From: Biology Department, MCC
To:
MCC Academic Departments
Date: Fall 2004
Re:
Upcoming changes in Biology Curricula
The Biology Department at Monroe Community College is planning to implement
several changes in our liberal arts curriculum offerings. The changes include the
phasing out of four introductory-level courses (BIO 115: Fundamentals of Life
Science, BIO 126: Introduction to the Biology of Cells, BIO 160: General Botany, and
BIO 165: General Zoology). These are being replaced with three new courses, BIO
120: Essentials of Life Science, and two semesters of General Biology (BIO 155:
General Biology I and BIO 156: General Biology II).
The new BIO 155/156 General Biology sequence is designed for students in science
related advisement sequences (e.g. LA 18 – Biology) and for students that wish or
need to take a one year general biology sequence (provided they meet the
prerequisites).
The following table shows the timeline for phasing out the old courses and phasing
in the new courses. Students that use these courses to fulfill degree requirements
need to be aware of the schedule for phasing out existing courses.
Semester
Spring 2005
Summer 2005
Fall 2005
Old Courses Offered
Brighton
Damon
BIO 115
BIO 126
BIO 115
BIO 160
BIO 126
BIO 165
BIO 115
None
BIO 160 or 165*
BIO 160
None
BIO 165
Spring 2006
BIO 160
BIO 165
None
Summer 2006
None
None
Fall 2006
None
None
New Courses Offered
Brighton
Damon
BIO 120 (pilot)
None
None
None
BIO 120
BIO 155
BIO 120
BIO 155
BIO 156
BIO 120
BIO 155*
BIO 120
BIO 155
BIO 156
* = tentatively scheduled as a special varied-length summer offering
BIO 120
BIO 120
BIO 120
BIO 120
Please recognize that while many of these changes begin in Fall 2005, this timetable
does result in two courses being offered for the last time before Fall 2005. At this
time, the Biology Department plans to offer BIO 126 for the last time in Spring 2005,
and BIO 115 for the last time in Summer 2005. Beginning in Fall 2005, we anticipate
that many of the students who would have taken BIO 115 or BIO 126 will enroll in
the new BIO 120 course, other Biology Department offerings designed for the liberal
arts student (such as those listed in the table below), or possibly the new BIO 155
course if they meet the prerequisites and are interested in a science career.
Consequently, as these changes occur (and upon their completion), the Biology
Department will continue to offer a variety of 3 credit and 4 credit courses that do
not require a college level prerequisite and are designed for our liberal arts
students.
Course
BIO 116: The Human Environment
BIO 117: Consumer Nutrition
BIO 118: Practical Botany
BIO 133: The Human Machine
BIO 137: Biology of HIV and AIDS Infection
BIO 170: Marine Life
BIO 120: Essentials of Life Science
BIO 133 with BIO 132: The Human Machine/
Laboratory for the Human Machine
BIO 155: General Biology I
(with appropriate High School Prerequisites)
BIO 156: General Biology II
(with appropriate College Prerequisites)
Credit
Hours
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
Laboratory
Component
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
4
Yes
4
Yes
4
Yes
These changes are the result of a multi-year process and the Biology Department
strongly feels that this will allow us to better serve the diverse needs of MCC
students. Please feel free to contact the Biology Department with questions or
comments as this transition progresses.
If you would like a representative from the Biology Department to visit one of your
departmental meetings to answer questions and/or provide more information,
communicate that to us and we will do our best to accommodate your wishes.
Two contact people in the Biology Department are:
Tim Tatakis, Chairperson, Biology Department (x 2332)
MaryJo Witz, Chairperson, Biology Department Curriculum Committee (x 2733)
revised 10/20/04