Biology for Non-Science Majors II Syllabus for 2019-2020
Return to Syllabus List

Instructor Information

Office Location

Warren Hall 208

Office Hours

Spring l  2024

Monday - Thursday  - 6:50 - 7:20 AM
Monday - Thursday - 10:30 - 11:15 AM

Other times by Appointment

Send email to make an appointment

Course Information

COVID-19 Protocols

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Student Service Center office 112. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

The Tutoring for Success policy applies to any student whose grade or performance in the course falls below a departmentally determined minimum threshold. In either of those cases, the instructor will direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. Under this policy, the instructor will follow specific departmental guidelines governing the use, duration, and grade component of the tutoring need.

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

BIOL-1409-DC011 Biology for Non-Science Majors II

Prerequisites

Course Description

This course will provide a survey of biological principles with an emphasis on humans, including evolution, ecology, plant and animal diversity and physiology. Laboratory activities will reinforce lecture content.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(4 sem hrs; 3 lec, 2 lab)

Class Type

Dual Credit Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Urry, Lisa. Campbell Biology in Focus. 1st ed. Pearson, 2014

AISD will provide Mastering Biology code.

 

Supplies

  • Access to a reliable computer with internet connectivity.
  • Down load Respondus Lockdown Browser and Respondus Monitor.
  • Web Cam

Student Performance

STUDENT PERFORMANCE, COMPETENCIES AND OBJECTIVES: After studying the material presented in this course of study, the student will be able to do the following as evaluated by the faculty in the department.

1. Apply scientific reasoning to investigate questions and utilize scientific tools such as microscopes and laboratory equipment to collect and analyze data.
2. Use critical thinking and scientific problem-solving to make informed decisions in the laboratory.
3. Communicate effectively the results of scientific investigations.
4. Define modern evolutionary synthesis, natural selection, population genetics, micro and macroevolution, and speciation.
5. Describe phylogenetic relationships and classification schemes.
6. Identify the major phyla of life with an emphasis on plants and animals, including the basis for classification, structural and physiological adaptations, evolutionary history, and ecological significance.
7. Describe basic animal physiology and homeostasis as maintained by organ systems.
8. Compare different sexual and asexual life cycles noting their adaptive advantages.
9. Illustrate the relationship between major geologic change, extinctions, and evolutionary trends.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

STUDENT BEHAVIOR:
Students will be respectful of other students and the instructor.  This includes email, text, and other communications for the class.

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE: If a student is having a problem with the course policies or the instructor, he or she should first try and resolve any such problems with the instructor.  If the problem is not resolved the student may proceed to the Department Chairman, Dean of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, Vice President of Academic Affairs, and the College President, IN THAT ORDER.

SAFETY: "Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are stored in SCIE 110. A link to the online MSDS Sheets is in the Introduction Folder in the online class
For any emergency contact Campus Police 371-5911

WITHDRAW: A grade of "W" will be given for drops or withdraws on or before the published official withdraw date.  You may not drop or withdraw after that date (April 23, 2020).

FINAL GRADE CHANGES: The final grade turned into the registrar office will not be changed unless approved by full time biology faculty committee. Request must be submitted in writing.

BIOLOGY CONTRACT FOR SUCCESS:You will be required to complete and submit the "Biology Contract for Success" within the first week of class.

TEST RULES: Do nothing which would appear to involve cheating.  Failure to abide by the test rules will result in a grade of zero.  Once a quiz has been started you may not leave the computer for any reason.  Use the facilities prior to starting the quiz. If you believe that a paper has been graded incorrectly, please return it with a written explanation which must include: 1) your name, 2) the number of the question(s) you wish to have reconsidered, and 3) a detailed explanation of the mistake and documentation for the correct answer (include page numbers and source).
You must also finish before the due date and time or a grade of zero will be assigned. Extra time will not be given to an individual student.  Please do not ask.

UNIT QUIZZES – You will get one attempt on quizzes.  If a problem occurs during a quiz (example: loss of internet connection, computer lock up, accidently open it prematurely, or you simply forgot to submit it) tell your HS teacher immediately.  The HS teacher and your instructor may decided to reset the quiz.  You will get only one reset on a quiz  per semester for any reason. Also you must finish within the allotted time frame.

