SYLLABUS

GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION

BIOLOGY 1413 (ZOOLOGY)  

Instructor:  Mr. David R. Etheredge

Office:  Science Building S-142

Office Telephone:  894-9611 ext. 2319

E-mail: dethered@spc.cc.tx.us

Course Description:  A survey course of the major phyla of the animal kingdom.  General principles of animal physiology, cytology, genetics, anatomy, ecology, embryology and adaptations are stressed.

COURSE IMPLEMENTATION

PREREQUISITE:  None

CREDIT:  Four semester hours (Three hours lecture, One hour lab)

TEXT:  Biology of Animals, 7th Ed., Hickman, Roberts, Larson

A Photographic Atlas for the Biology Laboratory, Van Degraaf and Crawley.

             Supplemental Materials Notebook (only found in SPC bookstore)

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

A. To introduce basic principles with an emphasis on the animal organism

B. To investigate the cellular processes of living organisms with special interest to the activities of animal cells.

C. To acquaint the student with the development, anatomy and function of animal tissues and organs.

D. To impart knowledge of the animal organ systems, their organization and function.

E. To instill an appreciation of the variety and diversity of major animal phyla.

F. To allow individual laboratory investigation of all topics covered.

ATTENDANCE POLICY:  Punctual and regular class and lab attendance is required of all students.  Students are responsible for all class work covered during absences from class, even in cases in which they are able to satisfy the instructor that the absence was unavoidable. Excessive tardiness will not be tolerated.

When unavoidable situations such as illness, weather, an official college trip, or a death in the family causes absences, the instructor may permit the student to make up class work missed.  In such cases it is the student's responsibility to complete the work missed within one week of their return to class.

Whenever absences or tardiness become excessive and, in the instructor's opinion, minimum course objectives cannot be met, the student will be withdrawn from the course.  Any student with 6 absences and an average below 60, will be withdrawn from the class.  In addition, an instructor is required to initiate a student's

administrative withdrawal when the student has missed every class during a fourteen consecutive calendar - day period (4 class meetings) excluding holidays.  Each class meeting consist of lecture period and a lab period, consequently being absent from 1 class meeting will count in 2 absences.

Should a student , for any reason, delay in reporting to a class after his/her official enrollment, absences will be attributed to the student from the first meeting of the class. 

A student who does not attend a class by the 12th day of class will automatically deleted from the class rolls.

EXAMINATION POLICY:  Five major exams will be given during the semester.  The exams will be announced in advance and will be divided equally between lab material and lecture material.

If it is known in advance that an absence will occur on an exam date, and the instructor is notified ahead of time, it may be possible, under special circumstances, to take the exam at an alternate time.  Otherwise the missed exam will count as a zero when computing the semester average.  Due to the complexity and time involved in setting up lab exams with microscopes and specimens involved, this policy is rigidly adhered to.  DO NOT MISS EXAMS ! ! !

GRADING POLICY:Final semester average of 90 or above               = A

                                     Final semester average of 80-89                     = B

                                     Final semester average of 70-79                     = C

                                     Final semester average of 60-69                     = D

                                     Final semester average below 60                    = F

THERE IS NO CURVING OF GRADES

STUDY AIDS:   Peer Tutors may be available for one-on-one tutoring sessions that are free of charge,  Contact the instructor or the Counseling Center for more information.

SPECIAL NEEDS:   Any student with disabilities or special needs should identify themselves the first week of class and provide the necessary documentation from the SPC Special Services office.

Students with disabilities, including but not limited to physical, psychiatric or learning disabilities, who wish to request accommodations in this class should notify the Special Services Office early in the semester so that the appropriate arrangements may be made, In accordance with federal law, a student requesting accommodations must provide acceptable documentation of his/her disability to the Special Services Coordinator. For more information, call or visit the Special Services Office in the Student Services Building, 894‑9611 ext. 2529, 2530.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:  It is the aim of the faculty of South Plains College to foster a spirit of complete honesty and a high standard of integrity.  The attempt of any student to present as his own any work which he has not honestly performed is regarded by the faculty and administration as a most serious offense and renders the offender liable to serious consequences, possibly suspension.  Dishonesty (cheating) of any kind on examinations and quizzes on written assignments, illegal possession of examinations, the use of unauthorized notes during an examination or quiz, obtaining information during an exam from the textbook or from the exam paper of another student, assisting others to cheat, alteration of grade records, illegal entry or unauthorized presence in an office are examples of cheating.  Complete honesty is required of the student in the presentation of any and all phases of course work as his own.

DISMISSAL POLICY:  A high standard of conduct is expected of all students.  It is assumed that obedience to the law, respect for properly constituted authority, personal honor, integrity, and common sense will guide the actions of each member of this class.  Any student who fails to perform to expected standards will be asked to withdraw from the class.

Absolutely no Cellular Phones or Pagers in class.  If you have one with you, make sure it is turned off !!! If it “rings” or “buzzes” during class your instructor will become very, very irritated, and that is not a good thing! 

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are data sheets detailing with any potential hazards which may be incurred while utilizing various chemicals in the laboratory.  The MSDS notebook is located in room 146 of the science building.  All students are encouraged to read about the chemicals used in the lab in the MSDS notebook.  Please ask the instructor if you need assistance.