Course Syllabus

General Biology I: Organismic Biology

Biology 1300 (formerly Biology 1200), Fall 2014
This syllabus is, in essence, a contract between me, the instructor, and you, the student.
I have spent a significant amount of time putting it together, and will stick to the information and policies contained within it.
Please spend a significant amount of time reading and understanding it. Thank you!

Instructor Information:
Nicole J. Huber Phone: (719) 255-3765
Office: Osborne B327 E-mail: [email protected]

Office Hours: M 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Th 9:00 – 10:00 AM, by appointment, and walk-in. If I am in my
office, I am usually available, but please note that I am on partial leave this semester. I will be on campus on
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. If I am not available in person, e-mail is the best way to contact me.

Course Information:
This is the lecture component of an integrated lecture-laboratory course that presents the diversity of
prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms emphasizing structure, function, ecology, and evolution.
Prerequisites: High school biology and chemistry or consent of the instructor. Although this is an
introductory-level course, knowledge of basic biological and chemical principles from high school is
assumed.
Meeting Times: M/W 9:25 – 10:40 AM (Section 001) in Centennial 186; M/W 12:15 – 1:30 PM
(Section 002) in Osborne B134
Credit Hours: 3 credits; concurrent enrollment in the one-credit lab component of this course, Biology
1310, is strongly recommended. Concurrent enrollment in Chem 1301 (formerly 1030) is strongly
recommended as well, as both Biol 1300 and Chem 1301 are prerequisites for General Biology II.

Major Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course, I hope you will be able to:
Understand how science both relates to and differs from other academic disciplines; describe the
scientific method and how to ‘do  science’  through  the  process  of  scientific  inquiry
Use scientific knowledge combined with critical thinking to evaluate current societal concerns
Explain how evolution is the unifying theme in biology; be able to describe the process of natural
selection, mechanisms and patterns in evolution, and how these can explain many of the phenomena we
observe in nature
Recognize that all living organisms are intertwined and, ultimately, affected by all other organisms
Describe the characteristics of, and compare and contrast organisms from the three domains of life
Understand how organisms are related to one another; recognize that even diverse organisms from
bacteria to fungi to humans share common features
Understand how organisms are uniquely adapted to their environments; recognize that differences
between organisms exist due to varying adaptations that utilize specialized structural and behavioral
features
Understand humans in the context of the natural world; recognize that they are just a small part of the
living world and its history; understand and explain the importance of organisms that you may not have
appreciated before
Above all, develop an appreciation for both the unity and diversity of life on earth, as well as an
understanding of the profound impact humans have on life on earth

N. J. Huber: Biology 1300 Syllabus and Schedule 1

 General Information
This course is designed for biology majors and selected health sciences majors. While the difficulty level of
the course will depend largely upon your academic background and academic abilities in general, the majority
of students find the material to be challenging, and have to put in a significant amount of time and effort to
succeed. You need to be realistic about how much time you will need to devote to this class, and plan your
schedule accordingly.

Required Materials:
A good attitude, and willingness to work hard
Access to online course materials on Blackboard at http://bb.uccs.edu
An e-mail address on record that you check regularly
Four 100-question scantrons and a #2 pencil with a good eraser for exams

Optional Materials:
Textbook: This course has been designed around the information in Campbell Biology (9th edition) by
J.B. Reece et al., Pearson Benjamin Cummings Publishers, 2011. The 10th edition of this text is
available in the bookstore and there are several copies (varying editions) on reserve at the library.

Many students have told me they did not need the textbook to succeed in this class. However, if you do
not plan to attend class regularly (and pay attention!), I highly recommend that you purchase (and read!)
the textbook. It’s  your  decision.  

i>clicker: I assess class participation and attendance through the use of clickers. If you do not wish to
purchase a clicker and/or attend class, you can  complete  the  online  quizzes  instead  (see  ‘Methods  of  
Evaluation’).

Methods of Evaluation
Grading Criteria:
There are three unit exams, worth 100 points each, and a comprehensive final exam, also worth 100 points.
Your lowest exam grade will be dropped.

Additionally, there are 100 points for clicker questions, homework, and miscellaneous activities throughout the
semester.

Exams
4 exams, 3 scores count 3 exams @ 100 points each = 300 points (75%)
Clicker Questions or Online Quizzes 3 units @ 10 points per unit = 30 points (7.5%)
Homework and Miscellaneous Activities variable = 70 points (17.5%)
Total points possible = 400 points total

A 93% + B 83-86.99% C 73-76.99% D 63-66.99%

A- 90-92.99% B- 80-82.99% C- 70-72.99% D- 60-62.99%
B+ 87-89.99% C+ 77-79.99% D+ 67-69.99% F below 60%

N. J. Huber: Biology 1300 Syllabus and Schedule 2

Exams:
Exam questions are based off the material from lectures, homework, and online quizzes. If you attend lecture
and pay attention, do a good job on the homework, and complete the online quizzes, there will be no surprises
on the exams. Although some questions are simple factual recall, many will require you to demonstrate an in-
depth understanding of the material and apply concepts discussed in class to novel scenarios. Plan to study for
this level of comprehension.

