I. ASCRC General Education Form
Group
Group XI: Natural Science
Dept/Program
Course #
Applied Arts and
Sciences / Science
Course Title
Issues in Biology
Prerequisite
none
Credits
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Please type / print name Signature
Instructor
Gregory Peters
Phone / Email
(406) 207-6154
greg.peters@mso.umt.edu
Program Chair
Cathy Corr
Dean
SCN 100N
3
Date
Barry Good
III. Description and purpose of the course:
Issues in Biology is an issues-based approach to introductory biology. Designed to
promote biological literacy, this course is a foundation course for students with little
science background. Students will explore science as a process of asking questions
and testing hypotheses. We will investigate the biology of such issues as cancer, HIVAIDS, population growth, genetic engineering, evolution, and biodiversity. When
applicable, issues will be explored from the molecular to the ecosystem scale to
provide a broad, integrated understanding.
Students will explore Biology through diverse methods such as classroom lectures and
discussions, reading and interpreting scientific literature, and examining the
presentation of biological issues in the news media. Students will be expected to
articulate their learning and perceptions through written work, with the objective of
developing and demonstrating confidence understanding basic biological principles
and connecting the process of science to their daily lives.
IV. Criteria: Briefly explain how this course meets the criteria for the group.
1. Courses explore a discipline in the natural 1. SCN 100N exposes students to the sciences and demonstrate how the scientific
application of the scientific method method is used within the discipline to draw
through examination of both historic scientific conclusions.
and recent discoveries in biology and interpretation of scientific literature. Biology is examined as a process of exploring the living world rather than simply as a set of factual information. 2. SCN 100N explicitly explores the methods of asking questions, developing valid hypotheses, and scientific hypothesis testing. SCN 100N furthermore explores the relationship between this process and the development of rigorously tested scientific theories. Numerous concepts are connected to the core, unifying biological theories of the cellular basis for life and evolution. 3. Lab courses engage students in inquiry3. SCN 100N does not have a laboratory based learning activities where they formulate a
component, but asks students to hypothesis, design an experiment to test the
demonstrate the ability to develop valid hypothesis, and collect, interpret, and present
scientific hypotheses and interpret the the data to support their conclusions.
conclusions drawn from the scientific process in the analysis of current scientific literature. V. Student Learning Goals: Briefly explain how this course will meet the applicable learning
goals.
Upon completion of this perspective, a student Upon completion of this course, students will will be able to:
be able to: 1. understand the general principles
1. Understand and apply the core principles associated with the discipline(s) studied.
of Biology, including: ‐ The cellular basis of life ‐ The theory of evolution ‐ The flow of energy in living systems ‐ The core principles of genetics and heredity ‐ The nature of interactions between living systems (principles of ecology) ‐ Biodiversity and the impacts of humans on living systems 2. understand the methodology and activities 2. Understand the methods biologists use to scientists use to gather, validate and interpret
develop and explore questions, through: data related to natural processes.
‐ Discussing the efficacy and limits of the scientific method of inquiry ‐ Evaluating scientific arguments in both classroom material and scientific literature ‐ Examining historic and current examples of biologists’ work
2. Courses address the concept of analytic
uncertainty and the rigorous process required to
take an idea to a hypothesis and then to a
validated scientific theory.
3. detect patterns, draw conclusions, develop 3. Observe biological phenomena and conjectures and hypotheses, and test them by
practice the skills needed to develop valid appropriate means and experiments.
hypotheses and interpret scientific data. Students will not be involved in hands‐on hypothesis testing because SCN 100N does not include a laboratory component. Students will, however, develop skills interpreting data through examination of the scientific process as carried out by working biologists, as well as develop skills researching biological phenomena using scientific literature. 4. understand how scientific laws and
4. Use critical thinking skills to evaluate theories are verified by quantitative
scientific conclusions through: measurement, scientific observation, and
‐ Examining the development of major logical/critical reasoning.
biological theories in a historical context ‐ Discussing and rejecting alternative hypotheses for biological phenomena ‐ Understanding components of scientific hypothesis testing, including: ‐ control vs. treatment groups ‐ taking valid measurements ‐ replication ‐ statistical analyses 5. understand the means by which analytic
uncertainty is quantified and expressed in the
natural sciences.
5. Appreciate the ongoing nature of Biological research: Students will understand the methods through which scientists communicate the degree of confidence in their conclusions, including the concept of statistical significance. Students will recognize the quantification of scientific uncertainty through critical examination of the connection between the methodology and results presented in samples of scientific literature. VII. Syllabus:
Below is the current syllabus for SCN 100N:
SCN100N: Issues in Biology
Autumn 2008
Instructor: Greg Peters
Contact: greg.peters@mso.umt.edu or (406) 207-6154
Office Hours: Wednesdays 9:00 - 12:00 in HB 11
Text: Minkoff & Baker. 2004. Biology Today: An Issues Approach. Garland Science:
NY, NY.
