Human Ecology (Online) Syllabus – Fall 2007
BIO 120-A0Z1, 3 Credit Hours
Instructor: Mr. Micah W. Perkins Email: micah.perkins@kctcs.edu
Office Location: 203 Technology Building Office Phone: (270) 686-4610
Office Hours: Mon. 8-8:45, 10-11, 1-2; Tues. 9:15-12; Wed. 8-8:45; Thurs. 9:15-11; Fri. 8-9, 11-12
COURSE DESCRIPTION: A study of the interrelationships of man, populations, space, energy, food,
mineral resources and other life on earth.
MAJOR COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1. Awareness of the interdependence of living things with one another and with the non-living factors of their
environment through an understanding of the basic principles of ecology.
2. Understanding of various ways that human populations impact ecosystems.
3. Understanding of principles underlying a variety of environmental issues.
4. Appreciation of the complexity of environmental concerns with respect to their causes and solutions.
Expectations for this course are directly supported by OCTC Expectations (Quality Enhancement Plan), which can be found at the center of the fall schedule or the following website: http://www.octc.kctcs.edu/expectations/
REQUIRED TEXT: Environmental Science: Toward a Sustainable Future 10th Edition by R.T. Wright.
Published by Pearson Prentice Hall, 2008.
COURSE OUTLINE:
Class Begins -August 13
Fall Break, No Class – October 8 – 13
Current Events Paper Due – October 15
Thanksgiving Break, No Class – November 21-24
Final Exam – Will Be During the Week of Dec. 5-11
EVALUATION PROCEDURES: The course grade will be determined by a variety of materials submitted
throughout the semester:
Semester Coursework – This is the work you will be doing in the “Course Documents” tab each week. Such
coursework includes discussions, assignments, readings, quizzes, participation, etc. This work is 80% of your final grade.
Currents Events Paper – This assignment requires students to investigate current ecology topics. The current
events paper will be at levels 3 and 4 in accordance with OCTC written expectations. The paper is 5% of your final grade.
Final Exam - The final exam is comprehensive; meaning that this exam will cover all material presented
throughout the semester. The final exam will assess your understanding of concepts and your ability to apply the knowledge acquired. The final exam is 15% of your final grade.
Your final course letter grade will be determined as follows:
A = 90-100% B = 80-89% C = 70-79% D = 60-69% E = Below 60%
Students can see their progress throughout the semester by going to “My Grades.”
ATTENDANCE: There is no attendance policy with my online course. However in order to receive credit for course assignments, students must turn in all assignments on time.
WRITTEN WORK POLICY: Written assignments with excessive grammatical, spelling or typographical errors are unacceptable. All written group work and written assignments will be required to be at levels 1 through 4 in accordance with OCTC expectations.
LATE WORK POLICY AND TEST MAKE UP:
• No late work will be accepted. You have plenty of time to do the work. Do not wait until the last minute.
• If you are unable to take the final exam at the scheduled time, you must contact the instructor the day of
the scheduled test. Phone, leave a voice mail, email, etc. If I am not contacted on the scheduled test day, no make up test will be available, and a zero will be awarded for that test. I will not track down students about missed tests.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
• Friday, August 17, is the last day for a student to drop this course without a grade.
• Monday, October, 15 (midterm) is the last day you may withdraw and receive an automatic "W". A grade of
W from midterm through Monday, December 3 (the last class day of the semester) requires the signature of the instructor. After the midterm, I will sign for a W for any student that has been doing the coursework and putting forth noticeable effort. I will not sign a form for students that have not been logging in and performing weekly coursework.
• Financial Aid Repayment: Students receiving some forms of federal financial aid, who do not officially
withdraw by the scheduled deadline, may also face financial penalties. Students may be required to repay a portion of their financial aid or may not be able to receive future financial aid.
• Academic Honesty Policy: The OCTC faculty and students are bound by principles of truth and honesty
that are recognized as fundamental for a community of teachers and scholars. The college expects students and faculty to honor, and faculty to enforce, these academic principles. Cheating, plagiarism and copying of assignments will not be tolerated. Such activities will result in a grade of zero for that particular exam or assignment and may result in failure of the course in accordance with the Code of Student Conduct. Expectations of OCTC Standards of Professional Conduct are available at the following website: http://www.octc.kctcs.edu/expectations/spc.htm .
• For information about OCTC’s expectations and Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), refer to center of the
Fall schedule or the following website: http://www.octc.kctcs.edu/expectations/ .
Course Specific Competency:
Science: To demonstrate a working knowledge of human effects on the biological and physical environment. Students will be required to understand basic concepts of chemistry, ecology, soil science and nutrient cycling. Students should be able to understand that changes in physical factors (light, temperature, salinity, chemicals, etc.) in the environment may affect biological species. Students will learn about social and ethical issues in science. All exams and class participation will directly address the course specific competency.
General Education across the Curriculum Competencies:
I. Communicate Effectively
1. Read and listen with comprehension.
2. Speak and write clearly using standard English.
3. Interact cooperatively with others using both verbal and non-verbal means.
4. Demonstrate information processing through basic computer skills.
II. Think Critically
1. Make connections in learning across the disciplines and draw logical conclusions.
2. Demonstrate problem solving through interpreting, analyzing, summarizing, and/or integrating
a variety of materials.
3. Use mathematics to organize, analyze, and synthesize data to solve a problem.
III. Learn Independently
1. Use appropriate search strategies and resources to find, evaluate, and use information.
2. Make choices based upon awareness of ethics and differing perspectives/ideas.
3. Apply learning in academic, personal, and public situations.
4. Think creatively to develop new ideas or processes.
IV. Examine Relationships in Diverse and Complex Environments
1. Demonstrate an awareness of the relationship of the individual to the biological and physical
environment.
2. Develop an awareness of self as an individual member of a multicultural global community.