| 8/7/2026 11:48:31 PM |
| Changed Course |
| CATALOG INFORMATION
|
| Discipline and Nbr:
BIOL C1000 | Title:
INTRO TO BIOLOGY W/ LAB |
|
| Full Title:
Introduction to Biology with Lab |
| Last Reviewed:2/23/2026 |
| Units | Course Hours per Week | | Nbr of Weeks | Course Hours Total |
| Maximum | 4.00 | Lecture Scheduled | 3.00 | 17.5 max. | Lecture Scheduled | 52.50 |
| Minimum | 4.00 | Lab Scheduled | 3.00 | 8 min. | Lab Scheduled | 52.50 |
| | Contact DHR | 0 | | Contact DHR | 0 |
| | Contact Total | 6.00 | | Contact Total | 105.00 |
| |
| | Non-contact DHR | 0 | | Non-contact DHR Total | 0 |
| | Total Out of Class Hours: 105.00 | Total Student Learning Hours: 210.00 | |
Title 5 Category:
AA Degree Applicable
Grading:
Grade Only
Repeatability:
00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As:
Formerly:
BIO 16
Catalog Description:
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This combined lecture and laboratory course provides the non-biology major with an introduction to living things and their environment. Students use experimentation and investigation to develop important critical thinking skills. Students learn about the process of science, the building blocks of life, the role and regulation of DNA, how populations change over time, the movement of energy within and between life forms, and how species interact with each other and their surroundings. By the end of the course, students will be able to apply an understanding of biological concepts to current issues and their impacts on society.
Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Recommended Preparation:
Limits on Enrollment:
Schedule of Classes Information
Description:
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This combined lecture and laboratory course provides the non-biology major with an introduction to living things and their environment. Students use experimentation and investigation to develop important critical thinking skills. Students learn about the process of science, the building blocks of life, the role and regulation of DNA, how populations change over time, the movement of energy within and between life forms, and how species interact with each other and their surroundings. By the end of the course, students will be able to apply an understanding of biological concepts to current issues and their impacts on society.
(Grade Only)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION
| Associate Degree: | Effective: | Fall 2025
| Inactive: | |
| Area: | C
L5
| Natural Sciences
Physical and Biological Sciences
|
| |
| CSU GE: | Transfer Area | | Effective: | Inactive: |
| | B2 | Life Science | Fall 2014 | |
| | B3 | Laboratory Activity | | |
| |
| IGETC: | Transfer Area | | Effective: | Inactive: |
| | 5B | Biological Sciences | Fall 2014 | |
| | 5C | Fulfills Lab Requirement | | |
| |
| CSU Transfer: | | Effective: | | Inactive: | |
| |
| UC Transfer: | Transferable | Effective: | Fall 2014 | Inactive: | |
| |
| C-ID: |
Certificate/Major Applicable:
Major Applicable Course
COURSE CONTENT
Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
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1. Apply the scientific method to investigating and evaluating biological phenomena
2. Explain the application of the core concepts of biology to current issues
3. Evaluate the scientific background of and debate on current biological issues
4. Demonstrate knowledge of laboratory and field biology techniques, including microscopy
Objectives:
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Statewide Required Objectives/Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Apply the scientific method, including recognizing the elements of experimental design,
gathering and analyzing data, and interpreting results.
2. Demonstrate scientific literacy by evaluating social, ethical, and equity issues connected to
biological sciences
3. Describe how living things are made of smaller structures that work together to enable the
organism to survive.
4. Compare how living things depend on each other and the physical environment as they interact
to obtain, change, and exchange matter and energy.
5. Explain how the diversity of living things is the result of evolution of organisms through
mechanisms such as heredity, random change, and natural selection.
6. Collaborate on laboratory investigations of the biological content using appropriate, safe
methods and equipment.
