This course is designed to provide a basic understanding of the fundamental principles of biology and to develop your analytical, critical and integrative thinking skills. During lecture, we will present background information for each topic, then introduce examples, demonstrations, or key experiments and ask you to predict what would happen or to interpret the results. During lecture time, you should be actively thinking in addition to taking notes. Correspondingly, the exams will test your understanding of the fundamental principles and your ability to apply that understanding analytically.

At the conclusion of the course, you should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the following fundamental concepts and principles:

1) the molecular and cellular makeup of living things (organisms)
2) how cells harness and utilize energy
3) cell division and the related transmission of hereditary (genetic) information from one generation to the next
4) how hereditary information is used to build cellular and organismal structure
5) A basic understanding of structure and function at the organismal level, using plants and animals as a primary examples.

Performance Evaluation:
 

Grade scale      %				Lecture	Points
	A	93-100		3 lecture exams (100 points each)	300
	A-	90-92		Final Exam (covering entire semester)	150
	B+	87-89		Problem Sets (25 pts each, 4 total)	100
	B	83-86
	B-	80-82		Lab
	C+	77-79		Lab Assignments (20 pts each, 5 total)	100
	C	73-76		Lab Notebooks	25
	C-	70-72		Lab Practical (at the end of the semester)	25
	D+	67-69
	D	63-66		Total Points Available	700
	D-	60-62
	F>	< 60		There is no extra credit.

Blackboard:

Blackboard will be used in this course for posting course documents and general notices. If you have questions about using Blackboard please contact Information Technology Services (ITS) helpdesk), 4-3282.

All the work in this class must be your own, unless stated otherwise. Confirmed instances of academic misconduct will result in a zero for that test and referral to the school judiciary system. Please refer to the Student Handbook for a detailed description of the policies regarding student academic conduct.

Lectures:   Attendance is expected. There is no automatic point deduction for missing occasional  classes, but it is very difficult to keep up with the material if you miss a class. In cases where a student is repeatedly absent without excuse, there may be a penalty for the final grade.

Exams:  Exams must be taken on scheduled exam dates. If you have a substantial time conflict with an exam, you must contact us at least a week before the exam is scheduled. If you are sick on the day of the exam, you or a friend must contact us before the start of the exam. If you are too ill to do this, then contact us as soon as possible afterwards. In either case, leaving a voice mail or e-mail message is sufficient. Afterwards, you will have to provide written documentation with your excuse. There will be no penalty assessed for excused absences. If you fail to notify us adequately, however, you will have to apply in writing for a make-up exam. In addition, we will assess a penalty of up to a full letter grade for the failure to notify.

Laboratory: Laboratory attendance is mandatory. If you miss your lab, you may arrange to attend another lab section during the week. You must notify both your regular lab instructor and the instructor of the make-up lab section. For each missed lab, you will get a zero for any of the associated lab assignments.

Lab Notebook: You will maintain a lab notebook. You will need a notebook and/or 3-ring binder plus additional paper, to take notes and record your results. Notebooks will be periodically evaluated by the instructor. These evaluations will not be announced in advance.

You are encouraged to work on problem sets in groups to learn from and teach each other. But it is essential that you hand in your own work. All assignments are due on the date indicated in the syllabus. Points will be deducted for late assignments, unless prior arrangements with the instructor are made. All problem sets must be typed.

Online Course Evaluations

Student input is highly valued and is important to maintain high quality instruction. Course evaluations are mandatory and must be completed online the last week of classes.

Counseling

Ithaca College provides a Counseling Center to support the academic success of students. The Counseling Center provides cost-free services to help you manage, if you suffer from significant stress, mood changes, excessive worry, or problems with eating and/or sleeping. These types of problems can interfere with your academic performance. If you or one of your friends needs additional support, do not hesitate to get help.

In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodation will be provided to students with documented disabilities on a case by case basis. Students must register with the Office of Academic Support Services (607-274-1005, TDD 607-274-7319, acssd@ithaca.edu) and schedule an appointment with their instructors as soon as possible to discuss their needs.