1. Course:
S Y L L A B U
S
Your Course Learning
Plan
BIO 181 General Biology 1 (CRN# 17514)
Instructor:
Time
Frame:
Dr. Matt Pearcy
January 13th through May 5th (Spring 2014)
A. Instructor Contact and Communications
Phone:
E-mail address:
928-649-5486
Matt.Pearcy@yc.edu
Skype
address:
mattpearcy
Office Location:
VC.M 208
Student Hours:
Classroom location:
My job is to help you be successful so please come see me outside of
the classroom if you need to talk about anything at all. The sooner
the better! Official student hours will be held on Mondays from
11:00 am to 12:00 pm, Tuesdays from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm and 5:00
pm to 6:00 pm and Wednesdays from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm; however,
if these times don’t work for you let me know and we’ll figure out an
alternative time to meet.
Online
B. General Course Information
Credit hours:
Course description:
Prerequisite/Co-requisite:
Textbooks, software,
supplies, equipment and
tools:
4.0
The class covers biological principles; emphasizing structure and
function at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels of biological
systems.
Secondary school chemistry strongly recommended. Primarily for
biology majors and preprofessional students in health-related fields.
Prerequisite: Reading Proficiency. Three lecture. Three lab.
Biology, Foundations of Life (10th edition) by R. Raven, and G.
Johnson. Laboratory Kit for Biology from E-Science Labs.
C. Course Content and Outcomes

2. Course content: 1. Scientific Method
2. Basic chemistry and biological macromolecules
3. Organization of cells
4. Energy and Enzymes
5. Photosynthesis
6. Cellular respiration
7. Cell division
8. Genetics
9. Gene expression and regulation
10. Gene technology
11. Data collection and analysis
Learning outcomes: 1. Apply the scientific method in problem solving (1) (PBS 1,3)
2. Describe the basic chemistry and chemical interactions of life (2)
3. Describe the structure and function of the four main types of
biological macromolecules (2)
4. Identify and describe the structure and function of the parts of typical
prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells (3)
5. Describe the properties of enzymes and their relation to cellular
metabolism (4)
6. Explain and diagram the fundamental processes of photosynthesis (5)
7. Explain and diagram the fundamental processes of cellular
respiration (6)
8. Describe the biological processes of cell division including the cell
cycle, mitosis, and meiosis (7)
9. Solve mendelian and nonmendelian genetics problems (8) (PBS 2)
10. Describe the fundamental processes of gene expression and control
of gene expression (9)
11. Describe basic genetic engineering techniques and tools including
recombinant DNA techniques and Polymerase Chain Reaction (10)
12. Conduct experiments, observe biological phenomena, and record
information in a laboratory notebook (11)
Assessments: Assessments for this course will include weekly online quizzes and four
proctored exams. The four exams must be taken at a Testing Center so
that they can be proctored. The exams will be closed book. Early in
the semester we will work out where you are going to take the
proctored exams. If you take the exams at any of Yavapai College’s
Testing Centers the proctoring will be free. If you are in a location that
requires a non Yavapai College affiliated Testing Center you may have
to pay a small fee to take the exams. (Usually about 15 – 30 dollars)

3. You are responsible for this fee to take the exams. Every effort will be
made to find a free testing center. There will be 11 online quizzes
covering the lecture and lab material. The questions on the quizzes will
be similar, but not identical, to those found on the exams. The point of
the quizzes is to prepare you for the types of questions you will see on
the exams. There will be weekly online labs. At the beginning of the
semester students will be required to complete a quiz covering the
syllabus for the class.
Grading (credit)
criteria:
Exams:
4 proctored exams at 125 pts apiece………………...…...500 pts.
Quizzes:
11 online quizzes at 35 pts. apiece .……………….……..385 pts.
Labs:
15 at 35 pts. apiece……………………………...…...…..525 pts.
Syllabus Quiz……………………………………….....……..25 pts.
Total Points
Letter
Grades:
1,435pts.
The first criterion to pass the class is to achieve a 70% average on the
proctored exams. Once that criterion is met the letter grades will be
assigned as follow:
A = 1,291 – 1,435 pts. B = 1,148 – 1,290 pts. C = 1,004 – 1,147 pts. D
= 861– 1,003 pts. F ≤ 860 pts.
Labs:
Quizzes:
Exams:
Labs will be graded for quality and completeness. Each lab is worth 35
points. Labs will be assigned weekly and will be due on Tuesdays at 5
pm. The lab material will be on the proctored exams so when you’re
completing the labs you’re studying for the proctored exams!
Quizzes will be given online about once a week. Each quiz will be
worth 35 points and will be due on Tuesdays at 5 pm. The quiz
questions will be on the proctored exams so when you’re completing
the quizzes you’re studying for the proctored exams!
There will be four closed book comprehensive proctored exams during
the semester. Each exam will be worth 125 points. The average score
for the four exams must be a 70% in order to pass the class.
My official grading policy is that all assignments will be graded and
returned one week after they are due (or one week after I receive them
Grading Policy:
in the mail for proctored exams). However, most of the time it will be
much sooner than that.
Absences:
No late work will be accepted. All assignments will be posted one
week before they are due so that students can fit the assignment into
their particular schedule. All assignments must be completed by their
due date to receive credit. No extra credit will be assigned.

