Science and Mathematics Department
Spring 2012
BIO 332: ECONOMIC BOTANY
Lecture: MWF 12:00-12:50 (SCM 218) – Lab: Tu 12:30-3:20 (SCM 208)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Catalog description: Prerequisite: BIO 201 or permission of instructor. A study of plants and their
importance to humans, including use for aesthetics, foods, spices, drinks, clothes, homes, industry,
medicines, and misused drugs. Labs will include field trips. Three lecture and three laboratory hours per
week. Offered spring semester, even-numbered years.
As described in the catalog, BIO 201 (Botany) is a prerequisite to the course; however, students who
have not had Botany can do well in this class and may register with permission of the instructor.
INSTRUCTOR
Dr. Charles Horn
Office: SCM 223
Office Hours: MWF 9-10, 11-12; TT 9:15-10:15
Phone: 803-321-5257
E-mail address: Charles.horn@newberry.edu
You are more than welcome to stop in during my office hours to talk about any problems or to present
suggestions relative to this course, about science, or the college in general. If you want to talk to me and
find the scheduled hours to be inconvenient, feel free to schedule an appointment.
STUDENT LEARNING AND PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES
Newberry College is committed to monitoring student learning for continual program improvement. This
class has course-level student learning outcomes (SLOs listed below) which are aligned to overall
program learning outcomes (PLO alignment indicated in parentheses below). After completion of this
course, you should be able to:
 Describe the most important plants (and the family to which each belongs) used as foods by humans
including their origin and evolution as agricultural crops.
 Discuss the uses of plants for drinks and spices including their place of origin, historical
development, and parts used.
 Name the plants used to make rubber and the process involved in its production.
 What tree species are used in making lumber; what are the advantages of each type.
 Distinguish between plant extracts that are important as medicines, hallucinogens (psychoactive),
and those that are potentially lethal (poisonous).
 Name the major plant families and species that are pharmaceutically important; describe the chemical
constituents and their uses.
 Name and describe the important plants and their families that are used aesthetically around homes
and businesses.
 Describe the plants used in making clothes; what synthetic alternatives have been developed.
 Investigate current published research relative to a particular economically important species, genus,
or family.
Economic Botany
REQUIRED TEXT
Levetin, Estelle and Karen McMahon. 2012. Plants and Society, 6th edition. McGraw-Hill.
ISBN: 978-0-07-352422-1
Included in lecture and lab will be photocopies of recent scientific research papers. These will be
provided either in printed form or electronically.
Many course materials, including the syllabus, lecture notes, and review sheets for all exams will be
available on the course website: http://www.newberry-college.net/chorn/BIO332/.
INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS
Since this is an upper level course, a number of teaching methods will be used. Included will be lecture
(especially at the beginning of the course), PowerPoint presentations, class discussion of outside
readings, and demonstrations. Field trips will be an integral part of lab.
ATTENDANCE and other CLASSROOM POLICIES
You will always be responsible for material covered in class, including last minute assignments made
during class time. Absences from class does not automatically excuse your from completion of an
assignment or prompt completion or submission of assignments. For those who feel class is not worth
attending, I reserve the right to turn in an "FA" grade upon your absence from six class meetings
(including lab). PLEASE, if you know you will be missing classes for any reason, don’t assume that the
“excused” absences will allow you to go over the six allowed.
Use of a cell phone, computer or other electronic devices during class time must be related to class
activities. Repeated activities of a nonrelated purpose may result in a request for you to leave class and
an absence assessed for the day.
COURSE EVALUATION PROCEDURES
Hour Exams (3 @ 100 pts each) -- They will be composed of definitions, descriptions and short essays.
If you miss an exam, it must be made up within one week!; it is your responsibility to arrange for
the makeup. I reserve the right to give a more difficult makeup (commonly in the form of five
essay questions).
Final Exam (100 pts) – The final will mostly include lecture material covered after Exam 3 with an
additional journal article included to test reading comprehension.
Economic Importance Paper (100 pts) – You must develop a 1,700 word paper (about 5 pages) with at
least five references relating to the economic importance of a species or family of plant(s) to
humans. A later section on this syllabus gives more information on format and excluded topics
(i.e. those covered in class).
