Biology

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

• Apply knowledge of the structures and functions of biological molecules, cells, populations, communities and ecosystems, to solve interdisciplinary problems.
• Gather information, assess its validity, and differentiate factual information from opinion and pseudo-science by practicing methods used by biological scientists.
• Demonstrate an understanding and application of the self-correcting nature of science.
• At an emerging level, use quantitative reasoning to interpret patterns in the living world.
• Communicate informed positions on biological issues, using appropriate biological vocabulary.

Upon successful completion students will be able to:

• Apply the scientific method to topics including genetics, evolution and reproduction.
• Gather and organize information on current issues in genetics, evolution and reproduction, assess its validity, and differentiate factual information from
• opinion and pseudoscience.
• Apply concepts of genetics, evolution, and reproduction to novel problems, discern their meaning, and communicate their understanding to others.
• Develop informed positions or opinions of a responsible citizen on contemporary issues in genetics, evolution and reproduction.
• Apply course concepts in genetics, evolution and reproduction to their lives (personal and career) and to the world about them.

Upon successful completion students will be able to:

• Use classification and evolutionary relationships among taxa to identify strategies that organisms employ to sustain life.
• Communicate an understanding of biodiversity and conservation and its value to the student, to our society, and to the natural environment.
• Gather and apply knowledge of form and function to qualitatively and quantitatively explain how organisms live.
• Use laboratory experiences comparing species characteristics to organize an understanding of evolutionary relationships.
• Appreciate aesthetic value of living organisms in the natural world.
• Use scientific knowledge of body systems to critically evaluate experimental outcomes and apply them to human health and the environment.

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

•  Use scientific vocabulary and apply the scientific method to critically evaluate current health issues in our society.
• Recall biological and chemical principles of cell function and apply that knowledge to health science topics. 
• Build on the laboratory research experience to organize data and information in order to draw conclusions and identify new investigative paths.

A student will collaboratively and independently:

• Use basic principles of ecosystems structure and function to characterize a specific forest.
• Identify and express how humans interact with the forest environment by applying basic principles of forest management.
• Work with a team to initialize and complete a study of the biology, chemistry and physical characteristics of a forest.

A student will collaboratively and independently:

• Use basic ecosystem principles, identify and understand the biology of various marine phyla to characterize marine habitats.
• Use scientific techniques to quantitatively describe parameters of marine habitats and understand the relationship of physical parameters to distribution of biota.
• Use an understanding of research, laboratory and/or field experiences to organize data to illustrate and articulate basic ecological principles.
• Use critical thinking to evaluate human impacts on marine ecosystems and consider how local consumer and policy decisions can be informed by an understanding of the interconnectedness of marine habitats and the critical relationship of the sea to human cultures.

A student will collaboratively and independently:

• Use basic principles of ecosystems structure and function to characterize freshwater habitats.
• Identify and express how humans interact with the freshwater ecosystems by applying basic principles of environmental management.
• Identify and understand the biology of the various freshwater phyla.

Students will be able to:

• Apply biological theories and concepts from biochemistry and cell biology to novel problems in their lives and community (personal, work, and career).
• Use the scientific method, including experimental design, data collection, and presentations of results and conclusions while analyzing their individual thinking and learning styles and how their styles can be integrated with methods used in science.
• Assess the strengths and weaknesses of scientific studies in biochemistry and cell biology and critically examine the influence of scientific and technical knowledge of biochemistry and cell biology on human society and the environment.
• Develop informed positions and opinions on contemporary issues in biochemistry and cell biology, while considering ethical, scientific, community, and cultural implications.
• Communicate concepts in biochemistry and cell biology using appropriate terminology in both written and verbal forms.
• Competently enter and complete further work in the sciences, including Biology 212 and upper level courses in biochemistry and cell biology.

