BiolSci 103: HUMAN BIOLOGY
Professor: Dr. James R. Coggins
UWinterM, 2015
Welcome to the on-line section of Human Biology for UWinterM, 2015. This
introductory letter will serve to tell you a bit about the course, my expectations, and the
D2L system that we use at UWM for this semester. Consult the syllabus for additional
information on class activity/expectations. Feel free to email me any questions you have
regarding the course.
Textbook
The textbook for this course is: Human Biology by Sylvia S. Mader. This is available in
the UWM Bookstore as well as Panther Books on Downer Ave. The textbook is
available as hardcopy on line for less $$. You may also get an electronic version of the
text on line through the McGraw Hill or Course Smart websites. There will be one
textbook on reserve at the UMW Library. You do not have to have the latest edition.
Introduction
I have put this course online in order to make taking the course more convenient for you;
I very much want for everyone to do well. Some things work well while I am sure other
aspects will be open to improvement. I am open to constructive feedback. As I will
remind you toward the end of term, there is a course evaluation feature in the Survey part
of the D2L website. This available and I urge all students to evaluate the course.
Course Structure
In this introductory course, we will examine the basic biology of humans. We will
examine the scientific method; discuss what is, and what is not, science. We will then
begin looking at the structure of humans from the molecular, cellular, and tissue level.
After examining the building blocks that make up the human body, we will begin a study
of the systems that comprise the physiology of humans, how we work and carry out the
daily functions of life. The course will be composed of seven (7) Units. Each unit
consists of two Chapters presented as PowerPoint lectures that you are expected to view.
Each unit has your quiz assignment for that unit. You are expected to complete and
submit a Quiz for each unit. You will return quizzes to the instructor via the Dropbox
within the allotted timeframe. There will be two wrap up Exams; a mid-term and a final
exam. The due dates for these two exams are the only hard deadlines. The quizzes are
self paced re schedule.
Exam Structure
The midterm and final exam each consist of fifty (50) multiple choice questions.
Material for the exams is taken from the power point lectures. Example questions may be
found at the end of each chapter of the textbook. When asked, I say that if you can
answer most of the questions at the end of the text chapters you should do well on the
exams. Exams are timed and students can only take the exam once. There is a practice
exam on line to allow students to work with the logistics of taking and submitting the
exams. The practice exam may be taken multiple times.
Grading
Referring to the course structure (above), your Unit Quizzes will make up 40% of your
final course grade. The Mid-Term (30%) and Final Examinations (30%) will
constitute the remaining 60% of the final course grade.
Instructor
Now that we have covered the course, let me tell you a little about myself. I am
originally from a small town in North Carolina. I received two of my academic degrees
from the University of North Carolina (B.S; M.S.). I earned my Ph.D. degree from Wake
Forest University, also in North Carolina. Growing up on Tobacco Road, I am a big
college basketball fan. My first job was at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend,
Indiana where I learned to love football. I then was lured north to Wisconsin and took
my present position at UWM. During the many years I have been at UWM, I have taught
a variety of courses from freshmen level to my advanced Human Parasitology and
graduate student seminars. I have served as head of the Department of Biological
Sciences in the past but now enjoy being a faculty member with no administrative
responsibilities. I love teaching and I like to see my students succeed.
D2L Basics
You can access D2L by going to the UWM homepage (http://www.uwm.edu) and
clicking on “E-Learning and D2L” at the very top of the page. From there you click on
the big blue “Desire 2 Learn” box. This will take you to the login page. Or, go to the
login page with the direct address for D2L: (https://uwm.courses.wisconsin.edu). Note
that there is no www in the address and an “s” on https. On the login page, notice the
“For Students” link that offers several help files for dealing with various aspects of D2L.
These help documents are very good, clear and helpful, so keep them in mind if you ever
get stuck. The other “help” options are to visit the computer help desk in EMS 225,
calling them at 414-229-4040, (toll free at 1-877-381-3459), or sending email to
help@uwm.edu. The help documents and tutorials found within D2L are very good.
However, do not hesitate to contact the help desk for any computer related questions.
Responsibility
By signing up for an on-line course, you take the responsibility of making sure you have
regular access to adequate and reliable technology to complete all course requirements.
You need to make sure you r home, office or campus computer(s) are appropriate for
your needs and are not going to fail on you at key times. Lack of access to a computer,
loss of key documents from a hard drive or a printer failure are not excuses for failing to
meet assignment deadlines.
