Syllabus
Science Prerequisites for Health Professionals
BIOL 1050: Cell Biology (Spring 2022)
Credits - 3
Description
This course will introduce and explore basic concepts and theories of cell biology with an emphasis on its application in understanding human health. Topics include an introduction to cell theory, the chemical composition of cells, cellular functions and cell signaling, reproduction, and genetics. Each of these topics will be explored through course readings, video lectures, and demonstrations, discussions, and a variety of experiential activities, including a course project. Students will demonstrate their mastery of cell biology concepts through quizzes and a cumulative final exam. Students will also have the opportunity to apply the concepts learned in this course to evaluate a human disease.
Materials
Learning Objectives and Outcomes
Program Outcomes
In lecture courses, students should be able to:
- Communicate scientific concepts and information clearly.
- Illustrate fundamental laws, theories, and principles of scientific disciplines.
- Apply knowledge and critical thinking skills to scientific problems.
In lab courses, students should be able to:
- Ask a question or define a problem that can be tested.
- Hypothesize possible result(s).
- Plan and/or conduct an investigation individually and/or collaboratively to produce data to serve as the basis for evidence.
- Analyze data using tools, technologies, and/or models (i.e. computational, mathematical, graphical, etc.) in order to make valid and reliable scientific claims or determine an optimal design solution.
- Communicate the results by constructing an explanation based on multiple pieces of valid and reliable evidence obtained from a variety of sources (including students’ own investigations, models, theories, simulations, peer review) and the assumption that theories and laws that describe the natural world operate today as they did in the past and will continue to do so in the future.
- Apply scientific ideas, principles, and/or evidence gained from various experiments, as well as other observations and/or research, to provide an explanation of phenomena and solve design problems, taking into account possible unanticipated effects.
Course Objectives
- Visualize the structure and function of cellular components through illustration or labeling of visual graphics.
- Identify the structure and function of cellular components.
- Illustrate the structure and function of cellular components.
- Illustrate the chemical composition of cells.
- Describe how cells transport materials and communicate.
- Illustrate how cells transport materials and communicate.
- Explain the process of cell reproduction using a visual.
- Discuss the biological basis of diversity.
- Describe and illustrate the characteristics of enzymes and explain their importance to cellular functions.
- Describe cellular respiration and provide examples of cellular metabolism.
- Explain how genetic information is stored and expressed to form specialized cells
- Critique biotechnology currently being used to diagnose and treat diseases.
- Apply cell biology knowledge to solve problems in health/health issues.
SELF PACED DESIGN
On the course start date, students will have access to orientation. This must be completed to be able to gain access to the first module in the course. Students must complete the first module to gain access to the next one. We recommend that students spend about 15 hours per week to complete a course in 16 weeks. When trying to complete the course in less than 16 weeks, we typically see students do this successfully within 12-14 weeks. Instructors will be timely in grading and feedback, but it will not be instant.
Assignments
Application Activities (12)
There will be a total of thirteen application activities in the course. The intent to the Application Activities each week is for them to serve as learning activities that will support your recall, application, and mastery of key cell biology concepts. You can and should research using additional reliable and credible resources (i.e. UNE Library, PubMed, Google Scholar, etc.) to support and supplement the required readings. [This would be done in real-life in a professional health setting to aid in diagnoses and treatment.] Responses to Application Activity questions/scenarios should thoroughly address the questions(s) being asked. Each application activity is worth 10 points, and these activities count towards 10% of the final grade in the course.
Discussion Assignment (5)
There will be a total of five discussion activities in the course. The first discussion board is an ungraded introductory discussion. The other four discussion assignments are graded, and they are designed to encourage students to reflect on course readings and activities and to collaborate with their peers in the course. Each discussion assignment is worth 10 points, and these activities count towards 15% of the final grade in the course.
Quizzes (14)
There are 14 quizzes in this course. You will have 15 minutes (and only one attempt) to complete each of the quizzes. You may refer to your course e-text(s) and any additional notes that you have taken during the week (physical or e-notes) while completing each quiz. Each quiz is worth 10 points, and these activities count towards 25% of the final grade in the course.
Disease Mystery Digital Story Project
The Disease Mystery Digital Story Project is a multi-week project that students will begin in Week 6 and conclude in Week 15 of the course. The project consists of 5 deliverables. Students will be given specific prompts and instructions for each deliverable of the project. The project is worth 100 points and counts towards 15% of your final grade in the course.
