2204.15
  • T Th
    3:00pm - 4:00pm
    Cypress Creek Campus
  • W
    1:30pm - 4:00pm
    Cypress Creek Campus, Room 2204.15

Course Requirements

Course Description

            An introduction to basic biological concepts including the metric system, physical and chemical properties of life, cell structure and function, cell reproduction, and metabolism. Critical thinking skills, study skills, and basic math skills are also included. This course is designed to prepare students to take the anatomy and physiology assessment tests, anatomy and physiology courses (Biol 2402, Biol 2401, Biol 2404), and general biology courses (including Biol 1408 and Biol 1406).

 

Prerequisites and Skills

            Reading proficiency as determined by the COMPASS or ASSET test, or by the statewide THEA test, or by providing an official transcript from another college.

 

Transferability

            Biology 1308 is designed for students in the ACC health science program; it may not transfer to other schools. If you are transferring to another institution, check with that institution to make sure they will accept this course.

 

 

Course Rationale

            This course was designed to provide the fundamentals of biology and critical thinking skills to prepare students for BIOL 2401 (A&P I), BIOL 2402 (A&P II), BIOL 2404 (Intro to A&P), BIOL 1406 (Cellular and Molecular Biology) and BIOL 1408 (Introductory Biology—Unity of Life). It is recommended as preparation for the anatomy and physiology assessment tests.

Instructional Methodology

This course is taught in the classroom and it contains only a lecture component. There is no laboratory component to this class so therefore it is imperative that you attend class on a regular basis to ensure that you obtain all the information for the class. My class will consist of lectures on the white board that will be supported by some power point presentations. You will have quizzes over the lecture material in class and on Blackboard. There are chapter outlines in Blackboard for your use in the class. Your exams will cover the lecture material and they will be taken during the regularly schedule times.

 

Grading Procedures

 

Exams: The written exams will include questions that will be from the lecture and textbook material and be in a format of multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, matching, and short answer. Spelling is an important aspect of science so therefore spelling counts in this class. These exams will be taken during class time and you will have to complete the exam during that time. There will not be any extra time to take the exam. Taking exams within a time limit is also part of the learning process. Almost anyone can finish and obtain the correct answers for an exam, if they are given unlimited time to perform that task. You are responsible to take the exam on the given day unless that day has been changed on your syllabus.

 

SPECIAL NOTE: There will be NO MAKE-UPS on the lecture exams. If you miss a lecture exam, then you will have to take a comprehensive exam to replace the exam that you missed. 

 

There will also be a Comprehensive Exam at the end of the semester. This exam will probably be on the last day of class and this test is optional. The “optional” means that you have a choice to take the exam. If you choose to take the exam and you do better on the exam than any previous exams in the class, the comprehensive score will replace your previous exam score. If you have already replaced an exam score with an assessment exam score then you can’t change it again. The comprehensive test will have roughly 75 questions. All of the questions are multiple choice.

 

Quizzes: Some quizzes will be given at the beginning of our class meetings and some will be taken through blackboard. There will be NO MAKE-UPS. I will notify you when we will have these quizzes. These quizzes will cover information from the previous lecture and will consist of 10 questions. There will be about 12-14 quizzes and you may only count the top ten quiz grades for a total of 100 points.

 

 

Return of Exams

            I will return the exams within one week of the exam date and possibly earlier in some cases. You will have the opportunity to look over your exams and ask questions about the exam during and after class (preferred). I retain all lecture exams and will deduct 20 points per day (not class period) if the exam is not returned.

 

Final Grade:

            Exams                         80 points (x 5)                         =          400 points

            Quizzes                       10 points (x 10)                      =          100 points

           

                                                                                                            500 total points

 

Record your grades

            Exam 1_____              Quizzes ________________________________

            Exam 2_____             

            Exam 3_____                                     

            Exam 4_____ 

            Exam 5_____                                     

 

Total points earned will be converted to semester letter grades on the following basis:

            450-500  points (90%)            =          A

            400-449  points (80%)            =          B

            350-399  points (70%)            =          C

            300-349 points (60%)             =          D

            Below 300 points                    =          F

 

Note: The grades are NOT curved and there is NO extra credit in this course!

 

 

Preparation and Study Time

The course schedule indicates reading assignments for each lecture. You are expected to read the assigned material that applies to that day’s class. If you want to get a good grade in this course, expect to spend about two hours studying and reading outside of class for every hour in class. Since you are in class 3 hours per week, then you should expect to spend at least 5 to 10 hours per week studying and preparing for this class.

