Syllabus

Post Baccalaureate in Pre-Health

LSCI 1003: Life Science – Accelerated – Fall A 2024

Credits - 3

Description

This course serves as an introductory course for pre-health professions students and non-science majors, covering basic chemical principles of general chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry.  This foundational course is a systematic survey of measurements, atomic structure, periodic table trends, chemical bonding and equations, nomenclature, structures of organic compounds, and biochemicals. Altogether, this course will develop the critical thinking skills and self-confidence within the introductory sciences that come with foundational understandings.

Materials

Required:

Ball, D. W., Hill, J. W., & Scott, R. J. (2022). The basics of general, organic, and biological chemistry (OER) [LibreTexts]. 

NOTE: This Open Education Resource (OER) is available for free online; additional course materials will be provided in Brightspace. 

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Program Outcomes

In lecture courses, students should be able to:

  • Communicate scientific concepts and information clearly.
  • Illustrate fundamental principles of scientific disciplines.
  • Apply knowledge and critical thinking skills to scientific problems.

Course Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: 

  • Describe the composition of matter at multiple levels
  • Predict the properties of atoms alone and in combination (e.g. diatomic molecules, polyatomic as well as ions)
  • Write balanced chemical equations
  • Identify the main organic functional groups
  • Identify foundational organic molecules
  • Identify major classes of biological molecules
  • Describe how the chemical structure of endogenous biological molecules facilitates their biological function.
  • Utilize proper chemical nomenclature to describe common chemical and biological principles

Content-specific objectives

  • Chemistry

    • Solve basic unit calculations and conversions
    • Investigate the nature of matter and matter’s composition
    • Utilize the periodic table to predict the chemical reactivity of compounds
    • Investigate the rules governing how atoms come together to form molecules
    • Perform calculations that relate atoms, molecules, moles, and mass
    • Balance chemical reactions
    • Predict the products of common chemical reactions (e.g. decomposition, single/double replacement, synthesis)
    • Use the ideal gas law to determine the properties of gasses at varying temperatures and pressures
  • Organic Chemistry

    • Visually analyze the structures of organic molecules
    • Recognize common organic compounds based on the combination of functional groups
    • Identify organic functional groups
    • Demonstrate knowledge of naming organic molecules
    • Examine the complexity of molecular interactions essential to living organisms
  • Biochemistry

    • Describe biological molecules and their roles
    • Discuss the structure and function of biological molecules
    • Evaluate the complexity of carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, proteins
    • Examine how biochemical interactions drive metabolic reactions
    • Articulate the interdisciplinary nature of biochemistry in everyday life

Assignments

Homework Practice Quizzes

These will entail multiple-choice, matching, or true/false questions. These quizzes are untimed and are closed book and closed notes. These quizzes will be taken online through the Brightspace course site. Doing well on the quizzes will help prepare you for the weekly summative exams.

Weekly Summative Exams

These will entail multiple-choice, matching, or true/false questions. You will have 120 minutes and two attempts to complete each exam: closed book and closed notes. These quizzes will be taken online through the Brightspace course site.

Discussions

Each week, you will participate in discussions in which you will utilize key concepts and skills, as well as respond to your peers. These discussions emphasize the real-world application of life sciences.

Assignments

You will complete 2 multimedia assignments: a video presentation in Week 5 and an infographic poster in Week 8. Assignment details will be provided in the Brightspace course. 

Grading Policy

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

CategoryPointsPercentage
Introductory Discussion; Midpoint Reflection (2 @ 2 points each)44%
Weekly Discussions (5 @ 4 points each) 2020%
Homework Practice Quizzes (6 @ 3 points each)1818%
Weekly Summative Exams (6 @ 8 points each)4848%
Organic Drug Delivery Video Presentation55%
Infographic: Fields of Biochemistry55%
TOTAL100100%

Schedule

Week 1: Sep 4 – Sep 10
Week 2: Sep 11 – Sep 17
Week 3: Sep 18 – Sep 24
Week 4: Sep 25 – Oct 1
Week 5: Oct 2 – Oct 8
Week 6: Oct 9 – Oct 15
Week 7: Oct 16 – Oct 22
Week 8: Oct 23 – Oct 29

All assignments are due weekly by 11:59 PM ET at the designated times and days recorded below.

