BI-170: Plants and People

Course Information

Course, prefix, number, & title: BI-170 Plants and People

Hours (Class, recitation, Laboratory, studio): 3

Credits: 3

Pre-requisites (if any): Students must complete any developmental requirements in English (see Proficiency in Math and English) prior to taking this course.

Course Description in college catalog:

This course covers plant forms and functions including plant evolution, ecology, heredity and diseases; plants in history, folklore, agriculture, horticulture, and industry, plant drugs and poisons. 

Academic programs for which this course serves as a requirement or an elective:

Satisfies the requirement for the A.A degree in Liberal Arts and Science

General Education Outcomes: Below is a listing of General Education Outcome(s) that this course supports.

  1. Communicate effectively in various forms

  2. Use analytical reasoning to identify issues or problems and evaluate evidence in order to make informed decisions

  3. Reason quantitatively as required in various fields of interest and in everyday life

Course-specific student learning outcomes:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the historical and modern applications of plants to the human experience (the influence of plants on economics, politics, religion, superstition, medicine, and the human environment)

2. Communicate effectively the importance of plants and products derived from plants to human society from biological and social perspectives in both historical and modern contexts

3. Working in collaboration identify and demonstrate understanding of the basic principles of the scientific process and method for the field of biology using plants as model organisms

4. Outline or summarize the steps in the scientific method and provide examples

5. Gain first-hand experience in the practice and application of process skills used in science (observing, measuring, inferring, classifying, and predicting)

6. Illustrate awareness of science topics in the media, the primary scientific literature, and the scientific online sources

7. Utilize General Education skills from other areas to effectively communication scientific information through written papers and oral presentations on field trip and scientific experiment

8. Demonstrate an understand of the botanical aspects and origins of important food sources, medicinal plants, and industrial uses of plants

9. Identify and describe several general concepts of ecosystems and ecology including global warming and changes to the biomes, which can provide a basis for appreciation of natural systems and making sound decisions on current and future environmental problems

Other program outcomes (if applicable).

  1. Make ethical judgments while recognizing multiple perspectives, as appropriate in the program of study

  2. Work collaboratively to accomplish learning objectives

Methods by which student learning will be assessed and evaluated; describe the types of methods to be employed; note whether certain methods are required for all sections:

Three written exams will be given. Two written papers and one oral presentation will be required.

Academic Integrity policy (department or College):
Academic honesty is expected of all students. Any violation of academic integrity is taken extremely seriously. All assignments and projects must be the original work of the student or teammates. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Any questions regarding academic integrity should be brought to the attention of the instructor. The following is the Queensborough Community College Policy on Academic Integrity: "It is the official policy of the College that all acts or attempted acts that are violations of Academic Integrity be reported to the Office of Student Affairs. At the faculty member's discretion and with the concurrence of the student or students involved, some cases though reported to the Office of Student Affairs may be resolved within the confines of the course and department. The instructor has the authority to adjust the offender's grade as deemed appropriate, including assigning an F to the assignment or exercise or, in more serious cases, an F to the student for the entire course." Read the University's policy on Academic Integrity opens in a new window(PDF).

Disabilities
Any student who feels that he or she may need an accommodation based upon the impact of a disability should contact the Office of Accessibility Services in Science Building, Room S-132, 718-631-6257, to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. You can visit the Office of Accessibility Services website.

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