4. Student Resources (as applicable)
Library services:
Learning Centers:
Tutoring:
Online resources and
services:
Library services are available at the Prescott Campus and the Verde
Valley Campus libraries. Both libraries are members of a countywide
library network, which provides access to a wide-range of information
and resources at libraries throughout Yavapai County. Possession of a
College library card entitles students to access materials housed at
member libraries. Instructors may place required course materials on
reserve in the library or make assignments that require the use of library
resources.
A Learning Center is available on the Prescott and Verde Valley
Campuses. These centers provide a variety of learning support for
students including tutoring, adaptive computer and equipment for
students with disabilities, and a networked general computer lab.
Call for details: Prescott 776-2085 or Verde Valley 634-6562
Online writing tutoring for any academic subject is available at
www2.yc.edu/content/learningcenters
Instructor Procedures and Institution Policies
Attendance: Students are expected to attend and participate in all class meetings,
laboratories, and field trips. A student who expects to be absent due to
another school-sponsored activity or compelling personal reason must
make prior arrangements with the instructor. All course work must be
made up as directed by the instructor. A student who does not adhere to
instructor and College attendance requirements may be dropped from
the course as defined in the Yavapai College General Catalog.
Course withdrawal: After the drop/add period closes, students may withdraw until the
deadline for student-initiated withdrawals. Withdrawals result in a "W"
on the permanent transcript.
For semester-length classes 14 weeks in length or longer, the
withdrawal deadline is October 15th
For classes of 4 days to 14 weeks in length, withdrawals are permitted
until the class is 50 percent completed.
For classes of 1-3 days in length, withdrawals are permitted until the
class is 50 percent completed.
A "Y" is noted on the permanent transcript for an administrative
withdrawal. More information can be obtained from the Admissions &
Registration Office.
Academic integrity: Honesty in academic work is a central element of the learning
environment. The presentation of another individual’s work as one’s
own or the act of seeking unfair academic advantage through cheating,
plagiarism or other dishonest means are violations of the College’s
“Student Code of Conduct.” Definitions of plagiarism, cheating, and

5. violation of copyright and penalties for violation are available in the
Yavapai College General Catalog. All cell phones must be stowed
before beginning an assessment. The presence of a cell phone on a
student’s desk during an assessment will be construed as cheating and
the student will receive an F for the class. Any incident of cheating or
plagiarism on any assignment in the class will result in the student
receiving an F as their letter grade for the class.
Student code of conduct: Respect for the rights of others and for the College and its property are
fundamental expectations for every student. The “Student Code of
Conduct” outlines behavioral expectations, and explains the process for
responding to allegations of student misconduct.
Disability support Yavapai College is committed to providing educational support services
services: to students with documented disabilities. Academic support services or
accommodations for mobility impaired students must be arranged
through the ADA Coordinator (Prescott Campus: 928.776.2079 or
Verde Valley Campus: (928.634.6563).
Cell phone and pager: Yavapai College is committed to providing a quality learning
environment. All cell phones and pagers must be placed in a nonaudible mode while in classrooms, computer labs, the library, the
learning center, and testing areas. Cell phones and pagers must be used
outside these facilities.
Preventing Harassment: Students are expected to respond and write in a professional and
appropriate manner when activities are assigned to create scenarios,
discuss opinions, present on a selected subject, or post to a web board
or email. Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintain
an appropriate learning environment. Faculty have the professional
responsibility to treat all students with understanding, dignity and
respect, to guide classroom discussion and to set reasonable limits on
the manner in which they and their students express opinions.
Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with
respect to individuals and topics dealing with differences of race,
culture, religion, politics, sexual orientation, gender variance and
nationalities. All correspondence between instructor and students and
between individual students must be of a professional nature. Any
inappropriate language (profanity) or correspondence of a threatening
or harassing nature will result in the student being immediately dropped
from the class.