Week Key Concepts Learning Activities Due Dates
1
  • The basics of an atom
  • Unit conversions and measurements
  • The Periodic Table of Elements

Week 1 Discussion: Video Introductions and Chemistry in Everyday Life

Homework Practice Quiz

Weekly Summative Exam

Discussion (Initial Post) – Sunday, 11:59 PM EST

Discussion (Response Posts) – Tuesday, 11:59 PM EST

Homework Practice Quiz – Tuesday, 11:59 PM EST

Weekly Summative Exam – Tuesday, 11:59 PM EST

2
  • Ionic and covalent molecules
  • Balancing chemical equations
  • Properties of gases

Week 2 Discussion: Ionic Compounds in Everyday Life

Homework Practice Quiz

Weekly Summative Exam

Discussion (Initial Post) – Sunday, 11:59 PM EST

Discussion (Response Posts) – Tuesday, 11:59 PM EST

Homework Practice Quiz – Tuesday, 11:59 PM EST

Weekly Summative Exam – Tuesday, 11:59 PM EST

3
  • Intro to organic chemistry
  • Hydrocarbons

Week 3 Discussion: Dosage

Homework Practice Quiz

Weekly Summative Exam

Discussion (Initial Post) – Sunday, 11:59 PM EST

Discussion (Response Posts) – Tuesday, 11:59 PM EST

Homework Practice Quiz – Tuesday, 11:59 PM EST

Weekly Summative Exam – Tuesday, 11:59 PM EST

4
  • Organic chemistry (continued)
  • Functional groups of organic molecules

Week 4 Discussion: Organic Molecules

Homework Practice Quiz

Weekly Summative Exam

Discussion (Initial Post) – Sunday, 11:59 PM EST

Discussion (Response Posts) – Tuesday, 11:59 PM EST

Homework Practice Quiz – Tuesday, 11:59 PM EST

Weekly Summative Exam – Tuesday, 11:59 PM EST

5
  • Organic Compounds
  • Midpoint Reflection

Week 5 Discussion: Midpoint Reflection

Organic Drug Delivery Video Presentation

Discussion (Initial Post) – Sunday, 11:59 PM EST

Discussion (Response Post) – Tuesday, 11:59 PM EST

Video Presentation – Tuesday, 11:59 PM EST

6
  • Carbohydrates and lipids
  • Role of macromolecules in biological systems

Week 6 Discussion: Carbohydrates Provide Energy

Homework Practice Quiz

Weekly Summative Exam

Discussion (Initial Post) – Sunday, 11:59 PM EST

Discussion (Response Posts) – Tuesday, 11:59 PM EST

Homework Practice Quiz – Tuesday, 11:59 PM EST

Weekly Summative Exam – Tuesday, 11:59 PM EST

7
  • Nucleic acids and proteins

Week 7 Discussion: Epigenetics

Homework Practice Quiz

 

Discussion (Initial Post) – Sunday, 11:59 PM EST

Discussion (Response Posts) – Tuesday, 11:59 PM EST

Homework Practice Quiz – Tuesday, 11:59 PM EST

 

8
  • Nucleic acids and proteins (continued)

Infographic: Fields of Biochemistry

Weekly Summative Exam

Infographic – Tuesday, 11:59 PM EST

Weekly Summative Exam – Tuesday, 11:59 PM EST

 

Student Resources

Online Student Support

Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies. Questions? Email: prehealth@une.edu.

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.

UNE Libraries

Further Assistance

Your student service advisor monitors course progression and provides assistance or guidance when needed. They can assist questions regarding ordering course materials, University policies, billing, navigating the course in Brightspace, and more.

Policies

Attendance Policy

Online students are required to submit a graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. If a student does not submit a posting to the graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm ET, the student will be automatically dropped from the course for non-participation. Review the full attendance policy.

Assignments

Late assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction (from the total points) for the late submission. After three days the assignment will not be accepted. Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% grade reduction from the total discussion grade (e.g., a 3 point discussion will be reduced by 0.3 points). Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded. Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.

Proctored Examinations

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 the ProctorU Chrome or Firefox extension and are using the most current version of Chrome or Firefox. 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 use ProctorU and must follow all proctoring requirements for their exams to be credited.

Information about exam attempts can be found in your course.

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.

Courses in the program are equivalent to one-semester courses designed to be completed in 6 or 8 weeks

  1. Enrollment in the course begins the day your section opens which is listed in the Academic Calendar found on the Student Success Portal.
  2. Course due dates, start and end dates are in respect to Eastern Time.

Withdrawal and Refund Policies

Please review the policies in your confirmation email. Contact PreHealth@une.edu with any questions.

Grade Policy

Students are expected to attempt and complete all graded assignments and proctored exams by the end date of the course. Contact support with any questions.

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:

  1. Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
  2. Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
  3. Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
  4. Multiple submission of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
  5. 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.