BI338:
Study of the comparative anatomy of vertebrates and their invertebrate chordate relatives. Evolutionary trends in development, structure and function are studied to understand the various adaptations vertebrates have made to fit their environment.
There is no required textbook. The Blackboard Learning Management System will be used extensively in this class. Be sure to check it regularly for updates and announcements, as well as details for specific assignments and additional readings.
• How the process of scientific inquiry applies to the study of human biology
• How we can collect and analyze many different types of data related to the field of human biology
• Why a knowledge of human biology can empower many of the decisions you make in your everyday lives
Course Assessment
Item | Point Value |
| Exam 1 | 100 |
| Exam 2 | 100 |
| Exam 3 | 100 |
| Exam 4 | 100 |
| Labs (30 pts/lab) | 390 |
| Lecture Assignments | 80 |
| Finals Week Group Discussion | 30 |
| Attendance and Participation | 100 |
| Total | 1000 |
The grading scale will be as follows:
Course Grades
Points earned will be added and grades will be assigned based on the scale below. Do not expect any "curving" of grades in this course.
Letter grade and points: Meaning of grade (from WC Handbook):
A = 1000-925, A- = 924-900 Range of outstanding achievement
B+ = 899-865, B = 864-825, B- = 824-800 Range of good achievement
C+ = 799-765, C = 764-725, C- = 724-700 Range of average achievement
D+ = 699-665, D = 664-625, D- = 624-600 Range of below average achievement
F = < 600 Inadequate achievement
Plus/Minus grading will be used in this course. Guaranteed grade cutoffs are as follows:
100-92.5%: A; 92.4-90.0%: A-; 89.9-86.5%: B+; 86.4-82.5%: B, 82.4-80.0%: B-.
Cutoffs for grades in the C and D ranges follow the pattern established for the grades in the B range. Final grade cutoffs points are sometimes lowered to better fit the grade distribution curve. Final letter grade cutoffs will be at the discretion of the instructor.
Instructor Course Policies
Lectures
This is an in-person class. If you want to be successful in this course, you should show up to class and plan to take your own notes as well.
Weekly Laboratory Section
The laboratory exercise component of this course will give you the opportunity to gain further experience with methods used in human biology.
Institutional and Program-Level Policies
All exams will follow the Final Exam Schedule. Students scheduled to take three or more final examinations on one day may request to arrange their examination schedule, so no more than two exams occur on one day.
Requests for early or late exams are considered only under extreme circumstances. Prior to the exam period, the student must file a written request on the Early/Late Exam Form available in the Student One Stop Center, Academic Records, and on the WC portal. The form must be signed by the Instructor and the Academic Dean, approving the alternate exam time. This process must be completed prior to the scheduled exam period.
Undergraduate: SP25 Final Exam Schedule Graduate:
Out-of-class Work Expectation A minimum of 2 hours of out-of-class student work is expected for each hour of in-class time for traditional face-to-face courses. For online and hybrid courses, the combination of face-to-face time and out-of-class work should be equal to 3 hours per credit hour per week. |
Instructional Course Delivery |
Academic Integrity Policy The use of generative AI is prohibited except where expressly allowed in assignment instructions. |
Class Attendance Policy |
Accessibility and Disability Services
Accessibility and Disability Services
Wilmington College provides accommodations and services for student with a variety of disabilities, including chronic illnesses, psychological, physical, medical, learning, and sensory disability amongst others. If you anticipate or experience barriers based on disability and feel you may need a reasonable accommodation to fulfill the essential functions of this course, you are encouraged to contact:
Spencer Izor, Associate Vice President of Compliance - Title IX/ADA Coordinator at spencer.izor@wilmington.edu or 937-481-2365 or Nathan Flack, Academic Resource Manager at 937-481-2208 to learn more about the process and procedures for requesting accommodations, or by visiting College Hall Room 306a or the Robinson Communication Center, Room 103.
Religious Accommodations
Wilmington College strives for an inclusive climate and welcomes students from all backgrounds, faiths, and experiences. If religious observance impedes your ability to participate fully in classroom activities or a principal holiday from your religious tradition occurs during the semester and conflicts with class meetings or activities, please make the professor aware of this immediately to determine if a reasonable accommodation is possible.