BIOLOGY 301L - Molecules to Organisms  - FALL 2013

Instructor: Dr. Sharon Jasper. Office: PAI 1.28. The best way to reach me is by e-mail: sjasper@austin.utexas.edu.  Office hours: TTh: 12:30-1:30; or by appointment.  

Lecture time and place: Tuesday and Thursday 11:00 - 12:30, RLM 6.104.

48810

Mon 2:00 – 3:00 pm

BEN 1.122

48815

Wed 2:00 – 3:00 pm

GEA 114

48820

Mon 3:00 – 4:00 pm

JES A218A

48825

Wed 3:00 – 4:00 pm

MEZ 1.102

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Designed for non-science majors. Introduction to the structure and function of organisms from the molecular to the organ system level; an integrated approach to cell and molecular biology, genetics, development, and physiology of organisms. Three lecture hours and one discussion hour a week for one semester. only one of the following may be counted: Biology 301L, 303, 214, 301E. This course may be used to fulfill three hours of the natural science and technology (Part I or Part II) component of the university core curriculum and addresses the following four core objectives established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board: communication skills, critical thinking skills, teamwork, and empirical and quantitative skills.

TEXTBOOK: The Living World, 6th edition, by George Johnson and Jonathan Losos

GRADING: 4 lecture exams (100 pts. each) and one optional final exam (100 points). If you miss one of the regular exams for any reason, you must take the final exam. There will be no make-up exams given. If you miss 2 exams, you must have an approved university excused absence for both of them to make up an exam. If you are satisfied with your grade and have taken all 4 regular exams, you can choose not to take the final exam. If you are not happy with your grade after the 4 exams, you may take the final exam to replace your lowest test grade. If you score lower on the final exam, I will not count it. Lecture exams: Each exam will only cover material since the previous exam. Be prepared to stay for the entire exam. No restroom/water/etc. breaks will be permitted.  Questions will not be allowed during the exam.  Any questions that are found to be “bad” will be eliminated and scores adjusted accordingly.  The final exam is cumulative, thus covering the material from the entire semester.  Grading scale: 
90-100 = A, 80-89 = B, 70-79 = C, 60-69 = D, below 60 = F. We will NOT use the plus/minus system.

You must have your student ID with you at exam time for every exam.  Challenges to exam questions and possible scantron errors must be submitted within one week from the time the graded test is returned.

Discussion sections count for a total of 40 points, making a total of 440 points possible for the course grade. The 40 points will be earned through both attendance and completion of a few small exercises.  Discussion sections will primarily be for review and discussion of class material. It will help you to succeed in the class and allow you to meet and interact with other students in the class. I urge you to form small (3-4 students) study groups for outside class study.

If you miss lecture, it is your responsibility to get the notes from a classmate. The notes I provide are just outlines. If you miss your assigned discussion section, you can attend one of the others for that week. Please see or e-mail your TA or me with any problems you may have as soon as the problem arises. Open lines of communication are essential, but, please, turn cell phones OFF during class!  When you email us, please put 301L in the subject line.  You are welcome to use your computer for taking notes during class, but please, do NOT play games or surf the web on it or your cell phone during class.  Both are distracting to others.

This class is conducted under the honor system of the university. This means that all work will be original (not copied) on exams and activities in both lecture and discussion section. Students failing to adhere to this code will be subject to the punishment dictated by your instructors and/or the university.

“The University of Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259, 471-6441 TTY."

Important dates: The deadline for dropping for academic reasons is Nov 1.  After that date, you can only drop for compelling non-academic reasons.

The webslte for this course can be found at http://www.zo.utexas.edu/faculty/sjasper/bio301L/calendar.htm