Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

General Biology Lab II (Face-to-Face)

BIOL 1625-01

Course: BIOL 1625-01
Credits: 1
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: BIOL
CRN: 12438

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. (Fall, Spring, Summer) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Co-requisite(s): BIOL 1620 Registration Restriction(s): Intensive English Program majors may not enroll

Required Texts

Biology: Diversity of Life Laboratory Manual, 2014 (5th ed.), Boswell. (ISBN: 978-1-5339-0923-7)
All other required materials will be supplied for you during lab.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Demonstrate understanding of science as a way of knowing about the natural world
  2. Demonstrate basic understanding of how organisms live, grow, respond to their environment, and reproduce
  3. Describe and apply evolutionary concepts in terms of inheritance, adaptation, and diversity of life
  4. Reflect on the relevance of life sciences in a broader context.

Course Requirements

GRADES ARE WEIGHTED BY CATEGORY

Lab Final (20% of Overall Grade): The final exam is in TWO parts.  Part A is a cumulative final exam that is timed. It consists of multiple choice questions based upon the material we covered in each of our lab experiences.  Part B is a recorded dissection of a beaver. You will watch the recording and complete a worksheet that corresponds to the video, submitting your answers with in Canvas. 

Weekly Lab Work (35% of Overall Grade): consists of assignments found in your lab manual at the end of each lab. Handouts are due at the end of the lab period and typically handed in. Other lab experiences are uploaded documents through Canvas.

Research Project (30% of Overall Grade)
: We will be participating in a large, long-term research project as a major part of this lab.  You will be placed in a group and you will be graded based on how well your group completes it's assigned research and on the final paper that each of you must write.  

Team Participation & Peer-Evaluation (15% of Overall Grade): Science is a team sport. No one ever works alone. Effective TEAM WORK is a skill that you will need to develop in order to have a successful career in just about every field. You're expected to work with your team, helping, pulling your weight, and being dependable. Your ability to do so will be evaluated by your teammates.  

All grades are posted on Canvas in a timely manner so you can monitor your own progress throughout the semester. NO extra credit will be given to raise grades or makeup labs/assignments (see policy on missed labs/late assignments). 

A=93%, A- =90%, B+ =87%, B=84%, B- =80%, C+ =77%, C = 74%, C- =70%, D+ =67%, D =64%, D- =60%

Course Outline

WEEK 1:  NO FACE-TO-FACE LABS
  • Read/Accept Lab Safety Contract

WEEK 2: LAB ORIENTATION & WHAT IS SCIENCE
  • What is Science Block Lab

WEEK 3: MECHANISMS OF EVOLUTION
  • Migration Lab
  • Introduction to Scientific Writing and Peer-reviewed research

WEEK 4: SYSTEMS OF CLASSIFICATION
  • Classification of Insects

WEEK 5: PHYLOGENETICS & GROUP RESEARCH PROJECT
  • Creating and Reading Phylogenetic Trees
  • Sagebrush classification 

WEEK 6: DIVERSITY OF SEEDLESS PLANTS
  • Bryophytes, Lycopodia, Early Tracheophytes

WEEK 7:  DIVERSITY OF SEEDED PLANTS
  • Seeded Plants Survey & Dissection
  • Introduction Section Draft

WEEK 8: FALL/SPRING BREAK   -NO FORMAL LAB-
  • Group Work on research project

WEEK 9: INVERTEBRATES 
  • Invertebrate Survey
  • Methods & Materials Draft

WEEK 10: INVERTEBRATES
  • Invertebrate Dissection

WEEK 11: VERTEBRATES
  • Vertebrate Dissection
  • Sagebrush Data Due

WEEK 12: DATA ANALYSIS, GRAPHING, & STATISTICS
  • Results Draft

WEEK 13: THANKSGIVING BREAK/FESTIVAL OF EXCELLENCE   -NO FORMAL LAB--
  • Group work on research project

WEEK 14: LAB FINAL
  • Final Exam Part A
  • Final Exam Part B
  • Discussion Draft Due

WEEK 15: FINALS
  • Research Paper Final Draft
  • Group Member Assessment

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

Course Policy on Missed Labs/Late Assignments/Attendance:
Due to the nature of the majority of these labs, no lab make-ups can be given outside of the scheduled lab periods. If you miss a lab for a valid reason (e.g., illness or university-sponsored activity), you must notify your regular lab instructor immediately and you must attend another lab section during that same week to make up the work (see attached schedule for available days). Missing more than two scheduled labs will result in an automatic "F" for the laboratory portion of this course.

Attendance Policy

  • Attendance is mandatory. 
    • Each lab contributes to your final grade.  Missed labs cannot be made up.
    • Missing more than two labs results in automatic "F" grade.  
    • If you cannot attend one of the labs, it is your responsibility to work with the lab instructor to see if there might be options to attend another lab that same week.
    • Warning:  There may not always be opportunities to make up points.



Course Fees

$13.50

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.