The most common cause of poor grades is not being able, or willing, to schedule enough study time outside of class.

 

Readings

Departmental Common Course Objectives

            A list of specific learning objectives for each unit will be provided.  You are responsible for and will be tested on all material in the objectives that I present in lecture.

 

There are some common course objectives that have been set forth for this class and they may be found at: http://www.austincc.edu/biology/commoncourseobjectives.html

 

Required Textbook and Materials (Please bring text with you to class)

Textbook :

Campbell Biology: Concepts and Connections (Any edition). by Jane Reece, Martha R. Taylor, Eric J. Simon, Jean L. Dickey by Pearson Publishing.       

 

Or

 

ACC Second Custom Edition of Campbell Biology: Concepts and Connections 7th ed. by Jane Reece, Martha R. Taylor, Eric J. Simon, Jean L. Dickey by Pearson Publishing.                    

             

  • Scantrons for lecture exams
  • Colored pencils

 

Optional Materials

  • Any other study guides
  • Digital camera

Course Subjects

VAN GORKOM-BIOLOGY 1308-COURSE SCHEDULE-FALL 2019  
                 
Date         Lecture      
M 26-Aug       Introduction – Syllabus Overview 
W 28-Aug       Study Methods, Metric System   
                 
M 2-Sep       HOLIDAY    
W 4-Sep       Ch 1 Study of Life    
                 
M 9-Sep       Ch 2 Elements/ Atoms  
W 11-Sep       Ch 2 Elements/ Atoms  
                 
M 16-Sep       EXAM 1       
W 18-Sep       Ch 2 Molecules    
                 
M 23-Sep       Ch 2 Chemical Bonds  
W 25-Sep       Ch 2 Chemical Reactions  
                 
M 30-Sep       Ch 2 Properties of Water  
W 2-Oct       Ch 2 Acids/ Bases    
                 
M 7-Oct       EXAM 2      
W 9-Oct       Ch 2 Biomolecules/ Carbs  
                 
M 14-Oct       Ch 2 Lipids    
W 16-Oct       Ch 2 Protiens    
                 
M 21-Oct       Ch 2 Proteins    
W 23-Oct       Ch 2 Nucleic Acids    
                 
M 28-Oct       Ch 2 Biomolecules Review  
W 30-Oct       EXAM 3      
                 
M 4-Nov       Ch 3 Cell Structure    
W 6-Nov       Ch 3 Cell Organelles    
                 
M 11-Nov       Ch 4 Cell Membrane    
W 13-Nov       Ch 4 Membrane Transport  
                 
M 18-Nov       Ch 4 Membrane Transport  
W 20-Nov       EXAM 4      
                 
M 25-Nov       Ch 6 Metabolism/ Enzymes  
W 27-Nov       Ch 7 Cellular Respiration  
                 
M 2-Dec       Ch 7 Cellular Respiration  
W 4-Dec       Ch 7 Cellular Respiration  
                 
M 9-Dec       Ch 5 Cell Division    
W 11-Dec       Ch 5 Cell Division    
                 
M 13-May       EXAM 5      
W 15-May       Comprehensive Exam  
Please Note: Schedule Changes May Occur        
                 

 

Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives

Course Rationale

            This course was designed to provide the fundamentals of biology and critical thinking skills to prepare students for BIOL 2401 (A&P I), BIOL 2402 (A&P II), BIOL 2404 (Intro to A&P), BIOL 1406 (Cellular and Molecular Biology) and BIOL 1408 (Introductory Biology—Unity of Life). It is recommended as preparation for the anatomy and physiology assessment tests.

 

Student Learning Outcomes

Specific skills and competencies are expected of students who successfully complete this course to include:           

  • Describe basic physiochemical concepts that underlie the structure and function of cells
  • Describe the structure and function of the four classes of biomolecules
  • Describe the structure and function of eukaryotic cells and their organelles
  • Describe the processes by which substances move into and out of cells
  • Describe the structure and function of enzymes
  • Discuss energy transfer in cells and the pathways of cellular respiration
  • Describe DNA replication, protein synthesis, mitosis and meiosis
  • Analyze, synthesize, evaluate and apply information
  • Apply mathematical, logical and scientific principles and methods