Biology for Majors 1224
Tulsa Community College
Metro Campus
Course Title and Number: Biology 1224 – Biology for Majors
Day(s) and Time(s):
Lecture- MC 315 7:00-9:50pm T
Lab – MC 628 7:00-9:50 pm R
Instructor:
Prof Judyth Gulden
Office hours: by appointment
TO CONTACT YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Phone: 918 289 0744
Email: judyth.gulden@tulsacc.edu
TO CONTACT THE DIVISION OFFICE
Division Name: Metro Science & Mathematics
Division Associate Dean: Dr. Connie Hebert
Office: MC 620
Phone: 918 595 7334
PREREQUISITES FOR THIS COURSE
There are no college prerequisites for this course. This course is intended for science majors.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course includes an in-depth study of fundamental biological concepts including metabolism, homeostasis,
heredity, evolution and ecology at the sub-cellular, cellular and organismic levels. It provides the foundation for other
advanced courses in the biological sciences. Lecture: 3 hours. Laboratory: 3 hours.
COURSE PURPOSE
I.
Learning Objectives
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Define and recognize introductory biological terminology, principles, and theories.
Describe and discuss the hierarchical nature of life from the molecular level through to organisms and their
ecological interrelationships within their environments.
Identify the scientific application of biological principles in the modern world.
Describe and discuss genetic mechanisms and their interactions with an ever-changing internal and external
environment.
Define and recognize fundamental metabolic, reproductive and evolutionary processes.
Student Learning Outcomes
The following are specific learning outcomes for the student taking this class:
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Describe and use laboratory safety guidelines relating to working with chemicals, microorganisms, body
fluids and/or dissection.
Synthesize information, think critically and solve critical thinking problems; write clear, well organized
answers to assignments that demonstrate synthesis.
Work well independently and show self-direction and motivation
Understand and follow directions properly
Show proficiency in taking exams, by responding to questions quickly and accurately, effectively handling
the pressure of a timed exam.
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Biology for Majors 1224
Tulsa Community College
Metro Campus
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Assess personal needs in regard to study time and methods, and accept personal responsibility for the
learning process.
Apply principles of scientific inquiry, differentiate a theory from a hypothesis, and differentiate fact from
opinion in regard to biological sciences.
Assess and describe aspects of sustainability, including economic, societal and environmental factors,
especially in relation to biological systems.
TEXTBOOKS, SOFTWARE, & SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS
All materials can be purchased at the bookstore. However, there are some additional options listed below.
Required Textbook:
Understanding Biology by Mason, K., Johnson, G, Losos, J. and Singer,S.
ISBN-13 9780073532295
Connect for Understanding Biology (LearnSmart) – This is bundled with new textbooks
purchased at the bookstore or may be purchased when you register online (see below).
When you are ready to register go to course tools -> McGraw Hill Higher Education and register
with a code, purchase with a debit card or purchase with a credit card. By entering through the
course in Blackboard you will be connected to the course assignments.
Lab Manual – Vodopovich and Moore Custom Edition
Chemistry for Biology Students - Author: George Sackheim Publisher: Benjamin/Cummings
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Biology for Majors 1224
Tulsa Community College
Metro Campus
Microscope slides, cover slips, dissection kit and safety glasses for some labs; lab
coat/jacket or apron; and, calculator with scientific functions (does not need to be a graphing
calculator; a $19 scientific calculator is all you need)
Lab Notebook – do not purchase until after first class at which time information about
requirements will be provided by the Instructor.
INSTRUCTOR SUPPORT
 Prof Gulden is available by phone, text, email or you can schedule an appointment. You are encouraged to
call the Instructor to discuss the material or any other items concerning the course.
 Email will be checked daily, Monday through Friday from 9 am to 6 pm CST.
