HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE - SPRING BRANCH
INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY 1308
FALL 2013
Instructor contact information
Instructor:
Richard J. Cristiano, Ph.D.
Office Phone:
N/A
Office:
N/A
Office Hours:
By Appointment Only
(or hours of availability)
E-mail:
richard.cristiano@hccs.edu
Welcome to
Course Title:
Course Prefix:
Course Number:
Intro. Biol. 1
Biol 1308
1308/62515
Credit Hours:
Class Room Location:
3
Rm 515
Semester and Year:
FALL 2013
Class Days & Times:
Lec. Friday Only from
9:00am--12:00pm
Course overview
Catalog Description:
A conceptual approach for students not majoring in science. An introduction to the nature of science, the
characteristics of life, the molecular and cellular basis of life, viruses, energetics, genetics, reproduction and
development. An emphasis will be placed on how these topics are related to issues facing modern society.
Course Learning Outcomes:
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Apply the scientific method in a laboratory setting.
Demonstrate an understanding of the basic biochemical and cellular principles that are common to all
living systems.
Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of energy and energy transformations to all levels of
living systems.
Demonstrate an ability to analyze the genetic components responsible for heredity and examine current
advances in bioscience technologies.
Demonstrate a basic knowledge of virology and the impact of viruses on living things
Demonstrate an understanding of the theory of evolution.
Demonstrate an ability to effectively communicate an understanding of links among biological principles
and concepts.
Demonstrate an ability to apply knowledge of biological concepts to personal, public, and ethical issues.
Demonstrate a positive attitude about the relevance of biology to their lives, and their ability to use their
knowledge of biology to solve real world problems.
Demonstrate ability to reason logically and think critically to evaluate information.
In our efforts to prepare students for a changing world, students may be expected to utilize computer
technology while enrolled in classes, certificate, and/or degree programs within HCCS. The specific
requirements are listed below:
Classes may be supplemented with online quizzes, online assignment submissions, Microsoft Word document
submissions, discussion boards, etc. as well as online homework and quizzes.
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Getting ready
Prerequisites:
ENGL 0305 AND ENGL 0307 or 0356, OR higher level course (ENGL 1301), OR placement by testing, MATH
0306
Co-requisites:
N/A
Required Material:
Textbook –: Campbell’s Essential Biology with Physiology, 3rd edition 2010, Authors: Simon, Reese and Dickey
Optional Materials
or Reference Texts:
N/A
Instructor guidelines and policies
ATTENDANCE: Roll will not be taken but attendance is your responsibility. I expect students to attend all
classes. Good class attendance is absolutely essential to do well in this course! It is a good idea to exchange
names and phone numbers with others in the class so that you can obtain the information you missed as quickly
as possible. In case of a prolonged absence (2 or more class meetings), the instructor should be notified as soon
as possible. In the event you are absent, it is your responsibility to check for information you missed as a result of
your absence.
ASSIGNMENTS: Read the chapters before coming to class! It will make learning a lot easier! Work is due on the
assigned day. No late work will be accepted! All lecture exams and quizzes will consist of questions that may
include multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, True-False, matching, and/or short answer questions. The final exam is
mandatory!!!!
CELL PHONE AND BEEPERS: All phones and beepers must be turned off or be in silent (courtesy) mode.
Please do not text or access you phone during class time. You may not leave the room during a test to answer a
phone call. Should this occur your test will be taken up immediately. I will allow the use of laptops in class, but
only if you are using them for note taking purposes.
INSTRUCTORS ASSURANCE: Instructor will return all email correspondence within a 48-hour period Monday
through Friday. If you are going to email me, please make sure you include your full name and class in you email.
All exams will be graded and scores given within a week of the exam date. Instructor will provide the students with
the opportunity to review and discuss their exams.
BEHAVIOR AND ETIQUETTE: Unless students are asked by the instructor to conduct discussions, talking is not
allowed in lecture. The instructor will ask a student who disturbs lectures to leave the room, and be marked
“absent” for the day.
EXAM POLICY: Exams will be given at the beginning of class time. After the first exam has been
completed, submitted, and that student has left the room, no more exams will be passed out. DON’T BE LATE
TO AN EXAM!
Scantrons will be used for exams and students must purchase a scantron before they are given an exam.
