Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

General Biology Lab II (Face-to-Face)

BIOL 1625-01

Course: BIOL 1625-01
Credits: 1
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: BIOL
CRN: 30854

Course Description

Lab to accompany BIOL 1620. One two-hour meeting per week. A minimum grade of "C" (2.0 or above) must be earned in this course before it can be counted in a biological science major or minor or as a prerequisite for any other biology course. 
Co-requisite(s): BIOL 1620 
Registration Restriction(s): Intensive English Program majors may not enroll

Required Texts

Biology: Diversity of Life Laboratory Manual; Macmillan. (ISBN: 978-1-5339-4620-1)

All other required materials for lab will be supplied for you. Student fees are used to provide plant and animal specimens, slides, dissection specimens, dissection kits and tools, gloves, and other supplies that you will be using in this course. 


Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:
  1. Gain factual knowledge about diversity of living organisms (terminology, classifications)
  2. Learn fundamental principles about biology and the comparative study of life
  3. Analyze and evaluate information gathered from disciplined scientific observation

Course Requirements

Lab format and responsibilities:
  • Watch the pre-lab video that I post in Modules on Canvas before coming to lab each week. New videos will be posted no later than Saturdays the week before lab. You should use your lab manual as reference during the viewing of these videos and take notes when I indicate in the video.
  • After you watch the video, you will need to complete a pre-lab quiz. This must be completed before coming to lab each week. You may use your lab manual and any notes you took during the video to complete the pre-lab quiz.
  • On the day of lab, you will attend and complete the activity. 

Laboratory safety: 
You are required to read and agree to a safety contract in the beginning of the semester and adhere to safety policies throughout the semester. This contract will be available on Canvas.

Lab Quizzes: (9 @ 25 pts. ea.): 225 pts. - watch video and complete on Canvas prior to lab

Lab Participation: (10 @ 10 pts. ea.): 100 pts. - attend lab and complete activities

Post-lab Handouts: (9 @ 15 pts. ea.): 135 pts. - submit on Canvas by the end of the day after attending lab

Lab Midterm and Final: (2 @ 75 pts. ea.): 150 pts - complete on Canvas during lab

Research Mini-proposal: 30 pts.- submit on Canvas

Weekly Field Research Entries: (5 @ 20 pts. ea.): 100 pts. - submit on Canvas

Research Report: 70 pts. - submit on Canvas

Research Datablitz Presentation: 30 pts. - present during lab 

A: >93; A-: 90-92.9; B+: 87-89.9; B: 83-86.9; B-: 80-82.9; C+: 77-79.9; C: 73-76.9; C-: 70-72.9; D: 65-69.9; F: < 65

Course Outline

Lab 1. The Scientific Method 
Watch video & complete Pre-lab Quiz 1 before lab
Complete Post-lab Handout 1 

Lab 2. Variation & Mechanisms of Evolution 
Watch video & complete Pre-lab Quiz 2 before lab
Complete Post-lab Handout 2 

Lab 3. Classification 
Watch video & complete Pre-lab Quiz 3 before lab
Complete Post-lab Handout 3
Mini-proposal due by end of day

Lab 4. Phylogenetics 
Watch video & complete Pre-lab Quiz 4 before lab
Complete Post-lab Handout 4

Lab 5. Diversity of Seedless Plants 
Watch video & complete Pre-lab Quiz 5 before lab
Complete Post-lab Handout 5
Begin data collection

Lab  6. Diversity of Seed Plants 
Watch video & complete Pre-lab Quiz 6 before lab
Complete Post-lab Handout 6
Submit field observations by end of Saturday

Lab midterm practical
Submit field observations by end of Saturday

Lab  7. Diversity of Invertebrates: Survey 
Complete Post-lab Handout 7
Complete POST-lab Quiz 7 by end of day
Submit field observations by end of Saturday
 
Lab  8. Diversity of Invertebrates: Dissections
Complete Post-lab Handout 8
Complete POST-lab Quiz 8 by end of day
Submit field observations by end of Saturday

Lab  9. Diversity of Vertebrates Dissection 
Complete Post-lab Handout 9
Complete POST-lab Quiz 9 by end of day
Submit final field observations by end of Saturday

Lab  10. Data analysis: Graphing & Statistics 
Bring organized data to lab

Lab final practical

Datablitz Presentations 
Final research report due 

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

All quizzes and other assignments are due by the due date indicated on the assignment. If you require an extension past the due date, please contact me via Canvas messages or e-mail. I will not accept assignments past the due date unless you had contacted me prior to this and had asked for an extension. Exceptions to this course policy will be granted if you request accommodations as authorized by the Disability Resource Center (see University ADA statement) or for the following types of activities: athletic competitions, academic competitions, fine arts performances, course-related field trips, and professional/academic conferences (as per SUU Policy). Other extenuating circumstances, such as hospitalization or other reasons evaluated by me on a case-by-case basis. 

Attendance Policy

This is a face-to-face laboratory class, and your attendance is required to complete the laboratory activities. If you have an excused absence, you must inform me of the date of excused absence(s) prior to the anticipated absence(s). If the activities are known prior to the beginning of the semester, you must provide me with a written schedule during the first week of class showing the days you expect to miss. All other notices should be given at the earliest opportunity.

If you absolutely must miss lab, you are responsible for contacting me ASAP and before lab, if your absence is planned. Due to the nature of these labs, it may be possible to make up a missed lab activity by attending another BIOL 1625 lab section during the week. Given that our lab meets on Friday, this may not be possible if you have an unplanned absence. If you do not contact me and do not make up the lab by attending another section, you will not receive participation points or points for the post-lab handout for that lab, though you will still receive points for watching the pre-lab video and completing the pre-lab quiz by the deadline. Accommodations for extenuating circumstances, such as hospitalization or other valid, documented reasons, will be evaluated by me on a case-by-case basis.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.