Northern Virginia Community College - Alexandria Campus
Course Outline and Syllabus – Fall 2015
BIO 102
Instructor: Dr. Leslie Orzetti
Office: Bisdorf 352
Email: lorzettigollhofer@nvcc.edu
Office Hours: Monday/Tuesday 830-930
Tuesday/Wednesday 130-330
I. GENERAL INFORMATION
General Course Purpose: This course is to provide students with an opportunity to acquire fundamental
knowledge of the principles of living systems and offer an integrated approach to human anatomy and
physiology, microbiology, and pathology. BIO 101-102 is a college transfer-level course designed to meet
the needs of students pursuing programs in various health technology fields.
Text:
Biology: OpenStax – Biology (see blackboard for content used in class)
ID: 185cbf87-c72e-48f5-b51e-f14f21b5eabd@9.44
Full Text: http://cnx.org/contents/185cbf87-c72e-48f5-b51e-f14f21b5eabd@9.85:1/Preface-to-Biology
Lab Manual and Study Guide:
General Biology II Laboratory Manual: A Customized Version of Introductory Biology II Laboratory
Manual (Catherine Pratt and Hillary Cressey)
Laboratory: Labs will begin the first week of class.
http://blogs.nvcc.edu/albio/
Evaluation:
Lecture: The lecture component of this course (totaling 70% of your final grade) will be based on
5 hourly exams (worth a total of 550 points), and study quizzes totalling up to 100 points. Quizzes will be
done on blackboard (under assignments) immediately following the lecture for that topic. Since you will
have at least one week to take the quiz on your own time, there will be NO make-up quizzes. Make-up
exams are only given with prior approval and done in the testing center (AA156) within the week of the
exam. Exams consist of multiple choice, matching, and short answer questions. Lecture % = points
received/points possible x 100.
Lab: You will be evaluated in lab using quizzes and exercises (10 points each) on the lab material
to ensure that you have read the lab prior to coming to class. You will also have a laboratory report worth
20 points. Lab % = points received/points possible x 100. Be on time to class. Attendance is mandatory;
more than three unexcused absences from lab will result in a failing grade.
Total Grade: Overall course grade (0.7 x Lecture %) + (0.3 x Lab %).
Electronic Devices: Please put away/silence all electronic devices. If you must take a phone call, please
leave the classroom. Please be courteous to your professor and fellow students. This means: no texting,
facebook, twitter, email, you-tube, movies, videos, or web browsing during class. You may take use your
device for classroom purposes ONLY. This means note taking, following along with blackboard
presentations, or recording the lecture if need be. I understand we are in the digital age, but please keep
personal communication to a minimum in this classroom. I will take your device or ask you to leave if I
feel you or the people around you are distracted by your actions.
TENTATIVE LECTURE SCHEDULE
Day 1: August 88
Introduction, Animal organization, structure, function
Day 2: September 4
Animal Diversity
Day 3: September 11
EXAM I, Endocrine
Day 4: September 18
Nervous System, Sensory perception
Day 5: September 25
Muscular System, Skeletal System
Day 6: October 2
Exam II, Integumentary System
Day 7: October 9
Circulatory System, Respiratory System
Day 8: October 16
Digestive System, Nutrition
Day 9: October 23
Exam III, Osmoregulation
Day 10: October 30
Excretory System
Day 11: November 6
Immune System, Reproductive System
Day 12: November 13
Exam IV, Protists, Fungi
Day 13: November 20
Plants – Structure, Function, and Reproduction
Day 14: November 27
NO CLASS
Day 15: December 4
Plants - Diversity
Day 16: December 11
Environment and Ecology
Final Exam: December 18, 9:20 – 12:00
Competencies: BIO 101 is a prerequisite for BIO 102. Bio 102 may be taken without Bio 101 with
instructor approval. The student should be able to read and express him/herself both orally and in writing
on a college freshman level as measured by a college English competency examination (ENG Ill or
permission of instructor). ELI students should have working knowledge of blackboard, Microsoft
PowerPoint, Excel and Word 2007. Use of the track changes feature in Word may be necessary for your
lab paper.
Students with Special Needs: Students with physical disabilities who require accommodations are
encouraged to contact the college center for students with disabilities. Students with learning disabilities
should contact disability services (http://www.nvcc.edu/depts/disability/; contact also Dr. Sharon Murphy,
disability services counselor, 703-845-6076, smurphy@nvcc.edu). After disclosing, students should
provide documentation and discuss his/her individual needs with the instructor; this should be done at the
beginning of the semester. Instructors, in conjunction with the appropriate college officials, will provide
assistance to students who have completed the aforementioned process.
Plagiarism and Academic Honesty: At Northern Virginia Community College, we expect the highest
standards of academic honesty. Academic dishonesty is prohibited in accordance with subsection II of the
Student Conduct, Rights and Responsibilities described on pages 71-80 in the student handbook
(http://www.nvcc.edu/resources/stuhandbook/). This policy prohibits cheating on examinations,
unauthorized access to examinations or course materials, plagiarism and other proscribed activities.
Plagiarism is defined as the use of another’s idea(s) or phrase(s) and representing that/those phrases as
your own, either intentionally or unintentionally. Students that violate plagiarism and academic honesty
codes will receive a failing grade and will be expelled from this course.
Cancellation Days: In the event of class/lab cancellation, we will carry on at the next meeting as though
the cancellation did not occur. For example, if we were to have an exam scheduled on September 1, and it
snowed, the exam would take place on our next scheduled meeting on September 7th
Important Dates, Audit Policy and Incompletes: For critical dates regarding refunds, withdraw, etc. see:
http://www.nvcc.edu/academics/academic-calendar/index.html. Last day to drop with a refund is
September 10; last day to withdraw without a refund and grade penalty is November 3. A student may
decide to audit the course with the instructor’s permission only. If a student decides to audit the course
he/she must begin the course as an audit. Students may not take the course for a grade and then switch to
audit status. Incompletes are only granted if the students’ circumstances are dire (health issues, deaths in
the family). Incompletes will only be granted if students have completed all lab assignments and all but
one lecture exam. Incompletes must be approved by the division dean and the provost. Heath claims must
be documented by medical professionals. See http://www.nvcc.edu/academics/academic-calendar/#fa11
for a list of all important dates for the semester.