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General Information The College of Life Sciences welcomes you to Biological Sciences 106, An Introduction to Organismal Biology. This is a Core Life Sciences Laboratory Course designed specifically for students who are science majors. In lecture you will become acquainted with the evolutionary processes that resulted in the enormous diversity of living organisms, and the complex behavioral and ecological interactions that occur among species. The laboratory exercises complement the lecture and are designed to provide you with "hands-on" experiences and the opportunity to "learn by doing". The course is divided into three parts: 1) three 1-hour lectures per week; 2) one 3-hour laboratory per week; and 3) required textbooks and lab manual readings. Laboratory attendance is mandatory. Absence from three or more labs will result in automatic failure in the lab portion of the course. If you miss your lab for a legitimate reason (such as a religious holiday, illness, family emergency, etc.) you must obtain permission from the lab coordinator Hans Lemke (HL53@umail.umd.edu) to attend a regularly scheduled lab at a different time the same week. Your final grade in BSCI 106 will be based on four lecture examinations, (three hourly mid-terms each worth 100 points and a final worth 150 points) and a laboratory grade (250 points). Students will be allowed to drop one of the midterm exams in lieu of makeups. We do not give makeup exams - students will be allowed to drop one of the midterm exams in lieu of makeups. It is to your advantage to take all three of the lecture mid-terms, in order to give yourself the best chance of a high grade. Please read the laboratory exercise each week before coming to class. The laboratory grade will be based on weekly quizzes, 2 lab reports, and weekly study questions. A failure in either the laboratory or lecture could result in a failing grade for the entire course. Smoking, eating, and drinking are not permitted in either the lecture room or the laboratory. Shoes must be worn in the laboratory, where broken glass or corrosive chemicals may present a danger. Do not bring pets to lecture or laboratory. |