MAKE-UP EXAMS/QUIZZES: There will be no make-up allowed for quizzes. You will be allowed to make-up
ONE lecture exam throughout the semester, within a week (seven calendar days) of the missed exam being
given. I must receive in writing your request for a make-up within 24 hours of the missed exam. Once one week
(seven calendar days) from the original exam date has pasted, you will not be able to make up the exam and will
receive a zero on that exam. Missed make-up exams will also result in a zero; so once you make the appointment
to make-up the exam, keep it! Make-up exams will be given in the testing center. You cannot make-up the final
exam.
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QUESTIONS/PROBLEMS: Please make sure that if you have any questions or problems at any time, that you
first contact me as soon as possible. If you are going to email me, please make sure you include your full name
and class in you email. The worst thing you can do is wait to contact me or to not take advantage of the
resources available to you. By taking an active part in your education, you will make your academic experience
much more rewarding and exciting!!
GRADE DETERMINATION:
4 Exams, 150 points each
Final is part comprehensive
5-10 quizzes will occur at various times
throughout the semester
5-10 will occur at various times throughout
the semester
600
200
Percent of
Final
Average
60%
20%
100
10%
100
10%
Total:
1000
100%
Your grade will be
determined by the following
Lecture Exams
Final Exam
Quizzes
Homework
Assignments
Points
(if applicable)
Details
LETTER GRADE ASSIGNMENT:
Letter Grade
Final Average in Percent
A
>89.4
B
79.5 – 89.4
C
69.5 – 79.4
D
59.5 – 69.4
F
<59.5
*At any time during the semester, you can determine how you are doing by;
1) Add up all the points you have earned.
2) Divide that by the total number of points possible at this time.
3) Multiply by 100, which will give you a percentage grade of how you are doing.
Withdrawal Policy
If you stop attending class, you must withdraw at the registration office prior to “W” day. If you stop attending class and
do not officially withdraw, you will receive an “F” for the course.
Six Drop Rule
Students who enrolled in Texas public institutions of higher education as first-time college students during the Fall
2007 term or later are subject to section 51.907 of the Texas Education Code, which states that an institution of higher
education may not permit a student to drop (withdraw with a grade of “W”) from more than six courses, including
courses that a transfer student has previously dropped at other Texas public institutions of higher education that have
already been counted against their six drop limit. Each student should fully understand this drop limit before you drop
any course. Please see a Counselor or Advisor in our Student Services area for additional information and assistance.
HCCS is committed to your success
Early Intervention Program and Services
Your success is our primary concern! If you are experiencing challenges achieving your academic goals,
please contact your instructor or an early intervention coach. We can provide assistance with academic needs,
ADA accommodations, classroom difficulties, financial concerns, and other issues. Contact
cfintervention@lonestar.edu for more information.
Tutoring
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HCCS provides free online tutoring for all HCC students. Go to www.hccs.askonline.net; use your own e-mail address;
choose a username and password you will remember; put your HCC student ID number in the Comment Box.
Counseling Services
Counseling services are available to students who are experiencing difficulty with academic issues, selection of college
major, career planning, disability accommodations, or personal issues.
Tentative Instructional Outline:
Important dates: September 9th - Official Day of Record
November 1st - Last Day for Administrative/Student Withdrawl (Drop with a "W")
Week Number Date
Chapter
Topic
1 - AUG 30
Syllabus/Chapter 1
Introduction: Biology Today
2 - SEPT 6
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Essential Chemistry for Biology
5 - SEPT 27
Exam I
Chapter 5
Chapters 1-4
The Working Cell
6 - OCT 4
Chapter 6
Cellular respiration: Obtaining Energy From Food
7 - OCT 11
Chapter 8
Chapter 10
Exam II
Chapter 12
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Cellular Reproduction: Cells from Cells
The Structure and Function of DNA
Chapter 5, 6, 8, 10
DNA Technology
How Biological Diversity Evolves
The Evolution of Microbial Life
Exam III
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Exam IV
Chapter 25
No Class!
Chapter 26
Chapters 12, 14, 15
Unifying Concepts of Animal Structure and Function
Nutrition and Digestion
Circulation and Respiration
The Body's Defenses
Chapters 21-24
Hormones
Happy Thanksgiving!
