GENERAL BIOLOGY (BIO 115)
Summer 2007
Instructor:
Department Chair:
Rosemarie Mier
Dr. Rhonda Gamble
573-783-2203
573-518-2195
srmier@clas.net
rhonda@mineralarea.edu
I. Course Description and Credit Hours
This course presents basic biological concepts and principles fundamental to the understanding
of the operation of biological systems. It is designed to give students a foundation in biological
sciences that can be applied in many fields and in everyday life decisions. Topics studied include the
process of science, the structures and functions of cells, energetics and metabolism of cells, genetics
and its relationship to the evolution of living organisms, the interrelatedness of all life, and fundamental
understandings of environmental science. 5 credit hours
II.
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Reference Materials
Textbook:
Mader, S. 2007. Biology, 9th edition. McGraw-Hill: New York.
Online resources: www.mhhe.com/maderbiology9
Lab Manual:
Mader, S. 1997. Customized Biology Laboratory Manual, 3rd ed. McGraw-Hill:
New York.
III. Course Objectives
Students will:
 understand the scientific method, the nature of science, and its limitations
 learn the characteristics of living things from the cellular to the organism level
 understand the principles of genetics and relate it to the evolution of living organisms
 establish an awareness of the interrelationships between organisms and their environment
IV. Learning Experiences
The summer course meets three times weekly, 4 hours and 20 minutes each session. Each
session contains lecture and lab and/or other activity. The laboratory and activities complement the
lectures and are scheduled to correspond with the lecture topics.
V. Course Policies and Expectations of Students
 General expectations of students:
o Attend and participate in all class activities.
o Complete all assignments by instructor’s established deadlines. Late work will not be
accepted!!
o Make up exams will be given only to students who have a valid excuse and who make
arrangements to take it within one week following the administration of the missed exam.
Quizzes and lab exams cannot be made up.
o The student is responsible for obtaining copies of the lecture notes, handouts, etc. from
classmates if a class is missed. If assignments are due on the day you are absent, email
the assignment to me or drop it off at the MAC campus. Notify me if you have an
emergency.
o Cheating on tests will result in the student receiving an F on that test.
o Misconduct for which students are subject to college discipline includes dishonesty such as
cheating, plagiarism or knowingly furnishing false information to the college. Plagiarism is
the intentional use of someone else’s work and includes copying from another student.
Students who plagiarize will receive an F in the course and may be subject to college
disciplinary proceedings.
 Laboratory expectations of students:
o Labs are designed as a reinforcement of the lecture topics. They provide an opportunity to
apply information and develop a deeper understanding of the topics. If the student masters
the objectives of the labs and is able to answer the review questions, then he or she will be
better prepared for the exam that will cover that material. Therefore, to get the most out of
labs, the student should:
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Read the laboratory and understand the objectives before coming to class
During the lab, work equally in groups, discuss problems, and ask questions. Each
student is to complete all laboratory procedures. Formulate your own answers to
questions before checking with others.
o Labs are integrated into each session. Plan to remain for the entire session, helping other
students or with clean-up if you finish early.
o There are no makeups due to the inconvenience in setting up labs, but you may complete
an assignment in lieu of one lab only.
Attendance
o Students missing three consecutive classes will be dropped from the course.
o Except under exceptional circumstances, students missing more than any two sessions will
have their course grade reduced by a letter grade for each session missed beyond two.
Coming late or leaving early counts for ½ session.
VII. Evaluation
 Mineral Area College employs a five-level grading system using the letters A, B, C, D, F, W, I, H
and P.
o A (90-100%) Superior work
D (60-69%) Below average work
o B (80-89%) Above average work
F (less than 60%) Work is undeserving of credit
o C (70-79%) Average work
W Withdrew from course
Labs and post-lab assignments 400 pts.
16 @ 25 points each
Miscellaneous assignments
100
Lecture exams
4 at 80 points each
Comprehensive final
320
Quizzes (lecture/lab)
4 @ 20 points
80
100
VIII. Assignments/Assessments
Laboratory
Many laboratory assignments will be due on the day the lab is scheduled. Others will be due
one week after the laboratory is completed. The quizzes and exams will contain laboratory
components.
Lecture
Lecture exams are a mixture of multiple choice, fill-in-the blank, identification, short answer, and
essay questions. The final exam is comprehensive of all chapters covered, except those on the last
lecture exam. Quizzes are over the reading assignments and lecture material.
XI. Disability Policy
The Rehabilitation Act of 1971 (Public Law 93-112), Section 504, provides that ‘no otherwise
qualified handicapped individual in the United States shall, solely by reason of handicap, be excluded
from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program
of activity receiving federal financial assistance.”
“Section 504 applies to postsecondary education programs and activities. It designates that . . .
academic requirements must be modified, on a case-by-case basis, to afford qualified students with
disabilities an equal educational opportunity.”
Students who have special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act should
notify me so reasonable accommodations may be made.
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