BI 103 - Introduction to Biology III

MTH 60  or higher-level math course, or designated placement

Recommended Prerequisite(s):  

BI 102  or BI 222Z  (formerly offered as BI 212 / BI 212 L)

Course Description: Provides an overview of plants, microbes, fungi and ecology. Designed for non-majors or those interested in learning more about biology. Science majors and pre-allied health professionals should take the 200-level biology series. Topics covered include basic evolution, classification, microbes, fungi, plant structure and function, planet diversity, populations, communities, and human impact on the environment. This course number includes both lecture and lab.

Course Learning Outcomes:

• CLO#1: Explain the fundamental principles of evolution and their role in shaping biodiversity.
• CLO#2: Differentiate among major taxonomic groups based on defining characteristics, applying classification concepts through hands-on and microscopic examination.
• CLO#3: Analyze structural and functional adaptations of viruses, bacteria, protists, and fungi, integrating lecture concepts with techniques such as microscopy and bacterial culture.
• CLO#4: Summarize the organization, physiology, and reproductive strategies of plants, supported by comparative observations and data collection.
• CLO#5: Interpret population structure, growth patterns, and community interactions using quantitative and graphical methods using field data and other factors. (ILO: Quantitative Literacy and Reasoning)
• CLO#6: Examine energy flow and nutrient cycling within ecosystems through modeling, experimentation, and data analysis.
• CLO#7: Propose evidence-based strategies to mitigate major threats to biodiversity, synthesizing lecture knowledge with experimental and observational findings.
• CLO#8: Assess how human activities impact the biosphere and interconnected ecological systems using evidence from lecture, laboratory, and field investigations.