BIOLOGY 301M - Ecology, Evolution and Society
Spring
2009
Instructor: Dr. Jasper. Office: PAI 1.28. The best way to
reach me is by e-mail: sjasper@mail.utexas.edu. Office hours: TTh: 12:00- 1:00 or by
appointment.
TA: Nitin Asokan. Office: BME 1.314. Email: nitin.asokan@gmail.com
|
48925 |
F 900 to
1000 |
RLM 5.120 |
|
48930 |
F 1000 to
1100 |
RLM 5.122 |
|
48935 |
W 300 to 400 |
WEL 2.256 |
|
48940 |
W 400 to 500 |
WEL 3.260 |
COURSE
DESCRIPTION: Designed for nonscience majors. Introduction to
environmental adaptations, diversity of organisms, species interactions,
organization and processes of communities, population growth and limitations,
evolution and population genetics, origin of life, and human impact on the
environment. Three lecture hours and one discussion hour a week for one
semester. Only one of the following may be counted: Biology 301M, 304, 311D,
213. Biology 301E and 301M may not both be counted. May not be counted toward a
degree in biology.
TEXTBOOK: The Living
World, 5th 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. Grading scale:
89.5-100 = A, 79.5-89.4 = B,
69.5-79.4 = C, 59.5-69.4 = D, below 59.4 = F. 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 entire 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 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 only with me and your TA so, please,
turn cell phones OFF during class! 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.
Important
dates: Deadline for dropping
without possible academic penalty is Feb
16. The deadline for dropping
for academic reasons (Q or F) is Mar 30.