Final Exam (Proctored)
The final exam cannot be taken until you have completed all coursework. It will be a timed proctored exam and will take place in Brightspace at Week 16. The final exam will be comprehensive and cover all content introduced in the course. This is a closed-book and closed-notes exam. Students will have 90 minutes to answer 60 multiple choice exam items. A final exam study guide will be made available in Week 15 to help students prepare for the final exam. The exam is worth 100 points and counts towards 35% of the final grade in the course.
This Final Exam must be taken though ProctorU. You will need to arrange to take your final exam with Proctor U. Information on the proctoring process is available below; see POLICIES section and ‘Proctored Examinations’. The official UNE webcam is required. You may have a single UNE-authorized whiteboard to use while taking this exam. You must show your proctor that your whiteboard is clear at the beginning of your testing session, and you must erase your whiteboard in front of the proctor before disconnecting from your session. If you do not do this, your exam will not be credited.
You will not have access to any material saved on your or any other computer. No access to the internet or other communication devices is allowed during this exam. Proctored exams are closed for review. You will not be able to review this exam at any time. Please contact your instructor for specific feedback.
Grading Policy
Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:
Grade Breakdown
| Assignment Category | Assignment Category |
| Application Activities | 10% |
| Discussions | 15% |
| Quizzes | 25% |
| Project | 15% |
| Final Exam | 35% |
| Total | 100% |
Grade Scale
| Grade | Points Grade | Point Average (GPA) |
| A | 94 – 100% | 4.00 |
| A- | 90 – 93% | 3.75 |
| B+ | 87 – 89% | 3.50 |
| B | 84 – 86% | 3.00 |
| B- | 80 – 83% | 2.75 |
| C+ | 77 – 79% | 2.50 |
| C | 74 – 76% | 2.00 |
| C- | 70 – 73% | 1.75 |
| D | 64 – 69% | 1.00 |
| F | 00 – 63% | 0.00 |
Schedule
|
Week |
Topic |
Readings/Resources |
Assignments |
|
1 |
Introduction to Cells |
Main Text – Sections from Chapter 3: Cell Structure |
|
|
2 |
Eukaryotic Cells |
Main Text – Sections from Chapter 3: Cell Structure |
|
|
3 |
Cells in the Human Body |
Main Text – Section from Chapter 3: Cell Structure and Chapter 6: Tissue Level of Organization |
|
|
4 |
Chemical Composition of Cells |
Main Text – Chapter 2: The Chemical Foundation of Life |
|
|
5 |
Cell Transport |
Main Text – Chapter 4: Structure and Function of Cell |
|
|
6 |
Cell Communication |
Supplemental Text – Chapter 9: Cell Communication |
|
|
7 |
Enzymes |
Main Text – Section 5.1: Energy and Metabolism from Chapter 5: How Cells Obtain Energy |
|
|
8 |
Cellular Respiration and Fermentation |
Main Text – Chapter 5: How Cells Obtain Energy |
|
|
9 |
Cell Cycle and Cell Division |
Main Text – Chapter 7: Cell Reproduction |
|
|
10 |
Sexual Reproduction |
Main Text – Chapter 7: Cell Reproduction |
|
|
11 |
Heredity |
Main Text – Chapter 8: Mendel’s Experiments and Heredity and Chapter 9: Modern Understandings of Inheritance |
|
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12 |
DNA Structure and Replication |
Main Text – Chapter 10: Molecular Biology |
|
|
13 |
Gene Expression |
Main Text – Chapter 10: Molecular Biology and all of Chapter 11: Gene Expression |
|
|
14 |
Biotechnology |
Main Text – Chapter 12: Biotechnology |
|
|
15 |
Cell Biology Health Issues |
Final Exam Study Guide |
|
|
16 |
Final Exam |
Final Exam Study Guide |
|
Student Resources
Online Student Support
Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you - they will monitor course progression and provide assistance or guidance when needed. Please don’t hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, course materials, billing, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.
Questions? Visit the Student Support Science Prerequisites page
Online Peer Support
Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.
Instructor and Support Contact Information
Check Brightspace for specific instructor and support specialist contact information.
Student Lounge
The Student Lounge Discussion Forum is a designated support forum in which students may engage with each other and grapple with course content. Feel free to post questions, seek clarification, and support each other, but be mindful of UNE's Academic Integrity Policy.
