Catalog Description
Introduction to basic principles common to all facets of biology. Topics include a brief history of biology, the scientific method, the diversity of life, cell structure and reproduction, and metabolism. (Gen Ed: ST, GT-SC2)
Additional Description
Biology 100 is a one-semester survey course, designed to give students who are non-science majors a solid foundation in the basic principles and unifying concepts of biology. Students develop an understanding of science, the nature of scientific inquiry, and how evolution explains the unity and diversity of all life on Earth. The course focuses on common features that all organisms (living things) share, as well as their unique characteristics.
Prerequisites
None.
Corequisites
None. Recommend co-enrollment in BIOL 100L.
Credit Hours and Expected Student Effort
The course minimum is 2,250 minutes per credit hour.
As an Independent Study correspondence course, the class is largely independent, and you are asked to take responsibility for your own learning. Your instructor is available for assistance, clarification, and feedback on material as needed, but the course is designed for you to independently read any required textbook and materials and progress through the course at a pace that is convenient and efficient for your schedule.
Important Dates
Students may drop courses before 15% of the course duration has passed from your registration date, without a record of the dropped course appearing on the student’s permanent record.
When a student withdraws from a course before 75% of the course duration has passed, a grade of “W” (withdrawal) will be recorded on the academic record. After 75% of the course duration has passed, a student may not withdraw. Tuition and fees will not be adjusted for course withdrawals during this withdrawal period.
Note: Drop/withdrawal dates for each course may vary. Please reach out to Independent Study Program staff for your specific dates. Those dates can also be found in your registration confirmation.
Class Schedule
Correspondence courses require self-motivation. We recommend that you create a schedule for yourself to keep up with the work to ensure your successful completion of the course.
Program Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
• Students will develop a broad-based knowledge and application of concepts,
techniques, and terminology in molecular, cellular, organismal, evolutionary, and ecological biology.
• Students will demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills using experimental design and the scientific method.
Course Objectives or Student Learning Outcomes/Instructional Methods
Students will develop a broad-based knowledge of concepts and terminology in Biology as well as a supporting knowledge in the related field of chemistry.
Student Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course, students will:
• Explain the process of scientific inquiry (The Scientific Method).
• Examine and analyze key concepts of biology (e.g., cells, evolution, ecology, etc.).
• Distinguish between science and non-science/pseudoscience.
• Examine and analyze the core concepts of genetics and cell biology.
• Examine and interpret fundamentals of the evolutionary process and evolutionary change.
• Describe the diversity of life through review of the five kingdoms.
General Education SLOs
• SLO 2: Quantitative Reasoning
o Apply numeric, symbolic and geometric skills to formulate and solve quantitative problems.
• SLO 3: Inquiry & Analysis
o Explore issues,, objects or works through the collection and analysis of evidence that results in informed conclusions or judgments and break complex topics or issues into parts to gain a better understanding of them.
• SLO 5: Critical Thinking
o Comprehensive exploration of issues, ideas, artifacts, and events before accepting or formulating an opinion or conclusion.
• SLO 7: Information Literacy
o Know when there is a need for information, to be able to identify, locate, evaluate, and effectively and responsibly use and share that information for the problem at hand.
• SLO 9: Problem Solving
o Design, evaluate and implement a strategy to answer an open-ended question or achieve a desired goal.
GT Pathways Designation and SLOs
GT-SC2 This BIOL 100 course satisfies the Guaranteed Transfer (GT) Pathways Requirements for Natural & Physical Sciences
The Colorado Commission on Higher Education has approved BIOL 100 for inclusion in the Guaranteed Transfer (GT) Pathways program in the GT-SC2 category. For transferring students, successful completion with a minimum C- grade guarantees transfer and application of credit in this GT Pathways category. For more information on the GT Pathways program, go to
http://highered.colorado.gov/Academics/Transfers/gtPathways/curriculum.html.
This designation verifies the following Content Criteria and Competencies are met in this course.
GT-SC2 NATURAL & PHYSICAL SCIENCES CONTENT CRITERIA:
Natural & Physical Sciences course are designed to develop students’ scientific literacy.
Students should be able to:
a. Develop foundational knowledge in specific field(s) of science.
b. Develop an understanding of the nature and process of science.
c. Demonstrate the ability to use scientific methodologies.
d. Examine quantitative approaches to study natural phenomena.
GTSC2 NATURAL & PHYSICAL SCIENCES
COMPETENCIES AND STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Inquiry & Analysis Competency
Inquiry is a systematic process of exploring issues/objects/works through the collection and analysis of evidence that results in informed conclusions/judgments. Analysis is the process of breaking complex topics or issues into parts to gain a better understanding of them.
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs 4, 5 & 6)
