Course Description:

Evolutionary biology not only helps us to understand how and why organisms have become the way they are, evolution is a feature of our everyday lives. In this course we will examine the mechanisms that have resulted in the rich diversity of life on our planet. We will also explore how evolutionary biology helps us to understand current issues in ecology, conservation biology, global climate change, agriculture, and human health and medicine.  Topics in this course will include: the fossil record, biodiversity, mass extinctions, human evolution, infectious diseases and antibiotic resistance. The focus of the course will be concepts over details and scientific reasoning over terminology.

My goal for you as a student is that you expand your critical thinking and science literacy skills, skills which will serve you for a lifetime. Listening attentively to the lectures in this course will provide you with pertinent background information on evolutionary biology issues. However, to really learn how to think about evolution, you will need to do just that. So, come to lecture each day prepared to fully engage your brain. In this course we will have short clicker quizzes, small group work, and class discussions to facilitate your understanding of how evolutionary biology influences our everyday lives.

BlackBoard will be used extensively in this course for posting lectures, the updated syllabus, outside readings, assignments, and general notices regarding the course. 

Contents of the syllabus are subject to change as the semester progresses. Therefore, always refer to Blackboard to find out the current assignment/readings dates.

We will have daily, short “clicker” quizzes that will test your understanding of the reading and previous material. In addition, we will have two short assignments and three exams. The third exam, the final, will be cumulative.

DAILY, SHORT “CLICKER” QUESTIONS:

BLACKBOARD QUIZZES:

SHORT assignments:

 MAKING UP Assignments/late assignmnents:

Attendance:

This is an interactive class and your participation is critical to the success of the entire class.  In addition, you are expected to attend every class session on time. If you do miss class, you are still responsible for all material presented in class and for any assignments/changes announced in class. If you miss class due to an excused absence, you are still responsible for material presented during class.

If you miss an exam during an unexcused absence you will get a 0 for that exam. Should an emergency arise, you are responsible for informing me before the class you will miss. If you are unable to call, have someone make the call for you. Calling me does not guarantee my acceptance of your reason for absence, but failing to notify me, even if your absence is excused, does guarantee that you will get a 0 for that exam. 

Course evaluations:

Please review the College’s definition of plagiarism is it appears in the Student Handbook.  I will report all plagiarism offenders to Judicial Affairs. In a collaborative project, all students in a group may be held responsible for academic misconduct if they engage in plagiarism or are aware of plagiarism by others in their group and fail to report it. Students who participate in a collaborative project in which plagiarism has occurred will not be held accountable if they were not knowledgeable of the plagiarism.

Every effort will be made to accommodate special needs of students. Please consult the Student Handbook for procedures and policies regarding accommodations.