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Biology 2360 Goals and Learning Outcomes

Biology 2360 Goals and Learning Outcomes

All sections of Biology 2360 have the following goals and objectives:

Goals

Upon successful completion of Biology 2360, students will demonstrate the ability to: 

  • Apply the scientific process to identify problems and synthesize solutions using scientific reasoning. 
  • Discuss the philosophical and biological differences between "being alive” and a biological living organism. 
  • Evaluate the functions and needs of the human body from the cellular level up to the organ systems level. 
  • Synthesize knowledge from multiple fields of biology to evaluate real and fictional examples of “zombie” pathogens and their influence on the organism’s health and behaviors
  • Apply knowledge of evolution and adaptations to examples of human behavior in catastrophic events.
  • Assess the positive and negative ramifications of technological advancements and development, such as genetic engineering, and how it can be used to solve and create problems. 
  • Critically evaluate biological information and topics that are portrayed in the media and pop culture.

Learning Objectives

To achieve these goals, students will complete the following learning objectives:

  • Apply knowledge of the characteristics of life to distinguish zombies from living organisms. 
  • Analyze the plausibility of various aspects of human physiology portrayed in zombie media in the context of human health.
  • Classify/categorize types of infectious agents, such as viruses and prions, portrayed in zombie media. 
  • Compare and contrast pathogen-induced changes and adaptations in human health and behaviors to similar examples in other organisms.
  • Evaluate the role of genetic mutations and engineering and their impacts on human health as possible causes and solutions for zombie outbreaks. 
  • Assess the impacts of disasters and disease outbreak on the health of the individual and the population. 
  • Explain examples of human behaviors in catastrophic events in the context of evolution. 
  • Evaluate the impacts humans and their environment have on each other, and how these impacts facilitate the spread of disease as examples of environmental wellbeing.
  • Analyze sources of scientific information for credibility and accuracy and the role of peer review in dissemination of scientific research. 
  • Synthesize knowledge of contagions and human biology in a final action plan for an outbreak of an unknown “zombie” pathogen outbreak focusing on physical and environmental wellbeing.