San Antonio College Schedule/Catalog 2012-2013 [Archived Catalog]
Natural Sciences
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Dan Hansen, Program Coordinator
CAC 365, 210-486-0845
http://www.alamo.edu/sac/biology/
Biological Sciences
The mission of the Biological Sciences Department is to provide curricula that include the traditional scientific knowledge base along with data and findings on modern discoveries. By accentuating the relevance of science in response to critical societal issues, students are taught how to apply theoretical knowledge to critically evaluate solutions. The department strives to maintain the highest level of lab experiences available to students. We strive to have a transformational impact on all who teach, learn, and work here. We constantly challenge ourselves to create a dynamic department so engaging that students, faculty, staff, and even visitors to campus become passionate to pursue innovation and discovery. We disseminate knowledge for its own sake and promote a culture of inquiry marked by rigor, creativity, curiosity, innovation, respect, sensitivity, open communication of ideas, and lifelong learning. We combine experiential learning with rigorousscholarshipin our undergraduate program and ancillary organizations (Biology Club, etc.) to produce educated learners who are awake to new possibilities. We build on our existing strengths, including up-to-date classroom instruction where rigorous theory and practical, real-world experiences come together. We are thoughtful to promote a diverse and challenging environment of openness, respect, accountability and academic freedom. We hold ourselves accountable within this department for practicing the values of integrity, excellence, innovation, mentorship, efficiency, effectiveness, and continuous professional improvement. The department recognizes that the interaction between faculty and students is one of the most significant ingredients for student success. Therefore, access to the faculty is provided through small classes, regular posted office hours, scheduled academic advisement sessions, and discipline specific extracurricular activities as well as the BioSpot.
The BioSpot is an interactive tutoring/mentoring facility which serves multiple purposes. Faculty spends 2 hours of office time in the center each week to provide tutoring and mentoring for students. Often tutoring sessions begin impromptu with a group of students and a professor. Students may also schedule private tutoring sessions with the departmental tutor. Students have access to the computer lab where they can work independently using supplemental materials provided by publishers as well as individual faculty members. Students have access to a copier and all sorts of reserved materials, including practice exams, placed in the center by instructors. The center is also used as a testing facility. Private rooms for collaborative learning are available for check out by students. Recruitment events are held in the facility as well to inform students of degree programs at all ACC colleges as well as area 4 year universities.
Superior articulation agreements are maintained with transfer institutions. Faculty members are committed to excellence in education, advising, and writing letters of recommendation for students pursuing science and health professions. Students are encouraged to visit the Departmental Web site, http://www.alamo.edu/sac/biology/, where information on professors, curriculum, study center materials, and course syllabi can be found. The Biological Sciences Department offers career advisement for biology majors and maintains a very active pre-professional advisement committee that assists students to identify prerequisites, plot a course for success, and navigate the professional school application process.
The course offerings in the department are varied including courses for biology majors, allied health majors, pre-professional majors, and non-science majors. Several distance education courses are provided: BIOL 1308, 1371, and 2306, which are three-hour internet courses for non-science majors who do not require a lab, and BIOL 2406, which is a four-hour lab course for science majors who need a science elective including a lab. Blended (hybrid) courses in Microbiology and Pathology (Biol 2420) and Biology for Non-Science Majors I (Biol 1408) are also available.
A student wishing to obtain an Associate Degree from San Antonio College must follow the core curriculum guidelines as outlined in the current College bulletin. Degrees in Biology, Environmental Studies, Pre-medicine, Pre-nursing, Pre-veterinary and Pre-dentistry are available. A student wishing to continue studying biology at a four-year university should contact the four-year institution for its Baccalaureate Degree in Biology requirements before embarking on any degree plan. The student may contact San Antonio College’s Biological Sciences Department, which maintains several 2+2 transfer agreements with regional universities, for a full listing of courses that transfer to four-year universities.
Students whose mathematics background is weak should consider taking all mathematics developmental courses before taking courses within this department. All courses in the department require college level reading and English. Students taking anatomy and physiology, and majors in biology and genetics are strongly urged to complete chemistry prerequisites prior to taking these classes. Students taking BIOL 2420 (Microbiology and Pathology) must complete chemistry I prior to registration while BIOL 2421 (Microbiology) students must complete two semester of chemistry for science majors and two semesters of biology for science majors before registering for this course.
Chemistry, Earth Sciences and Astronomy
Roger Stanley, Program Coordinator
CG 207, 210-486-0858
Chemistry www.alamo.edu/sac/chemistr/
Earth Sciences www.alamo.edu/sac/earthsci/
Astronomy www.alamo.edu/sac/astro/
This department offers courses in astronomy (ASTR), chemistry (CHEM), geography (GEOG), and geology (GEOL). The astronomy, chemistry, and geology courses, and some of the geography courses can be applied toward the natural sciences requirement of the core curriculum.
Those who plan further work in chemistry, physics, engineering, mathematics, or other sciences, or who are entering pre-professional programs in medicine, dentistry, and similar fields, must complete CHEM 1411 General Chemistry I (or CHEM 1311 General Chemistry Lecture I and CHEM 1111 General Chemistry Laboratory I) and CHEM 1412 General Chemistry II (or CHEM 1312 General Chemistry Lecture II and 1112 General Chemistry Laboratory II). Completion of CHEM 1305 Introductory Chemistry Lecture I, CHEM 1105 Introductory Chemistry Laboratory I, and CHEM 1307 Introductory Chemistry Lecture II satisfies the requirement of seven semester hours of natural science for an Associate of Arts (AA) Degree. Credit toward graduation is given for only one course in each of the following groups:
- Group 1
- CHEM 1305 Introductory Chemistry Lecture I.
- CHEM 1311 General Chemistry Lecture I.
- CHEM 1370 Preparatory Chemistry.
- CHEM 1411 General Chemistry I.
- CHEM 1405 Introductory Chemistry I.
- Group 2
- CHEM 1312 General Chemistry Lecture II.
- CHEM 1412 General Chemistry II.
- Group 3
- CHEM 1105 Introductory Chemistry Laboratory I.
- CHEM 1111 General Chemistry Laboratory I.
- Group 4
- CHEM 1307 Introductory Chemistry Lecture II.
- CHEM 1407 Introductory Chemistry II.
NOTE: CHEM 1405 is a combination of both CHEM 1305 and CHEM 1105. And CHEM 1407 is a combination of both CHEM 1307 and CHEM 1107.
The Department offers an AA Degree in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). An Associate of Science (AS) degree in Environmental Science degree. An Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree and a one-year GIS Certificate are also offered through the Engineering Technologies Department.
Programs and Courses - Natural Sciences Natural Sciences
Associate of Science
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