Salt Lake Community College - Biology Department
BIOL1070 (BS): Introduction to Marine Biology
Spring Semester 2014
Instructor: Melissa Tillack
E-mail: mellisa.tillack@slcc.edu
Office: HTC 115 Y Jordan Campus
Phone: 957-6247
Consultation Hours: MW 1:15-1:30. 3:45-4:15pm TR 12:45-1:00pm, 2:15-2:30pm, 3:45-4:30pm or by
appointment.
Class Website: http://rwdacad01.slcc.edu/academics/dept/biol/MTillack/MarBiolWeb/1070webINDEX.htm
Required Course Materials:
Textbook: Introduction to the Biology of Marine life by John F. Morrissey and James L. Sumich, 10th edition
Course Description: Prereq: RDG 0900 w/C grade or better, or appropriate Accuplacer score. Coreq: BIOL
1075. Introductory study of Biology focusing on marine biological systems. Intended for non-science majors.
Three hours of lecture per week with additional lab component (BIOL 1075) required.
General Education Statement:
This course fulfills the Biological Sciences requirement for the General Education Program at Salt Lake
Community College. It is designed not only to teach the information and skills required by the discipline, but also
to develop vital workplace skills and to teach strategies and skills that can be used for life-long learning. General
Education courses teach basic skills as well as broaden a student’s knowledge of a wide range of subjects.
Education is much more than the acquisition of facts; it is being able to use information in meaningful ways in
order to enrich one’s life. While the subject of each course is important and useful, we become truly educated
through making connections of such varied information with the different methods of organizing human
experience that are practiced by different disciplines. Therefore, this course, when combined with other General
Education courses, will enable you to develop broader perspectives and deeper understandings of your
community and the world, as well as challenge previously held assumptions about the world and its inhabitants.
ePortfolio Statement:
Each student in General Education courses at SLCC will maintain a General Education ePortfolio. Instructors in
every Gen Ed course will ask you to put at least one assignment from the course into your ePortfolio, and
accompany it with reflective writing. It is a requirement in this class for you to add to your ePortfolio. Your
ePortfolio will allow you to include your educational goals, describe your extracurricular activities, and post your
resume. When you finish your time at SLCC, your ePortfolio will then be a multi-media showcase of your
educational experience. For detailed information including a Student ePortfolio Handbook, video tutorials for
each ePortfolio platform, classes, locations and times of free workshops and other in-person help, visit
www.slcc.edu/gened/eportfolio.
COLLEGE-WIDE LEARNING OUTCOMES
The Core Themes of SLCC’s Mission focuses on Access and Success, Transfer Education, Workforce Education
and Community Engagement. As such, all courses and programs address one or more of the below CollegeWide Learning Outcomes. Upon successful completion of any program at SLCC, students should:

Acquire substantive knowledge in the discipline of their choice sufficient for further study, and/or




demonstrate competencies required by employers to be hired and succeed in the workplace.
Communicate effectively.
Develop quantitative literacies necessary for their chosen field of study.
Think Critically.
Develop the knowledge and skills to be civically engaged, and/or to work with others in a professional
and constructive manner.
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
In order to full-fill the goals of the College-wide Learning Outcomes, the following course learning outcomes of
been established for this course. Upon completion of this course a person educated in Marine Biology should be
able to demonstrate a general understanding of the following essential learning outcomes.