Each unit exam focuses specifically on the material from that unit; however, all the exams  are  ‘cumulative’  in  
the sense that most scientific knowledge builds on prior knowledge. After the first exam, each subsequent exam
assumes you have retained knowledge of prior course content and can apply it to new material. The final is a
comprehensive exam covering the major concepts from the entire semester. No electronic devices of any type
are allowed during exams. Cell phones must be OFF and in plain sight during exams. ANY use of your cell
phone or any other device during exams is strictly prohibited, and will have severe consequences.

Because you are allowed to drop your lowest exam score, no make-up exams will be given. If you miss an
exam for any reason, whether it be that you slept too late or were abducted by aliens on the way to class, the
score will be dropped at the end of the semester. If you miss more than one exam for any reason, you will get a
zero for one of them.

Clicker Questions and Online Quizzes:

For each unit, you will be evaluated on either clicker points or online quizzes, whichever score is higher.

Clicker Questions: Class participation and attendance will be assessed through the use of clickers. If
you are present and answer the clicker questions, you will receive credit. If you are absent from class,
regardless of your reason, there is no way to make up the points. Additionally, if you forget to bring
your clicker or your clicker malfunctions, you are out of luck. It is your responsibility to make sure your
clicker is registered by the deadline and functioning properly. Bringing your friend’s  clicker  to  class  so  
you can answer in his or her absence is cheating, and will result in severe consequences for both of you.

Clicker points will be calculated one time per unit, after the last day of class before the unit exam. If
you respond to 90% or more of the clicker questions in a unit, you will receive 10 points for that unit;
80-90% = 9 points; 70-80% = 8 points; 60-70% = 7 points; less than 60% = 0 points.

Online Quizzes: If you do not wish to purchase a clicker and/or attend class, or you are unable to attend
class for any reason, you may complete online quizzes throughout the semester to earn points in lieu of
attending class and responding to clicker questions. There will be two quizzes per unit, each worth five
points. Your total for the two quizzes will be the total number of quiz points for the unit. Quizzes must
be completed before the stated deadline, which will always be midnight on a Friday night. It is your
responsibility to leave enough time to deal with possible technical difficulties. Once the deadline has
passed, there is no way to receive points for an online quiz. You may attempt each quiz as many times as
you wish; only your highest score will be counted.

Please note: Even if you plan to attend class regularly and answer every clicker question, it is still a good idea to
complete the online quizzes. Not only will they provide you with extra practice, but they will also provide you
with an additional level of security in the event that you must miss class due to some unforeseen  ‘life  happens’  
circumstance or you lose/forget your clicker, etc. In short, this policy has been put in place to give you the
greatest chance to succeed in the class, but you must take advantage of it!

N. J. Huber: Biology 1300 Syllabus and Schedule 3

Homework and Miscellaneous Activities:
The focus of most homework assignments is on understanding selected topics in depth and applying
information to understand novel situations/concepts. There will also be miscellaneous activities throughout the
semester to help you review or preview information, or to serve some other function as class needs arise. Some
activities may require class attendance; this may or may not be announced ahead of time. If you are absent from
class during a graded, in-class activity, regardless of your reason, there is no way to make up the points. Also, if
you are physically present but do not actually participate because you are too busy texting your friends, talking
about things not related to the course, sleeping, playing on your computer, or whatever else, you will not receive
any points.

I am very strict with deadlines. Assignments submitted even a minute past the specified due date and time are
considered late. Late penalties are as follows:
Homework submitted up to 24 hours after the deadline will receive no more than 70%.
Homework submitted two days late will receive no more than 60%.
Homework submitted three days late will receive no more than 50%.
Homework over three days late is not accepted.

It is your responsibility to leave enough time to deal with possible technical difficulties that may arise if an
assignment is to be submitted online, and to be sure to be on time for class if an assignment is due in person.

You can work together on homework assignments, but everyone needs to turn in an assignment individually,
unless  I  specify  otherwise.  Working  together  does  not  mean  copying  someone  else’s  assignment.  If  I  receive  
more than one assignment with the exact same answers, or assignments that have been plagiarized, everyone
involved will receive a zero, and face further academic penalties.

Extra Credit:
I occasionally grant extra credit opportunities to the entire class, but there is no extra credit other than that. I do
not offer any extra credit on an individual basis.

