Course Syllabus BIOLOGY 290

Midlands Technical College

Science Department

Summer Semester 2002

Instructor: Dr. Tom Reeves

Office: Robinson 108 Airport Campus

Office Hours: Tuesday/ Thursday 3-6

Phone: 822-3554 Email: reevest@midlandstech.com

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

BIOLOGY 290 (SCWE Biology Research)

4.0 Credit Hours/ 16.0 Contact Hours

Students will be assigned to a state agency, national agency, or private industry to learn valuable work and research skills related to the biological sciences. Lecture will consist of an introduction to biological research.

PREREQUISITES:

Completion of ENG 101, BIO 102, MAT 102 or equivalent courses; cumulative GPA of 3.0; successful interview with instructor and participating agency.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Students learn and apply skills in the biological sciences relevant to the operation of the sponsoring agency to which they have been assigned, and complete a research project under the auspices of a mentor within the agency. Because of the diversity of sponsors, topical areas of research are extremely broad ranging from horticultural studies to medical research. All students present the results of their research at a seminar held at MTC near the end of each semester. The program provides an excellent means of stimulating and facilitating undergraduate research, while simultaneously providing marketable skills and work experience related to the biological sciences. Specific objectives will be developed with input from the participating student, mentor, and course instructor.

REQUIRED TEXT:

All relevant materials will be provided for students.

GRADING:

The final grade for the course will be determined as follows:

A (90-100) B (80-89) C (70-79) D (60-69) F (<60)

Final grade will be determined based on an evaluation of performance by the sponsoring agency (25%), class quizzes and participation (25%), a written research paper (25%), and an oral presentation at a seminar (25%).

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Lecture meets promptly at 2:30 PM on Monday. Two tardies to either lecture or the internship assignment will count as an absence.

All students must report to the assigned internship location on time. Reports of any absences or tardies in which the sponsoring agency has not been informed in advance will result in withdrawal from the program. The third total absence from any combination of lecture or the internship assignment will result in withdrawal from the program.

Due dates pertaining to the research project are absolute. Failure to turn in assignments on time will result in withdrawal from the program.

* Please understand that these rules are necessary to insure the overall quality of the program and to insure that our sponsors will continue to work with us in the future if we decide to continue the program.

RESEARCH/ INTERNSHIP DUE DATES:

Week

1. May 22 1st Lecture

Introduction to BIOLOGY 290

Introduction to Scientific Method

2. May 29 Quiz 1 Scientific Method

Worksheet 1 Due

Information Sheet from Sponsoring Agencies Due

Library Orientation

3. June 5 Research Proposals Due:

A. Title

B. Statement of Problem(s)

C. Hypotheses (Identification of Independent/ Dependent Variables)

D. Introduction (overview of literature with at least five references)

E. Methodology

4. June 12 Introduction to Scientific Method (continued)

Statistical Analysis

Writing Abstracts

Presentations: From SCAS Annual Meeting

Student Presentations of Research Proposals (5 minutes)

5. June 19 Student Presentations (Update) (7 minutes)

Site visitation by course instructor.

6. June 26 Using Audio-Visual Equipment and Materials

Overhead Transparency/ ELMO/ 35 mm slides

7. July 5 Research Papers 1st Draft Due

8. July 10 Oral Presentations (10-12 minutes)

9. July 17 Oral Presentations (10-12 minutes)

Final Research Paper Due Date

10. July 24 Oral Research Presentation (Final Practice) 12 minutes

All visual Aids Due

*** July 28 (Friday 10:00-2:00) BIOLOGY 290 Research Seminar AC 143

BIOLOGY 290

Outline for Written Papers

The following will be the format for written papers in Biology 290.

I. Title

A. Sponsoring School (Midlands Technical College)

B. Sponsoring Agency

C. Mentors

II. Abstract: A synopsis of the research (written last).

III. Introduction: (2 or 3 paragraphs)

A. General information (1 or 2 references)

B. Specific information pertaining to area of research (2 or 3 references)

C. Importance of the study

IV. Purpose of the Study: (1 paragraph)

A. A concise statement of the purpose of the research

V. Hypotheses:

A. Individual statements stated as "null hypotheses"

VI. Procedure:

A. Materials used in the research and the methodology followed.

VII. Results:

A. Presentation of the data collected during the research presented as raw data (usually in Tables labeled Table 1, 2, etc.; and as descriptive statistics usually presented in Graphs labeled Figure 1, 2, etc.) For the purpose of Biology 290 every

project must produce at least one table and at least one graph.

VIII. Discussion:

A. A discussion of the results including possible implications and suggested explanations for the findings.

IX. Conclusions:

A. Concise statements of the findings of your research.

X. Acknowledgements: Acknowledge individuals and agencies that have assisted in your research. Please make certain that all are recognized.

XI. References Cited:

A. APA citation format will be used for this research.