BIOL 1120, WOST 1120
Biology of Women
WEC Spring 2011
Instructor:
Office:
Email:
Dr. Dawn Foster-Hartnett (Dawn)
Mendel 12
dmfosterhartnett@stkate.edu
Lecture/Lab:
Saturdays, 8:15-12:45
Meet in Mendel 109
Required Texts:
 Women's Biology and Health: A New Perspective. Second Edition 2011. D.D.
Wygal and L.H. Gildensoph.
 Biology of Women Laboratory Manual. CSC Biology Department. This will be
available on-line through our website or lab protocols will be given out in class.
 Other readings and articles will be made available through the course D2L website
or in class
Recommended Text:
 Human Biology, 9th Edition, Cecie Starr and Beverly McMillan (Brooks-Cole,
2012)
One copy of this text and other similar human biology texts are located in the
Biology Lounge (Mendel 15) for all students to use. Please do not remove these
books from the room.
Office Hours: By appointment. I will always be available immediately following class to
discuss any issues or concerns. However, I ask that you schedule an appointment in
advance, if possible.
Course Web Site:
This course has its own web site on the College’s Desire2Learn server.
To access D2L, go to the web site http://stkate.desire2learn.com and click on the
“log in” button. Follow the login instructions. If you cannot log in for some
reason, please contact the Computing Services Help Desk (helpdesk@stkate.edu or
651 690-6402).
Please check your St Kate’s email daily for updates including posting of course
materials and grades.
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Course Objectives:
 To understand the basic principles of biology in areas such as anatomy, physiology,
genetics, cell biology, microbiology, and immunology as they relate to women and
women’s health.

To acquire basic laboratory skills in biology and to experience the process of
scientific investigation, from observation, experimental design, data collection and
analysis, to communication of your results with others.

To be able to analyze and evaluate scientific information presented in the media by
developing critical thinking and communication skills.

To become better informed and empowered health care consumers capable of
recognizing quality and competence in health care and actively participating in
health care decisions.

To examine myths, stereotypes, and sex role expectations associated with female
biology.

To examine the effects of modern medical technology on the lives of women.

