UCC/UGC/ECCC
Proposal for New Course
Please attach proposed Syllabus in approved university format.
1. Course subject and number: BSC 414
2. Units:
See upper and lower division undergraduate course definitions.
3. College:
NAU YUMA
4. Academic Unit:
3
Arts and Sciences
5. Student Learning Outcomes of the new course. (Resources & Examples for Developing Course Learning
Outcomes)
1. Identify local plants, via a working knowledge of the special language of botany, and the
structure of plants.
2. Assemble a plant collection, pressed and identified.
3. Understand the evolutionary history of plants and adaptations.
4. Become skilled in identifying flora and vegetation types of Arizona, with an emphasis on
species and vegetation found in Southwestern Arizona
6. Justification for new course, including how the course contributes to degree program outcomes,
or other university requirements / student learning outcomes. (Resources, Examples & Tools for Developing
Effective Program Student Learning Outcomes).
This course will contribute to the degree requirements of the environmental and biological science
degree and can be used as a course to satisfy the liberal arts requirements of scientific inquiry for
other degrees.
7. Effective BEGINNING of what term and year?
See effective dates calendar.
Fall 2014
8. Long course title: Native Plants of Arizona
(max 100 characters including spaces)
9. Short course title: Native Plants of Arizona
(max. 30 characters including spaces)
10. Catalog course description (max. 60 words, excluding requisites):
BSC 414 will provide an in depth study of the flora and vegetation types of Arizona, with an emphasis
on species and vegetation found in Southwestern Arizona, will present information on morphology,
taxonomy, and natural history of important flowering plant families of Arizona. It will also involve the
examination of live plant material of species discussed in lecture. We will also identify plants using
keys and descriptions in standard floras.
Effective Fall 2012
11. Will this course be part of any plan (major, minor or certificate) or sub plan (emphasis)?
Yes
If yes, include the appropriate plan proposal.
No
12. Does this course duplicate content of existing courses?
Yes
No
If yes, list the courses with duplicate material. If the duplication is greater than 20%, explain why
NAU should establish this course.
BIO 414, Yuma based courses that are specific to the Biological Science Degree.
13. Will this course impact any other academic unit’s enrollment or plan(s)?
Yes
No
If yes, describe the impact. If applicable, include evidence of notification to and/or response from
each impacted academic unit
14. Grading option:
Letter grade
Pass/Fail
Both
15. Co-convened with:
N/A
14a. UGC approval date*:
(For example: ESE 450 and ESE 550) See co-convening policy.
*Must be approved by UGC before UCC submission, and both course syllabi must be presented.
16. Cross-listed with:
N/A
(For example: ES 450 and DIS 450) See cross listing policy.
Please submit a single cross-listed syllabus that will be used for all cross-listed courses.
17. May course be repeated for additional units?
16a. If yes, maximum units allowed?
16b. If yes, may course be repeated for additional units in the same term?
Yes
No
Yes
No
18. Prerequisites:
BIO 181 and BIO 182
If prerequisites, include the rationale for the prerequisites.
Much of the course content is built upon a previous knowledge of foundations of biology that the
prerequisites establish for the student. The prerequisites allow for a student to be successful in this
course.
19. Co requisites:
None
If co requisites, include the rationale for the co requisites.
20. Does this course include combined lecture and lab components?
Yes
If yes, include the units specific to each component in the course description above.
Effective Fall 2012
No
21. Names of the current faculty qualified to teach this course:
Dr. Francisco Villa
Answer 22-23 for UCC/ECCC only:
22. Is this course being proposed for Liberal Studies designation?
If yes, include a Liberal Studies proposal and syllabus with this proposal.
Yes
23. Is this course being proposed for Diversity designation?
If yes, include a Diversity proposal and syllabus with this proposal.
