BIOL 140 - Field Biology

Credit Hours: 4
Lecture Hours: 3
Laboratory (or Other) Hours: 3

General Education Code(s): 23NS, 23RE
Other Course Attribute(s): APSE, LASC, LSCI

Prerequisite(s): None
Restriction(s): None

Corequisite(s): None

This course considers the natural history of local species and their habitats as well as the basics of field natural history. Outdoor field trips and physical activity are required. Optional and number-limited Adirondack weekend field trip included as part of the on-campus offering.

Student Learning Outcomes of the Course: The general education requirement for natural sciences is satisfied by BIOL 140. To meet this General Education requirement, students will be able to:

demonstrate scientific reasoning applied to the natural world, including an understanding of the methods scientists use to explore natural phenomena, including observation, hypothesis development, measurement and data collection, experimentation, evaluation of evidence, and employment of data analysis or mathematical modeling; and
demonstrate scientific reasoning applied to the natural world, including application of scientific data, concepts, and models in one of the natural sciences.

The general education requirement for critical thinking is satisfied by BIOL 140. To meet this General Education requirement, students will be able to:

clearly articulate an issue or problem;
identify, analyze, and evaluate ideas, data, and arguments as they occur in their own or others’ work;
acknowledge limitations such as perspective and bias; and
develop well-reasoned (logical) arguments to form judgments and/or draw conclusions.

NATURAL SCIENCE GOAL/OBJECTIVE

The student will demonstrate understanding of the methods scientists use to explore natural phenomena, including observation, hypothesis development, measurement and data collection, experimentation, evaluation of evidence, and employment of mathematical analysis. MEASURE: In presentations, students will present their observations about natural areas and questions that they have based on those observations. Students will also collect data at Tunis Lake as part of a Service Learning project, and present those data in a report to the Tunis Lake Property Owner’s Association.
Students will demonstrate application of scientific data, concepts, and models in one of the natural (or physical) sciences. MEASURE: In presentations, students will explain the ecological importance of observations made in the field. Students will also assess the data from Tunis Lake to make recommendations based on ecological concepts.