Syllabus
Post Baccalaureate in Pre-Health
BIOL 1050: Cell Biology (Fall A 2024)
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/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
Course Objectives
- Define and describe the structures and purposes of basic components of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells with an emphasis on macromolecules, organelles, and membrane functions.
- Explain how cells generate and use energy in cells and control metabolic reactions.
- Identify and describe the stages involved in the cell life cycle, mitotic cell division, and sexual reproduction.
- Describe and apply the principles of classical genetics for predicting inheritance.
- Explain the processes by which DNA replicates and codes for proteins in the cell.
- Examine various techniques in DNA technology.
- Apply knowledge to understanding the cellular basis of diseases in the human body.
Assignments
Application Activities (6)
There will be a total of six application activities in the course. The intent of the Application Activities is to serve as learning activities that will support your recall, application, and mastery of core cell biology concepts. You are required to research using additional reliable and credible sources (i.e., UNE Library, PubMed, Google Scholar, etc.) to support and supplement the required readings and content in the classroom. Responses to Application Activity questions/scenarios should thoroughly address the questions(s) being asked. These activities count toward 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. These activities count toward 10% of the final grade in the course.
Discussion Board Posts
Discussion questions cover interesting current events or materials that contribute to a deeper understanding of core concepts and allow you to interact with your classmates. Most of the discussion questions are designed to accompany chapters (see specific discussion questions for more information). Each question will require you to conduct internet research, read additional materials (a short journal or magazine article), visit a specific webpage, or view a short video. Then you will write a response following the guidelines in the discussion. Paraphrased information from sources used to support your writings must be cited per APA requirements. APA information is linked in the Getting Started area of the course.
To earn full credit, you will need to post a response and respond to the original posts of at least two other students. 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.
Discussion Question Guidelines
- Read the assignment carefully so that you are familiar with the materials that you need to cover and how to craft your post.
- Respect each other’s ideas, feelings, and experience. Some of the questions involve areas of disagreement. Expect your classmates to have different opinions.
- Use proper writing style. Correct spelling and sentence structure are expected just as if you were writing a regular paper. Use spell check and grammar check before you submit.
- Write your posting in a word document! That way you can save a copy and use spell check and grammar check.
- Cite the sources that you use to write your response. Follow the APA guidelines.
- Avoid posting large blocks of text. Break your writing into paragraphs and use a space between paragraphs to make your posting easier to read online.
- Use the “reply” button rather than the “compose” button when responding to someone else’s post.
- When responding to a classmate, address them by name.
- Do not use postings such as “I agree,” “I don’t know either,” or “ditto.” They do not add to the discussion, take up space on the Discussions, and will not be counted.
- Everyone benefits from an active discussion. Check back in frequently to see what others are saying. Or subscribe to the respective discussion board so you are alerted when new posts are posted.
- Plan your time carefully. You will need to give your classmates time to respond to your postings. This is an asynchronous class where students will be in different points of the class.
- Contact your instructor if there are schedule problems or other issues that need to be resolved.
Homework Assignments
Each module contains homework assignments associated with the textbook. You can access these on your Mastering Biology Assignments Page. Below are the Mastering Biology Student Registration Instructions for Brightspace.
You will have five attempts to complete each Mastering Biology homework assignment. The highest score is kept. Doing well on the homework assignments will prepare you for the midterm and final exams. These activities count towards 10% of the course final grade.
Mastering Biology Student Registration Instructions for Brightspace
Access to your course content
- Sign in to link your Pearson and Brightspace accounts. If you’re new to MyLab/Mastering, create an account.
- Select any available access option, if asked.
- Enter a prepaid access code that came with your textbook or from the bookstore.
- Buy instant access using a credit card or PayPal account.
- Select Get temporary access without payment for 14 days.
- Select Go to my course.
It is recommended that you always enter your Mastering Biology activities through your course in Brightspace.
Need help?
Make sure your browser is ready. Check the system requirements at https://mlm.pearson.com/global/system-requirements/
For help with Mastering Biology for Brightspace, go to https://help.pearsoncmg.com/integration/cg/brightspace/student/en/
Quizzes (14)
There are 14 quizzes in this course. All quizzes are open book and open notes and are not timed. Quizzes are taken once. You will be able to see your answers immediately following submission. Please contact your instructor for specific feedback. Doing well on the quizzes will help prepare you for the midterm and final exams. These activities count towards 10% of the final grade in the course.