Miscellaneous Information and Policies

Reviewing Exams:
Exams  are  part  multiple  choice  and  part  ‘open  response’  (fill-in-the-blank, short answer, short essay, etc.). I do
not return the multiple choice portion of the exam to you. However, I strongly encourage you to come by my
office and review your exam/scantron. During this time, you may take notes by hand, but no electronic devices
are allowed. This includes laptops and cell phones. It is best to review your scantron as soon as possible after
the exam, before the next exam. Understanding your mistakes will help you avoid making the same mistakes in
the future, as well as improve your thought processes and understanding of the material. Being a proficient test-
taker is an essential skill in science courses. Fortunately, test-taking, just like any other skill, can be improved
with practice and effort.

Contesting a Grade:
I attempt to evaluate your work as objectively as possible. If you believe that your work has been graded unfairly,
you have the right to request that it be re-graded. You must state the specific reasons you believe your grade was
unfair and submit your re-grade request within a week of when I handed the work back and/or made the feedback
available online. Your entire exam and/or assignment will be re-graded and you must accept the new score, even
if it is lower than the old one.

N. J. Huber: Biology 1300 Syllabus and Schedule 4

Here are some other things that can happen, and how you should deal with them:
Sometimes I add up points incorrectly. It is your responsibility to go over your homework and exams
promptly after I have returned them and notify me of any mistakes within a week. If you are absent
from class when work is returned to you, it is your responsibility to come by my office to pick up and
look over your work. You will not get extra time to contest your grade simply because you were not in
class when your work was returned.
On occasion, the scantron reader will misread your scantron. This can occur if you do not color in the
circles adequately, do not fully erase an answer that you have changed, or have extraneous markings on
your scantron. Additionally, there are multiple versions of each exam; if you turn your scantron into the
wrong pile, it will not be graded using the correct key. Reviewing your scantron promptly after the exam
will help you catch any of these problems. Requests for a change of grade due to errors of this nature must
be made before the next exam. In other words, be sure to review your scantron from Exam #1 prior to
Exam #2; from Exam #2 before Exam #3, etc.

Make-Up Policies:
As noted previously, any missed in-class course work cannot be made up. Missed exams cannot be made up,
either, but your lowest exam score will be dropped.

Academic Honesty:
I strongly encourage you to choose the honest route when it comes to your education. You are much better off
putting your energy into studying and learning the material than trying to figure out ways to pass exams
or complete homework assignments without having to learn anything! I do not tolerate cheating, and will
make sure there are severe consequences for any students I catch in an act of academic dishonesty. If you
choose the dishonest route, not only are you depriving yourself of the valuable education you are paying for and
participating in voluntarily, but you are also putting your academic career and future in jeopardy.

You  are  responsible  for  knowing  the  university’s  academic honor code, as well as other academic procedures,
which are outlined on the UCCS web site at http://www.uccs.edu/history/research/uccs-policies-on-academic-
honesty-and-civility/uccs-academic-honor-code.html.

Disruptive Students:
Disruptive students in the academic setting hinder the educational environment. Disruptive student conduct is
prohibited by Regent Laws and the CU-Colorado  Springs  Students’  Rights  and  Responsibilities:  Standards  of  
Conduct, and will be reported to the Dean of Students. For more information about the Standards of Conduct,
see the Dean of Students web site at http://www.uccs.edu/doc/student-conduct/student-classroom-behavior-
policy.html.

Please note that incessant and obnoxious use of your cell phone during lecture is considered disruptive
student behavior, as it is distracting to me and those around you. I will report it to the Dean of Students.

Dropping or Withdrawing:
You are responsible for following and understanding the university’s  policies  regarding  deadlines  and  
conditions for adding, dropping, and withdrawing. The last day to drop this course without special
permission is Friday, October 31st. I will not sign drop slips after that.

Military Students:
If you are a military student with the potential of being called to military service and/or training during the
course of the semester, please contact me no later than the first week of class for discussion. For more
information, please see http://www.uccs.edu/~military/.

N. J. Huber: Biology 1300 Syllabus and Schedule 5

Students with Disabilities:
If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it is your
responsibility to register with Disability Services and provide them with documentation of your disability. They
will work with you to determine what accommodations are appropriate for your situation. To avoid any delay,
you should contact Disability Services as soon as possible. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive
and disability accommodations cannot be provided until a Faculty Letter has been given to me. Note that if you
receive test-taking accommodations, you must fill out the required paperwork for each exam and turn it
in to me at least one week before the exam if you want to ensure that your accommodations are met.
Please contact Disability Services for more information about receiving accommodations at Main Hall, room
105, 719-255-3354 or [email protected].

