BIOL 200 - Ecology, Evolution, Biodiversity and Human Impact

Number of Credits: 4
Examine the foundational connections between species, evolution, ecology, and biodiversity. Explore Mendelian genetics, natural selection, population genetics, speciation, and genetic drift. Investigate the importance of ecological topics and biodiversity, including population growth and regulation, factors impacting species distribution, foundations of community and ecosystems, and the stewardship role of humans in protecting biodiversity. Engage in group work with active-learning and project-based assessments including a required service-learning component. Utilize scientific skills of formulating questions and hypotheses, collecting, analyzing, reporting, and interpreting data. The majority of lectures will be online with two-hour required face-to-face active learning sessions, including required service- learning activities. This is a 4-credit non-lab science course designed for students in non-allied health pathways. This course does not satisfy the requirements for pathways in allied health, nursing, PTA, exercise and health sciences, STEM, or psychology. Advanced Placement Exam (Biology with a score of 4) and CLEP (Biology with a score of 50) accepted. Students cannot use both BIOL-200 and BIOL-202 to fulfill General Education science requirements.   (Spring Term Only) Four hours lecture each week. Four Credits. Four billable hours.

GENERAL EDUCATION. Category: Biological and Physical Sciences

Pre-requisite(s): Completion of BIOL 100   or BIOL 101  , or other lab-based science course with a C or better; plus ENGL 101  and MAT 094  ,  MAT 015  , or MATH 113   with C grades or better.
Course Topics:
Genetics
Patterns of Inheritance
Evolution, Speciation, Extinction
The Diversity of Life: Viruses, Bacteria and Archaea, Protists, Plants, Fungi, Animals
Plant Form and Function
Plant Nutrition and Transport
Reproduction and Development of Flowering Plants
Animal Behavior
Populations
Communities and Ecosystems
Biomes
Preserving Biodiversity
Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Examine the key concepts of evolution, natural selection, and population genetics. (PG1, PG2, PG3, PG4, PG5; GE1, GE3, GE6)

2. Compare the origin, evolution, and characteristics of organisms across major groups (domains and phyla) of organisms. (PG3; GE1, GE2, GE3, GE4, GE5)

3. Explain connections between evolution of plants and animals and the development of key variations and adaptations in response to environmental influences. (PG2, PG3; GE1, GE2, GE3, GE4, GE5)

4. Describe the evolutionary patterns and strategies of growth and reproduction of different plant and animal groups emphasizing the relationship of form and function within an ecological (abiotic/biotic) context. (PG1, PG2, PG3, PG4; GE1, GE2, GE3)

5. Describe the dynamics of populations and community structures. (PG1, PG2, PG3, PG4, PG5; GE1, GE2, GE3, GE4)

6. Explain the relationships between ecosystem health, biodiversity, and human impact. (PG1, PG2, PG3, PG4, PG5; GE1, GE2, GE3, GE4, GE5, GE6, GE7, GE8)

7. Use the scientific process to investigate biological questions and make informed decisions. (PG1, PG2, PG3, PG4, PG5; GE1, GE2, GE3, GE4, GE5, GE6)

8. Research and present information on selected biological topics using various modes of communication (oral, written, visual). (PG1, PG2, PG3, PG4, PG5; GE1, GE2, GE3, GE4, GE5, GE6)