Syllabus
BIOL 1010: Biology I – 16 weeks
Credits - 4
Description
Biology I is a four credit course incorporating an at-home laboratory component. This course is designed for individuals with a baccalaureate degree who need Biology as a prerequisite to apply for admission to various health professions’ programs, such as, but not limited to, graduate programs in dietetics, nursing, physical therapy, physician assistant, nurse anesthesia, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, dental medicine and medicine. The emphasis of the course is on providing a conceptual framework for understanding the basics of modern biology so that the student will be well equipped to apply this knowledge in his or her further studies.
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
Upon the completion of this course the student will be able to
- Demonstrate knowledge of the basic content of the discipline
- Discuss and demonstrate how scientists solve problems in the discipline
- Evaluate the validity of scientific arguments
- Apply knowledge to scientific problems
- Ask a question and develop a hypothesis that can be tested
- Plan and conduct an investigation to test a hypothesis
- Analyze data and apply scientific ideas to evaluate the strength of a hypothesis
- Communicate results of scientific experiments by basing conclusions on valid and reliable evidence
Assignments
Grading Policy
Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:
Grade Breakdown
| Category | Percentage of Grade |
|---|---|
| Lab Assessments | 20% |
| Lab Report | 5% |
| Homework | 7.5% |
| Discussions | 11.25% |
| Chapter Quizzes | 7.5% |
| Midterm Exam | 22.5% |
| Final Exam | 26.25% |
| 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 Outline
This course is designed to be completed in a 16-week period, just like an on-campus General Biology I course. This breaks down to one week per week and one week to study for and take the final exam. One week in this online course is equivalent to 3-50 minute lectures in a traditional classroom setting. The general rule of studying for science courses is to spend 3 hours studying for every one hour that you are in class. Therefore, the suggested study time for each week is 9 hours above and beyond the time it takes to listen to the lecture. Please refer to the schedule below for the schedule of lectures and the accompanying laboratory exercises. Please note that you will not be able to take the midterm exam until you complete all of the assignments for Units 1 and 2, including the quizzes, labs and the first discussion. You will not be able to start units 3 and 4 until you complete the midterm exam and you will not be able to take the final exam until you complete all of the assignments for the course, including the quizzes, labs, discussions board and lab report. Students may complete the course in less than 16 weeks.
Note: All labs are accessed through HOL/Science Interactive. Labs that require microscopy work will be using the virtual microscope (V-Scope) on the HOL/Science Interactive class site. Purchase of a microscope for this class is NOT required.
|
Week |
Title |
Text Chapter |
Lab Session |
| UNIT 1: Building Blocks of Living Things | |||
| 1 | Introduction and Chemistry | 1, 2 | The Scientific Method |
|
2 |
Biological Molecules |
3 |
Biological Macromolecules |
| 3 | Cells and Their Internal Structures | 4 | Cell Types – Structure & Function (with V-Scope) |
| UNIT 2: Cellular Function | |||
| 4 | Membrane Structure and Transport | 5 | Cell Membrane Transport |
| 5 | Energy and Enzymes | 6 | Enzymes |
|
6 |
Cellular Respiration and Fermentation |
7 |
Cellular Respiration & Metabolism
|
| 7 | Photosynthesis | 8 | Photosynthesis |
| UNIT 3: Molecular Biology of the Gene | **NOTE: Lab report is due by the end of Unit 3 | ||
|
8 |
Structure & Replication of DNA |
11 |
No lab this week |
| 9 | Transcription and Translation | 12 | DNA, RNA, & Protein Synthesis |
| 10 | Gene Regulation | 14 | No lab this week |
| 11 | Mutation and Biomolecular Techniques | 15, 21 | Biomolecular Techniques |
| UNIT 4: Cell Division and Inheritance | |||
| 12 | Mitosis and Meiosis | 16 | Mitosis and Meiosis (with V-Scope) |
| 13 | Simple Patterns of Inheritance | 17 | Mendelian Genetics |
| 14 | Complex Patterns of Inheritance | 18 | No lab this week |
| 15 | Genetics of Viruses and Bacteria | 19 | No lab this week |
| 16 | Final Exam |
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
Your course may have proctored exams. Please see your course for full details, access, testing requirements, and guidelines.
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.
All students are encouraged to use a second attempt on their exams in order to improve their overall performance in the course.
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.