Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Identify the main characteristics of living organisms and explain how they are different from non-living matter;
2. Describe the structural building blocks of living organisms, from life-essential macromolecules to cells, tissues, organs and organ systems;
3. Explain different strategies for food consumption and reproduction, and provide examples of each;
4. Explain the principles of evolution, and the evidence to support it;
5. Explain the key principles of Taxonomy and Systematics, how living organisms are organized into specific taxa and their evolutionary relationships;
6. Describe the general characteristics of the three domains of life and their similarities and differences. Explain why and how viruses differ from all other life forms;
7. Explain the concepts of population, community and ecosystems, the functions of producers and consumers within a given ecosystem, and their contribution to the biosphere;
8. Demonstrate basic laboratory skills, including the use of a microscope, the preparation of wet mounts and recognition of different organisms/structures based on their micro- and/or macroscopic features.

Academic Skill Targets

During this course, students will actively work to

• Improve note-taking and annotation practices;
• Be effective at using notes to demonstrate learning;
• Identify successful study practices;
• Improve critical reading skills;
• Apply concepts abstractly and concretely;
• Build scientific and technical writing skills;
• Use library search tools appropriately and effectively.