SC 120 Biology

Course Description:
An introduction to modern biological concepts at the molecular, cellular, and organismic levels, including cell biology, anatomy, physiology, genetics, plant and animal diversity, and ecology.

• Prerequisite Courses: ESL 089

A. PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES (PLOS):
The student will be able to:

1. Describe the structure, function, and basic pathologies of the human body.
2. Demonstrate a solid foundation in basic biological sciences.
3. Describe health career and allied professions and gain experience working effectively in groups with health professionals to address human life sciences and health problems.
4. Discuss, analyze, and interpret fundamental and current issues relevant to human life sciences and health problems, and communicate information in a critical, scientific, and technologically advanced manner

B. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (SLOS) - GENERAL
The student will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the scientific method and the use of metric measurements in collecting and analyzing data.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the cell as the basic structural and functional unit of all living things.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of basic principles of inheritance (Mendelian genetics), the structure and organization of the DNA molecule (foundation of molecular genetics), and examples of applications of current DNA technology.
4. Demonstrate knowledge of vertebrate anatomy and physiology, with emphasis on the human reproductive system.
5. Demonstrate knowledge of plant, animal, and microbial diversity, and how organisms are named and classified.
6. Demonstrate knowledge of basic principles of ecology.

SLO	PLO 1	PLO 2	PLO 3	PLO 4
1		I
2	I	I
3	I	I
4	I	I
5		I
6		I

I = Introduced
D = Demonstrated
M = Mastered

C. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (SLOS) – SPECIFIC
The student will be able to:

General SLO 1: Demonstrate knowledge of the scientific method and the use of metric measurements in collecting and analyzing data.

Student Learning Outcomes	Assessment strategies
1.1 The student will be able to demonstrate knowledge of procedures in the scientific method by conducting a laboratory experiment, collecting and analyzing data, and presenting experimental results in a formal laboratory report.	Quiz (short answer/ metric conversion problems), Exam (multiple choice and matching); Lab report graded on basis of content, grammar, and presentation.

General SLO 2: The student will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the cell as the basic structural and functional unit of all living things.

Student Learning Outcomes	Assessment strategies
2.1 The student will be able to list cell organelles and describe their function, outline the major events of cell metabolism (distinguishing between anaerobic and aerobic respiration), list the reactants and end products of photosynthesis, and identify and describe the major events occurring during cell division (mitosis and meiosis).	Quiz (short answer and/or matching), Exam (multiple choice and matching)

General SLO 3. The student will be able to demonstrate a basic understanding of the principles of inheritance (Mendelian genetics), the structure and organization of the DNA molecule (foundation of molecular genetics), and examples of applications of current DNA technology.

Student Learning Outcomes

Assessment strategies

3.1 The student will be able to solve genetics problems involving monohybrid (single-factor) and dihybrid (double-factor) crosses, describe the basic structure of DNA, outline the process of how information coded in DNA is translated into the proteins that determine the nature of all living things, and give examples of how knowledge of the DNA molecule is applied in technologies such as recombinant DNA technology and DNA fingerprinting.

Quiz (short answer and/or matching), Exam (multiple choice and matching)

General SLO 4. The student will be able to demonstrate knowledge of vertebrate anatomy and physiology, with emphasis on the human reproductive system.

Student Learning Outcomes	Assessment strategies
4.1 The student will be able to list and describe the functions of vertebrate organ systems and major organs of the human body, identify the role of specific hormones in human reproductive physiology, identify different methods of contraception, and outline the major events of early stages of embryonic development.	Quiz (short answer and/or matching), Exam (multiple choice and matching)

General SLO 5. The student will be able to demonstrate knowledge of plant, animal, and microbial diversity, and how organisms are named and classified.

Student Learning Outcomes	Assessment strategies
5.1 The student will be able to correctly write a scientific name, outline the hierarchical arrangement of major taxonomic categories, distinguish between the different domains and kingdoms into which organisms are classified, and list examples of major animal phyla, broad groupings of plants (e.g., nonvascular, vascular, gymnosperms, angiosperms, dicots, monocots), and bacterial types.	Quiz (short answer and/or matching), Exam (multiple choice and matching)

General SLO 6. The student will be able to demonstrate knowledge of basic principles of ecology.

Student Learning Outcomes	Assessment strategies
6.1 The student will be able to describe, outline, or identify ecological concepts involving, but not necessarily limited to, trophic levels and the organization of biological communities, food chains, food webs, ecological pyramids, niches, biological magnification, and prey/predator relationships.	Quiz (short answer and/or matching), Exam(multiple choice and matching)

D. COURSE CONTENT

1. Scientific method and measurements
2. Biological chemistry
3. Cell structure and function
4. Genetics
5. Anatomy and physiology
6. Embryology
7. Taxonomy/classification
8. Plant, animal, and microbial diversity
9. Ecology

E. METHODS OF INSTRUCTION

1. Lectures
2. Laboratory experiments and observations
3. Videos
4. Interactive computer exercises

F. REQUIRED TEXT AND COURSE MATERIALS
Enger, E. D., F. C. Ross, and D. B. Bailey. 2009. Concepts in Biology. 13th ed. Mc Graw Hill Publ., Dubuque, Iowa (or most recent edition).
General Biology (SC 120) Laboratory Workbook.

G. REFERENCE MATERIALS
Photocopies of newspaper and magazine articles, and printouts from Internet sources

H. INSTRUCTIONAL COST
Approximately $50/semester for replacement of expendable laboratory materials, but excluding basic laboratory equipment.

I. EVALUATION
None

J. CREDIT BY EXAMINATION
None