6. BIO 181 Spring 2014 Tentative Class Schedule
The general course content and learning outcomes addressed for each class are listed below. The topics covered
will include, but are not limited to, the content listed below. I reserved the right to change the contents listed
below. The following learning outcome will be addressed every week: conduct experiments, observe biological
phenomena, and record information in a laboratory notebook.
Week
Date
1
Syllabus Quiz is due January
17th
Topic
Chapters 1 and 2
Course Content: Scientific Method and Basic Chemistry
Learning Outcomes: 1, 2
Lab Activity: The Scientific Method
2
Lab Activity #1 is due January
21st
3
Lecture Quiz #1 is due
January 28th
Lab Activity #2 is due January
28th
4
Exam #1 is due February 7th
Chapter 3
Course Content: Biological Macromolecules
Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 3, 5
Lab Activity: Writing a Lab Report
Chapter 4
Course Content: Organization of Cells
Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 4
Lab Activity: Data Measurement
Chapters 5
Lab Activity #3 is due
February 4th
Course Content: Organization of Cells and Energy
Lecture Quiz #2 is due
February 4th
Lab Activity: Introduction to the Microscope
Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 5
Exam #1 covers the material in
chapters 1, 2, 3 and 4 as well as
Lab Activities 1, 2 and 3
5
Lab Activity #4 is due
February 11th
Chapters 6
Course Content: Organization of Cells and Energy
Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 5
Lab Activity: The Chemistry of Life
6
Chapter 7
Lab Activity #5 is due
February 18th
7
Lecture Quiz #3 is due
February 18th
Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 5, 7
Lecture Quiz #4 is due
Chapters 8
Course Content: Cellular Respiration
Lab Activity: Diffusion

7. February 25th
Lab Activity #6 is due
February 25th
Course Content: Osmosis
Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 5, 6
Lab Activity: Diffusion
8
Exam #2 is due March 7th
Chapter 10 and Chapter 11
Lab Activity #7 is due March
4th
Course Content: Cell Division
Lecture Quiz #5 is due March
4th
Lab Activity: Respiration
Learning Outcomes: 1, 8
Exam #2 covers the material in
chapters 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 as well
as lab activities 4, 5, 6 and 7.
9
10
SPRING BREAK!
Learning Outcomes: 1, 10
Lecture Quiz #7 is due March
25th
Chapter 15
Lab Activity #9 is due March
25th
12
Chapter 14
Lab Activity #8 is due March
18th
11
Lecture Quiz #6 is due March
18th
Learning Outcomes: 1, 10
Lab Activity: Mitosis
Course Content: Gene Expression and Regulation
Lab Activity: Meiosis
Exam #3 is due April 4th
Lecture Quiz #8 is due April 1
Course Content. Gene Expression and Regulation
Chapter 16
st
Lab Activity #10 is due April
1st
Course Content: Gene Expression and Regulation
Learning Outcomes: 1, 10
Lab Activity: Enzymes
Exam #3 will cover the
material in chapters 10, 11, 14
and 15 as well as lab activities
8, 9, and 10
13
Lab Activity #11 is due April
8th
Chapter 12
Course Content: Genetics
Learning Outcomes: 1, 9
Lab Activity: Mendelian Genetics
14
Lecture Quiz #9 is due April
15th
Chapter 13
Course Content: Genetics

8. Lab Activity #12 is due April
15th
16
Lecture Quiz #10 is due April
22nd
Chapter 17
Lab Activity #13 is due April
22nd
15
Learning Outcomes: 1, 9
Learning Outcomes: 1, 2, 11
Exam #4 is due May 2nd
Lecture Quiz #11 is due April
29th
Lab Activity #14 is due April
29th
Lab Activity: Mendelian Genetics Continued
Course Content: Gene Technology
Lab Activity: DNA and RNA
No new material