Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2026

Herpetology (Face-to-Face)

BIOL 3470-01

Course: BIOL 3470-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2026
Department: Biology
CRN: 33316

Course Description

Natural history and classification of amphibians and reptiles, including their diversity, distribution, ecology, reproduction, behavior, evolution, and conservation. Three 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 even years)

Required Texts

Herpetology 4th ed., by Pough et al., Sinaur Associates, Inc., Sunderland, Massachusetts. ISBN 978-1-60535-233-6
OR
Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles 4th ed., by Vitt, L.J. and J.P. Caldwell, Academic Press, Waltham, Massachusetts. ISBN 978-0-12-386919-7

Learning Outcomes

1. General Knowledge & Organismal Biology
Demonstrate an understanding of general knowledge of biology as it applies to herpetofauna, including the physiological systems and processes (e.g., ectothermic thermoregulation, osmoregulation, specialized cardiorespiratory mechanics) and reproductive/life history strategies of amphibians and reptiles.
  • USHE R470 Alignment: Knowledge of the Physical and Natural World
  • SUU Biology SLO Alignment: General knowledge of biology: physiological systems and processes

2. Interactions, Evolution, & Biodiversity
Demonstrate an understanding of the dynamics of interactions and adaptations within and among biological systems, including the diversity of living organisms (amphibian and reptile taxonomy), evolutionary relationships among them, population biology, and the interaction between biotic and abiotic components across different ecosystems.
  • USHE R470 Alignment: Knowledge of the Physical and Natural World; Inquiry and Analysis
  • SUU Biology SLO Alignment: Dynamics of interactions and adaptations: population biology and organismal interactions; biotic/abiotic ecosystem interactions; diversity of organisms and evolutionary relationships; evolutionary processes

3. Scientific Methodologies & Literature Synthesis
Demonstrate an understanding of the methodologies of science and synthesize new knowledge from scientific literature by reading, understanding, and critiquing peer-reviewed literature in herpetology, analyzing empirical data, and systematically evaluating research hypotheses from herpetology.
  • USHE R470 Alignment: Intellectual and Practical Skills (Inquiry, Analysis, Critical Thinking, Information Literacy)
  • SUU Biology SLO Alignment: Methodologies of science and synthesis of scientific literature: reading, understanding, and critiquing peer-reviewed literature; the scientific method

4. Multimodal Scientific Communication
Communicate effectively in oral, written, and visual formats by developing and presenting scientific work or syntheses of field knowledge through structured written field reports, oral presentations, and/or data representations (e.g., maps, plots).
  • USHE R470 Alignment: Intellectual and Practical Skills (Written and Oral Communication, Information Literacy)
  • SUU Biology SLO Alignment: Communicate effectively in oral, written, and other formats: oral presentation of scientific work; written presentation of scientific work

5. Field & Laboratory Investigations
Use appropriate tools to carry out investigations in herpetology, including demonstrating competency in the use of appropriate field and laboratory equipment (e.g., species identification keys, survey technique gear, specimen preparation tools, and standard handling safety protocols) during laboratory meetings and field trips.
  • USHE R470 Alignment: Intellectual and Practical Skills (Quantitative and Qualitative Problem-Solving); Integrative and Applied Learning
  • SUU Biology SLO Alignment: Use appropriate tools to carry out investigations: competency in use of appropriate field/laboratory equipment; experiential learning activity

6. Conservation & Applied Stewardship
Apply integrated biological principles to evaluate contemporary conservation challenges affecting herpetofauna (e.g., disease, habitat fragmentation, and climate impacts) and analyze evidence-based management strategies to support species survival and ecosystem stability.
  • USHE R470 Alignment: Personal and Social Responsibility (Civic Knowledge and Engagement, Real-World Challenges); Integrative and Applied Learning
  • SUU Biology SLO Alignment: General knowledge of biology: findings and applications; acquiring sufficient training for graduate/professional careers


Course Requirements

Professional Research Report: This semester, each of you will have the opportunity to write a professional research report for possible submission for publication. This will be a meta-study where you will collect data from a specified set of peer-reviewed articles, analyze the data, and write up the findings. The goal of the report is to teach you transferable skills, including data extraction, data reproducibility, reading scientific articles, working with Excel, and appropriate use of AI in Biology.   

Lecture Exams: Written exams will be completed in class and will include multiple-choice, matching, short-answer, and essay questions.  However, the focus will be on short-answer and essay-type questions and will require you to apply your knowledge to novel situations not directly discussed during class.  The final exam will consist of the same types of questions, but will be cumulative in nature (i.e., will include material from the entire semester). 

