MDC Course Syllabus
Principles of Biology II – BSC 2011
Spring 2015 (2014-2)
Instructor: David B. Moore - Department of Biology/Health and Wellness
FACULTY WEB PAGE: http://faculty.mdc.edu/dmoore
Office: 3265-10, Phone: 237-2315, e-mail:
OFFICE HOURS: TBA; refer to faculty web page
TEXTBOOK: Campbell Biology (10th Edition) by Reece et al.; access to www.masteringbiology.com required
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This is the second in a sequence of two courses that deals with the principles of modern biology. It covers organic evolution, phylogeny, biological diversity, overviews of plant and animal form and function, behavior, as well as population, community, and ecosystem ecology.
In reference to MDC’s General Education Outcomes, this course will contribute to the student’s learning and mastery of the following outcomes:
1) Communicate effectively using listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.
3) Solve problems using critical and creative thinking and scientific reasoning.
10) Describe how natural systems function and recognize the impact of humans of the environment.
General Recommendations: Most students find science courses demanding of their study time. As a rule students should allow 2 hours of study time for every 1 hour of lecture time. In addition to attending class regularly and taking notes, students should set aside sufficient time to read and outline all assigned materials, copy over and review class notes, and complete the online quizzes and exercises. It is recommended that you bring your textbook to class as various tables, figures, and pictures may be referred to within lecture. The faculty web page contains links to other materials that may be needed.
Reading Assignments: Readings will be assigned from the required textbook according to the schedule of topics to be covered in the syllabus and should be completed prior to lecture on that material. Additional readings may also be assigned. This is an important component of the class and completion of these assignments is necessary to receive a satisfactory grade for the course. In addition, test questions are composed from reading material that may not be covered in lecture.
Attendance: Students are expected to attend class regularly, arrive on time, and remain until the instructor has dismissed the class. Students who consistently arrive late or leave early may be considered disruptive and may be dropped from the class. Timely and regular attendance is necessary for success in this course, therefore attendance will affect one’s grade. In the event of tardiness or absence it is the student’s responsibility to inquire about missed work or tests. In order to satisfy college requirements that accurate attendance records be kept, roll will be taken each class. Excessive absences may result being dropped from the class.
Student Conduct: Students are expected to conduct themselves in a mature manner. Anyone who is disruptive or displays any behavior that detracts form the learning environment will be asked to leave the class and may be dropped from the course. Please remember to turn off\silence all cell phones before class begins!
Academic Dishonesty: Anyone caught cheating on an exam or plagiarizing (copying verbatim long phrases or sentences from published or non-published material) will be assigned a grade of "F" for the exam or assignment and may receive a failing grade for the semester & be referred to the Dean of Students for disciplinary action. For academic dishonesty policies go to http://www.mdc.edu/policy/student_rights_and_responsibilities.pdf.
Grades: Student grades for the course are determined by 4 in class tests, 8 in class review quizzes, and various online assessments within Mastering Biology. The seven highest in class quiz scores are averaged together (15% of final grade), thus one quiz grade will be dropped. There are no make-ups for missed quizzes. Tests 1-3 are worth 15% each of your final grade, while Test 4 is worth 20%. No test grade will be dropped. Lastly, the remaining 20% of your final grade is derived from the various online assessments within Mastering Biology at 15% (see below and full details will be given during class) as well as an attendance component at 5%, including PLTL. The grading scale for the course is as follows: A=100%-90%, B=89%-80%, C=79%-70%, D=69%-60%, F= 59%-.
Tests: The 4 in class tests, as well as the 8 in class quizzes, will consist of multiple choice type questions. Questions are composed from lecture notes and reading assignments. Test 4 (Final Exam) will primarily include coverage of new material since the last test, but a portion of Test 4 will also include questions from previous chapters. Therefore, Test 4 will be cumulative in nature, and larger, so counts for a greater weight. If a student misses a test they must contact the professor ASAP and with a LEGITIMATE and DOCUMENTED excuse, the test may be made up at the instructor’s discretion. The student must make up the test within one week from the test date or a grade of “0” will be assigned for that test. It is the student’s responsibility to be present at all exams and make sure all test and quiz scores are completed. No make-up quizzes will be administered.
MASTERING BIOLOGY: It is required you obtain a Mastering Biology access code from the textbook publisher. You will log in at www.masteringbiology.com. The course ID is MBMOORE71742. Various assignments and quizzes will be assigned for each chapter and will need to be completed prior to the test for which those chapters are covered. It is recommended you complete the chapter assignments/quizzes prior to the quiz for which those chapters are covered. Each assignment/quiz is graded, so you need to spend the time necessary to do well on these assignments since they are included into your final grade. Once the assessment has closed past the due date, it will no longer be available for a grade.
IMPORTANT DATES: Last day to withdraw with a grade of W: Wednesday, March 18
Holidays/No Class: Monday, January 19 and Monday, February 16
Last day of regular classes: Wednesday, April 22
Final Exam Date: Wednesday, April 29
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement: Students who have a disability that might affect their performance in the class are encouraged to contact Access Services, in confidence, as soon as possible. The office will aid in appropriate accommodations for the student. This is in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American with Disabilities Act of 1990.