Reproduction and Development
15 - DEC 6
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
The Life of a Flowering Plant
The Working Plant
16 - DEC 13
Final Exam December 13
from 9-12am
Chapters 25, 26, 28, 29 and Part Comprehensive
3 - SEPT 13
4 - SEPT 20
8 - OCT 18
9 - OCT 25
10 - NOV 1
11 - NOV 8
12 - NOV 15
13 - NOV 22
14 - NOV 29
The Molecules of Life
A Tour of the Cell
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Additional Instructor Policies
Academic Integrity
This instructor is committed to a high standard of academic integrity in the academic community. In becoming a
part of the academic community, students are responsible for honesty and independent effort. Failure to uphold
these standards includes, but is not limited to, the following: plagiarizing written work or projects, cheating on
exams or assignments, collusion on an exam or project, and misrepresentation of credentials or prerequisites
when registering for a course. Cheating includes looking at or copying from another student's exam, orally
communicating or receiving answers during an exam, having another person take an exam or complete a
project or assignment, using unauthorized notes, texts, or other materials for an exam, and obtaining or
distributing an unauthorized copy of an exam or any part of an exam. Plagiarism means passing off as his/her
own the ideas or writings of another (that is, without giving proper credit by documenting sources). Plagiarism
includes submitting a paper, report, or project that someone else has prepared, in whole or in part. Collusion is
inappropriately collaborating on assignments designed to be completed independently. These definitions are not
exhaustive. When there is clear evidence of cheating, plagiarism, collusion, or misrepresentation, disciplinary
action may include but is not limited to requiring you to retake or resubmit an exam or assignment, assigning a
grade of zero or "F" for an exam or assignment; or assigning a grade of "F" for the course. Additional sanctions
including being withdrawn from the course, program or expelled from school may be imposed on a students who
violate the standards of academic integrity.
Student Behavior Expectations
Students are expected to conduct themselves appropriately while on College property or in an online
environment. The instructor would institute established HCCS disciplinary action. Students who pose a threat to
the safety of others will be subject to immediate withdrawal from the classroom. Please refer to the HCC
Student Handbook.
Americans with Disabilities Act Statement
HCCS is dedicated to providing the least restrictive environment for all students. We promote equity in academic
access through the implementation of reasonable accommodations as required by the Vocational Rehabilitation
Act of 1973, Title V, Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) which will enable
students with disabilities to participate in and benefit from all post-secondary educational activities.
If you require reasonable accommodations because of a physical, mental, or learning disability, please contact
the Counseling Office to obtain the necessary information to request accommodations. Upon completion of this
process, please notify your instructor as soon as possible and preferably before the end of the first two weeks of
class to arrange for reasonable accommodations.
Computer Virus Protection
Computer viruses are, unfortunately, a fact of life. Using removable devices on more than one computer creates
the possibility of infecting computers and diskettes with a computer virus. This exposes the computers of the
college, your personal computer, and any others you may be using to potentially damaging viruses. The college
has aggressive anti-virus procedures in place to protect its computers, but cannot guarantee that a virus might
not temporarily infect one of its machines. It is your responsibility to protect all computers under your control and
use and ensure that each diskette you use, whenever or wherever you use it, has been scanned with anti-virus
software. Since new viruses arise continually, your anti-virus software must be kept current. And, since no antivirus software will find every virus, keeping backup copies is extremely important.
Equal Opportunity Statement
It is the policy of the HCCS to provide equal employment, admission and educational opportunities without
regard to race, color, creed, national origin, gender, age, veteran's status, sexual orientation, or disability.
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FERPA
The academic, financial and non-directory information on your student account is confidential and protected by
the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA). We cannot release certain information to another person
without your written authorization. The Authorization to Release Student Information Form can be found at
http://www.lonestar.edu/departments/studentservices/Authorization_to_Release_Student_Info.pdf.
Evaluation of Instruction
HCCS is committed to student success. As part of its’ institutional effectiveness efforts, our instructors are
assessed in several ways. For the continuous improvement of our instruction, all students are required to
provide input for each course they take each semester using the Course Evaluations Questionnaire. This occurs
approximately half way through your course and your instructor will provide you more information on this
process. The deans, and/or department chairs may visit each instructor’s class at some time during the
semester to observe the instructional environment being provided, and complete an assessment of the
instructor.
Final Examinations
A final evaluation activity will occur during the published final evaluation period. The appropriate dean, director,
or department chair must approve any variation to this schedule.
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