BIOL 120 Sample Syllabus

Course Syllabus

BIOL 120: Plants, Places, and People (GN; US; IL) (3): Useful and dangerous plants; historical (archaeological), cultural (ethnological), and economic (anthropocentric) aspects, including structural and chemical characteristics of botanical importance. Students who have passed BIOL (PPATH; S T S) 424 may not schedule this course.

Overview

The purpose of Biology 120 is to introduce you to the fascinating world of plants with an emphasis on the historical, cultural, and economic uses. Toward this end, the course has been designed to include thirteen lessons and three exams.

This course is designed to introduce you to the discipline of plant biology and increase your awareness and appreciation of the impact of plants on your daily lives. The first part of the course will present the fundamentals of botany to provide you with a basic understanding of plant form and function. The rest of the course will be devoted to a survey of historical, cultural, and economic aspects of botany and related fields. We will finish up with an examination of the role of plants as an integral part of the world's ecosystem.

Reading assignments are indicated on the course schedule that follows; you will be asked to refer to them as you progress lesson by lesson. Because this course has specific start and end dates, your assignments must be submitted electronically, and ON TIME. Your course schedule gives specific dates for you to follow below.

In the course schedule you are directed to send in each Exam Request Form three weeks before the actual exam date. This allows us time to mail it to your proctor. Continue with your lessons as you wait to receive the exam. Be sure to schedule time to take the exam with your proctor sometime during the period set aside for completing it. Make sure to read the section on how to obtain a proctor in the Student Guide after completing Lesson 2.

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Objectives

You will be studying the following areas in BIOL 120:

Plants in Life and in History
Plant Anatomy and Physiology
Plant Genetics, Systematics, and Diversity
Plants and Dietary Needs
Grasses and Legumes
Starches and Carbohydrates: Feeding the Hungry World
Plant Fibers and Wood Products
A Foray into the Fungi
Herbs, Spices, Essential Oils, and Medicinal Plants
Poisonous and Psychoactive Plants
Stimulating Plant Beverages

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Materials

Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.

Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can

access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstepâ€”or even your desktop;
get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
much more.

You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.

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Technical Specifications

Technical Requirements
Operating System	Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8; Mac OS X 10.5 or higher Windows 8 support excludes the tablet only RT version
Processor	2 GHz or higher
Memory	1 GB of RAM
Hard Drive Space	20 GB free disk space
Browser	We recommend the latest ANGEL-supported version of Firefox or Internet Explorer. To determine if your browser fits this criterion, and for advice on downloading a supported version, please refer to the following ITS knowledge base article: Supported Browsers and Recommended Computers. Note: Cookies, Java, and JavaScript must be enabled. Pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. Due to nonstandard handling of CSS, JavaScript and caching, older versions of Internet Explorer (such as IE 6 or earlier) do not work with our courses.
Plug-ins	Adobe Reader [Download from Adobe] Flash Player (v7.0 or later) [Download from Adobe]
Additional Software	Microsoft Office (2007 or later)
Internet Connection	Broadband (cable or DSL) connection required
Printer	Access to graphics-capable printer
DVD-ROM	Required
Sound Card, Microphone, and Speakers	Required
Monitor	Capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution

If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.

For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!

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Course Requirements and Grading

Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.

If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.

For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.

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Proctors

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Course Schedule

Course length: 15 lessons

Lesson 1: Getting Started

ASSIGNMENTS and ACTIVITIES

Complete and submit Lesson 1 Assignment.
Print out the Proctor Information Form and fill it out (see your Student Guide for information on how to find a suitable proctor). Attach the appropriate proctor information and fax (814-865-3290) or surface mail to the World Campus.

Lesson 2: Plants in Life and in History

ASSIGNMENTS and ACTIVITIES

Lesson Commentary: Lesson 1; Lesson 2
Course Text: Chapter 1, pp. 2-8; Chapters 11 & 12, pp. 181-196; Chapter 9, pp.139-141, 144-155
Complete and submit Lesson 2 Assignment.

Lesson 3: Plant Anatomy and Physiology

ASSIGNMENTS and ACTIVITIES

Lesson Commentary: Lesson 3
Course Text: Chapter 1, pp. 11-18; Chapter 2, pp. 20-27; Chapter 3, pp. 32-49; Chapter 4, pp. 57-72
Complete and submit Lesson 3 Assignment.
Submit Request for Exam 1.
Complete Quiz 1 covering Lessons 2 &3 (self-graded, do not submit).

Lesson 4: Plant Genetics, Systematics, and Diversity

ASSIGNMENTS and ACTIVITIES

Lesson Commentary: Lesson 4
Course Text: Chapter 7, pp. 105, 113, 116-117; Chapter 8, pp. 123-138; Chapter 9, pp. 139-141, 142-152
Complete and submit Lesson 4 Assignment.

Lesson 5: Plants and Dietary Needs

ASSIGNMENTS and ACTIVITIES

Lesson Commentary: Lesson 5
Course Text: Chapter 10, pp. 158-180; Chapter 15, pp. 251-253
Complete and submit Lesson 5 Assignment.
Complete Quiz 2 covering Lessons 4 &5 (self-graded, do not submit).

Lesson 6: Exam 1

ASSIGNMENTS and ACTIVITIES

There are no readings for this lesson.
Exam time: 1.5 hours, proctored
Complete Exam 1 covering Lessons 2-5 with proctor supervision and have proctor submit it to World Campus for grading.

