Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Back to Syllabus Search | Browse by Department
Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Introduction to Biology (Face-to-Face)

BIOL 1010-02

Course: BIOL 1010-02
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Biology
CRN: 30637

Course Description

General Education (GE) Designation: Life Sciences (LS)

Course Description: Non-majors course in biology emphasizing mechanisms of living systems and impact of biological problems on human affairs. Course is designed to foster critical thinking, problem solving and the application of scientific thinking in biology. Not intended for science majors. 
  • Three (3) hours of lecture 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)] 
  • Pre-requisite(s): none
  • Co-requisite(s): BIOL 1015 recommended 
  • Registration Restriction(s): Intensive English Program majors may not enroll General Education Category: Life Sciences

Required Texts

The following free textbook is required for this course:
OpenStax Concepts of Biology (https://openstax.org/details/books/concepts-biology)

Learning Outcomes

Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of the General Education Life Sciences requirement, students will be able to:
  • LO 1 (GE LS)- Apply Scientific Methods: Describe and apply approaches to scientific discovery and interpretation of experimental data;
  • LO 2 (GE LS)- Understand: Demonstrate understanding of matter, energy, and their influence on biological systems;
  • LO 3 (GE LS)- Apply Knowledge: Describe and apply evolutionary concepts in terms of inheritance, adaptation, and diversity of life;
  • LO 4 (GE LS)- Explain: Explain the mechanisms of information storage, expression, and exchange in living organisms or eco-systems; and
  • LO 5 (GE LS)- Reflect: Reflect on the relevance of life sciences in a broader context. 
  • LO 6 (Durable skills) Collaboration and Critical thinking: Work in teams to solve problems and complete activities.
  • LO 7 (Durable skills) Metacognition, Communication, & Character: Alternate roles on teams to manage time, organize information, set goals, and communicate. Complete assignments that require organizational skills, information synthesis, and active listening. 

Durable Skills & High Impact Practices

This course intentionally embeds several AAC&U-aligned durable skills and one high-impact practice (HIP) for first-year classrooms, in keeping with SUU's GE "First" design philosophy:
  • Collaboration and Communication: students work in teams to solve problems together and complete activities with alternating roles (daily in-class activities). 
  • Critical thinking: students must solve biological problems based on the information covered in class/videos (daily in-class activities). Students will actively process, question, and synthesize information rather than passively copying information (Exams, Cornell notes and daily in-class activities).
  • Character: students will have a specific group-based role that alternates every day to practice reliability, accountability, and social skills (group-based daily activities). 
  • Metacognition: students will manage time during group-based work and individual activities to ensure assignments are completed by the due date/time. Students will maintain organized notes in order to help complete group-based in-class activities.
  • High Impact Practice- Collaborative assignments: students work in teams during class to solve problems and complete activities that meet the GE course objectives.

Course Requirements

Your grade will be based on demonstrated achievement of the Course Learning Outcomes that are mapped to assignments (exams, quizzes, pre-class videos, notes, in-class activities).

Preparation: It is expected that you will watch the graded Edpuzzle videos (5 points each) and complete the readings before coming to class. To help you get the most out of these resources, you will submit a page of preparation notes in Cornell format on Canvas before class, which will be graded (10 points each, rubric on Canvas). 

Learning Activities: each topic will have an associated group learning activity based on the key points from each chapter/video. Group-based work has been shown to increase students’ abilities to retain the information they learn in a course well past the time the course is over. You will be graded on your engagement and participation in these group activities. This requires you to complete activities IN CLASS with your team. Activities will be submitted through Canvas before the end of day that the material is covered (20 points each).

Practice/Reflection: after we complete a chapter/topic, you will have a quiz on Canvas (10-20 points depending on the chapter/topic). 

Unit Exams (4 total): exams will consist of 50 multiple choice questions (100 points each). Exams will be given in-person during scheduled class time. Missing an exam will result in a zero (but please see my policies on late work/make-up work below).

Final Exam (Unit 5): the final exam will consist of 75 multiple choice questions (150 points). The final exam will take place during the scheduled time set forth by SUU (see Canvas).

|Canvas Assignment Group Name | Assigned Weight | Contents |
| Exams | 35% | 4 midterms (100 pts each) + 1 final (150 pts)
| Quizzes | 20% | All course quizzes.
| In-Class Activities | 20% | Participation & worksheets
| Edpuzzle Videos | 15% | Completed video modules.
| Prep Notes | 10% | Pre-class reading/video Cornell notes
| Extra Credit | 4% | Two 20-point assignments
| Total Course Weight | 104% | A maximum 4% boost over a standard 100%.

The following grade scale will be used to assign course grades: 
 | A: >= 93.5% |  A-: 90-93.4% |  B+: 87-89.9% I B: 84-86.9% | B-: 80-83.9% |
 | C+: 77-79.9% I C: 74-76.9% I C-: 70-73.9% | D+: 67-69.9% | D: 64-66.9% 
 I D-: 60-63.9% | F: <60%

Grades will be posted on Canvas. If you have questions about your grade on an assignment, you have one week after it is posted to contact me to discuss the grade. After one week, there will be no discussion or changing of the grade.

