BIO 1110 (formerly BIO 111) - ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE - SYLLABUS FOR Spring, 2008
Professor: Jim Swan
Office: L111 Section 102: TR 1:00->2:15 PM, L100 , DL Section 51
Office Phone: 224-3516, Mailbox 1899, E-mail: jimmy@unm.edu
Web Page: http://envirosci.net/111/envirosci.htm All materials are available on the Web Page.
BIO 111 is WebCT enabled: http://elearning.cnm.edu See reverse for Introduction Assignment.
Office Hours: Mon: 5->6 PM; Wed: 1:30->2:30 PM; Tues. 8:30->10:30 AM; Thurs. 2:30->3:30 PM
Appointment suggested.
II. Course Description:
This course introduces the
study of the environment, including basic principles of ecology, relationships
of humans to the environment, and solutions to local, regional and global
environmental problems. The course is mainly for non-science majors,
but can be an informative overview of topics related to study of the
environment and ecology for anyone. Those interested in using BIO 111 as a
science credit toward a bachelors degree should check
with the appropriate department of the degree-granting institution to be
certain of its acceptance.
III. Texts:
All materials used in class are
available on the web page.
Environment, The
Science Behind the Stories. 2nd Ed. Scott Brennan, Jay Withgott.
Pearson, Benjamin Cummings, 2007.
IV. Course Objectives:
Students will:
1. Demonstrate
competency in using the scientific method and analyzing scientific data related
to ecological problems, and compare the scientific method with other approaches
to environmental problem solving.
2. Demonstrate the ability to critically analyze the
biosphere and its components and explain their functions and
interrelationships;
3. Discuss and explain the role man plays in
environmental problems and in solutions to those problems.
V. Course Requirements:
Students are expected to attend class (On-campus class only!), and to
meet all deadlines. On-Campus students missing any more than two weeks worth of
classes may be dropped without warning. This includes classes missed during the
first week! On Campus and Distance students not submitting any two assignments
or taking tests by their deadlines are subject to involuntary withdrawal.
Students wishing to receive a W must formally withdraw through the records
office by April 4th, 2008. Students are responsible for obtaining information
about missed work. Missed tests must be made up within one week of originally
scheduled date or will be counted as zero. Makeup tests are essay format. Allow
one week for tests to be graded and returned. Essays and other assignments will
take longer.
VI. Grading Policies:
Four unit tests worth 100 points each and either:
1) comprehensive final exam worth 100 points,
or
2) a final project approved in
advance worth 100 points.
In addition 50 points will be given for essays or other assignments.
Total points = 550. The following will be the grading scale for this
class:
495 to 550 = A, 440 to 494 = B, 385 to 439 = C, 330 to 384 = D, below
330 =F
One of the unit tests, Test 4, will be taken online via WebCT.
There will be opportunities to earn extra points. The first such
opportunity will be for 5 points, to be earned by submitting a Student Profile
and taking the Introduction Quiz on the use of web materials.
Look at the resources available and the organization on the Blackboard page. Click on the Assignments logo to get your first assignment, Introduction to Course Materials. This assignment will introduce you to Blackboard and get you started in the course materials. As part of this assignment, after you have familiarized yourself with the organization, take the Introduction Quiz. You find this under Assessements. You also need to fill out the Student Profile which includes a place to give your Username (NOT your password). Taking this quiz and submitting your student profile will earn you five points toward your final grade in the class!
NOTE: The deadline for
completing this assignment to receive the extra points is
Fri., Feb. 1, 2008.
A note about submission
of assignments: You must submit assignments via WebCT,
or as a hard copy. Electronic submissions must be in Microsoft Word format with either .doc or .rtf extensions.* NO OTHER FORMAT WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Email is used for communication with the instructor. If you use an anonymous computer, or send from an account belonging to a spouse or a friend, BE SURE to change the preferences so that your name is identified as the sender, not your spouse or friend. Failure to do so may result in your submission not being recognized or accepted. The paper should be written as if you were submitting as a hard copy in person with name, section, title, etc. The filename for your paper must be your name plus an identifier, for example: john_smith_sci_method.doc.
*NOTE: If you have Microsoft Works you may need to also install
Microsoft Word 97/2000 if you cannot save in .doc or .rtf format. If you have MS
Word 2007, you will need to save your documents in an earlier version and not
use the default format. If the extension has an x on the end it will not be
accepted.
VII. TENTATIVE
SCHEDULE:
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Dates
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Topics and Text1
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Web
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Ancillary Links ***
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Jan. 15 |
Introduction |
Introduction Assignment on WebCT |
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Jan. 17 |
Chap. 1, 2, 3* The Scope of Ecology |
Discussion Topic 1: Environmentalist
vs. Ecologists |
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Jan. 22 |
Homeostasis Science and the Scientific Method
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[Scientific
Method Assignment] available on WebCT
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Jan. 24 |
The Trophic Cycle Chap. 4, 5, (pp. 121-132, 139-143) |
For more
information on Marine Systems see Chap. 13 |
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Jan. 29 |
The Food Web and Biodiversity Chap. 9 |
Scientific Method Assignment Due [First Essay Assignment available on WebCT: “The Work of Nature”] |
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Jan. 31 |
Biogeochemical Cycles: The Carbon Cycle Chap. 6, (pp. 179-191) |
Intro Assignment Due on WebCT Feb. 1, 2008 |
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Feb. 5 |
Finish Biogeochemical Cycles Law of Conservation of Matter Laws of Thermodynamics and Biological Pyramid Biological Magnification
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Feb. 7 |
Niches Slides |
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Feb. 12 |
Finish Unit 1 |
First Essay Assignment Due
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Feb. 14 |
Test on Unit 1 |
Selection of Project Topic
Due |
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Feb.19 |
4Video: Rift Valley, Parts: 1, 2, 3, 4
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Feb. 21 |
Niche Development: Continued discussion of Rift Valley topics Human Niche Relationships |
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Feb. 26 |
Interspecific Competition
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Feb. 28 |
Population Dynamics 4Intraspecific Competition, etc. |
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Effects of Forestry: Edge Effects, Isolation and Fragmentation |
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The Soil and Water Chaps. 8, 14 |
Discussion Topic 3: How You Will Use Your Knowledge From BIO 111 |
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Finish / Review |
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Apr. 24 |
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Online
Test on Unit 4 on Hydrology Must also be completed by this date |
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12:30–>2:30 PM
Meet
for Oral Presentations; Term Papers/Projects or Final Exam Due
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For more information on climate change see Chap. 12 
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3 These pages are linked to the syllabus and to the WebCT content modules.