INTRODUCTORY BIOLOGY

Prerequisites & course information

Requisites: ZOOLOGY/BIOLOGY/BOTANY 151 Course Designation: Core GenEd - Communication & Literacy Comm QR - Communication B Breadth - Biological Science Level - Elementary L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Explain the key mechanisms underlying biological evolution and identify those that drive diverse adaptations and key transitions in the history of life on Earth. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Relate cellular, tissue, and organ structures and processes to their physiological functions in the plant life cycle to explain how plants acquire and use energy and material resources and respond to environmental stimuli. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Describe the structure and function of ecological systems at different spatial and temporal scales and how abiotic and biotic factors affect the distribution of species. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Assess how humans impact biological systems through habitat fragmentation and loss, climate change, overexploitation, invasive species, and pollution. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Apply vocabulary, concepts, and theories of plant physiology, evolution, and ecology to problems across the biological sciences. Audience: Undergraduate 6. Identify and investigate scientific problems by interpreting the results of prior research, developing hypotheses, designing and conducting experiments, analyzing data,and planning future experiments. Audience: Undergraduate 7. Demonstrate skills necessary for biological research, including effective teamwork, data collection methods, and scientific communication. Audience: Undergraduate 8. Integrate concepts and content from biology and other scientific disciplines to explore current global and societal issues. Audience: Undergraduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Explain the key mechanisms underlying biological evolution and identify those that drive diverse adaptations and key transitions in the history of life on Earth. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Relate cellular, tissue, and organ structures and processes to their physiological functions in the plant life cycle to explain how plants acquire and use energy and material resources and respond to environmental stimuli. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Describe the structure and function of ecological systems at different spatial and temporal scales and how abiotic and biotic factors affect the distribution of species. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Assess how humans impact biological systems through habitat fragmentation and loss, climate change, overexploitation, invasive species, and pollution. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Apply vocabulary, concepts, and theories of plant physiology, evolution, and ecology to problems across the biological sciences. Audience: Undergraduate 6. Identify and investigate scientific problems by interpreting the results of prior research, developing hypotheses, designing and conducting experiments, analyzing data,and planning future experiments. Audience: Undergraduate 7. Demonstrate skills necessary for biological research, including effective teamwork, data collection methods, and scientific communication. Audience: Undergraduate 8. Integrate concepts and content from biology and other scientific disciplines to explore current global and societal issues. Audience: Undergraduate