This is the main syllabus for Dr. Tiftickjian’s course Principles of Biology I (BIO 100). If this is your first visit, you will probably want to read this page from beginning to end. Some of the links below will take you to sections on this page; others will take you to pages with additional and more detailed information. You can return to this page from any other BIO 100 page by clicking the “Syllabus” button found at the top and bottom of each page.
To keep up with the latest information on lecture topics, reading assignments, and other announcements, visit the Course Outline page which shows the lecture schedule and provides links to the latest items of interest to students enrolled in the course.
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• Course outline and schedule |
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Course objectives
BIO 100 is the first semester of the two-semester Principles of Biology sequence. Most students will take both semesters, going on to BIO 101 after completing this semester. The Principles of Biology sequence provides an introductory understanding of the major areas of biology. BIO 100 is the foundation for all succeeding biology courses at DSU (except those for non-science majors), making it one of the most important courses you will take as a biology major. Another important objective is to give those who are considering a career in the sciences or heath professions a general look at the various branches of biology so that they might better choose areas of concentration for further study.
BIO 100 starts with the building blocks of life-molecules and cells. We then go on to such topics as physiology (energy flow, metabolism, transport, etc.), genetics, and evolution. We will talk some about the general features of plants and animals, but we will emphasize features that are common to all organisms. By the end of the semester, we should have a good idea of what biology is and appreciate the importance of studying living organisms.
The second semester of the sequence (BIO 101) covers the mechanisms of evolution, prokaryotes, protists, fungi, plant form and function, animal form and function, diversity, and ecology.
IMPORTANT: BIO 100 is designed (and required) for biology majors and minors and for students who are required to take a majors-level general biology course. If you are not a science major and are taking this course only to satisfy general education requirements, this is probably the wrong course for you. You should be taking BIO 110 (Biology and Human Concerns) instead. BIO 110 is designed for non-science majors who will probably not take any additional biology courses. If you are not sure you are in the right course, please talk to me and to your advisor to make sure before you continue in this course. Do not come to me later in the semester complaining that you were in the wrong course.
Expected preparation
This is the first course in biology for science majors at Delta State. I expect that you have had courses in biology and other sciences in high school, but I won't expect you to remember very much from those courses. High school courses vary depending on the school you attended and the teachers you had. Some of you will know more to start with than others will, but most of you will probably find the topics we cover to be familiar from high school. Don't worry about being unprepared! I will not assume that you know a lot now, but I will expect you to know quite a bit when we are done.
The textbook
Don't panic at the size of the textbook! It will be used for this course as well as BIO 101. We cover about half of it in BIO 100 (But that will be plenty of information!). We will follow the text closely, and there will be regular reading assignments for each lecture. Besides the campus bookstore, there are other sources you might want to check for the best price. Several online book sellers carry the book, both new and used. If you consider buying online, remember to consider shipping cost and how soon you will receive your book. If it takes longer than a few days, you will get behind on your reading assignments.
Lecture format
Lecture format for this course is pretty traditional for an introductory science course. We will discuss concepts that you read about in the textbook. Although most of this will be me talking, be prepared to answer questions that I may ask of the class and do some class discussion where the topic is suited to that approach. I will expect that you have read the textbook assignment before each lecture.
I will present an outline of the lecture on the projection screen that we will work from. This is not a slide show format, like you might be familiar with in other classes, but just a guide to work from for more in-depth discussion. All lecture outlines will be available on the course web site after class, so you don’t need to copy everything down that you see on the screen. You can go online later to print that information if you want to. I try to include illustrations, diagrams, micrographs, etc. wherever possible to make the lecture a more visual experience.
Laboratory format
Labs meet once per week. About 1/2 the class is registered in one lab section, and about 1/2 in the other. Make sure you know what day and time your lab section meets. You will have the same instructor for both lecture and lab. We will talk about exactly how labs will work at the first lab meeting.
Unlike some chemistry and physics courses, the lab is not a separate course. You won't get separate lecture and lab grades. Grades for lab assignments and lecture assignments will be combined to give you single letter grade.
Course web site
Right now you are reading the home page of the course web site. This site is not yet complete, but it is constantly being updated. Here you will find class news, assignments, lecture outlines, and other information that will be useful. Note that this is not an “online” course, but should be considered “Web-enhanced.” You are not often required to make use of the this web site, but it is strongly recommended. You will find materials here that may not be in the textbook or covered completely in lecture, but all the online content is designed to enhance the course and help to improve your grade. You should check the site frequently as it is constantly changing. The most important page is the course outline page that shows an updated schedule of lecture and lab topics, reading assignments, and other assignments. Although not yet complete, you will also find lecture outlines, study guides, and links to related information on the Internet.
Assignments and testing
Daily quizzes. [Approximately 50 points] Mini-quizzes will be given at the beginning of most lecture periods. A typical quiz will take about 5 minutes. Material for quizzes will come mostly from the day’s reading assignment and recent lecture or lab discussions.
Laboratory. [Approximately 100-150 points] Some of the lab exercises will have associated lab reports that will be turned in for a grade.
Exams. [300 points] There will be three major exams during the semester. Each exam will cover material presented in lecture, textbook readings, and lab work. Questions will be both objective (mostly multiple choice) and short essay questions. I will give you more specific information about exams as we get close to the first one. Planned exam dates are shown on the course outline but are subject to change. You will find some example exam questions on the web site.
Other assignments. [0-50 points] There may or may not be some additional assignments depending on how things develop during the semester. Sometimes I have ideas for new things to try which will count toward your grade.
Final exam. [150 points] The final exam is comprehensive. That is, it will cover information taken from the whole semester. However, questions on older material will be more general than on earlier exams. Those questions should not be difficult as long as you have reviewed the major concepts covered throughout the semester. Approximately 2/3 of the final will come from material covered after the 3rd exam. The format of the final is similar to that of the lecture exams, but will of course be a bit longer.
Checking your grades
Throughout the semester, you will be able to check your grade online on a secure web page. You must log in with a unique password so no one but you will be able to see your grades. You will receive your password shortly after the course begins. Note that this web page is independent of the Blackboard system used by Delta State. The login ID and password you might be using for another course through Blackboard will not work for Dr. T's courses.
Other course policies
See the course policies page for additional information on attendance, grading policy, dropping the course, etc.
Delta State University > Biological and Physical Sciences > Dr. Tiftickjian > BIO 100