BIO 470 - MORPHOLOGY OF NONVASCULAR PLANTS
SYLLABUS - FALL 2009 - SECTION 0001
LECTURE - TU,TH (11:00 A.M. - 12:15 P.M.)
LABORATORY - TH (12:30 - 3:30 P.M.)

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is a detailed study of the comparative morphology, ecology and systematics of representative algae, fungi and bryophytes.

LECTURE ROOM: Burruss 232

LAB ROOM: Burruss 232

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. C.K. McMullen

OFFICE: Burruss 202

RESEARCH LABS: Burruss 201 and Burruss 260 (Herbarium)

PHONE: 568-3805

E-MAIL: mcmullck@jmu.edu

MY WEB SITE: http://csm.jmu.edu/biology/mcmullck

JMU's BLACKBOARD COURSE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: http://blackboard.jmu.edu/

LECTURE TEXT: No text will be required for lecture. However, many current and out-of-print plant morphology and anatomy books are available online. You may wish to purchase one of these. I'll discuss this in more detail on our first day of class.

LAB TEXT: A Photographic Atlas for the Botany Laboratory, 5th edition (2008) by K.M. Van De Graaff, S.R. Rushforth, and J.L. Crawley. This lab guide will be available at the JMU bookstore.

PARTIAL LIST OF LECTURE & LABORATORY OBJECTIVES:
Upon successfully completing this course, the student should know:
1) nonvascular plant structure.
2) tissue organization in nonvascular plants.
3) the morphological and anatomical advances in nonvascular plants.
4) the ideas of evolution and natural selection as they relate to nonvascular plants.
5) the morphology and anatomy of nonvascular plant reproductive structures.
6) how differences in climate affect nonvascular plant morphology and anatomy.
7) the medicinal and food uses of nonvascular plants.
8) the important roles nonvascular plants play in our world
9) the microscope slides and specimens (living and preserved) presented in lab.

METHODS OF EVALUATION:
2 Lecture Exams: 15% each
1 Lecture Final: 20%
2 Laboratory Practicals: 20% each
1 Laboratory Notebook: 10%

LECTURE EXAMS: These will cover material from the lectures and any readings that may be assigned.

LECTURE FINAL: This will cover material from the entire course, but will concentrate on the topics presented after the second lecture exam.

LABORATORY PRACTICALS: These will cover all information covered in our Thursday afternoon labs, including notes, slides, living and preserved specimens.

LABORATORY NOTEBOOK: Each student will be graded on his/her notebook, which will include labeled diagrams of specimens studied in lab. Special drawing paper will be provided.

GRADE SCALE:
A = 90-100 %
B = 80-89 %
C = 70-79 %
D = 60-69 %
F = below 60 %

IMPORTANT CLASSROOM POLICIES: Lecture begins at 11:00 A.M. Please respect your instructor and classmates by being punctual. Students are expected to attend all lecture and lab sessions. The lectures will include material not covered in your PowerPoint notes, so missing these will adversely affect your grade. More than 5 absences, regardless of the reason, will automatically result in a final grade reduction in lecture equivalent to one letter grade. Good attendance and participation may in fact help your grade if, at the end of the semester, you're on the border between two grades. Missed exams can be made-up only at the discretion of the professor and in a manner prescribed by the professor. You must inform the professor ahead of time, in person, if you are going to miss an exam. It is in your best interest not to miss an exam on the scheduled day. Exam dates will be made final at least a week in advance. The JMU Honor Code should be carefully observed. Please become familiar with "Violations of the Honor Code," found in the JMU Student Handbook. Any evidence of a violation will be immediately turned over to the Honor Council for investigation. Finally, use of laptops and cell phones, including text messaging, is NOT allowed in class. Make sure that you turn your phone off before coming to class!

Students are responsible for registering for classes and for verifying their class schedules on e-campus. Please be aware of the following important deadlines: September 1, 2009 - Last day to add the course on e-campus. Last day to drop the course. Withdrawing from a class after the drop deadline, results in a "W" grade on your transcript and corresponding tuition charges, if applicable. September 10, 2009 - Last day to add the course with instructor and unit head signatures. September 11, 2009 - Last day to withdraw from JMU with cancellation of tuition charges.

Students with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations to fully participate in course activities and/or meet course requirements must register with the Office of Disability Services (ODS) and contact me to discuss access issues. ODS will provide you with an Access Plan Letter that will verify your need for services and make recommendations for accommodations to be used in my classroom. ODS is located in the Wilson Learning Center, Room 107; Phone: 568-6705.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE