UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AIKEN
DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY AND GEOLOGY
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES II
BIOL 122 (4 credit hours)
SPRING 2015
Course Policies, Procedures, and Syllabus
Meeting Place:
Lecture: ONLINE
Lab: SBDG 103, Thurs 1:40-4:20
Instructor: Dr. Virginia Shervette
Office Location: SBDG 219A
Office Hours: Mon and Wed by appointment
E-mail: virginias@usca.edu
Phone: 803.641.3605
TEXTBOOK and LAB MATERIALS
Required Text: CAMPBELL BIOLOGY IN FOCUS published by Pearson
Lab manual: Biology Laboratory Manual, Department of Biology & Geology (Required-copies in the bookstore and
must be put in 3-ring binder)
A Photographic Atlas for the Biology Laboratory, Van de Graff & Crawley (Required-can find it used online)
LAB SUPPLIES: A quad-ruled notebook is required. Surgical gloves are recommended for use with handling
preserved specimens. Each student must provide his/her own eye protection and gloves when working with
preserved specimens. (Caution: Exposure to formaldehyde has been linked to cancer in rats.)
COURSE OBJECTIVES and LEARNING OUTCOMES
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Biological principles and concepts from the tissue through ecosystem levels of
organization including evolutionary processes.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
• To acquaint students with biological principles associated with multicellularity, development, phylogeny,
ecology and evolution.
• To acquaint students with the anatomical organization of organisms to include tissue, organs, and systems and
their functions.
• To trace the development of organisms.
• To trace the phylogeny of organisms.
• To acquaint students with the behavior and ecology of organisms.
STUDENT COMPETENCY STATEMENTS: By the end of this course the student will have demonstrated the
ability to:
• Discuss biological principles and topics of historical and current interest and importance.
• Describe the biological processes that operate at the multicellular levels to include histological, organismal,
population, community and ecosystem levels of organization.
• Apply theoretical concepts in the laboratory by following a written procedure.
METHODS OF PRESENTATION: This course will consist of on-line lectures by the instructors, classroom
discussion, and group and individual laboratory exercises. The instructors will utilize appropriate modes of visual
aids and laboratory equipment.
METHODS OF EVALUATION: Achievement of course objectives will be evaluated by lecture exams, laboratory
reports, notebooks, quizzes and exams, and a final comprehensive exam.
COURSE GRADING and EXAMS
The lecture will count for 50% and the lab for 50% of the final course grade. However, you must receive a
passing grade in lab to pass the class.
Grades in the course will be determined as follows:
12% - weekly quizzes
11% - lab notebooks
11% - laboratory reports
66% - six course exams
See the course schedule below for dates of exams.
ATTENDANCE and PARTICIPATION
1. This is a survey course and covers a great deal of material! The text is good and can help explain lecture
material you may not fully understand. I will not cover all of the text in class, but you will understand
lectures better if you read the assigned text sections before you come to class, and you will do better on tests
if you keep up with the reading. In addition, I will provide information in lecture that will supplement your
text. You will be expected to know this additional material for lecture quizzes, so it is imperative that you
attend lectures to do well in this class.
2. The lab is heavily scheduled and you will be expected to stay for the entire period.
3. You will be expected to have read all laboratory exercises and the accompanying text references before
attending labs. You must bring both your laboratory manual and your textbook to the laboratory.
4. No make-up exams will be given for missed lecture exams except under extreme situations (see your Student
Handbook). There will be no opportunity to make up missed lab quizzes or exams unless it can be
arranged during another lab period during the week the absence occurred.
5. Students are expected to attend lectures. Pop quizzes may be given periodically to encourage attendance. In
addition, 75% attendance in lab is required. You cannot get a passing grade in this course with more than
two absences – we only meet in-person one time per week.
6. You are strongly encouraged to make appointments with your instructor if you are having problems in the
course. You may make an appointment or drop in if I am not busy with another student.
7. Upon prior approval, you will be allowed to use an electronic device to record lectures if the recording device
is placed at the front lecture desk.
8. If you have a physical, psychological, and/or learning disability which might affect your performance in this
class, please contact the Office of Disability Services, 134 B&E, (803) 643-6816, as soon as possible. The
Disabilities Services Office will determine appropriate accommodations based on documentation.
HONOR CODE AND CHEATING
HONOR CODE: In our hearts we know that cheating is wrong. It is the responsibility of every student at the
University of South Carolina Aiken to adhere steadfastly to truthfulness and to avoid dishonesty, fraud, or deceit of
any type in connection with any academic program. Any student who violates this Honor Code or who knowingly
assists another to violate this Honor Code shall be subject to discipline.
By signing your name to an assignment, quiz, or test you are acknowledging that you will adhere to The Honor Code
at USCA. This class is designed to benefit you, the student. Please do not allow yourself to succumb to any form
of cheating. Suspicion of cheating will be reported automatically to Academic Integrity. Cheating on an Exam will
result in an F in the course.
Lecture and Lab Schedule
Week
Topic
Chapter
Jan 12-17
Read Chapter 1
1
Lab 15 Jan
Introduction to Class and Lecture on Ch 1 Evolution and Foundations
Jan 18-24
Online Lectures: 20 Phylogeny; 21 Evolution of Populations
Lab 22 Jan
Lab: Lab 1 Scientific Method
Jan 25-31
Online Lecture: 22 Origin of Species
Lab 29 Jan
No Lab meeting this week – make sure you study for Exam 1
Feb 1-7
Online Lecture: Ch 23 Broad Patterns of Evolution
23
Lab 5 Feb
Lab: Exam 1 (Ch 1 and 20-22 including Lab Exercise I and Documentary);
Lab II Microscopy and Prokaryote and Protist Diversity
Lab II
Feb 8-14
Online Lecture: Ch 24 Early Life Diversification
24
Lab 12 Feb
Lab: Lab III Cell Cycle, Division and Ploidy
Lab III
Feb 15-21
Online Lecture: Ch 25 Origin and Diversification of Eukaryotes
25
Lab 19 Feb
Lab: Exam 2 (Ch 23-24 and Lab II)
Feb 22-28
Online Lecture: Ch 26 Colonization of Land By Plants and Fungi
26
Lab 26 Feb
Lab: Exercises IV Plant Diversity and VII Fungi Diversity
Lab IV, VII
Mar 1-7
Online Lecture: 28 Plant Structure and Growth
28
Lab 5 Mar
Exam 3 (Ch 25-26 and Labs II, IV, VII)
Lab: V Monocots and Dicots and Plant Tissue
Lab V
Mar 8-14
SPRING BREAK
Lab 12 Mar
SPRING BREAK
Mar 15-21
Online Lecture: 30 Reproduction and Domestication of Flowering Plants
30
Lab 19 Mar
Lab: VI Flowers, Fruits and Seeds
Lab VI
Mar 22-28
Online Lecture: 27 The Rise of Animal Diversity
27
Lab 26 Mar
Lab: Exam 4 (Includes Ch 28, 30 and Labs V, VI)
IX and X Animal Diversity 1 and 2
Labs IX and X
Mar 29- 4 Apr
Online Lecture: 36 Reproduction and Development
36, 40
Lab 2 Apr
Lab: VIII Animal Development
Ch 40 Population Ecology (in class)
VIII
Apr 5-11
Ch 41 Distribution of Organisms (in class)
41
Lab 9 Apr
Lab: Exam 5 (27, 36, 40)
XI
Apr 12-18
Ch 42 Ecosystems and Energy (in class)
42
Lab 16 Apr
Lab: XII Trophic Pyramid
XII
Apr 19-25
Ch 43 Global Ecology and Conservation Biology
43
Lab 23 Apr
In Class lecture on Ch 43
Final Exam 30 Apr
2 pm
Exam 6 (41-43 and Labs XII); Lab Report Due and Lab Notebooks
20-21
22
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF READING THE SYLLABUS
In your natural handwriting copy out the following statement in the space provided below:
I have read the BIOL 122 syllabus and understand the policies on lecture, lab, grading,
exams, attendance, quizzes, honor code, and cheating. I have also read and understand the
additional course information. While physically attending this class, I will act in a manner
that is respectful to me, other students, the professor, and guest speakers.
Write out statement below:
Signature: _________________________________
Name printed:_______________________________
Date: ______________________
*You will not receive credit for this course until you have completed and turned in this acknowledgement.