ISI - BIOL 1020 - Biology and Society
Course Description
Biology and Society is the study of ecology, evolution, cells, heredity, and human body processes with a focus on connecting to issues in society. Not open to majors or for minor credit in the department of Biological Sciences for University of Idaho students.
There has never been a better day to start learning biology. Being a living thing, you interact with the natural world each day. BIOL 1020 takes the most important content of biology organizing it into five core areas: Ecology; Cells; Genetics; Evolution; and Animal Systems. Students will start with the big picture by studying ecological systems. Students will then dive into the smallest unit of life, the cell, and explore cellular structures, functions and processes. In the third unit, students will study DNA, inheritance patterns and how genetics impacts their lives. In the fourth unit, students will explore the evolutionary processes that shape the living world. The final unit describes the interface between form and function in our own human bodies. Through these five units, it is my hope that you will make important connections between biology and how it applies to your own life.
Learner Outcomes
- Apply foundational knowledge and models within biology to analyze and/or predict phenomena.
- Apply scientific reasoning to critically evaluate assertations, claims and experiments.
- Interpret and communicate scientific information via written, spoken, and/or visual representations.
- Describe the relevance of specific scientific principles to the human experience and connect concepts to students’ lives.
Biology 1020 is a part of the University of Idaho General Education curriculum that emphasizes a multi-year, broad liberal education. This course will discuss environmental issues, genetics, evolution and human health topics that will be integrated into other courses you take here.
Required Course Materials
Concepts of Biology, Updated 2021 Accessible online at OpenStax.
OR
Campbell Essential Biology with Physiology, 6th ed., 2019. Simon, Dickey & Reece
Sponsor Institution
Credits earned for this course are included in a University of Idaho transcript.
This is an INDEPENDENT STUDY IN IDAHO course
To learn about program and refund policies, visit www.uidaho.edu/isi.
Still have a question? Submit an ISI Support Request.
COURSE NUMBER NOTICE
Beginning with the 2025-2026 Catalog year, the University of Idaho transitioned to 4-digit course numbers. As ISI works through this transition, you may continue to see 3-digit course numbers during this time. A crosswalk is available online.