Evolution
Dr. Bill Tietjen

Damn! I should have taken the BLUE pill!

Spring 2010
Phone: 8113
E-Mail: btietjen@bellarmine.edu

Course Description: The study of evolutionary processes including speciation, population genetics, adaptation, and origin of life (among other topics). Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory.

Office Hours: P187 Mon, Wed, Fri  10:00-11:00. Other hours by Appointment.

Texts: None. Readings will be made available over the net as Word documents, Internet Web Pages, and PDF resources. In addition, all laboratory exercises will be distributed over the network and must be printed out  to the laboratory.  Additional web-based material can be found here.

Grading: Your final grade will be computed as follows:

Exams: There will be an undetermined number of tests and quizzes. The tests will be unannounced except within a one-week window (as we did in Ecology). The final is on the last day of class.  Exams/quizzes  will be essay in format and will cover material from my class presentations, readings, homework, and laboratories. All exams, including the final, will have a comprehensive component.

Term Project: You will perform a short independent project on a topic related to evolution. Projects can be in any area of evolution, with my approval. This will be a library research project, not a laboratory project. You will present your project to the class as a Power Point presentation during the final exam period. A written report with a literature survey will also be turned in. Example term papers can be seen in the secret readings. The final project is worth 20% of your grade.

Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, the student will ....

  1. Understand that evolution is an interdisciplinary science drawing from all areas of biology (including energy transfer, genetic continuity and change, relationship of function to structure, regulation and homeostasis, and interdependence of organisms and the environment).
  2. Understand that the nature and biology of humans and all other life is the result of our evolutionary history.
  3. See how a scientific and evolutionary perspective should be applied to other endeavors such as politics, medicine, and social problems.
  4. Plan and carry out a research project related to the field of evolution.
  5. Demonstrate the ability to integrate sub disciplines of biology into evolution

Attendance and Classroom Policies:

  1. You are expected to attend every class. If, because of illness or family problems, you miss a class you are responsible for the material we covered. You must make every attempt to document the reason for missing class.
  2. If you sleep in class you will be marked as absent.
  3. If you work on projects for another class you will be marked as absent.
  4. If you text message, surf the internet, play games, or anything similar you will be marked as absent.
  5. For every three unexcused absences  your final grade will drop a complete letter grade. If that would result in a letter grade that does not exist, then you will be given the grade below that. For example, if your final percentage works out to a B- and you miss three classes, you will receive a D since there is no C- grade.
  6. If you miss a test or quiz for any reason you will make it up during the last week of class (Probably during the laboratory). The makeup can be based on any information from the semester, not only the content of the quiz/test that you missed (make-ups are comprehensive).
  7. Assigned readings must be completed by the next class session unless otherwise noted. Consider the readings "fair game" for tests or quizzes.
  8. Do all required assignments and turn them in on time. The deadlines are real. Late assignments are not accepted.
  9. Keep up with the lectures and readings on a daily basis.
  10. If you miss a movie you should make arrangements to view it on your own time.
  11. Take note of the websites we visit during class so you can revisit them while studying.

Academic Dishonesty Policies- I strongly endorse and will follow the academic honesty policy as published in Bellarmine’s Catalog 2005-2007 (pp. 55-56) and in the 2005-2006 Student Handbook (pp. 16-19).  Students must be fully aware of what constitutes academic dishonesty; claims of ignorance cannot be used to justify or rationalize dishonest acts.  Academic dishonesty can take a number of forms, including but not limited to cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, aiding and abetting, multiple submissions, obtaining unfair advantage, and unauthorized access to academic or administrative systems or information.  Definitions of each of these forms of academic dishonesty are provided in the academic honesty section of the 2005-2006 Student Handbook.  All detected instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Provost, and sanctions will be imposed as dictated by the policy.  Penalties range from failing an assignment or test to dismissal from the University, depending, in part, on the student’s previous record of academic dishonesty.  

Disability Services: Students with disabilities who require accommodations (academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids or services) for this course must contact the Disability Services Coordinator (Room 225 Horrigan Hall or 452-8150). Please do not request accommodations directly from the professor.

Course Methodology: Lecture, outside readings, and discovery-based laboratories and assignments.

University Policies

Eco Readings.gif (6692 bytes) Begin Your Readings (Course Schedule)

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