Everyone at UWM is assigned a UWM email account. I will be using your UWM
account. If you have another account that you use as primary, have your mail forwarded
from UWM to that account; setting up forwarding is easy. See the help desk with any
questions. Again, this is your responsibility. The help desk can assist you in the
forwarding procedure.
Finally, welcome to the course.
Professor James R. Coggins, Ph.D.
Department of Biological Sciences
Lapham 297
coggins@uwm.edu
229-4350
Biological Sciences 103
HUMAN BIOLOGY
UWinterM, 2015
Text: Human Biology, Sylvia Mader, any edition may be used)
Instructor: James Coggins, Ph.D., Professor of Biological Sciences
Phone: 414-229-4350
Email: coggins@uwm.edu
Office Location: Lapham Hall, Room 297
Office Hours: By appointment, email or telephone (email for number)
Lecture: On Line Lectures
Grades: Final grades will be determined by a series of quizzes (total of 7); midterm (Units 1-3) and final (Units 4-7) exams. Regular participation and meeting of
deadlines for quizzes and exams are extremely important. Late submission of
quizzes and exams will be severely penalized.
Grading Scheme:
Quizzes: 40%
Mid-term Exam: 30%
Final Exam: 30%
In order to receive full credit for exams, on line submissions must be submitted by
the end of the allotted unit timeframe (see syllabus, below). For UWinterM 2015,
quizzes are self paced; no deadline except that they must be submitted before taking
the corresponding midterm or final exam. The midterm exam covers units 1-3 while
the final exam covers units 4-7.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have a valid UWM account and a
working computer with current software. “My computer (printer) broke” is not an
accepted excuse.
Participation by Students with Disabilities: If you need special accommodations in
order to meet any of the class requirements, contact me by the end of the first week
of class.
Accommodation for Religious Observances: See UWM official policy; contact the
course instructor
Academic Misconduct: Assignments are expected to be completed independently,
without the aid of other individuals. Cheating on exams or any other type of
assignment will not be tolerated and will result in a zero on the exam, quiz or other
assignment. Additionally, any suspected cheating will be reported to the Dean of
Students Office, possibly resulting in further, more severe, consequence
Incompletes: A notation of “incomplete” may be given in lieu of a final grade to a
student who has carried a subject successfully until the end of a semester or term,
but because of illness or other substantiated, documented cause beyond the
student’s control, is unable to complete the final or a limited amount of term work.
An incomplete cannot be assigned if the student has not completed a substantial
amount of the semester of work, or unless the student can prove to the instructor
that they were prevented from completing the course requirements for just cause.
Grade Appeal Procedures: A student may appeal a grade on the basis that it is
based on capricious or arbitrary decision of the course instructor. The procedure
for making such an appeal are available in writing from the BioSci department
receptionist, chairperson or the Academic Dean of the College/School (Letters and
Science).
Note, UWinterM 2015: This timetable is a guide. Units are self paced. There is no
due date for quizzes; you may turn in whenever you finish them. However, quizzes
1-3 MUST be submitted before taking the mid-term. The due date for mid-term is
hard and firm; NO EXCEPTIONS. Again, quizzes 4-6 are self paced. The final
exam MUST be submitted by the due date; due date for final is hard and firm; NO
EXCEPTIONS.
SYLLABUS
UNIT
HUMAN BIOLOGY
TIMETABLE
DAY
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Unit of Study
DATE
Jan 05
Jan 06
Jan 07
Jan 08
Jan 09
Jan 11
Jan 12
Jan 14
Jan 15
Jan 16
Jan 17
Jan 18
Jan 19
Jan 25
1
1
2
2
3
3
Mid-Term Exam Due Jan 25
4
4
5
5
6
7
Final Exam Due Jan 25
5
Schedule of Topics
Unit
Lecture
1
Lecture
2
3
4
5
6
7
Chapter
Topic
1
Chapter 1
Introduction
Lecture
2
Chapter 2
Chemistry of Life
Lecture
3
Chapter 3
Cells
Lecture
4
Chapter 4
Lecture
5
Chapter 5
Organization;
Regulation
Cardiovascular 1
Lecture
6
Chapter 6
Cardiovascular 2
Lecture
7
Chapter 7
Immunity
Lecture
8
Chapter 9
Respiration
Lecture
9
Chapter 8
Digestion
Lecture 10
Chapter 10
Excretion
Lecture 11
Chapter 13
Nervous System
Lecture 12
Chapter 14
Sensory System
Lecture 13
Chapter 16
Reproduction
Lecture 14
Chapter 17
Human
Development
6