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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Who is this course for?
The Division of Biological and Physical Sciences offers two introductory biology courses: Principles of Biology I and II (BIO 100/101), which is for science majors and other students who need a majors-level biology course, and Biology and Human Concerns (BIO 110), which is for non-science majors who are just fulfilling the general education science requirement. The course you are enrolled in is the majors-level course. If you are NOT required to take majors-level biology, you are probably in the wrong course and should switch to BIO 110.
The DSU majors that require majors-level biology (BIO 100) are: biology (all concentrations), chemistry (premedical science and chemistry education concentrations), environmental science (all concentrations), family and consumer sciences (nutrition/dietetics concentration). BIO 100 is also required for the biology minor. BIO 100 is also required for all pre-health professions programs including: pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-clinical laboratory sciences, pre-dental hygiene, pre-occupational therapy, pre-optometry, pre-pharmacy, pre-physical therapy, pre-radiologic sciences, pre-veterinary medicine, and pre-nursing.
If you are in any other degree program, you are probably in the wrong course. BIO 100 is a more rigorous course than BIO 110, and non-majors usually find it much more difficult. We have seen many cases of students who don't think this matters much, only to find out that they have a very hard time surviving the majors course when they don't need it. We don't want you to be overwhelmed by a course that is really not right for your situation. Do not come to me later in the semester complaining that you were in the wrong course.
General course description
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 BIO 100. 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 an introduction to what life is, how it is studied, and how living organisms are classified. Covered next are the building blocks of life-molecules and cells. We then go on to such topics as physiology (energy flow, metabolism, transport, etc.), genetics, evolution, and ecology. 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), which all biology majors take, covers the mechanisms of evolution; characteristics and classification of prokaryotes, protists, fungi, plants, and animals; plant form and function; and animal form and function.
Course objectives
After completing this course, students should be able to:
- analyze biological data, develop hypotheses, interpret experimental results, and draw conclusions.
- analyze biological phenomena by considering the reasons behind the structures and processes that define an organism.
- think beyond just knowing names of molecules, cells, organs, and the functions they perform by developing an understanding of why structures and processes make sense for survival.
- begin to appreciate that there are millions of species, from the simplest bacteria to the largest plants and animals, and realizing that this species diversity is part of what defines life.
- understand that there are diverse adaptations for survival. All species must solve problems to survive: obtain energy, water, and nutrients; grow; and reproduce. These problems are different in different environments, and organisms have evolved to solve these problems in different ways.
- understand that all organisms are the products of natural selection. Every biological phenomenon must be considered in light of the process of evolution.
- appreciate that biological systems are complex and that science recognizes a hierarchy of organization: atoms, molecules, cells, organisms, populations, ecosystems, biosphere. describe how basic chemical and physical principles apply to cell structure, metabolism, reproduction, heredity, and evolution.
- achieve competency in the use of the basic laboratory tools of biology including measuring equipment, the light microscope, and technology required to analyze experimental data.
- 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.
Expected preparation
This is the first course in biology for science majors at DSU, therefore it has no college-level prerequisites. You have had courses in biology and other sciences in high school, but I won't expect you to remember all the details 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 find the topics we cover are at least basically familiar. 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, so you must have access to a copy. Watch your reading assignments carefully to make sure you are reading the correct sections in the correct order. Some topics are covered in a different order than the book covers them.
The book is available in the campus bookstore for purchase or rental. 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 costs and how soon the book will get to you. If it takes longer than a couple of days, you may get behind on your reading assignments.
We do not use a published laboratory manual. The faculty who teach BIO 100 at Delta State have compiled a set of laboratory exercises specifically for this course. You will be able to purchase this lab manual for a very minimal fee from the Division of Biological and Physical Sciences office (Walters 150) shortly after the beginning of the semester.
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 one-half of the lecture class is registered in one lab section, and about one-half 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. Here you will find class news, assignments, lecture outlines, study guides, and other information that will be useful. This is by no means an “online” course, but should be considered “Web-enhanced.” You are only required to use the website to access assignments, but it is strongly recommended that you make use of the other materials posted there. You will find some materials here that may not be in the textbook or covered completely in lecture. 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 that shows an up-to-date schedule of lecture and lab topics, reading assignments, and assignments.
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. [Approximately 50 points] There will occasionally be additional written assignments. Each of these will carry a certain point value. The total will depend on exactly how many assignments are made.
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.
Because your grade is based on total points and not on a complicated weighting system, it is easy to determine your grade at any time. Just add up the points you have at any moment in time, and divide this total by how many point are possible at that time.
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