EXAMS - You will get only one attempt. If a problem occurs during an exam contact your instructor immediately.  The instructor will reset only one exam due to a technical problem or any other reason.  After the one reset any other problems will result in a zero on that assessment.  If your computer or connection is weak, please use a reliable computer or connection.  Also you must finish within the allotted time frame.

STUDENTS MUST TAKE THE EXAM AT THE ALLOTTED TIME. LATE EXAMS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. IF YOU MISS AN EXAM, QUIZ, OR ANY ASSIGNMENT FOR ANY REASON, A ZERO WILL BE ASSIGNED.

LAB ASSIGNMENTS –– These will be given by your high school instructor. Also you must finish within the allotted time frame.

TAKING QUIZZES & EXAMS: If your computer, laptop, PC, Mac, tablet, and/or internet connection is slow, weak, problematic, unreliable, or possessed, it is “highly” recommended that you seek a reliable computer and/or internet connection such as those at the AC Science Testing Center. It is your responsibility to ensure that you attempt all quizzes and exams on a reliable computer.

WAITING UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE: If you wait until the last minute to complete online assignments, quizzes, or exams, you’re almost guaranteed to encounter computer problems. Completing assignments in advance should ensure technology will work as planned.

 

Grading Criteria

EVALUATION: Lecture and lab Quizzes and Assignments will count for 40 % of the course grade, and the exam will count for 60% of the course grade.

Mastering Biology                      - 10%
Unit Quizzes                                -10%
Lab Quizzes and Assignments   - 20%

Unit Exam and Final                   - 60%
                                                 100%
GRADING: Grades will not be curved and NO extra credit. (Your high school grade may not be the same as your college grade)
89.5 - 100 = A
79.5 - 89.4 = B
69.5 - 79.4 = C
59.5 - 69.4 = D
00.0 - 59.4 = F

 

 

MASTERING BIOLOGY: 10% of the total grade.
There will be Mastering Biology assigned each week of the semester.

LAB QUIZZES and ASSIGNMENTS: 20% of the total grade.
There will be lab quizzes and/or assignments made weekly during the semester. The lab assignments will supplement the lecture content. The lab quiz and assignment material will come from the lab materials.   All lab quizzes and assignments will be fill-in-the-blank, multiple choice, labeling, and/or short answer.

UNIT ONLINE QUIZZES: 10% of the total grade.
There will be one or two online unit quizzes per unit.  These will assigned by HS teachers and taken in the AC online units. The quiz material will come from all class materials for the unit materials.   All unit quizzes  will be fill-in-the-blank, multiple choice, labeling, and/or short answer, but most questions will be multiple choice.

EXAMS: 60% of the total grade.
Lecture and laboratory material will be combined into three(3) unit exams and a comprehensive final exam (total of 4 exams). Exams will be multiple choice questions and short answer (Free Response). The majority of exam material will come from the lecture and laboratory materials, but some material will come from the textbook, online assignments, and other assigned material. If you MISS the DUE DATE or TIME for any exam, for any reason, a grade of zero will be assigned.  You high school teacher will proctor all exams or you will take them in the Amarillo College Science Testing Center.  Your High School Teacher will get the password for each exam, that they will enter for exams. 

The Final Exam is comprehensive. It will cover everything from the beginning of the semester both lecture and lab materials.  Some material will come from previous exams and the rest comes from the textbook, or other notes, assignments, and laboratories. It is multiple choice questions. IMPORTANT the Final Exam is part of the exam category, so if you are happy with your grade going into the Final Exam you can opt to use the Final Exam as your one drop grade for the semesters. NO MAKE-UPs will be given for any reason. 

MAKE-UP POLICY: NO MAKE-UPS

DEPARTMENT TESTING POLICY: All Lecture Exams will be procotred by your highschool teacher, or given in the Science Testing Center (STC): (Warren Hall 112) or by using Respondus Lockdown Browser and Respondus Monitor.
Please note:  No tests taken in the STC maybe started less than one and a half hours before the Science Testing Center closes. You must present an Amarillo College student ID every time you take a test. The Science Testing Center staff will retain your ID while you take your test and it will be returned to you when you finish your test.

When using the Science Testing Center students will scan in and out with their Amarillo College student I.D.

