Skip to content

Course Syllabus

BIOL 1425 Environmental Biology Laboratory

  • Division: Natural Science and Math
  • Department: Biology
  • Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 1; Lecture: 0; Lab: 2
  • Corequisites: BIOL 1420
  • General Education Requirements: Life Science Lab (LB)
  • Semesters Offered: TBA
  • Semester Approved: Fall 2022
  • Five-Year Review Semester: Fall 2027
  • End Semester: Summer 2028
  • Optimum Class Size: 16
  • Maximum Class Size: 30

Course Description

The environmental biology laboratory allows students hands-on application and experimentation of principles taught during environmental biology lecture. This component (BIOL 1425) is optional, but in order to count as a laboratory experience, it must be taken concurrently with BIOL 1420. (Lab fee required).

Justification

The Environmental Biology Laboratory (BIOL-1425) satisfies the science laboratory GE requirement for Snow College. Some majors at the four-year colleges and universities require both the laboratory and the lecture. This course is designed to transfer to other schools in the state of Utah to fulfill general education science lab requirements.

General Education Knowledge Area Outcomes

  1. Students will complete a series of laboratory exercises that require them to use the scientific method, collect data, analyze results, and summarize findings. As students complete labs, they will gain a deeper understanding of applicable biological processes. They will be evaluated based on lab reports, quizzes, and the final project. Students will complete a series of laboratory exercises that require them to use the scientific method, collect data, analyze results, and summarize findings. As students complete labs, they will gain a deeper understanding of applicable biological processes. They will be evaluated based on lab reports, quizzes, and the final project.

Course Content

Through a combination of field work and lab projects the course will cover the following topics:Primary ProductivityPopulation GrowthPopulation DynamicsBiodiversity MeasuresSoil CharacteristicsToxicity TestingAir PollutionWater QualityFracking and EarthquakesEnergyPlastics and RecyclingTragedy of the CommonsThis class is naturally suited to teach about a variety of perspectives. Emphasis will be placed on analyzing different view points and finding middle ground. Care will be taken to bring in content from a various areas (authors and perspectives).