Lesson 7: Grasses and Legumes

ASSIGNMENTS and ACTIVITIES

Lesson Commentary: Lesson 7
Course Text: Chapter 12, pp. 191-210; Chapter 13, pp. 211-224
Complete and submit Lesson 7 Assignment.

Lesson 8: Starches and Carbohydrates: Feeding the Hungry World

ASSIGNMENTS and ACTIVITIES

Lesson Commentary: Lesson 8
Course Text: Chapter 14, pp. 225-240; Chapter 15, pp. 241-266; Chapter 23, p. 426-426
Complete and submit Lesson 8 Assignment.
Submit Request for Exam 2.
Complete Quiz 3 covering Lessons 7 & 8 (self-graded, do not submit).

Lesson 9: Plant Fibers and Wood Products

ASSIGNMENTS and ACTIVITIES

Lesson Commentary: Lesson 9
Course Text: Chapter 18, pp. 303-328
Complete and submit Lesson 9 Assignment.

Lesson 10: A Foray into the Fungi

ASSIGNMENTS and ACTIVITIES

Lesson Commentary: Lesson 10
Course Text: Chapter 12, p. 196; Chapter 23, pp. 408-410, 413-433; Chapter 24, pp. 434-437, 439-446
Complete and submit Lesson 10 Assignment.
Complete Quiz 4 covering Lessons 9 &10 (self-graded, do not submit).

Lesson 11: Exam 2

ASSIGNMENTS and ACTIVITIES

There are no readings for this lesson.
Complete Exam 2 covering Lessons 7-10 with proctor supervision and have proctor submit it to World Campus for grading.

Lesson 12: Herbs, Spices, Essential Oils, and Medicinal Plants

ASSIGNMENTS and ACTIVITIES

Lesson Commentary: Lesson 12
Course Text: Chapter 17, 284-302; Chapter 19, 330-349
Complete and submit Lesson12 Assignment.

Lesson 13: Poisonous and Psychoactive Plants

ASSIGNMENTS and ACTIVITIES

Lesson Commentary: Lesson 13
Course Text: Chapter 20, 350-368; Chapter 21, pp. 369-372, 374-378; Chapter 25, pp. 454-464
Complete and submit Lesson 13 Assignment.
Submit Request for Final Exam.
Complete Quiz 5 covering Lessons 12 &13 (self-graded, do not submit).

Lesson 14: Stimulating Plant Beverages

ASSIGNMENTS and ACTIVITIES

Lesson Commentary: Lesson 14
Course Text: Chapter 16, pp. 268-283
Complete and submit Lesson 14 Assignment.

Lesson 15: Plants and the Environment

ASSIGNMENTS and ACTIVITIES

Lesson Commentary: Lesson 15
Course Text: Chapter 26, pp. 472-494
Complete and submit Lesson 15 Assignment.
Complete Quiz 6 covering Lessons 14 &15 (self-graded, do not submit).

Lesson 16: Final Exam

ASSIGNMENTS and ACTIVITIES

There are no readings for this assignment.
Complete the Final Exam covering Lessons 12-15 with proctor supervision and have proctor submit it to World Campus for grading.

Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.

Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please refer to Graduation at the Chaiken Center for Student Success. Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please refer to Graduation at the Chaiken Center for Student Success.

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Academic Integrity

According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is â€œan intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.â€ Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.

Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Deanâ€™s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.

How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and others, as well as a civil community.

In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.

All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .

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University Policies

Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University’s educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities, including World Campus. The Disabilities and Accommodations section of the Chaiken Center for Student Success website provides World Campus students with information regarding how to request accommodations, documentation guidelines and eligibility, and appeals and complaints. For additional information, please visit the University's Student Disability Resources website.

In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.

For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.

In order to protect your privacy, course access is limited to those individuals who have direct responsibility for the quality of your educational experience. In addition to the instructor, a teaching assistant or college administrator may be provided access in order to ensure optimal faculty availability and access. World Campus technical staff may also be given access in order to resolve technical support issues.

Students are responsible for online course content, taking notes, obtaining other materials provided by the instructor, taking tests (if applicable), and completing assignments as scheduled by the instructor. As a general rule, students should plan on logging into the course at least three times per week and spending at least three hours per course credit per week on the course, e.g., if the course is three credits, the student should plan on spending at least 9-12 hours per week on the course, just as they would in a residence course.
Students are responsible for keeping track of changes in the course syllabus made by the instructor throughout the semester.
Students are responsible for monitoring their grades.
Students must contact their instructor (and teammates when working on any collaborative learning assignments) as soon as possible if they anticipate missing long periods of online time due to events such as chronic illnesses, death in the family, business travel, or other appropriate events. The instructor will determine the minimal log on time and participation required in order to meet course responsibilities. In the event of other unforeseen conflicts, the instructor and student will arrive at a solution together.
1. Requests for taking exams or submitting assignments after the due dates require documentation of events such as illness, family emergency, or a business-sanctioned activity.
2. Conflicts with dates on which examinations or assignments are scheduled must be discussed with the instructor or TA prior to the date of the examination or assignment.
Students are responsible for following appropriate netiquette (network etiquette) when communicating with their instructor and classmates. For reference, see the Academic Success Kit.
Behaviors that disrupt other students’ learning are not acceptable and will be addressed by the instructor.
For severe and chronic problems with student disruptive behavior, the following will be applied for resolution:
1. Senate Committee on Student Life policy on managing classroom disruptions: Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
2. Penn State Values.

The information contained on this page is designed to give students a representative example of material covered in the course. Any information related to course assignments, dates, or course materials is illustrative only. For a definitive list of materials, please check the online catalog 3-4 weeks before the course start date.