Lab Identification Quizzes (100 pts) – Some weeks we will be introduced to a number of economically
important species. You are expected to know the scientific and common name of each for a quiz
1-2 weeks later.
Lab Reports (100 pts) – For labs with a structured handout, the answered questions need to be turned in
by the end of lab. When we are on field trips where no detailed handouts have been presented,
you may be expected to keep field notes and develop a 1-3 page summary of the economically
important plants seen or discussed during that trip.
COURSE GRADING SCALE
Total Points: 700
Grading Scale: 93-100% = A; 88-92% = B+; 83-87% = B; 78-82% = C+; 73-77% = C;
68-72% = D+; 63-67% = D; less than 63% = F
BIO 332 Syllabus, pg. 3
CACP CREDIT
Those who wish CACP level 3 credit may use the Economically Important Plant paper. As a
departmental policy, CACP level 3 papers must be at least 1,700 words (five pages) and include at least 5
non-Internet references. As usual, a CACP cover sheet must be submitted to indicate you are attempting
such. Cover sheets can be found on the door to SCM 204 (the secretary’s office).
POLICY ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Academic integrity at Newberry College assumes that all work, written or oral, submitted by a student is
that student’s own work. I adhere to the College’s policy, which deals severely with cheating—including
plagiarism. Plagiarism is the theft of another person’s words or ideas. It is a dishonest, unethical attempt
to claim someone’s work as your own, and will not be tolerated in this class. Students who fail to comply
will receive one of these penalties:
1. A paper may receive a grade of “0”; a Report of Academic Dishonesty will be filed as part of the
student’s record in the Registrar’s Office,
2. A student may receive a grade of “F” for the course; a Report of Academic Dishonesty will be filed
with the Registrar, as part of that student’s permanent record,
3. A student whose offense is particularly heinous may be remanded to the Academic Integrity
Committee, which may result in a judicial sanction and/or expulsion.
For complete explanation of academic integrity, review the document as follows:
Academic Integrity Policy:
http://www.newberry.edu/UserFiles/newberry/Documents/Academic_Integrity_Policy_11.pdf
CENTER FOR STUDENT SUCCESS
Student Support Services: The mission of the Center for Student Success is to support each student’s
educational goals by offering opportunities to enrich and enhance their academic environment.
Services offered to support this mission are free and include: Individual Academic Specialty
Assistance, Career Services, Content and Writing Assistance, Disability Services, International
Programs, Retention, Study Abroad. The Center for Student Success is in Wessels Library. Hours
for the Spring Semester are 7:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. You can request a Content
and/or Writing Assistant at tutor.request@newberry.edu. Please include your name, professor,
course and number. These requests will be answered within 24 business hours.
For updated information throughout the semester about Center services, please reference the
Student Success Tab within Wolf Den.
Policy on Special Needs—Students with Special Needs: Students who wish to enroll or are already
enrolled in the Disability Services Program must identify themselves and present documentation of
their disability signed by an approved professional in order to have an accommodation letter put in
place. This can be accomplished by contacting Ms. Kay Chandler in the Center for Student Success
by phone (803-321-5187), e-mail (kay.chandler@newberry.edu), or in person to schedule an initial
meeting. ALL records are kept confidential for the protection of our students. Note: Your
instructors are not permitted to discuss your disabilities with you until you have registered with the
Office of Disabilities Support Services.
Economic Botany
EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
In case of any emergency situation on campus, please visit the college’s web page for updated
information and instructions: http://www.newberry.edu/emergencyinfo.aspx . The college website will
include information on weather related announcements including possible college closing, if needed.
In addition, in case of a pandemic or other health related emergency, all students, faculty and staff are
expected to follow standard protocol, including taking appropriate personal preventive measures to avoid
contracting influenza and other communicable diseases, minimizing personal contact with others when
feeling ill, and following instructions of Newberry College administration / Health Services Center
personnel if quarantined or if an official pandemic is declared. Individual students who are sick should
notify course faculty of their illness as soon as possible to develop a plan for completion of course
requirements within the timeframe of the course. If face-to-face classes are cancelled because of an
emergency, procedures will be posted on the college emergency information website noted above.
Regardless of the situation, we will attempt to keep the course running through e-mails, course webpage
information or Wolf Den postings. The official postings for the course will be via the course webpage:
http://www.newberry-college.net/chorn/BIO332/ .