This is the main syllabus for Dr. Tiftickjian’s course in Biology of Nonvascular Plants (BIO 408/508). 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 Genetics 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.
|
• Course outline and schedule |
|
||||||||||||||
Course objectives
The primary objective of this course is to introduce you to some of the general principles related to the biology of the algae, fungi, and bryophytes The course is basically designed as a taxonomic survey but will not be limited to systematics. The topics covered will include morphology and evolution, life histories, physiology, and ecology. By the end of the term, we should all have a general idea of what nonvascular plants are, their place in the biosphere, and how they are related to other “higher” plants.
Expected preparation
The course requires only that you have had two semesters or general biology or an introductory course in botany. The course content is a continuation of the sections of general biology that introduced basic protist and plant structure, function, and classification.
The textbook
There is currently no single text in print which is suitable for the course, so you will not have to buy one. There will be reading assignments from various sources where appropriate to correlate with the lecture material. There are two primary books we will draw from: Biology of Nonvascular Plants, by H.N. Pritchard and P.T. Bradt, 1984, Times Mirror/Mosby; and Nonvascular Plants: An Evolutionary Survey, by R.F. Scagel, et al., 1982, Wadsworth. Most regular reading assignments will come from these texts. They are good texts but unfortunately are out-of-print. Both are on reserve in the library, and I have copies that I will make available to the class. Other reading materials will be assigned as needed.
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 website, 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. You will also find most of the lecture outlines, and links to related information on the Internet.
Assignments and testing
Exams. [300 points] There will be three major lecture exams during the term. Lecture exams will cover lecture material and textbook readings. Questions may include some objective (multiple choice) items, but most items will be discussion-type questions.
Lab Exams. [200 points] There will be two lab exams, one about midterm and one at the end of the term. Lab exams will be practicals. I will ask you to identify and answer questions about specimens and microscope slides.
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 previous exams. This part of the final should not be difficult as long as you have reviewed the major concepts covered throughout the semester. Approximately 2/3 of the final will cover 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.
Other assignments. [0-50 points] There may 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.
Graduate student assignments. If you are taking this course as a graduate student (BIO 508), there will be extra assignments, probably in the form of one or two papers. Delta State policy requires that graduate students be required to do somewhat more work for a course that is double-listed as undergraduate/graduate.
Checking your grades
You can check your current grade online at 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 > Genetics