Students will be able to:

• apply biological theories and concepts to novel problems in genetics, evolution, and systematics;
• assess the strengths and weaknesses of scientific studies in genetics, evolution, and systematics and critically examine the influence of scientific and technical knowledge of genetics, evolution, and systematics on human society and the environment.
• apply concepts from genetics, evolution, and systematics to their lives and community (personal, work, and career);
• develop informed positions and opinions on contemporary issues in genetics, evolution, and systematics, while considering ethical, scientific, community, and cultural implications;
• communicate concepts in genetics, evolution, and systematics using appropriate terminology in both written and verbal forms.
• competently enter and complete further work in the sciences, including Biology 213 and upperlevel courses in genetics, evolution, and systematics.

Upon successful completion students will be able to:

• apply biological theories and concepts to novel problems in plant/animal anatomy and physiology and ecology;
• assess the strengths and weaknesses of scientific studies in plant/animal anatomy and physiology and ecology and critically examine the influence of scientific and technical knowledge of plant/animal anatomy and physiology and ecology on human society and the environment.
• apply concepts from plant/animal anatomy and physiology and ecology to their lives and community (personal, work, and career);
• develop informed positions and opinions on contemporary issues in plant/animal anatomy and physiology and ecology, while considering ethical, scientific, community, and cultural implications;
• communicate concepts in plant/animal anatomy and physiology and ecology using appropriate terminology in both written and verbal forms.
• competently enter and complete further work in the sciences upper-level courses in plant/animal anatomy and physiology and ecology.

Upon successful completion students will be able to:

• Work collaboratively, competently and ethically within a team of other health care professionals in subsequent clinical and academic programs in allied health sciences.
• Apply concepts and knowledge of general anatomical terminology, gross anatomy, physiology, histology and terminology related to the integument, muscular, skeletal and nervous systems (histology, physiology, spinal cord and nerves) toward clinical problem solving.
• Critically evaluate health articles and medical journals related to anatomy and physiology and contextualize the knowledge into the realm of public health and broader social issues.
• Effectively evaluate case studies in anatomy and physiology through verbal, written and/or multimedia means.
• Continually develop scientific reasoning and the ability to interpret patient data through the collection of clinical and physiological parameters.
• Use correct terminology to communicate anatomical features and physiological processes.

Upon successful completion students will be able to:

• Work collaboratively, competently and ethically within a team of other health care professionals in subsequent clinical and academic programs in allied health sciences.
• Apply concepts and knowledge of  terminology related to the nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular and immune systems toward clinical problem solving.
• Critically evaluate health articles and medical journals related to anatomy and physiology and contextualize the knowledge into the realm of public health and broader social issues.
• Effectively evaluate case studies in anatomy and physiology through verbal, written and/or multimedia means.
• Continually develop scientific reasoning and the ability to interpret patient data through the collection of clinical and physiological parameters.
• Use correct terminology to communicate anatomical features and physiological processes.

Upon successful completion students will be able to:

• Work collaboratively, competently and ethically within a team of other health care professionals in subsequent clinical and academic programs in allied health sciences.
• Apply concepts and knowledge of general terminology, gross anatomy, physiology, histology and terminology related to the respiratory, digestive, urinary and reproductive systems, metabolism and fluid and electrolyte balances; embryology and genetics toward clinical problem solving.
• Critically evaluate health articles and medical journals related to anatomy and physiology and contextualize the knowledge into the realm of public health and broader social issues.
• Effectively evaluate case studies in anatomy and physiology through verbal, written and/or multimedia means.
• Continually develop scientific reasoning and the ability to interpret patient data through the collection of clinical and physiological parameters.
• Use correct terminology to communicate anatomical features and physiological processes.

Upon successful completion students should be able to:

• Relate an understanding of the basic principles of microbiology to personal health and use this understanding to make informed personal and professional decisions.
• Use an understanding of the impact of microbes on human cultures around the world both historically and in the present day to evaluate current social health issues.
• Use scientific methods to quantitatively describe microbial characteristics and processes and understand their relationship to the identification of microbial species.
• Use an understanding of research and laboratory experiences to organize, evaluate, and present data and information to illustrate and articulate basic microbiology concepts.

• Meet the outcomes mutually agreed upon by the student and instructor for this independent study course that expand upon topics covered in previous biology courses taken.
• Successfully transfer and perform at a four-year college or university or other program of interest to the student.
• Apply the scientific method and biological concepts in novel settings for lifelong learning.