 Please note that if you send an email after those hours, it may not be addressed until the following business
day (Monday-Friday). This includes requests concerning exams or online assignments. When you email
please put your name, course and section number in the subject line of the email. This helps the instructor
identify emails that need immediate attention. For example:
Guldenbio1224section21032098
ATTENDANCE AND LATE POLICY
Attendance Policy and Late Arrivals The likelihood of succeeding in this course without your attendance is
minimal. If you exceed more than 2 unplanned absences from classes without contacting the instructor prior to the
scheduled class you may be dropped from the class at the instructor’s discretion. For late arrivals see Inappropriate
Behavior in the Classroom below.
TEACHING METHODS
Lecture, videos, interactive and lab exercises, seminars, research activities, fieldtrips, and occasional guest
speakers. The course material will be divided into units representing closely related topics. Lecture will introduce the
major concepts. Each student is responsible for learning all assigned materials regardless of whether they
are presented through lecture or laboratory exercises. Lecture notes will be posted on blackboard.
Once each week students will participate in a Hands-On experience in the laboratory. Prior to any class meeting, it is
each student's responsibility to have read the appropriate assigned material.
EVALUATION TECHNIQUES
There will not be separate lab exams. Laboratory topics including applied activities will be included in lecture exams.
A laboratory practical will be part of the overall comprehensive final exam at the end of the semester.
Letter grades will be determined on the following basis
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Biology for Majors 1224
Tulsa Community College
Metro Campus
Grading Scale
90-100%
1224-1360
80-89%
1088-1223
70-79%
952-1087
60-69%
816-951
below 60%
below 815
A
Assignment Categories
Tests [5@100 pts each – drop lowest score]
400 pts
B
Final Exam [comprehensive]
150 pts
C
Major Project [100pts]
100 pts
D
Lab Assignments [12@30 pts]
360 pts
F
Lab Notebook [2@25 pts]
Participation [15@5 pts]
Biology Connects [15@15pts]
Total Points
50 pts
75 pts
225pts
1360 pts
Make up policy:
 Lecture exams may not be made up.
 In the event that an exam is missed, the score on the next exam will be doubled. If the next exam is the
final exam the score of the previous exam will be doubled and substituted for the missed exam.
 Only one exam may be made up during the semester. The student must inform the instructor BEFORE
the date of the exam or quiz if they are going to miss it. This may be done by email or phone. If this is
not done prior to the date of the exam or quiz then the student will receive a zero and may not take
advantage of the makeup policy.
Assignment Presentation:
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All assignments are to be typed unless otherwise instructed.
There are computers with word processing software available to any TCC student with a current ID.
These are located in the General User Microcomputer Lab on all campuses.
All graphs must be generated using graphing software (e.g. excel).
NO HANDWRITTEN WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED.
All work must be in a format that is supported by Microsoft Office unless directed otherwise by the
instructor.
When work is to be submitted through Blackboard only one file per submission is permitted and may
not be a jpg, odt, or wps file.
The IT helpdesk and Computer Lab Services are available to provide support to students and help them
with technology related questions. You can call Client Services at 918-595-2000 or email
ClientSrv@tulsacc.edu .
Exams and assignments will not be returned to students. A student may make an appointment
to look over their exams/assignment at any time before finals weeks. You may also make
copies of your assignments prior to turning them in.
Late Laboratory and Short Assignments:
 Due dates are provided for all assignments.
 Late assignments will only be accepted up until the following class period. At that time, the assignment
will lose 50% of the score.
 You may turn in assignments early.
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Biology for Majors 1224
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Metro Campus
OTHER POLICIES AND REQUIREMENTS
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Announcements pertaining to course activities will be made at the beginning of lecture and posted on
Blackboard. The student is responsible for obtaining all information made available during the
meeting periods from other students if they do not attend. All handouts, when possible, will be posted
on Blackboard. It is your responsibility to acquire them. Laboratory exercises, class presentations and
fieldtrips cannot be made up.