SCIENCE TESTING CENTER HOURS:
Mon-Thur 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM (8:30 PM)
Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM (2:30 PM)
Sat 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (2:30 PM)

 

DEPARTMENT MANDATORY TUTORING: Science Tutoring and Success Center (STSC) (Warren Hall 110)

In an effort to increase retention in Biology courses, any student who scores below a 70 on any exam (excluding Exam 3) must complete a 1 hour mandatory tutoring session in the Science Tutoring and Success Center or in the Online Tutoring Center before taking the next exam. Before getting mandatory tutoring, students must first schedule a tutoring time with the STSC by either calling (806 345-5536) or visiting (Warren Hall 110)or by scheduling an online tutoring session in the online scheduler.

The STSC will do its best to accommodate a student’s schedule within the STSC hours of operation. This may require plenty of advanced notice by the student as time slots fill quickly.

Upon arrival in the STSC, Students must INFORM STSC staff that they are there for MANDATORY tutoring. Mandatory tutoring will not  be remediation over the failed test, but over material for the next exam.

 

SCIENCE TUTORING AND SUCCESS CENTER HOURS:
Mon-Thur 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Sat 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

FREE DROP-IN TUTORING:
Peer tutors are available at the Science Tutoring and Success Center for Biology , Chemistry, Microbiology, Anatomy and Physiology and other science courses.

 

CHEATING in the TESTING CENTER or on any EXAM: See Biology Success Contract for other rules.
Cheating will not be tolerated in any biology course at Amarillo College. On the first day of class, you will be required to sign and date a Course Contract. Included in the contract is the following statement: "I fully understand that if I cheat, or attempt to cheat, on any test I will receive an automatic “F” in the course. This grade will go on my permanent transcript and cannot be removed. Cheating includes, but is not limited to: the illegal use of books, notes, cell phones*, copying or leaving the Science Testing Center with a test or questions from a test. Cheating also includes helping, or attempting to help, other students to cheat on a test." You will not be allowed to take your tests until this contract is signed and on file in the Science Testing Center.

*Please Note: NO CELL PHONES in the Testing Room or out on your desk. If we see your cell phone out AT ANY TIME, FOR ANY REASON, while in taking a test, YOU WILL RECEIVE an "F" for the course!

Attendance

Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement, therefore it is the responsibility of the student to attend each class and complete all assignments.

If you stop doing class assignments and exams and do not officially drop the course you will receive an “F” for the course. You must contact your instructor to start the drop procedure prior to the official drop date.  Texas law now mandates that students may only drop or withdraw 6 classes in their entire college career, which excludes drops prior to census date.

Calendar

BIOL 1409 Chronology - sequence and labs might vary from High School Class

Week Lecture Laboratory
1 Ch 14 Natural Selection Natural Selection
2 Ch 15 Speciation Chromosome Banding
3 Ch 16/17 Evidence for Evolution and Life on Earth Hardy Weinberg
4 Ch 18 Prokaryotic Diversity Diseases
5 Ch 19 Eukaryotic Diversity DNA Sequence and Evolution
6 Ch 20 Human Evolution Invasive Species
7 Ch 21/22 Population and Community Ecology Global Warming
8 Ch 23/24 Ecosystem Ecology and Sustainability NO Lab
9 Fall Break  
10 Ch 25/26 Physiology and Digestive System Nutrition
11 Ch 27 Cardiovascular System Circulatory System
12 Ch 28 Respiratory System Respiratory System
13 Ch 29 Nervous System Drugs
14 Ch 30 Reproductive System Reproduction
15 Ch 31 Immunity Plants Growth
16 Ch 32 Plant Physiology  
17 Final Exam  
   

Additional Information

Information Technology (IT) Department Info

Email Info: TIC@actx.edu

Washington Street Campus: Russell Hall, Room 121

West Campus: Building A, Room 102

West Campus Computing & Testing Center: Building D, Room 106

East Campus Testing Information Center: Building SSC, Room 106


Biology Tutoring

Tutors are available at the:

Science Tutoring and Success Center (STSC)
Warren Hall
Room 110
Phone: (806) 345-5536
   

EMAIL: The instructor will check email Monday - Thursday by 5:00 PM and Fridays by 1:00PM.  Emails after 5:00PM  will be checked the following day.  The instructor will try to respond within 24 hours, except on Fridays and weekends. Remember instructors teacher numerous other courses.  Be patient.

 

Syllabus Created on:

01/16/20 12:18 PM

Last Edited on:

01/16/20 12:18 PM