Students will be introduced to and will show mastery in marine biology. The majority of this class is
devoted to describing marine organisms as functioning (whole) organisms. The “atoms to ecosystems”
approach (found in the majority of biology classes) is taken, namely: atoms → molecules → cells →
tissues → organs → organ systems → whole organisms → populations → ecosystems. This class focuses
on invertebrate, vertebrate and plant diversity, and variation found among these organisms that is
accountable to adaptation to different environments or differences in evolutionary histories. Then the
marine environment is discussed at the ecosystem level.
Students will understand the chemical basis for metabolism and all life, focusing on photosynthesis in
the ocean. (Biochemistry)
Students will be able to place marine organisms within the broader context of diversity of life. They will
also be able to explain how these organisms are classified within the taxonomical system utilized by
biologists. (Taxonomy)
Students will appreciate the evolutionary basis of biology, and how marine invertebrates and
vertebrates are viewed by biologists as a unique branch on the “evolutionary tree” of living things.
(Evolutionary Biology)
Students will appreciate the cellular basis of all life and be able to describe the organization of
prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. (Cell Biology)
Students will be survey the growth, development, and structure of marine plants, invertebrates, and
vertebrates. (Development, Anatomy, and Morphology)
Students will be able to describe marine organismal interactions with their environments, and other
species, including human impact. (Ecology)
Students will survey the divisions of the marine animal, plant and algal kingdoms. (Diversity)
GENERAL POLICIES
Syllabus: This syllabus represents an “agreement” between you the student and the instructor. It is designed to
insure course integrity and fairness as well as provide students with a clear understanding of course
expectations. The instructor and students are expected to use the syllabus and schedule as a guide for the
semester. Any deviation from the syllabus or schedule will be discussed and agreed upon by the instructor and
students.
Attendance: Attendance at one of the first two class meetings is MANDATORY! If you do NOT attend at least
one of the first two lectures, YOU RISK BEING DROPPED from the course by the end of the day on January I will
take regular attendance. Attendance will constitute 4% of your grade for this course, which could change your
grade a full grade.
Americans with Disabilities Act: Students with medical, psychological, learning or other disabilities desiring
accommodations or services under ADA, should contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC). The DRC
determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of these accommodations and services for the college.
Please contact the DRC at the Student Center, Suite 244, Redwood Campus, 4600 So. Redwood Rd, 84123.
Phone: (801) 957-4659, TTY: 957-4646, Fax: 957- 4947 or by linda.bennett@slcc.edu
Incomplete Grade and Withdraw from Class: A grade of “I” (Incomplete) is the instructor’s option and is not
given except only in the most extenuating of circumstances for which there is verifiable written documentation.
In order to receive an incomplete, nearly all course work must have been completed (e.g. ~75%) with a passing
grade. Last day to withdraw from class with refund is February 3, without refund is March 24. It is the
responsibility of the student to drop/withdraw from this class, not the instructors.
Academic Dishonesty: Absolutely NOT tolerated and includes all forms of cheating and plagiarism as outlined in
the Student Code. Cheating will not be tolerated and will result in expulsion from the course.
Electronic Devices: Cell Phones, pagers are to be turned off during class. Computers can be used for notetaking and course-related purposes ONLY but should not be used during class for working on other tasks (e.g.
answer emails, Facebook, other classes etc.). You will be asked to leave if your electronic device disrupts the
class in anyway. Cell phones MUST be turned completely OFF during exams.
Classroom recordings: Students may not record or publish information from the class without written
authorization from the instructor. If used without authorization you have violated Privacy/Intellectual Property
Rights.
Student Code of Conduct:
The student is expected to follow the SLCC Student Code of Conduct found at
http://www.slcc.edu/policies/docs/Student_Code_of_Conduct.pdf
Emergency Evacuation Procedures: we will leave the building immediately in case of an emergency. We will
follow school guidelines at: http://www.slcc.edu/emergency-prepare/emergency-procedures.aspx
EVALUATION/GRADING
Summary of Grading:
Item
Attendance
Participation
Assignments (3 @ 20 pts. Each)
Midterm 1
Midterm 2
Midterm 3
Final Exam
Lab Score
TOTAL
Points
40
40
60
165
165
165
165
200_
1000
* Extra credit opportunities will arise and be announced by the instructor.
1. Assignments: Three assignments will be given; they involve working on a presentation. Assignments
constitute 6% of your grade for this course. Turn assignments in by the due date.
2. Participation: This grade involves professionalism in the classroom: treating the professor and fellow
students with respect at all times. For example, no talking during lectures. You start with 40 points, any
discourtesy will lose points.
3. Lab: Your performance in the Lab will constitute 20% of your grade for this course. You may not count any
scores obtained in a laboratory during a previous semester.
4. Examinations: We will have three MIDTERM exams, and a FINAL. Exams consist of multiple choice, fill in the
blank, and true/false questions. Cheating will not be tolerated and will result in expulsion from the course. You
need to bring a pencil and a good eraser and your Student ID. Exams will not be given to take home at any
time.
Tentative Grading Scale: Your final grade will be determined from the following:
Grade
A
B
C
D
E
Percentage
90-100
80-89
70-79
60-69
<60
COURSE SCHEDULE
Week 1:
Week 2:
Week 3:
Week 4:
Week 5:
Introduction, Unifying Themes in Biology
Molecules to Cells
Invertebrates
Invertebrates (cont.)
Midterm Exam 1
Vertebrates
Week 6: Vertebrates (cont.)
Week 7: Plants and Algae
Week 8: The Ocean
Week 9: Midterm Exam 2
Utah Marine Environments
Week 10: Deep Sea, Polar Environments
Week 11: Spring Break
Week 12: The Open Sea, Intertidal Zones, Estuaries
Week 13: Estuaries (cont.) and Coral Reefs
Week 14: Coral Reefs (cont.)
Week 15: Midterm Exam Term 3
Week 16: Grades/Review
Week 17: Final Exam
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapters 3 and 4
Chapter 2
Chapter 12
Chapters 11, 9, 8
Chapters 8, 10
Chapter 10