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Last day to withdraw: Make sure you note the date. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure they
withdraw. AW will not be given in lieu of forgetting to withdraw in time.
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Cellular Phones and Pagers Turn them off during lecture and laboratory! If for some reason you expect an
emergency situation to arise, please turn off the ringer and take the call outside of class. Please be
respectful of other students. Cell phones MUST NOT ring or be answered during laboratories or
exams!
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Internet Accessibility: All TCC students have access to computers and the Internet in the General User
Computer Labs on all four campuses. Public libraries are an additional location.
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Inappropriate Behavior in the Classroom – Increasingly many students display inconsiderate behavior
towards the instructor and other students. This will not be tolerated. Initially the instructor will speak to the
student individually. If a change in behavior is not observed, the student will be dropped from the class.
Such behavior includes disruptive late arrivals (repeated arrivals more than 7 minutes after a session
begins without prior notification is considered disruptive), excessive talking during lecture, repeated
leaving and returning to the room during lecture, repeated cell phone interruptions, and rudeness towards
the instructor.
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Changes in this Syllabus The policies and statements contained in this syllabus may be altered, added to,
or deleted at any time by the instructor of the class. This will be done by typed supplements or amendments
given to the student and/or posted on blackboard.
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Course Withdrawal: The deadline to withdraw from a course shall not exceed 3/4 the duration of any class.
Contact the Counseling Office at any TCC campus to initiate withdrawal from a course ('W' grade) or to
change from Credit to Audit. Check the TCC Academic Calendar for deadlines. Students who stop
participating in the course and fail to withdraw may receive a course grade of “F,” which may have financial
aid consequences for the student.
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Communications:
a. Email communications: All TCC students receive a designated “MyTCC” email address (ex:
jane.doe@mail.tulsacc.edu). All communications to you about TCC and course assignments will be
sent to your MyTCC email address; and you must use MyTCC email to send email to, and receive
email from, the instructor regarding this course.
b. Inclement Weather: TCC rarely closes. If extreme weather conditions or emergency situations arise,
TCC always gives cancellation notices to radio and television stations. This information is also posted
on the TCC website (www.tulsacc.edu).
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General Education Goals: General Education courses at TCC ensure that our graduates gain skills,
knowledge, and abilities that comprise a common foundation for their higher education and a backdrop for
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Biology for Majors 1224
Tulsa Community College
Metro Campus
their work and personal lives. TCC’s General Education goals are: Critical Thinking, Effective
Communication, Engaged Learning, and Technological Proficiency.
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Classroom Etiquette: Open and mutually respectful communication of varied opinions, beliefs, and
perspectives during classroom or online discussion encourages the free exchange of ideas that is essential
to higher learning and to the ability to learn from each other. Use of any electronic device (including
computers, ipads and smartphones) is at the discretion of the instructor.
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Academic Dishonesty: Academic dishonesty (cheating) is defined as the deception of others about one’s
own work or about the work of another. Academic dishonesty or misconduct is not condoned or tolerated at
campuses within the Tulsa Community College system. Tulsa Community College adopts a policy
delegating certain forms of authority for disciplinary action to the faculty. Such disciplinary actions delegated
to the faculty include, but are not limited to, the dismissal of disrespectful or disorderly students from
classes. In the case of academic dishonesty a faculty member may:
o require the student to redo an assignment or test, or require the student to complete a substitute
assignment or test;
o Record a "zero" for the assignment or test in question;
o Recommend to the student that the student withdraw from the class, or administratively withdraw
the student from the class;
o Record a grade of "F" for the student at the end of the semester.
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Faculty may request that disciplinary action be taken against a student at the administrative level by
submitting such request to the Dean of Student Services.
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It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that they understand the meaning of plagiarism, how to
avoid it and the consequences of any acts of plagiarism. Not understanding how to properly cite
materials or use citation format does not provide an excuse for academic dishonesty.