Course Description:
Issues in Biology is an issues-based approach to introductory biology. Designed to
promote biological literacy, this course is a foundation course for health core students
with little science background. We will be exploring the biology behind such issues as
cancer, HIV-AIDS, population growth, genetic engineering, evolution, and biodiversity.
When possible, issues will be explored from the molecular to the ecosystem scale to
provide a broad, integrated understanding.
Course Objectives:
- Identify and evaluate scientific arguments
- Understand and apply the scientific method of inquiry; understand its scope and limits
- Understand components of scientific hypothesis testing
- Understand the methods biologists use to develop and explore questions
- Make informed decisions in biology-based issues as a consumer and citizen
- Understand fundamental biological concepts, laws, and theories
- Understand matter, energy, and organization in biological systems
- Identify patterns of interaction in living systems at different scales
- Understand the fundamental concepts of genetics and apply them in current issues
- Use critical thinking to evaluate scientific arguments and issues in biology
- Engage in self-directed research to think critically about biology
Assessment:
1) Exams (3)
2) Biological Science Journal Summaries (5)
3) Biology in the news summaries (5)
4) Cumulative Final Exam
TOTAL:
points
300
50
25
125
500
grades
90-100% = A- to A
80-90% = B- to B+
70-80% = C- to C+
60-70% = D- to D+
< 60% = F
Some recommendations:
The two most important things you can do to get the most out of this course are to
keep up with the reading and commit to regular attendance in class.
Working through the practice questions in the text is a good idea, because these will
keep you thinking about the material and they may be similar to some exam questions.
Your NetID will give you access to an online supplement to this course that includes
portions of the presentations used in class. Log in at:
https://courseware.umt.edu/webapps/login/
You will be expected to work on your own without resources on all exams, so make
sure to review your notes and reading thoroughly before exams.
Ask questions when something is unclear or maybe just particularly interesting.
Course Policies:
Late assignments will lose 10% per class meeting, starting immediately after class, so
please plan ahead to get them to me at the beginning of class on the due date. Makeup exams will only be offered for compelling reasons and if advance notice is given.
No early finals will be offered, so make any travel plans accordingly.
Students with disabilities will receive appropriate accommodations. Please contact me
and provide a letter from your DSS coordinator so that accommodations can be made.
All students need to be familiar with the Student Conduct Code and practice academic
honesty. The Code is available for review online at
http://www.umt.edu/SA/VPSA/index.cfm?page?1321.
University policies on drops, adds, changes of grade option, or change to audit status
will be observed in this course. Please note that after October 6th, such changes are
NOT automatically approved; they may be requested by petition, but the petition must
be accompanied by documentation of extenuating circumstances. Requests to drop a
course or change the grade basis to benefit a student’s grade point average will not be
approved. A grade of C or higher will be considered a passing grade for the P/NP
option.
Class Schedule:
Date:
Aug 25
Aug 27
Topic:
Biology: Science and Ethics
Classifying nature, Cells
Summary Due:
Sep 1
Sep 3
No class: Labor Day Holiday
Classifying nature, Kingdoms of Life Journal #1
6 (173-194)
Sep 8
Sep 10
Principles of genetics
Human genetics
News #1
2 (34-45, 56-61)
3 (64-71, 79-86)
Sep 15
Sep 17
Genetic engineering
Genetic engineering
Journal #2
4 (96-113)
11 (396-409)
Sep 22
Sep 24
Exam 1 Review
EXAM 1
Sep 29
Oct 1
Evolution
Evolution
Oct 6
Oct 8
Sociobiology, Human variation
Human variation, Population growth Journal #3
Oct 13
Oct 15
Nutrition and Health
Nutrition, Drug use & abuse
Oct 20
Oct 22
EXAM 2
Plants and crops
Oct 27
Oct 29
Plants and crops
Cell division, Development
Nov 3
Nov 5
Cancer
The nervous system
News #4
Nov 10
Nov 12
Mind and Body
Intro to Ecology
15 (540-542, 555-558, 564)
Journal #5
Nov 17
Nov 19
EXAM 3
Disease
Nov 24
Nov 26
Biodiversity
No Class: Thanksgiving Holiday
18 (642-647, 655-672
Dec 1
Dec 3
Threats to the biosphere
Course wrap-up
19 (700-711)
News #2
News #3
Read Chap (pgs):
1 (1-12, 18-24)
6 (160-172)
5 (124-141)
5&6 (142-154, 195-200)
8&7 (246-261, 204-20
7&9 (217-220, 282-29
10 (326-356)
14 (502-511, 521-526)
11 (366-377)
Journal # 4
11 (378-387)
12 (416-419, 423-431)
12 (432-451)
13 (464-487)
16&17:
(612-617, 574-576, 582-
News #5