Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

General Biology I (Face-to-Face)

BIOL 1610-13

Course: BIOL 1610-13
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Biology
CRN: 30578

Course Description

This course is intended for science majors. (Non-science majors should enroll in BIOL 1010 or BIOL 1020). It provides a basic foundation in the areas of biochemistry, organization and function of cells, as well as the transmission of genetic information. 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)] Co-requisite(s): BIOL 1615 Registration Restriction(s): Intensive English Program majors may not enroll General Education Category: Life Sciences

Required Texts


 Canvas: additional materials will be made available to students throughout the course via Canvas. Access to Canvas (via website or app) will be necessary.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

·         Apply Scientific Methods: Describe and apply approaches to scientific discovery and interpretation of experimental data;

·         Understand: Demonstrate understanding of matter, energy, and their influence on biological systems;

·         Apply Knowledge: Describe and apply evolutionary concepts in terms of inheritance, adaptation, and diversity of life;

·         Explain: Explain the mechanisms of information storage, expression, and exchange in living organisms or eco-systems; and

·         Reflect: Reflect on the relevance of life sciences in a broader context. 

Course Requirements

Preparation Notes: It is expected that you will watch the videos/complete reading assignments assigned to each chapter covered in class before coming to class. To ensure that you are getting the most you can out of these, you’ll submit preparation notes from each chapter—due before class on the day that chapter will be covered. Reading the chapters in advance is optional but encouraged. 

A. Exams:
There will be 5 exams given over the lecture material worth 100 points each for a total of 500 points (50% of
your final grade). The format of these exams could be multiple choice, true/false, matching, short answer, essay,
etc. Exam booklets must be handed in. Failure to hand in the exam booklet will result in a grade of zero. There
are no make-up exams for this course. One missed exam will be replaced by the final. Any additional missed
exams will be given a grade of zero.
For students who complete all 5 unit exams, the lowest exam grade can be replaced by the Final Exam at the
end of the semester if the Final Exam grade is higher (the score of the final will be adjusted to a 100 point scale
before replacing the lowest exam grade).
B. Final Exam:
A cumulative final exam will be given at the end of the semester over all chapters covered in the course. The
final exam will consist of 100 questions worth 2 points each for a total of 200 points. All students must take their
final during the time scheduled by the Registrar’s office listed in the course schedule below- no exceptions.
C. Homework:
Homework will be assigned on TopHat for each chapter covered in the course. Homework assignments consist
of questions related to the assigned readings in TopHat and are worth ~10 points each. Homework assignments
must be completed by the due date to receive full credit. All homework assignments are due before class starts
on the due date. Late homework is not accepted. After the due date, the homework assignment switches to
review mode and answers will not be recorded. The three lowest homework assignments will be dropped.
D. Quizzes:
In-class quizzes will be given roughly midway through each unit of the course. Quizzes will consist of 5-10
multiple choice, matching, short answer, fill in the blank, or discussion questions and be worth 15 points each.
You must be present and on time to complete the quiz- Quiz may be given at beginning or end of class period. No makeup quizzes will be given for any reason. The lowest quiz grade will be dropped.
E. Activities:
Students will also be graded upon participation/Attendance and completion of in-class activities, discussions, etc. Activities 
are worth a total of 70 points. There are no make-ups for missed activities for any reason. these will be recorded in an excel file and entered at the end of the semester. You are welcome to ask about how many point you have in this section at any point in the semester

Course Outline


Course Outcomes

  • By the end of this course, you will understand the following core biological principles:
    • Chemical components of life, including the 4 basic biomacromolecules
    • Structure and function of cellular organelles and varied cell types
    • Cellular metabolism and energy flow, including respiration and photosynthesis
    • DNA replication, cell division, and transmission genetics
    • The Central Dogma, including gene regulation and protein synthesis 
  • By the end of this course, the goal is that each of you will develop the following skills:
    • Appreciate how biological knowledge is obtained through the scientific method
    • Learn to analyze primary scientific data
    • Apply biological concepts towards real-life scenarios
    • Become a more informed and responsible citizen
Upon successful completion of the General Education Life Sciences requirement, students will be able to:

  • Describe and apply approaches to scientific discovery and interpretation of experimental data
  • Demonstrate understanding of matter, energy, and their influence on biological systems
  • Describe and apply evolutionary concepts in terms of inheritance, adaptation, and diversity of life
  • Explain the mechanisms of information storage, expression, and exchange in living organisms or eco-systems
  • Reflect on the relevance of life sciences in a broader context

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


All due dates are posted in the course schedule from the first day so that you are both aware of and have time to make appropriate time-management decisions. Any changes to those dates will be communicated to the entire class.


There is no late work accepted or make ups for any assignments. Only excused absences deemed by the University will be permitted to allow a make up. 

Attendance Policy

Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class using TopHat. There will be a new attendance code displayed at the start of each class period that may only be entered if you are in the classroom. 

Attendance and active participation are essential to success in this course. This course will foster a community of learning where students are encouraged to share and discuss their experiences related to course content. 

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.