Prerequisite: 18 semester hours in biology.
 

An investigation of the central unifying principles underlying the biological sciences.

3 semester hours

Meeting times: ONLINE COURSE

Instructor:

Dr. Robert G. Hamilton,  Professor of Biology.
Hederman Science, room 205.
Phone 925-3872
e-mail: rhamilto@mc.edu
Office hours: If you have questions or concerns feel free to send an e-mail (Office).

An understanding of the basic principles that underlie and unify the biological sciences is necessary if information learned during undergraduate studies is to be synthesized into a fullness of understanding that will provide a basis for life-long learning in areas associated with the biological sciences. Thus this course serves students of the biological sciences in that it allows them to utilize their skills, talents and abilities as they pursue meaningful careers, life-long learning, and service to God and others.

To study and develop an understanding of the basic principles that underlie the biological sciences. This objective will be accomplished via the reading of books covering topics important to contemporary biology.

Mississippi College attendance policies will also be enforced as per the  Mississippi College Graduate Bulletin. Note that if 4 classes are missed, the student will be automatically awarded a grade of F.

Each reading will have an associated assignment, and each book will be discussed via an online forum. Evaluation will be based on the assignments and discussions. This course will review 9 books over the semester, 1 per week for the 10 weeks of the summer session.

A newsgroup will be set up for the course that will contain the reading list and assignments. Assignments are to be returned to me via email to rhamilto@mc.edu. Posts to the newsgroup will constitute discussion.

The newsgroup is:

  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UnifyingPrinciples/

You will need to request that you be added. Only registered students will be added to the group.

EMAIL ASSIGNMENTS TO ME.   Post to discussions in the discusssion group. Assignments should be about 1-2 pages long, about 1000 words or so; short essays. At least one post per book is expected for discussion, but more than one makes up for a weak posting!

Assignments and discussion in class will be equally weighted, and graded on a 3 point scale, 0 for non participation, 1 for minimal, 2 for average and 3 for excellent. Each reading will require discission and completiuon of an assignment. This gives a maximum of 54 points (27 for assignments and 27 for discussions). Your grade will be based on the percentage of the 54 points you earn. I would recommend that as you read the book take a few notes and make posts to the newsgroup relating any impressions the book made on your or any relevance the book may have to your own life experience.

The percentage of those points earned will determine your grade.

A        90-100%
B+      85-89%
B        80-85%
C+      75-79%
C        70-75%
D        60-69%
F        Below 60%

Reading list.

We will follow this order:

1. Walden. Henry David Thoreau.

2. Silent Spring. Rachel Carson.

3. The Origin of Species. Charles Darwin.

4. The Language of God. Francis S. Collins.

5. The Selfish Gene. Richard Dawkins.

6. Endless Forms Most Beautiful. Sean Carroll.

7. The Soul Made Flesh. Carl Zimmer.

8. A Brief History of Time. Stephen Hawking.

9. The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Thomas Kuhn.

These books can be ordered online from online bookstores.

The course begins Tue. May 27, 2008, and thus Walden will be assigned for the week ending Wed. June 4. The last book will be "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions", which will be assigned for the week ending Wed. July 30th, 2008.

Assignments will be posted for 2008 by Tuesday, May 27.