Course Syllabus

Fall 2026 | BIO-1140-VO02 - Human Biology

Online Class

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

Faculty

Diana Arteaga Alvarez
View Faculty Credentials

Hiring Coordinator for this course: Danielle Lafleur Brooks

General Education Requirements

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

Textbook Information will be posted here by May 18.

Artificial Intelligence(AI) Policy Statement

CCV recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI tools are widely available and becoming embedded in many online writing and creative applications.

Integrated: This course's generative AI policy acknowledges the use of AI is an essential skill in today's world. By using genAI for specific purposes, students become equipped with relevant skills and tools necessary to thrive in a technology-driven society. Emphasizing the mastery of generative AI should empower you to harness its potential, enhancing your problem-solving abilities and preparing you for future challenges and opportunities. Be aware, however, that any time generative AI is used at any point in the assignment without attribution it may be considered a violation of CCV's Academic Integrity Policy.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use in this Human Biology Course.

The use of AI is flexible in this course for the Discussions first post, the three Assignments and the Final Project; but the questions that require conclusions and thoughts regarding the subject being analyzed needs to be the student’s own words. APA style citations are required for all Discussions, Assignments and Final Project posts

Methods

A. Instructional Methods

To develop this class, a variety of teaching and learning methods will be used, reading and development of the topics, class discussion, videos, assignments, open book quizzes, and a final research project.

This course is entirely online and requires the use of your CCV email account to receive weekly announcements and communicate with the instructor.

Participant Expectations

It is required to submit material every week to be able to be present for the weekly attendance policy.

With regards to timeline and due dates, please refer to the syllabus and the grading rubrics to understand the flow of the course. There is a rubric for the discussions and for the assignments that is required to be follow.

Missing and Late Work Policy

Late submissions (Assignments, Discussions, Quizzes, Exams, and Final Project) will not be accepted unless you have discussed your situation with the instructor in advance.

B. Textbook Information

Weekly reading will be assigned; therefore, a textbook will be needed.

Human Biology by Sylvia S. Mader & Michael Windelspecht. McGraw Hil

The 17th is the most recent edition; the 16th, 15th, 14th, 13th, and 12th editions also work as well.

Evaluation Criteria

A grade of 70 is required to pass the course.

• Quizzes: 12 (60 points) 15%
• Assignments: 3 (60 points) 15%
• Discussions: 13 (120 points) 30%
• Final Project 1 (80 points) 20%
• Final Exam 1 (80 points) 20%

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

Weekly Schedule

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/student-support/accessibility-services/
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.