DISABILITY RESOURCES
It is the policy and practice of Tulsa Community College to create inclusive learning environments. Accommodations
for qualifying students in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act are available. To request accommodations, contact the Education Access Center (EAC) at
eac@tulsacc.edu or call (918) 595-7115 (Voice). Deaf and hard of hearing students may text (918) 809-1864.
Blackboard is an accessible learning management system. Blackboard’s accessibility information can be found at
http://www.blackboard.com/Platforms/Learn/Resources/Accessibility.aspx .
Institutional Statement
Each student is responsible for being aware of the information contained in the TCC Catalog, the TCC Student
Policies & Resources Handbook, and semester information listed in the class schedule. All information may be
viewed on the TCC website: www.tulsacc.edu
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Biology for Majors 1224
Tulsa Community College
Metro Campus
FALL 2013 SCHEDULE OF READINGS AND ASSIGNMENTS
CLASS
Lecture & Exams
Aug 
19/21 
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Syllabus
Chapter 1 - The Science of
Biology
Chapter 2 – The Nature of
Molecules
Slides – Chapter 1 & 2
Laboratory & Assignments
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Aug 
26/28
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Chapter 3 – Chemical Building
Blocks of Life
Chapter 3 slides
Writing Labs
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Sept 2/4 
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Exam 1 – Chapters 1-3; Lab 1-2
(Tuesday)
Chapter 4 – Cell Structure
Slides Chapter 4
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Sept 
9/11 
Chapter 5 – Cell Membranes
Chapter 5 slides
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Sept 
16/18 
Chapter 6 Energy & Metabolism
Chapter 6 slides
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ADDITIONAL READINGS, & Other
Items
Lab format & information
Intro to lab and safety
Lab Notebooks
Scientific Method
Lab 1 – The Process of
Science & Measurements
(Exercise 1 & 2; HO
dimensional analysis)
Biology Connects 1
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Library Session
Lab 2 - Microscopy
(Exercise 3) & Cell Structure
and Function (Exercise 4 –
Virtual Lab (VL)) Virtual
Slides
Biology Connects 2
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Lab 3 – Solutions, Acids
and Bases (Exercise 5) &
Osmosis and Diffusion
(Exercise 9)
Biology Connects 3
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CB 8, 9, 16, 17, 18
Virtual Osmosis and Diffusion Lab
Participation
All items, including labs must be
submitted by Sept 9th at 7pm CST
Lab 4 – Gel Electrophoresis
Virtual Lab (VL) &
Spectrophotometry Sample
problem and exercise (VL)
Spec Lab Questions (print
quiz results to be handed in)
(Exercise 8)
Assign Major Project
Biology Connects 4
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More information on specs
Participation
All items, including labs must be
submitted by Sept 16th at 7pm CST
Lab 5 – Cell Membranes
(Exercise 10)
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Participation
All items, including labs must be
submitted by Sept 23rd at 7pm CST
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Chem for Bio Students (CB) – 1,2,3,
4 Atoms, symbols, molecules
Participation
Glencoe Virtual Labs Atoms and
Molecules
All items, including labs must be
submitted by Aug 26th at 7pm CST
CB- Functional Groups, 12,13,14,15
Participation
All items, including labs must be
submitted by Sept 2nd at 7pm CST
Virtual Microscope Tour
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Biology for Majors 1224
Tulsa Community College
Metro Campus
CLASS
Lecture & Exams
Sept 
23/25
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Sept 30/ 
Oct 2 
Exam 2 – Chapters 4-6; Lab
3,4, & 5 (Thursday)
Chapter 7 – How Cells Harvest
Energy
Chapter 7 slides
Chapter 8 - Photosynthesis
Chapter 8 slides
Laboratory & Assignments
Lab 6 – Enzymes (Exercise
11)
Biology Connects 5
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Participation
All items, including labs must be
submitted by Sept 30th at 7pm CST
Lab 7 – Photosynthesis
(Exercise 13)
Biology Connects 6
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Participation
All items, including labs must be
