Concepts of Biology (170-DL-20)
Instructors
Erin Jenna Cable
Erin Cable completed her B.S. in Brain, Behavior and Cognitive Sciences at the University of Michigan in 2010. Following her undergraduate work, she completed her Ph.D. in Psychology with a focus in Integrative Neuroscience from the University of Chicago in 2016. Her research primarily focused on the neural mechanisms by which circadian disruption affects the function of the reproductive and immune systems. During her graduate education, Erin worked as a lecturer at the University of Chicago in the Department of Psychology and as a Preceptor for the Career Advancement Office at the University of Chicago. Following completion of her doctorate, Erin joined Northwestern University’s School of Professional Studies first as an Academic and Career Adviser and Program Manager and currently as a Lecturer in Biology and Psychology courses.
Meeting Info
Online: TBA
Overview of class
This is an introductory general biological sciences course. Topics include evolution, biomolecules, cell biology, genetics, population biology, and the relationship between structure and function in organisms. The significance of core concepts in relation to practical life applications will be discussed. Teaching methods will be varied, with an emphasis on lecture with also time for discussion. Evaluation will include several tests. Students will write about, and give presentations on, topics of their choice. There are no course prerequisites; the course is geared toward students with an interest in the topic but without a background in biological sciences.
This course is conducted completely online. A technology fee will be added to tuition.
Registration Requirements
None
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
Apply key concepts in biology to address broad societal challenges such as climate change, cancer, and disease spread.
Identify the diverse scientific methods (observation, experimentation, theoretical modeling) and processes of science (interpretation of data, uncertainty, peer review) that underlie the generation of knowledge in the biological sciences.
Critically evaluate scientific evidence presented in popular media.
Research a question or current challenge in the biological sciences based on interests
Class Materials (Required)
This course will be using a free, open source textbook for basic biology content, called Concepts of Biology. This can be downloaded as a PDF, or ordered as a hardcopy.
Fowler, S., Roush, R., Wise, J. (Apr 25, 2013) Concepts of Biology. OpenStax: Houston, TX
Additional required readings and media are posted on Canvas, including timely news articles, academic research, and videos that you will review in order to complete some assignments and participate in discussion forums.
Class Attributes
Asynchronous:Remote class-no scheduled mtg time