Grading: Letter grades will be assigned using a typical scale of percentages of total available points.  
100-93    A,    92-90     A- 
 89-88    B+,    87-83    B 
82-80    B-,    79-78    C+
77-73    C,     72-70    C- 
 69-68   D+,    67-63    D
 62-60   D-,       < 60    F

Workload: If you want to be successful in this class (and all of your classes), you should expect to spend between two and three hours outside of class studying/working on class assignments for every hour you spend in the classroom.  So, if you are enrolled for 12 credit hours, this means you spend twelve hours in the classroom every week.  According to this general rule, you should then be spending between 24 and 36 ADDITIONAL hours every week working on class-related work, for a total of 36 to 48 hours each week.  This is as much time as a full-time job and should be treated as such! 


Course Outline

  Date |                 Topic                  |   Instructor    | Reading Assignment (Pough et al./Vitt & Caldwell)
2 Sep |      Course Introduction    | Heyborne/Monroe 
4 Sep |  Overview of herpetology | Heyborne/Monroe | Chapter 1/xi-xiv
7 Sep | Labor Day - NO CLASS
9 Sep |     Amphibian evolution     |      Monroe      | p. 29-35/p. 5-15
11 Sep | Systematics & diversity of extant amphibians |    Heyborne    | Chapter 3/Chaps 15-17
14 Sep | Amphibian reproduction & life history |    Monroe    | Chapter 8/Chaps 4-5 (amphibs)
16 Sep |           Reptile evolution    |    Heyborne    | p. 35-40/p. 15-21
18 Sep | Systematics & diversity of extant reptiles |    Heyborne    | Chapter 4/Chaps 18-22
21 Sep | Reptile reproduction & life history I    |    Monroe    | Chapter 9/Chaps 4-5 (reps)
23 Sep | Reptile reproduction & life history II | Monroe |
25 Sep | Catch-up and Review | Heyborne/Monroe 
28 Sep | EXAM #1 
30 Sep |          Water balance       |    Monroe    | p. 227-239/p. 181-194
2 Oct | Ectothermy & thermoregulation I |    Monroe    | p. 12-15, 239-258/Chap 7
5 Oct | Ectothermy & thermoregulation II |    Monroe    |
7 Oct |             Gas exchange         |      Heyborne       | p. 259-266/p. 194-201
9 Oct |       Circulatory system        |       Monroe         | p. 266-270/p. 71-74
12 Oct | Metabolism & energetics I |      Monroe          | p. 270-286/p. 222-226
14 Oct | Metabolism & energetics II |      Monroe      |
16 Oct | Catch-up and Review | Monroe 
19 Oct | Fall Break - NO CLASS 
21 Oct | EXAM #2 
23 Oct | Locomotion I |    Heyborne    | Chapter 10/see “locomotion” in the index
26 Oct | Locomotion II |   Heyborne    |
28 Oct | Diet & foraging I  |   Monroe   | p. 501-514p. 309-316
30 Oct | Diet & foraging II |   Monroe   |
2 Nov | Feeding mechanisms I |   Heyborne   | p. 379-384/p. 295-309
4 Nov | Feeding mechanisms II |   Heyborne   |
6 Nov | Venoms & “venomousness” |   Heyborne   | p. 399-404/p. 303-305
9 Nov | Amphibian communication |   Monroe   | p. 437-456/p. 256-265
11 Nov | Reptile communication |    Heyborne    | p. 456-474/p. 265-272
13 Nov | Catch-up and Review |   Heyborne/Monroe   |
16 Nov | EXAM #3 |
18 Nov | Sexual selection I |    Heyborne    | Chapter 14/p. 272-288
20 Nov | Sexual selection II |    Heyborne    |
23 Nov | Thanksgiving Break - NO CLASS 
25 Nov | Thanksgiving Break - NO CLASS 
27 Nov | Thanksgiving Break - NO CLASS 
30 Nov | Sexual selection III |   Heyborne   |
2 Dec | Predator/prey interactions |   Monroe   | p. 518-531/p. 319-346
4 Dec | Predator/prey interactions |   Monroe   |
7 Dec | Herps as invasive species |   Monroe   | p. 564-566/p. 428-430
9 Dec | Reptile & amphibian conservation | Heyborne | Chapter 17/Chap 14
11 Dec | Catch-up and Review | Heyborne/Monroe |
15 Dec | Final Exam - 11:00 am - 12:50 pm

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

Timeliness in taking exams: Exams are already scheduled (please see the course schedule below) and can NOT be taken at an alternative time without PRIOR permission (including for university-sponsored travel) OR a note from your healthcare provider. Sorry, but NO EXCEPTIONS.  

Extra Credit: Requests for extra credit have become overwhelming – particularly near the end of the semester. So, PLEASE DON’T ASK! With this said, extra credit opportunities for the entire class MAY be offered at the discretion of the instructors, but you should NOT count on this as a way to boost your grade. Instead, spend your time and energy completing the course requirements.

Attendance Policy

To do well in this course, you need to make every effort to attend ALL class meetings.
Excused absences include university-sponsored travel or absences planned IN ADVANCE with the instructor(s).  ALL other absences will be considered unexcused, and no makeup will be given.

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.