Instructor and Student Responsibilities

We each hold responsibilities to each other. I will try my hardest to do each of the following:
Come to class prepared
Respect your time by starting class on time and finishing on time
Teach you the course material to the best of my ability
Grade your work in a timely manner, evaluate your work as objectively and fairly as I can, and provide
you with feedback as to why you received the grade that you did
Communicate with you respectfully and professionally; in class – I will answer all of your questions
and address your concerns to the best of my ability; out of class – I will respond to e-mails in a timely
manner
Hold you to high standards and attempt to give you the knowledge and skills that will allow you to be
successful in a highly demanding, highly competitive, but very rewarding field
Respect the fact that your education is a big investment; I take my job seriously and will try to help
you to get the most out of this class and your educational experience in general.

In return, I ask that you try your hardest to do each of the following:
Come to class prepared
Arrive on time and give your full attention to the class until the end
Contribute to a positive learning environment and refrain from behavior that hinders my ability to teach
effectively and  your  peers’  right  to  learn (examples: talking throughout class, letting your cell phone
ring, texting, playing video games on your computer, reading novels, sleeping, snoring, etc.)
Recognize that attending class is your choice.  If  you  have  better  things  to  do  than  come  to  class,  don’t  
come.
Respect deadlines and get your work done on time, but accept the penalties outlined in this syllabus if
you do not
Look over your evaluated work and read my comments when it is returned; inquire in a timely manner if
you have questions about how your work was evaluated
Take responsibility for your own education; understand that ultimately, the quality of your education
will depend on what you choose to make of it. I want to help you to succeed, but I cannot read minds. If
you  don’t  understand  something,  are  generally  confused,  or  have  any  concerns  and/or  questions  about  
any facet of the class, it is your responsibility to come talk to me, e-mail me, or do whatever you need to
do until you are satisfied.

N. J. Huber: Biology 1300 Syllabus and Schedule 6

 General Biology I: Organismic Biology
Tentative Schedule: Fall 2014
Note: The schedule is subject to change depending on uncontrollable variables and class needs.
However, barring any major catastrophic events, exam dates are set in stone. If the university cancels
class due to weather or other circumstances on a scheduled test day, the test will occur during the next
class meeting.

Unit 1: Evolution and Ecology

Unit 2: Prokaryotes, Protists, and Plants
Unit 3: Fungi and Animals

Lecture outlines with supplemental notes will be provided for each lecture. These will be
posted  on  Blackboard  under  ‘Lecture  Outlines and Study Guides’ My PowerPoints are also
available  on  Blackboard,  under  ‘PDF files of PowerPoint  Presentations.’ The chapters from
Campbell Biology that correspond to the lecture material are noted below.

Date Lecture Topic(s) Campbell Biology

August
25 M Course introduction
The study of life Chapter 1
27 W Scientific method Chapter 1
Natural selection and evolution Chapter 22
September
1 M Labor Day: no classes!
3 W The evolution of populations Chapter 23
8 M Speciation Chapter 24
Phylogeny Chapter 26
10 W Introduction to ecology Chapter 52
12 F Deadline for Online Quiz #1
15 M Population ecology Chapter 53
17 W Community ecology Chapter 54
Ecosystem ecology Chapter 55
22 M Conservation biology and sustainability Chapter 56
24 W Catch up, review and/or test prep none
26 F Deadline for Online Quiz #2
29 M Unit 1 Exam
October
1 W Introduction to prokaryotes Chapters 6 (background) and 27
6 M Prokaryotes Chapter 27
8 W Prokaryotes Chapter 27
10 F Deadline for Online Quiz #3
13 M Protists Chapter 28
Schedule continued on back

N. J. Huber: Biology 1300 Syllabus and Schedule 7

 October
15 W Introduction to plants Chapters 6 and 10 (background)
Plant diversity Chapter 29
20 M Plant diversity Chapter 30
Angiosperm life cycle and reproduction Chapters 30 and 38
22 W Plant structure and growth Chapter 35
Resource acquisition and transport Chapter 36
27 M Stomata Chapter 36
Plant biotechnology Chapter 38
29 W Catch up, review and/or test prep none
31 F Deadline for Online Quiz #4
Last day to drop the course without special permission from the dean
November
3 M Unit 2 Exam
5 W Fungi Chapter 31
10 M Introduction to animal diversity Chapter 32
Invertebrates Chapter 33
12 W Vertebrates Chapter 34
14 F Deadline for Online Quiz #5
17 M Animal form and function Chapter 40
19 W Animal behavior Chapter 51
24 M Animal behavior Chapter 51
26 W Happy Thanksgiving! No classes!
28 F Deadline for Online Quiz #6
December
1 M Catch up, review and/or test prep none
3 W Unit 3 Exam
8 M
Group work on animal behavior reports
10 W
17 W Final Exam
Section 001: 8:00 – 10:00 AM
Section 002: 10:20 AM – 12:20 PM
Please note that these are different times than the class usually meets.

N. J. Huber: Biology 1300 Syllabus and Schedule 8