submitted by Oct 7th at 7pm CST
Lab 8 – Meiosis & Mitosis;
(Exercises 14,15)
LB Genetics of Organisms
Biology Connects 7
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Virtual Lab Onion Root Mitosis
Lab Notebooks to be handed in for
grading
Participation
All items, including labs must be
submitted by Oct 14th at 7pm CST
Lab 9 - Mendelian Genetics
(Exercise 17)
Biology Connects 8
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Participation
All items, including labs must be
submitted by Oct 21st at 7pm CST
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Lab10 – DNA Extraction
(Handout)
Race for the Double Helix
Biology Connects 9
Participation
All items, including labs must be
submitted by Oct 28th at 7pm CST
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Major Project Work
Biology Connects 10
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Participation
All items, including labs must be
submitted by Nov 4 at 7pm CST
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Major Project Work
Lab 11 – Peppered Moth
(see instructions with the
lab; to be completed
independently)
LearnSmart 9
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Participation
All items, including labs must be
submitted by Nov 11 at 7pm CST
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Oct 7/9 
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Oct 
14/16
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Oct 
21/23
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Oct 
28/30
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Nov 4/6 
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ADDITIONAL READINGS, & Other
Items
Chapter 9 – Cell
Communication
Chapter 10 – How Cells Divide
Chapters 9 & 10 slides
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Exam 3 – Chapters 7-10; Lab
6,7, 8 (Thursday)
Chapter 11 – Sexual
Reproduction and Meiosis
Chapter 12 – Patterns of
Inheritance
Chapter 11 & 12 slides
Chapter 13 – The
Chromosomal Basis of
Inheritance
Chapter 14 – DNA: The Genetic
Material
Chapter 15 – Genes and How
They Work
Chapter 13,14, & 15 slides
Chapter 16 – Control of Gene
Expression
Chapter 17 – Biotechnology
Chapter 16 & 17 slides
Exam 4 – Chapters 11-17; Lab
9-11 (Thursday)
Chapter 18 – Genomics
Chapter 19 – Genes Within
Populations
Chapter 18 & 19 slides
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Biology for Majors 1224
Tulsa Community College
Metro Campus
CLASS
Lecture & Exams
Nov 
11/13
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Nov 
18/20
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Chapter 20 – Evidence for
Evolution
Chapter 21 – The Origin of the
Species
Chapter 20 & 21 slides
Chapter 22 - Systematics and
Phylogeny
Chapter 37 – Behavioral
Biology
Chapter 22 & 37 slides
Nov  Chapter 38 – Ecology of
25/27
Individuals and Populations
 Chapter 38 slides
Thanksgiving Break – No
Thursday Lab and Lecture
scheduled
Dec 2/3 Chapter 39 – Community Ecology
Chapter 40 – The Living World
Chapter 39 & 40 slides
Laboratory & Assignments
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Biology Connects 11
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Major Project Work
National Geographic Tree of
Life Film
Biology Connects 12
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All items, including labs must be
submitted by Nov 18 at 7pm CST
HHMI Lecture – Evolution
Lecture Series
Lab 11 - Stickleback Lab
(see instructions with the
lab; to be completed
independently)
Biology Connects 13
Biology Connects 14
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Participation
All items, including labs must be
submitted by Nov 25 at 7pm CST
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All items, including labs must be
submitted by Dec 2 at 7pm CST
Lab 12 – Pollution: The
effects of chemical, thermal,
and acid pollution (Exercise
23)
Biology Connects 15
Major Project Reports Due
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Virtual Biodiversity Lab
All items, including labs must be
submitted by Dec 5 at 5 pm
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Dec 8-14
ADDITIONAL READINGS, & Other
Items
FINALS & SEMESTER ENDS
INCLUDES ALL CHAPTERS
FINAL EXAM – Includes all chapters and
laboratory work assigned
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