Syllabus

Department of Biological and
Environmental Sciences

Organismal Biology Lab - BIO L101, Fall 2009         
Location: MSCX 203 and 204
Text: A photographic atlas for the Biology Laboratory (6th), by Van De Graaff & Crawley.
Course Instructors: 
Dr. Stephen C. Landers (210A MSCX, 670-3661, slanders@troy.edu)
Dr. Michael Woods (210B MSCX, 670-3403, mwoods@troy.edu)  
Dr. Wayne Morris (210F MSCX, 670-3940, mwmorris@troy.edu)
Mrs.Jamie Burchill (321 MSCX, 670-6286, jburchill@troy.edu)

Web site for Zoology lab handouts: http://spectrum.troy.edu/~landers/Bio L101 Zoology Labs.html
Web site for Botany lab handouts: http://spectrum.troy.edu/~mwoods/Bio1101/Org%20Bio%20Lab%20Botany.html
Students need to have internet access to course web sites.
Office Hours: Will be announced. Coreq: Bio1101 Prereq: Bio 1100, L100.
Course description, objectives: Survey of organisms from selected phyla, including anatomy, phylogeny, and life histories.
Course learning objectives: Students will learn characteristics, taxonomy, specific examples, and diversity of the 4 eukaryotic kingdoms.
Desired competencies: Students will gain a hands-on understanding and recognition of the anatomy, diversity, and life cycles of protists, plants, fungi, and animals.
Method of instruction: Laboratory exercises .

Important Dates:
Aug 17 Last day to WD w/o owing full tuition, drop w/o financial penalty                    
Aug 17 Last day to add a course
Sept 7  Labor Day Holiday
Oct 16 Last day to withdraw or drop without academic penalty
Nov 11 Veterans Day
Nov 23-27 Thanksgiving  Holiday
Dec 2  Dead Day

SECTIONS TRBA (11:30AM) and TTBA (1:30 PM)
DATE                 LAB TOPIC                                         
_______________________________________________________________________  
Botany Unit –Room 204
Aug 18       Introduction to Organismal Biology Lab   
Aug 25       Botany Lab I- Protists                                               
Sept 1        Botany Lab II- Bryophytes                                               
Sept 8        Botany Lab III- Seedless Vascular Plants  Botany Lab Exam 1- 100 points          
Sept 15      Botany Lab IV- Gymnosperms, Angiosperms                    
Sept 22      Botany Lab V- Fungi                 
Sept 29     Botany Lab Exam 2- 100 points. Turn in Botany Lab notebook (50 points)
Oct 6        NO LAB

Zoology Unit- Room 203
Oct 13       Zoology Lab I   Protists, Cnidaria                                
Oct 20       Zoology Lab II  Platyhelminthes, Molluscs                 
Oct 27       Zoology Lab III  Annelids, Arthropods Zoology Lab Exam 1- 100 points  
Nov 3        Zoology Lab IV Echinoderms, Chordates                  
Nov 10      Zoology Lab V Comparative Vertebrate Morphology                         
Nov 17      Review session
Dec 1        Zoology Lab Exam 2- 100 points. Turn in Zoology Lab notebook (50 points)
  
Final grades will be determined by the following: A= 90% B= 80% C= 70% D= 60% F= <60%. There are 500 total points possible in this class.  The instructor reserves the right to lower the scale.

Course policies:
1) Attendance. Class attendance and participation are expected.    Roll  will be taken for TU attendance records.  Students are expected to be in class on time.

2) Exams. Exams given during the semester will be closed book.  When the end of the exam period is announced, you are expected to put down your pens and turn in the exam or it will not be accepted.  Cell phones and pagers must be turned off  and out of sight during an exam.  You may not leave the room for any reason during an exam.

3) Makeup exams. Make-up exams and quizzes  may be of a different format than the original scheduled exam or quiz. Makeups will be given without penalty if the student notifies the instructor prior to the absence and has a physician’s or university  (example: athletic function or band function) written excuse. A 10%  penalty  will be assessed  to makeups that are unexcused.  Make ups must be taken within one week of the missed exam or it will be an automatic zero. If you miss a scheduled make up exam you will not be allowed to reschedule that exam.

4) Exam material.  Lecture questions will be drawn from information given to the student in lecture, from assigned web sites, or in reading  from  the text  (even  if  the assigned reading is not discussed in lecture).  Lab exam questions will be drawn from information and assignments  given in lab (for example:  notes, assigned web sites, handouts, dissections, or assignments from the lab manual).

5) Troy University supports Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which insure that postsecondary students with disabilities have equal access to all academic programs, physical access to all buildings, facilities and events, and are not discriminated against on the basis of disability. Eligible students, with appropriate documentation, will be provided equal opportunity to demonstrate their academic skills and potential through the provision of academic adaptations and reasonable accommodations. Further information, including appropriate contact information, can be found at the link for Troy University’s Office ofHuman Resources at http://www.troy.edu/humanresources/ADAPolicy2003.htm

6) Cell phone and other electronic device statement: Use of any electronic devise by students in the instructional environment is prohibited unless explicitly approved on a case-by-case basis by the instructor of record or by the Office of Disability Services in collaboration with the instructor. Cellular phones, pagers, and other communication devices may be used for emergencies, however, but sending or receiving non-emergency messages is forbidden by the University. Particularly, use of a communication device to violate the Troy University “Standards of Conduct” will result in appropriate disciplinary action (See the Oracle.) In order to receive emergency messages from the University or family members, the call receipt indicator on devices must be in the vibration mode or other unobtrusive mode of indication. Students receiving calls that they believe to be emergency calls must answer quietly without disturbing the teaching environment. If the call is an emergency, they must move unobtrusively and quietly from the instructional area and notify the instructor as soon as reasonably possible. Students who are expecting an emergency call should inform the instructor before the start of the instructional period.

7) Additional Services.  Students who have or may be dealing with a disability or learning difficulty should speak with the instructor, contact  the Office of Adaptive Needs Program (215 Adams Center), or call 670-3220/3221.Various accommodations are available through the Adaptive Needs Program.

8) Tutors. Tutorial help may be available to students in the Science Learning Center.  All interested students are encouraged to visit the center.

9) Cheating. Students observed cheating by the instructor will be dismissed from class.  The action to be taken against the student will be determined after consultation with the Department head and other appropriate individuals.

10) Dissections.  Animals dissections are a necessary part of the laboratory.  Your exams may include dissected animals.  If a student has any reason for which they feel they can not or should not perform the dissections, please inform the instructor during the first week of class. Students must wear safety goggles, gloves, and aprons during dissections or when handling chemicals.   Contact lenses are not allowed on days in which we dissect. 

11) Lab Safety.  Absolutely no eating, drinking or use of tobacco in the lab. All students must read, understand, and sign the departmental lab safety rules handout.

12) Incompletes. Will be given only in special circumstances. See Bulletin for guidelines.

13) Teaching certificate. All students seeking a recommendation for a teaching certificate must complete this course with an earned grade of “C” or better.

14) This syllabus is subject to change without notice.  Students will be informed of any changes at the earliest possible date.