Expanded and Additional Objectives/Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Analyze and critically evaluate a current issue in biology and current events using the principles of the scientific method
2. Apply laboratory techniques, including proper microscope use, to observe and experiment with biological phenomena
Topics and Scope
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Statewide Required Topics:
1. The scientific method and the process of science
2. Cellular chemistry and biochemistry
a. Atoms and bonding
b. Properties of water
c. Structure and function of biological molecules
3. Cell structure and function
a. Cells, membranes, and organelles
b. Prokaryotes versus eukaryotes
c. Transport across the cell membrane
4. Cellular metabolism
a. Enzyme structure and function
b. Photosynthesis
c. Cellular respiration
d. Fermentation
5. Cellular division
a. Prokaryotic binary fission
b. Eukaryotic cell cycle
c. Eukaryotic asexual reproduction (mitosis)
d. Eukaryotic sexual reproduction (meiosis)
6. DNA structure and function
a. DNA replication
b. Transcription and translation
c. Regulation of gene expression
d. The impact of mutations
e. The impact of biotechnology
7. Principles of heredity
a. Mendelian genetics
b. Non-Mendelian genetics
c. Application to human genetics
8. Principles of evolution
a. Evolutionary mechanisms
b. Evolutionary evidence
c. Speciation and classification
d. The effect of extinction
e. Survey of biodiversity across Domains
9. Principles of ecology
a. Biosphere and biomes
b. Population growth and regulation
c. Community interactions
d. Flow of energy and matter in ecosystems
e. Human interactions with the biosphere
f. Conservation biology and sustainability
Laboratory Content
1. Process of science and experimental design
2. Personal protective equipment, care and safe use of laboratory equipment
3. Utilization of microscopy to visualize and identify cell structures
4. Cellular transport mechanisms
5. Energy cycling and metabolism
6. Cell division
7. Genetics and inheritance
8. Diversity of life
9. Evolution
10. Ecology
Expanded and Additional Topics:
I. Science and the Scientific Method
A. Science and the scientific process
B. Science versus pseudoscience
C. Science's role in and influence on society
D. Assessment of the quality of scientific research
E. The scientific method
1. Experimental design
2. Hypothesis testing
3. Science writing
Assignments:
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Lecture- and Lab-Related Assignments:
1. Written lecture exams (3-4) and lab exam(s) (1-2) covering biological content and applications to current issues in biology
Lecture-Related Assignments:
1. Assigned reading from text and instructor prepared material (10-30 pages/week)
2. Response papers (2-4) analyzing current issues in the context of the biological knowledge gained in the course (2-4 pages each)
3. Oral report, video presentation and/or poster presentation on biological topics and their relationship to current events
4. Quizzes (5-10) on lecture and reading material
Lab-Related Assignments:
1. Participation in class exercises, analysis of case studies, e.g. in written and/or oral form, and discussions relating to specific current biological topics and their relationship to current events
Statewide Required Methods of Evaluation:
Examples of evaluation methods used to observe or measure students' achievement of course outcomes and objectives may include but are not limited to quizzes, exams, laboratory work, field journals, projects, research demonstrations, etc.
Methods of evaluation are at the discretion of local faculty.
Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.
| Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing. | Writing
10 - 30% |
| Response papers | |
| Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills. | Problem Solving
5 - 10% |
| Analysis of case studies | |
| Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams. | Skill Demonstrations
0 - 0% |
| None | |
| Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams. | Exams
40 - 60% |
| Lecture exams and lab exams; quizzes | |
| Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories. | Other Category
15 - 25% |
| Oral report; attendance; participation in class exercises and discussions | |
Representative Textbooks and Materials:
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Statewide Representative Textbooks:
Texts used by individual institutions and even individual sections will vary.
OER Example:
• Fowler, S., Wise, J., & Roush, R. (2024). Concepts of Biology. OER: OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/concepts-biology/pages/1-introduction
• Traditional Examples:
• Hoefnagels, M. (2021). Biology: The Essentials. 4th ed.: McGraw Hill.
• Taylor, M., Simon, E., Dickey, J., & Reece J. (2020). Campbell Essential Biology. 7th ed.: Pearson.
Lab manuals
An example of a publisher lab manual is:
• Bres, M., & Weisshaar, A. (2018). Thinking About Biology: An Introductory Lab Manual (What's New in Biology). 6th ed.: Pearson.
• Locally developed manual
Additional Representative Textbooks:
Campbell Essential Biology with Physiology. 6th ed. Simon, Eric, Dickey, Jean and Reece, Jane. Pearson. 2022.
ebook: Principles of Biology. Nature Publishing Group. 2012 (classic).
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