A note about grading timelines: As a lecturer, I have a full schedule of classes that each have their own assignments. Grading assignments takes time. I will do the best I can to get assignments graded as soon as possible, but please be patient with me. I always aim to have assignments graded within 1-2 weeks of the assignment due date, though most of the time it will only take 1 week!

Course Outline

This course covers 5 units: 
  • Unit 1: Themes of Biology; the Scientific method; The Chemistry of Life
  • Unit 2: The Cell & Cellular Processes
  • Unit 3: Cell cycle, Reproduction, Genetic variability, Inheritance
  • Unit 4: DNA structure and function; Gene expression and regulation
  • Unit 5: Intro to Evolution and Biological Diversity

Semester Schedule Outline*
"Week" 1: Welcome and Intro to Biology!
Week 2: Characteristics of Life, the Scientific Method, and Intro to Chemistry
Week 3: Water, Macromolecules, Review
Week 4: Unit 1 Exam and Start Unit 2- The Cell and Cell membrane and transport 
Week 5: Energy and Metabolism, and Cellular respiration 
Week 6: Cell respiration continued, Photosynthesis and Review
Week 7: Unit 2 Exam and Start Unit 3- Cell cycle and Mitosis, and Meiosis and Genetic variability
Week 8: Meiosis (continued if necessary), Inheritance 
Week 9: Inheritance (continued if necessary), Review and Unit 3 Exam
Week 10: Start Unit 4- DNA structure and Replication, Transcription, Translation
Week 11: Transcription and translation continued, Gene expression regulation
Week 12: Review and Unit 4 Exam
Week 13: Start Unit 5- Darwin and Evolution, Evolution of Populations, and Speciation
Week 14: Phylogenetic trees and Taxonomy, and Review
Week 15: Final Exam (Unit 5 only)

*This schedule is subject to change with advance notice according to class pacing. If we fall behind or get ahead, this schedule may need to change to meet class needs. Changing the schedule will not alter the course learning outcomes.

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

All assignments and exams are due on the date/time set forth by the instructor. Assignments turned in late are subject to a 10% reduction in points for every day (24 hours) past the due date.

The only exceptions for late assignments or missed exams are listed below: 
  • University sponsored travel (athletics, conferences, etc.)
  • Extreme illness or emergencies 
  • ADA Accommodations
If you need to turn in an assignment late due to any of the above reasons (excluding emergencies), please contact me at least 3 days prior to the due date, but preferably earlier. If an email is not sent 3 days before the assignment due date, then late assignments will be subject to the 10% reduction every 24 hours that it is late.

Make-up work
Make-up work for in-class activities or exams will only be allowed for the exceptions listed above as long as enough notice has been given to me (3 days before the absence), or at my discretion in the case of emergencies/illness (with sufficient evidence when appropriate).

Please note, the following do not count as emergencies or excuses for late work/make-up work: vacations, early departure for breaks, job scheduling conflicts, sleeping through your alarm!

Attendance Policy

Attendance is important and will ensure that you get the most out of the class. There will be graded in-class activities/assignments throughout the course of the semester. If you are absent and miss an in-class activity, you cannot make it up unless you have a valid, excusable absence (university sponsored travel, extreme illness or emergencies, ADA accommodations).

If you are traveling for a university-sponsored event, please send me an email at least 3 days before class to alert me of your absence. If you are ill, please email me as soon as symptoms have set in to let me know you will be absent. If you have an emergency, please email me as soon as you possibly can. I will work with you to develop a plan to complete coursework. 

Use of Artificial Intelligence Statement

Please note, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) is not allowed for this course (unless the student has ADA accommodations that allows use of AI). If AI is used for any assignment, you will get a zero on that assignment and a report will be sent to the Academic Integrity Specialist. 

Email communication policy

Think of email in this course as practice for email correspondence in your future career. To help me answer your questions efficiently, please follow these guidelines:
  • Consult Course Resources First: Before sending a question about deadlines, grading criteria, or test dates, check the syllabus and/or Canvas.
  • Try to use Official Channels: Please send emails from your official university account. Messages from personal accounts (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo) may be filtered out as spam.
  • Clear Subject Lines: Start your subject line with our course and section number and a brief description (e.g., BIOL 1010-02: Question about Macromolecules quiz).
  • Salutation: Begin with a formal greeting, such as "Hi Dr. Fischer" or "Hello Professor Fischer"
  • Response Window: I check email during business hours (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday). Please allow 24–48 hours for a response. Do not expect an immediate reply the night before an exam.
You can (and should) apply these guidelines to email correspondence with other university faculty & staff.

Phone use & Presence policy

Our class time is interactive, requiring your full attention and participation. To help maximize your learning and to support your peers, this course observes a "screens away" policy for cell phones. Please silence your phone and store it out of sight when class starts.
  • In Lecture: Research shows that multitasking on phones significantly lowers retention and exam performance. Let's make our classroom a focused zone.
  • Exception: You may take pictures of slides or activities as needed.

The "Why" Behind This Policy: My goal is never to control your behavior or penalize you. Instead, I want to create the best possible environment for you to succeed. Out of respect for your own tuition dollars and the classmates sitting around you, I ask that we collectively minimize these digital distractions.

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.