Course Description
In this general biology course, students will study organisms
from an ecological and evolutionary perspective. Emphasis is on
structure and function, pathways and transformation of energy and
matter, and the importance of biodiversity. Students will apply
core biological concepts to contemporary challenges, emphasizing
interactions between humans and their environment.
Athena Title
Organismal Biology
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in BIOL 1104, BIOL 2104H
Non-Traditional Format
This course will be taught 95% or more online.
Semester Course Offered
Offered summer semester every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
- Students will identify relationships between core biological concepts and predict outcomes of situations based on those relationships.
- Students will effectively communicate, verbally and in-writing, to a general audience about core biological concepts and relationships between them.
- Students will identify and apply knowledge about biology in various scenarios to improve human and environmental health.
- Students will be able to think critically about scientific information, and the relevance of scientific information to your career path.
- Students will have confidence in your ability to understand and make decisions about biology in your daily life.
Topical Outline
- Ecosystem functions, stability, and services.
- Levels of biodiversity
- Relationships between biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and ecosystem services.
- Evolution and natural selection
- Threats to biodiversity
- Transformations of energy and matter
- Photosynthesis
- Cellular respiration
- Movement of energy and matter through ecosystems
- The carbon cycle
- Climate change: history on Earth
- Climate change: biological responses
- Climate change: mitigation strategies
- Hormones and the endocrine system
- Hormonal regulation of the male reproductive system
- Hormonal regulation of the female reproductive system
- Biology of contraceptives and planning fertilization
- Pregnancy, labor, and post-partum
