Strategies for Integrating
Biology and Chemistry
Throughout the Freshman
Science Curriculum
BCCE
August 2006
Biology
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Evolution, aging, disease, the environment, etc.
College level general biology courses becoming
more and more molecular.
There are some areas of chemistry which are
taught inaccurately or misleadingly.
Physics
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http://www.rwc.uc.edu/koehler/biophys/2h.ht
ml
http://www.rwc.uc.edu/koehler/biophys/intro.h
tml
Astronomy, Geology, Earth Science

Many sciences naturally integrate multiple
disciplines.
SCI 108 – Essentials of Forensics

Developed by Tod Treat (chemist) and Paul
Sarantakos (CJ)
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Main instructor is a chemist
3 or 4 guest instructors – lecture and/or lab
A coordinator does all the scheduling and
calculates contact hours for load
Multiple Instructors
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Challenges
Benefits
Considerations
–
Guest instructors sometimes also instruct labs.
SCI 108 - content
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Nature of science / critical thinking
Physical evidence / crime scene analysis
Microscopy – stereo and compound
Forensic anthropology
Organic and inorganic chemistry
Chromatography
Spectroscopy
SCI 108 - content
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Fingerprinting
Arson / explosives
Toxicology
Biochemistry / blood / DNA
Blood spatter
Forensic pathology
Firearms / cadaver – optional
Lab practical type midterm and final
SCI 208 – Death Investigation

Recently a second forensics course was
designed by John Moore.
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Criminal justice students at Parkland are now
required to take 2 semesters of forensics.
SCI 108  chemistry bias
SCI 208  biology bias - death investigation
SCI 141


Being introduced this
fall
Theme - change in
the universe and
evolution of life

Topics
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History
Pseudoscience
Cosmology
Solar system
Earth
Ecosystems
Evolution
Biochemistry
Genetics
SCI 142
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Being introduced next
spring
Theme – science in
the news / current
events science

Topics
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Scientific methods
Major illness
Climate change
Space travel
Nutrition
Alternate energy sources
Biotechnology
Acknowledgements
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Natural Science faculty
Larry Kaplan