Your instructor will monitor this forum. However, if you are seeking specific and timely answers to questions about course content or your personal grades, please contact your instructor via course messages. For questions about course materials, program policy, and how to navigate and proceed through the course, please contact your Student Service Advisor through the Student Portal.
Policies
Proctored Examinations
Your course may have proctored exams. The University of New England has contracted with ProctorU to provide students with the most convenient online exam proctoring system. This system provides a simple, no cost to the student, secure, online proctor for exams and allows the student to take all the exams at home and on their own schedule.
Upon enrollment into the course, each student will register with ProctorU and establish a login name and password. This will give the student access to all of ProctorU's services. When ready, students will schedule each of their proctored exams with ProctorU. Exams must be scheduled at least 72 hours in advance to avoid fees. Prior to taking their exams, students must be sure that they have downloaded any required additional software. They must also be sure their testing site's connection meets the minimum requirements by using ProctorU's "Test It Out" utility.
Upon the exam day and hour, students will log in to ProctorU and click on "exams". After following the procedures outlined at ProctorU's website, the student will log in to Brightspace and locate their correct exam. The proctor will then allow student access to that exam.
Students must follow all proctoring requirements for their exams to be credited. Please contact your instructor for specific feedback.
Exam Attempts Policy
Students will receive two attempts at all proctored examinations. The higher score of the two attempts will be calculated into the final grade. Students can schedule their second attempt by following the same ProctorU instructions as with the original exam.
All students are encouraged to utilize a second attempt on their exams in order to improve their overall performance in the course.
Course Discussions
Discussion topics cover events or materials related to this course that contribute to a deeper understanding of key concepts and allow you to interact with your classmates and the instructor. Each discussion topic may require you to conduct internet research, read additional materials, visit a specific webpage, AND/OR view a short video before writing a response following the specific guidelines in the discussion topic prompt.
To earn full credit you will need to post a response to the discussion topic, respond to the original posts of other students, and then contribute meaningfully to an ongoing discussion. You may need to post your initial response before you will see any posts from your classmates. For special cases where one or two students are accelerating faster through the course, the instructor will participate in the discussion so that everyone has the opportunity to interact.
Please see Brightspace for a full description, along with specific guidelines, for each discussion topic. Discussion board assignments should be completed, along with all other assignments in the course, in the order that they appear. Due to the course design, you may be unable to take a proctored exam if you do not complete all assignments that appear prior to that exam.
Please also refer to the Grading Policy/Grade Breakdown section of the syllabus to learn the percentage of your grade that each discussion is worth.
Technology Requirements
Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Programs: Technical Requirements
Course Length
A schedule of lectures and assignments is included in this syllabus. This is, however a self-paced course and you can complete the course in less time.
- Courses in the SPHP program are equivalent to one-semester courses designed to be completed in 16 weeks
- Enrollment in the course begins the day your section opens which is listed in the Academic Calendar found on the Student Success Portal.
- Course start and end dates are in respect to Eastern Time.
Withdrawal and Refund Policies
Please visit the enrollment page to review the withdrawal and refund policies.
Grade Policy
Students are expected to attempt and complete all graded assignments and proctored exams by the end date of the course. View the incomplete grade policy..
Transcripts
Due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, only the student may request official transcripts. This may be done online by going to the University of New England Registrar website and following the directions on the page.
Academic Integrity
The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:
- Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
- Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
- Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
- Multiple submission of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
- Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.
Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.
Using Generative AI When Completing Coursework
Generative AI (GenAI) applications (like ChatGPT) have proven to be powerful and effective tools, and students are encouraged to become familiar with and use them. However, as with any tool, students must use GenAI in ways that support learning, not replace it. Learning to use AI responsibly and ethically is an important skill in today’s society.
In their courses, students are not allowed to use advanced automated tools, such as generative AI tools, on assignments unless explicitly directed to do so. Each student is expected to complete each assignment, including labs and quizzes as applicable, without substantive assistance from others, including automated tools.
Using AI-content generators to complete assignments without proper attribution violates academic integrity. By submitting assignments in UNE courses, you pledge to affirm that they are your own work and you attribute use of any and all tools and sources.
Unauthorized Use
Unauthorized use of AI is treated as a violation of academic integrity.
Citing AI Use
If permitted, students should indicate and cite any use of AI tools.
Instructor responsibility
Instructors should clearly reiterate, using UNE Online’s Policy, how students can use AI tools in their courses, and communicate this policy to students at the beginning of the semester.
Student responsibility
Students must follow the academic integrity policy of the University of New England.