Syllabus

BioS 95:  Bioscience in the 21st Century
Fall 2007
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 12:10-1:00pm

Instructors | Objectives | Format | Resources | Requirements | Accommodations | Schedule | Communication

Faculty Instructors:

Prof. Vassie Ware, Ph.D. (lecture coordinator)
B-222 Iacocca Hall
Department of Biological Sciences

Prof. Linda Lowe-Krentz, Ph.D. (discussion coordinator)
D-217 Iacocca Hall
Department of Biological Sciences

Graduate Teaching Assistant:

Jeannie Heitzer-Smith
Department of Biological Sciences

Course Objectives:

A major goal of this course is to communicate to students seeking training in a biologically-based discipline the importance of a systems-driven, multidisciplinary approach in bioscience. Several contemporary bioscience-related issues (e.g., obesity, infectious diseases, cancer, stem cell biology, advances in cell biology and medicine, genome-based medicine, neurophysiology-related topics, bioinformatics, interfaces between organic chemistry and biology, advances in engineered biomedical systems, advances in bioimaging, social/ethical considerations) will be discussed by faculty from different disciplines in order to highlight cross-disciplinary perspectives on fundamental problems and potential solutions in bioscience.  This course is envisioned as a new tool at Lehigh University for shaping an intellectual approach to bioscience that routinely values interconnections among disciplines and reduces/eliminates the tendency to compartmentalize learning “by subject.” 
A second goal of this course is to provide scientific literacy for non-majors and the public.  Students who are not formally registered for the course are encouraged to attend lectures based on their interests.  Course materials including the syllabus and all lectures are available on the web at with full access for the entire Lehigh community and interested members of the public.

Format: 

Lectures will be presented on MWF at the regularly scheduled class time.  For students who are registered for the course, an additional on-line discussion recitation is required.  The on-line discussion will be coordinated by Professor Linda Lowe-Krentz and is available only for official course registrants through Blackboard.  The Blackboard site is accessible using your Lehigh ID and password.  Details of the discussion requirements will be presented by Prof. Lowe-Krentz in the first class session.

Course Resources: 

No texts are required for the course.  Reading assignments may be required by some lecturers.  All course resources will be available through the course web site. 

Course Requirements: 

Your regular attendance is important.  While all course materials and lectures are accessible on the web, there will be opportunities following most lectures to participate in discussions with faculty lecturers and/or to have questions answered.  Active participation in discussions is only possible if you are present in class. 

This is a 4-credit course; as such, 75% of the course grade will be based on your performance on quizzes based on the lecture content.  The remaining 25% of the course grade will be based on your participation in the on-line discussion through the Blackboard site.  A total of 300 points is possible for the lecture portion of the course.  For the on-line discussion portion of the course, a total of 100 points is possible.  Your final course grade, therefore, will be based on a total of 400 points.

Seven (7) quizzes (50 points each) are scheduled (see schedule).  Please note that changes in the quiz schedule may be required if a lecture(s) needs to be re-scheduled.

Only six (6) quiz grades will be counted in the final course grade, as the lowest quiz grade will be dropped. 

Quizzes will be based on lecture content and assigned readings, if any.  Quizzes will not be cumulative throughout the semester.

In general, grading will be based on the following scale:  90-100% (A range); 80-89% (B range); 70-79% (C range); 60-69% (D range); below 60% (failing).  Please note that the final quiz (#7) will be scheduled by the Registrar during the final examination period.  

MAKE-UP EXAMINATION POLICY:  Make-up quiz privileges will only be considered in the case of excused absences, requiring written documentation from medical or administrative personnel.  There are no exceptions to this requirement. 

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: 

If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting accommodations, please contact Professor Ware and the Office of Academic Support Services, University Center 212 (610-758-4152) as early as possible in the semester.  You must have documentation from the Academic Support Services Office before accommodations can be granted.

Course lecture and quiz schedule:  see schedule

How to communicate with the instructors:

Professor Ware  
B222 Iacocca Hall 
Office hours by appointment 
Telephone: 610-758-3690 (voice mail is available)
Email: vcw0@lehigh.edu  

Professor Lowe-Krentz
D217 Iacocca Hall
Office hours by appointment
Telephone: 610-758-5084 (voice mail is available)
Email: ljl0@lehigh.edu

Department of Biological Sciences Office:
B217 Iacocca Hall
610-758-3680 or 610-758-3681