Course Syllabus

Fall 2025 | BIO-1140-VO02 - Human Biology

Online Class

Online courses take place 100% online via Canvas, without required in-person or Zoom meetings.

Faculty

Alexandra McAleer
View Faculty Credentials
View Faculty Statement
Hiring Coordinator for this course: Danielle Lafleur Brooks

General Education Requirements

VSCS Natural Science

Note

Many degree programs have specific general education recommendations. In order to avoid taking unnecessary classes, please consult with additional resources like your program evaluation, your academic program catalog year page, and your academic advisor.

Courses may only be used to meet one General Education Requirement.

Course Description

This course is a survey of human anatomy and physiology. Topics include the organization and structure of the major body systems, including muscular, skeletal, nervous, circulatory, digestive, excretory, endocrine, and reproductive. Emphasis placed on the integration of bodily processes and the impact of technology on human biology.

Essential Objectives

1. Describe the structure and function of a cell and understand the major processes involved in its physiology.
2. Understand the anatomy and physiology of how the nervous and endocrine systems control body functions.
3. Describe the processes of development and reproduction at the cellular and structural levels and be able to discuss the role of genetics in this system.
4. Explain the basic anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular, lymphatic, and respiratory systems.
5. Explain the basic anatomy and physiology of the digestive and urinary systems.
6. Understand the specific and interrelated functions of the major body systems.
7. Identify the placement of the major bones and muscles of the body and understand their basic physiology.
8. Understand the structure and function of the human sensory organs.
9. Explain how technology affects human biology and discuss the ethical issues associated with this topic.
10. Utilize the scientific method to evaluate well-researched evidence in the area of human biology.
11. Demonstrate proficiency in understanding, interpreting, evaluating, and applying quantitative data and information.
12. Explain how knowledge created in the natural sciences has contributed to the creation, maintenance and dismantling of social inequalities and discuss the impacts of diversity and inclusion on scientific research and practice.

Required Technology

More information on general computer and internet recommendations is available on the CCV computer recommendations Support page.

Please see CCV's Digital Equity Statement (pg. 45) to learn more about CCV's commitment to supporting all students access the technology they need to successfully finish their courses.

Required Textbooks and Resources

BIO-1140-VO02 Link to Textbooks/Resources Information for this course in eCampus.

The last day to use a Financial Aid Advance to purchase textbooks/books is the 3rd Tuesday of the semester. See your financial aid counselor at your academic center if you have any questions.

Methods

Course Policies

Attendance/Participation - Attendance is required. Missing more than two weeks of class assignments will result in a significant decrease of the participation portion of your grade. Students who have financial aid may lose their funding upon missing more than the designated allowable absences. The classroom participation grade is based upon attentiveness, asking questions, productive group work, etc. Attending and participating in class is an easy way to earn 30% of your grade.

Missing & Late Work - Due dates for every assignment are provided on the course syllabus and course schedule (and posted in Canvas). Unless otherwise stated, assignments are due on those days. An assignment submitted 24 hours of the due date will only be eligible for 80% of the maximum number of point allotted. Assignments submitted more than 24 hours after the due date will not be accepted. If you experience extenuating circumstances (e.g., you are hospitalized) that prohibit you from submitting your assignments on time, please let me know. I will evaluate these instances on a case-by-case basis.

Assignments - Assignments should be handed in by midnight on the day that they are due. After midnight the assignment is considered late. Late assignments will be accepted but 10 points will be subtracted from the grade each day it is late. Missing assignments will receive the grade of 0.

Grading

Students grades will be determined by the grades achieved on assignments, exams, and class participation in the proportions defined below:

Scale

97-100 A+

94-96 A

90-93 A-

87-89 B+

84-86 B

80-83 B-

77-79 C+

74-76 C

70-73 C-

67-69 D+

64-66 D

60-63 D-

Below 60 F

Examinations (4) 40%

Class Participation/Homework 40%

Research Paper 20%

Examinations - Examinations will be approx. 1 hour 15 minutes long, and will be administered online. If you must miss an examination, you have to make arrangements with the instructor no later than one week prior to the examination for a make-up. If you do not complete an examination, you may be given a zero unless there are extenuating circumstances. Exams may include questions in the form of multiple choice, fill in the blank, true/false, short answer, essay, compare/contrast, matching.

Cheating and Plagiarism - CCV has a commitment to honesty and excellence in academic work and expects the same from all students. Academic dishonesty, or cheating, can occur whenever you present -as your own work- something that you did not do. You can also be guilty of cheating if you help someone else cheat. Being unaware of what constitutes academic dishonesty (such as knowing what plagiarism is) does not absolve a student of the responsibility to be honest in his/her academic work. Academic dishonesty is taken very seriously and may lead to dismissal from the College.

Tentative Course Schedule (subject to change):

Week 1 : Chapters 1 & 2: Exploring Life and Science, Chemistry of Life

Week 2 : Chapter 3: Cell Structure and Function

Week 3 : Chapters 4: Organization and Regulation of Body Systems

Week 4 : Exam 1

Week 5 : Research Paper Topic due; Chapter 5: Cardiovascular System: Heart and Blood Vessels

Week 6 : Chapter 6: Cardiovascular System: Blood

Week 7 : Chapter 7: The Lymphatic and Immune Systems

Week 8 : Exam 2

Week 9 : Chapter 9: Digestive System & Nutrition

Week 10 : Research Paper optional draft due; Chapters 10 &11: Respiratory System, Urinary System

Week 11 : Exam 3

Week 12 : Chapters 12 & 13: Skeletal System, Muscular System

Week 13 : Chapters 14 & 17: Nervous System, Reproductive System

Week 14 : Research Paper Due; Chapter 16: Endocrine System

Week 15 : Exam 4

Grading Criteria

CCV Letter Grades as outlined in the Evaluation System Policy are assigned according to the following chart:

	High	Low
A+	100	98
A	Less than 98	93
A-	Less than 93	90
B+	Less than 90	88
B	Less than 88	83
B-	Less than 83	80
C+	Less than 80	78
C	Less than 78	73
C-	Less than 73	70
D+	Less than 70	68
D	Less than 68	63
D-	Less than 63	60
F	Less than 60
P	100	60
NP	Less than 60	0

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student's failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.

• In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness or early departures may jeopardize a student's ability to earn a satisfactory final grade.
• Attending an on-ground or synchronous course means a student appeared in the live classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting. Attending an online course means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity. Simply viewing a course item or module does not count as attendance.
• Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student's final grade.

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities:

1. Provide disability documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator at your academic center. https://ccv.edu/discover-resources/students-with-disabilities/
2. Request an appointment to meet with accessibility coordinator to discuss your request and create an accommodation plan.
3. Once created, students will share the accommodation plan with faculty. Please note, faculty cannot make disability accommodations outside of this process.

Academic Integrity

Apply Now for this semester.