Sample Syllabus – BIO 1000

BIO 1000 – HUMAN BIOLOGY FOR NON-MAJORS

Instructor: Dr. J. Simpson
Lecture: 11:00-11:50am MWF Room #: SI 212
Phone: (303) 556-3239, (303) 556-3213
Call # 54467
Office Hours: T 11:00-2:00, R 11:00-1:00
REQUIRED TEXT: Human Biology, 6th Ed., Sylvia Mader.

N.C. Policy: The assignment of the NC grade is done by Admissions and Records. It is entirely the student’s responsibility to obtain the form, get the instructor’s signature, and turn in the completed form to Admissions and Records before the deadline. If you simply disappear from class without going through the proper drop procedures, you will receive an automatic F. The NCI (No Credit Incomplete) grade will be assigned only after consultation with the instructor and with his approval. The NC grade is NOT to be considered an incomplete unless specifically agreed upon as an incomplete in writing by the instructor and signed by both the instructor and the student BEFORE the end of the term in which it is given. Note the following dates that pertain to this class:

Last day to drop a class and have class deleted from academic record: 9/6/00. Last day to withdraw from a class and automatically receive an NC – faculty approval not required: 9/23/00. Last day to withdraw from a class and receive an NC – PROVIDED faculty approval is obtained: 10/27/00.

Students desiring a reasonable accommodation under the Americans With Disabilites Act must contact the instructor immediately to discuss their needs. Failure to notify the instructor, in a timely manner, of the need for reasonable accommodation may hinder the college’s ability to assist students in successfully completing the course.

Exams and Grades:

  1. There will be 4 lecture exams, each worth 100 points (400 total). Each exam consists of short answer, essay and multiple choice questions. Bring a #2 pencil to all exams. The exams are NOT comprehensive.A research paper is required and is due on or before Nov. 1, 2000 ( NO EXCEPTIONS!!!). Choose any human disease/illness as your topic. To prevent duplications, the topic must be approved by your instructor. The paper should include an accurate description of the disease that could be understood by a person with no medical training. Depending on your topic, you might discuss historical aspects of the disease, it’s cause, course, signs and symptoms, treatment, prognosis, and/or specific case histories. At least three references must be used and listed in an included bibliography. References may include books, magazine articles, brochures, or personal interviews. The paper must be at least 4 pages and not more than 8 pages long. It must be typed double spaced. The paper is worth 100 points. (20 points-overall impression, 25 points- accuracy, 25 points-completeness, 25 points-your understanding of the subject, 5 points-references). A 50 pt. penalty is given if the paper is submitted within two days after the deadline. No points are awarded to papers submitted after that time.
  2. The total number of points possible for the course is 500. Letter grades will be assigned on a percentage basis, as follows:
    A = 450-500
    B = 400-449
    C = 350-399
    D = 300-349
    F = 299 or fewer points
  3. There will not be any make-ups allowed except for extenuating circumstances. If this occurs, I must be notified in person or by phone message BEFORE the exam begins. Make-up exams may be essay tests.
  4. The room door closes 15 minutes after the start of a class period on an exam day. No exam will be started after this time.
  5. Cheating of any sort will result in a grade of F.
  6. Consistant and punctual attendance is strongly encouraged for those of you who wish to sucessfully complete this course. Attendance will be taken daily, and will be added in as a bonus at the end of the semester as follows: If you have no more than two absences you will have 1% added to your overall grade (example: 79% plus 1% bonus pt. equals 80%. 78.5% plus 1% bonus pt. equals 79.5%. It does not equal 80%.). If you are absent three or more times, you will receive no bonus points. To receive attendance credit, you must be in class on time, and must remain in class until class is over. If you miss class, it is your responsibility to find out what you have missed, and get this information from another student.