Yes
FLAGSTAFF MOUNTAIN CAMPUS
Reviewed by Curriculum Process Associate
Date
Approvals:
Department Chair/Unit Head (if appropriate)
Date
Chair of college curriculum committee
Date
Dean of college
Date
For Committee use only:
UCC/UGC Approval
Date
Approved as submitted:
Yes
No
Approved as modified:
Yes
No
Effective Fall 2012
No
No
EXTENDED CAMPUSES
Jenny Scott
10.16.13
Reviewed by Curriculum Process Associate
Date
Approvals:
Academic Unit Head
Date
Division Curriculum Committee (Yuma, Yavapai, or Personalized Learning)
Date
Division Administrator in Extended Campuses (Yuma, Yavapai, or Personalized
Learning)
Date
Faculty Chair of Extended Campuses Curriculum Committee (Yuma, Yavapai, or
Personalized Learning)
Date
Chief Academic Officer; Extended Campuses (or Designee)
Date
Approved as submitted:
Yes
No
Approved as modified:
Yes
No
Effective Fall 2012
COURSE SYLLABUS – APPROVED FORMAT
General Information
 Northern Arizona University- Yuma; Department of Arts and Sciences
 BSC 414, Native Plants of Arizona
 Fall or Spring
 3hrs. Lecture, 3 credit hours
 Professor John King
 Science and Research building, Office 112
 Office hours: Monday/Wednesday 8:00am to 9:00am and 4:00pm to 5:00pm
Course prerequisites
BIO 181 and BIO 182
Course Corequisite
None
Course description:
BSC 414 will provide an in depth study of the flora and vegetation types of Arizona, with an emphasis on
species and vegetation found in Southwestern Arizona, will present information on morphology, taxonomy, and
natural history of important flowering plant families of Arizona. It will also involve the examination of live
plant material of species discussed in lecture. We will also identify plants using keys and descriptions in
standard floras.
Student Learning Expectations/Outcomes for this Course
Upon satisfactory completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1.
Identify local plants, via a working knowledge of the special language of botany, and the structure of
plants.
2.
Assemble a plant collection, pressed and identified.
3.
Understand the evolutionary history of plants and adaptations.
4.
Become skilled in identifying flora and vegetation types of Arizona, with an emphasis on species and
vegetation found in Southwestern Arizona
Course structure/approach:
The course may involve one or more of the following approaches: lecture and discussion; application exercises;
scheduled activities; case analysis; team projects; field trips, speakers with relevant expertise, and/or other
activities as appropriate to achieve learning outcomes.
Effective Fall 2012
Textbook and required materials: Student learning is facilitated with textbooks, readings, audio-visual
content, software, and/or other materials
Recommended optional materials/references (attach reading list): None
Course outline:
Week 1: Introduction; Plant evolution and basic structure
Week 2: Vegetative and flower structure
Week 3: Plant classification
Week 4: Plant structure
Week 5: Fieldtrip to UA Herbarium
Week 6: Guest speaker
Week 7: Deserts of the World
Week 8: Fieldtrip to Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Week 9: Plant adaptations, physiology
Week 10: Biogeography
Week 11: Landforms
Week 12: Keying out plants
Week 13: Fieldtrip to Mt. Lemmon
Week 14: Identify plants from Mt. Lemmon
Week 15: Uses of desert plants; native plants and native people
Week 16: Final exam
Assessment of Student Learning Outcomes
 Methods of Assessment: In-class exams, homework, in-class activities, research paper, and/or
presentations as determined by student.
 Timeline for Assessment: Over the course of the semester
Grading System:
Letter grades for the course will be determined based on the percentage of the total points as follows:
90-100%
A Excellent
80-89%
B Good
70-79%
C Average
60-69%
D Lowest passing
<60%
F Failure
Course policy:
Retests/makeup tests:
No make-up exams or re-tests except for what the instructor may deem as extenuating circumstances.
Attendance Policy:
Under NAU Policy, students are expected to attend every session of the class in which they are enrolled.
Statement on plagiarism and cheating:
DON’T CHEAT!
Effective Fall 2012
Please refer to the NAU Student Handbook policy statement on Academic Integrity. Academic honesty does not
allow "plagiarism — knowingly representing the words or ideas of another as one's own" (2005, Undergraduate
General Academic and Graduation Policies).
If your instructor determines that you are guilty of plagiarism he deserves the right to give you a zero on the
alleged assignment up to failing the course in question. All incidents regardless will be reported to the
university.
University policies
Attach the Safe Working and Learning Environment, Students with Disabilities, Institutional Review Board,
and Academic Integrity policies or reference them on the syllabus. See the following document for policy
statements: http://www4.nau.edu/avpaa/UCCPolicy/plcystmt.html.
Your instructor reserves the right to make any changes to the course policies, schedule, or any other aspect of
the class as he sees fit.
Effective Fall 2012