Diseases of the Cell Project
The Diseases of the Cell Project is a multi-week/module project that students will begin in Module 6 and conclude in Module 14 of the course. The project consists of 4 deliverables. Students will be given specific prompts and instructions for each deliverable of the project. The project counts towards 15% of your final grade in the course.
Midterm Exam (Proctored)
You must have a UNE-compliant external webcam to take your proctored examinations. Please order your webcam immediately so that you have it in time for the Midterm exam.
A Midterm Exam Review Study Guide will be available to you in Module 8. The midterm exam can be taken once you have completed all assignments for Modules 1 – 8, including the application activities, deliverables (#1 and #2), discussion boards, homework, and quizzes as well as the Midterm Exam Honor Pledge. It is a timed and proctored exam.
This is a closed-book and closed-notes exam. You may have a single 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.
Please contact your instructor for specific feedback.
The exam consists of 65 multiple-choice questions, and you have up to two hours to complete the exam. You will need to arrange to take your midterm exam with Proctor U. Information on the proctoring process is available below.
For all exams, you must review the Proctored Examinations information and requirements in the Policies section of this syllabus.
Final Exam (Proctored)
A Final Exam Review Study Guide will be available to you in Module 16. The final exam cannot be taken until you have completed all the assignments for the course, including the homework, quizzes, discussion boards, deliverables, and the Diseases of the Cell Project, as well as the Final Exam Honor Pledge. The final will be a timed-proctored exam that covers modules 9 – 15.
This is a closed-book and closed-notes exam. You may have a single 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.
Please contact your instructor for specific feedback.
The final exam consists of 65 multiple-choice questions, and you can have up to two hours to complete the exam. You will need to arrange to take your final exam with Proctor U. Information on the proctoring process is available below.
For all exams, you must review the Proctored Examinations information and requirements in the Policies section of this syllabus.
Practice Proctored Exam
There is a highly recommended Practice Proctored Exam available to all students. The first attempt is free. This exam does not cover course material and is not included in your overall course grade. It prepares test takers for what the testing environment will be like, what forms of identification are needed, and provides a chance to test your external webcam with a live proctor. This is a great way to become familiar with and prepare for your exam!
Grading Policy
Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:
Grade Breakdown
| Assignment Category | Assignment Weight |
| Application Activities | 10% |
| Discussions | 10% |
| Homeworks | 10% |
| Quizzes | 10% |
| Diseases of the Cell Project | 15% |
| Midterm Exam | 20% |
| Final Exam | 25% |
| 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
Course Dates
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
|
Week |
Module |
Topic |
Text/Chapter |
Assignments |
|
Week 1 |
1 |
Study of Life & Chemical Basis of Life |
1.1 – 1.7 and 2 |
|
|
2 |
Organic Molecules |
3 |
|
|
|
Week 2 |
3 |
Tour of the Cell |
4 |
|
|
4 |
Cells in the Human Body |
20.1 – 20.12 |
|
|
|
Week 3 |
5 |
The Cell Membrane & Transport |
5.1 – 5.9 |
|
|
6 |
Homeostasis & Cell Signaling |
20.13 – 20.15 & 11.15 – 11.17 Multimedia videos embedded in the Module |
|
|
|
Week 4 |
7 |
The Working Cell |
5.10 – 5.16 |
|
|
8 |
Midterm |
Midterm Exam Review Guide |
|
|
|
Week 5 |
9 |
Cellular Respiration |
6 |
|
|
10 |
Cell Cycle & Cell Division |
8.1 – 8.10 |
|
|
|
Week 6 |
11 |
Sexual Reproduction |
8.11 – 8.23 |
|
|
12 |
Patterns of Inheritance |
9 |
|
|
|
Week 7 |
13 |
Molecular Biology of the Gene |
10 |
|
|
14 |
Gene Expression |
11 |
|
|
|
Week 8 |
15 |
Biotechnology |
12 |
|
|
16 |
Final Exam |
Final Exam Study Guide |
|
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
- Library Access for all students: Your library login ID and password are the same as the ones you use to log into Brightspace.
- Library Questions: Ask a librarian or phone library staff at (207) 602-2361 or (207) 221-4330.
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
- Enrollment in the course begins the day your section opens which is listed in the Academic Calendar found on the Student Success Portal.
- 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:
- 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.
An external webcam is required for proctored exams. If you do not have one, you may order one here: UNE’s Recommended External Webcam and whiteboard. Please order a webcam now so that it arrives in time for Week 3’s Midterm Exam.