To become acquainted with multi-cultural and social justice perspectives regarding
women’s health care issues.
Course Description: This trimester, we will explore biology from the unique perspective
of a woman’s body. Since this class is also cross-listed as a women’s studies course, it is
intentionally women-centric. We will investigate how the body works, how it develops,
and how to keep it healthy by exploring multiple perspectives on women’s biology and
health with respect to issues of race, class, and gender. I expect each of you to come to
class ready to participate in the learning process through discussions, group work, and labs.
Please come to class having read the assigned material, armed with questions about what
you’ve read.
Exams: You will have 2 take home exams over the course of the trimester (a mid-term
and final). These will consist of both multiple choice questions as well as essay
questions/case study analysis/critical thinking exercises. You may use your texts and notes
to answer the questions. Multiple choice questions will be entered online via D2L while
essay questions will be submitted via the digital drop box. Each exam is worth
approximately 100 points. Dates for the exams are listed on the syllabus schedule.
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Assignments/Presentations:
 Media Report. This includes a 2-3 page typed analysis of a print advertisement
depicting a woman’s body. You will also give a 5-7 min. presentation in class.
Details of the assignment will be given on the first day of class. (50 pts)
 Presentation of a Women’s Heath Issue. This will be a group project involving
several graded drafts. Final presentations will be given on the last day of class.
Details of the assignment will be given handed out and posted on the D2L website
(75 pts).
 Graded lab reports (see below)
Make sure to check the D2L website, after April 1st, for your first assignment
which will be due at our first meeting.
Laboratory: The laboratory portion of the course will serve to augment lecture material
with hands on experience. These labs will fall within the session as we get to coursework
that fits. Lab is an essential part of the course and attendance is required. If you must
miss a lab for a good reason, you need to speak with me immediately (or prior to missing)
so that I may determine if it is possible for you to make it up. In the WEC format, most
labs cannot be made up. Each lab you miss will result in 5 pts being deducted from your
point total. If I indicate that lab instructions are available online, you must print and read
the lab instructions prior to coming to class, and bring your printed version with you.
Laboratory reports will be graded.
Course Policies:
 Since we meet only 8 times this trimester, attendance in class is mandatory. If you
have to miss class, please contact me ahead of time. You will be responsible for any
material that you miss. It may not be possible to make-up the lab and therefore you
will lose the points earned in lab that day.
 All assignments must be typed using a word processor and submitted electronically
using the digital drop box on the course website. To access the digital drop box, go to
student tools and select “add”. Attach your file by clicking on the “browse” button and
finding where it is saved. Highlight the file and click “open”. Place it in your digital
drop box by clicking on submit. To submit the file to my digital drop box, you must
hit the “send” button.
 No late assignments will be accepted.
 I expect and encourage students to study together. However, make sure that
everything you turn in is written in your own words and not those of your text book,
online resources, or peers. Do not quote your notes or resources verbatim. Rather, you
should be able to process the information gleaned from these sources into your own
thoughts. You are on your honor to prepare answers for any exams and/or assignments
by yourself.
 Academic Integrity Policy: I expect that you will approach this class and all
assignments with honesty and integrity. Students are expected to follow the academic
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integrity policy documented in Le Guide. Anyone caught cheating will be failed on the
assignment in question. A second offense will result in a failing grade for the course.
 Special Considerations: It is the policy and practice of the University of Saint
Catherine to create an inclusive learning environment. If there are aspects of the
instruction or design of this course that result in barriers to your inclusion in the
learning environment – such as inaccessible web content, the use of non-captioned
videos, etc – please contact me as soon as possible. Students are also welcome to
contact Resources for Disabilities at 651-690-6882.
Grades: Your grade will be determined based on the percentage of total points you obtain.
There will be no curve in this course, rather I like to give you the grade you earn
throughout the course of the trimester. Grades will be assigned as follows:
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD+
D
F
93-100%
90-92%
87-89%
83-86%
80-82%
77-79%
73-76%
70-72%
67-69%
60-66%
0-59%
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Tentative Schedule
Date
April 15
April 22
May 6
May 20
Topic
 What is science?
 Women and science
 Feminism and science
 3 media reports
 Chemistry of life:
Biological molecules
 Organization of the
body: Cells, Tissues,
Organs, and Organ
Systems
 Introduction to
Microbiology
 Team proposals due
April 29, 5 pm
 3 media reports
 Systems biology focus on endocrine
system
 Menstrual cycle
 Reproductive
anatomy
 Expanded outline
due May 13, 5 pm
 3 media reports
 Fertilization,
pregnancy, and
embryonic
development
 Menstrual
disturbances and
contraception
* Midterm Exam
Posted (Due May 27
by 5 PM)
 Start creating your
presentation using
feedback from me
on your expanded
outline.




Lab
Film: Killing Us
Softly 4
The Strength to
Resist:Media’s
Impact on
Women and Girls
Microscopic
Observation of
cells and tissues
Environmnetal
sampling and
handwashing
experiments
Readings
 W & G: Ch 1-3
 Essays: Simon, Steinem,
Farr and Lorde
W & G: Ch 4-5
S & M: Ch 2 - 4
*make sure to also browse
through chapters S & M 5-8,
10-13 (organ systems)
 Finish
Environmental
sampling and
handwashing
 Anatomical
models
 Film: Red Moon
(if time allows)
W & G: Ch 7-10
Online reading -- If Men Could
Menstruate
(www.mum.org/ifmencou.htm)
S & M: Ch 15-16
 ABO testing
 Planning for
menstrual
products
experiments
W & G: Ch 11-12
5
S & M: Ch 17, 16.7, 16.8
*Browse through Ch 8 on
Blood
June 3
June 10
June 24
July 1
 3 media reports
 Mendelian genetics
 Chromosomes and
cell division: mitosis
and meiosis
 DNA
 Gene expression:
Transcription and
translation
 Menstrual
product
experiments
 Online Session
 Films (TBA),
online exercises
 Sex determination and
and discussion
differentiation
 The Biology of
Cancer
 Women and Cancer
 First version of
presentation due
June 17 by 12 pm.
 4 media reports
 Finish Menstrual
products
 Immune system and
experiment; lab
microbes
reports
 Women and Aging
 Final Presentations
(Final versions posted
by June 30, 12:00 pm)
 Final Exam Posted
(Due July 6 by 5 PM)
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W & G: 13-14
S & M: Ch 2.13, 18-20, 21.1-6
W & G 15-17
S & M: Ch 22
W & G 18, 21
S & M: Ch 9