Early Vertebrates Fall 19
Syllabus for The Early Vertebrates
Professor: Greg Thurmon
Office: Sted 230
Office Hours: 9am MTWRF
Other times by appt.
Class Meeting: MWF 10-11am
Classroom: Sted 203
Home: 660-815-4425
E-mail:gthurmon@centralmethodist.edu
Text: Integrated Principles of Zoology Hickman Jr. This would be a helpful text for this course, you can buy an older edition and it will work fine.
Mission
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The Central Methodist University Community believes in:
¨ Seeking knowledge, truth, and wisdom;
¨ Valuing freedom, honesty, civility, and diversity;
¨ Living a life of service and leadership;
¨ Taking responsibility for ourselves and the communities in which we live.
Values
Central Methodist University affirms its Wesleyan heritage and its unique place as the only United Methodist-related University in Missouri. The location of its original campus in a small, historic, rural community provides an opportunity for students to live and to learn in a safe setting. The University values its strong liberal arts tradition, providing a foundation for excellent professional programs. CMU and its outreach activities foster an environment in which a diverse student body can develop intellectually, socially, and spiritually. University life emphasizes honesty, integrity, civility, and a strong sense of personal responsibility as integral elements of character and leadership. Central Methodist University nurtures a spirit of community and caring among students, faculty, and staff.
ACADEMIC HONESTY Academic honesty requires that each person accept the obligation to be truthful in all academic endeavors. To help members of the community understand the implications of academic honesty, the College provides the following explanation of academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty is any conduct which has either as its intent or its effect (independent of intent) the false representation of a student’s academic performance. For additional information and university policy, please refer to the CMU Catalogue, posted on the website. CLAS catalog (pp. 44-45) or the CGES catalog (pp. 41-42) for the University's Academic Conduct policy statement.
Any academic misconduct will result in zero for that grade, second occurrence- Failure
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY Central Methodist University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual preference, religion, sex, national origin, age, or federally defined disability in its recruitment and admission of students. The University's educational programs, activities, financial aid, loan, and scholarship programs are made available to all qualified students without regard to race, color, sexual preference, religion, sex, national origin, age, or federally defined disability. The University complies with all federal and state non-discrimination requirements.
Course Description: This zoology course is designed to give students the background and knowledge of the early vertebrates. Namely the fishes, amphibians and reptiles. It will cover the evolutionary aspects of the various groups as well as their anatomy, physiology, ethology and ecological relationships. Refer to: CLAS catalog (pp. 19-21) or CGES catalog (pp. 21-23)
Attendance is crucial to your success in this course, both for lab and lecture. Expect that there will be points obtained every day of class and lab. This can only be made up if the absence was for a recognized CMU event or illness. The later will take proof i.e. letter from CMU health office. Lab is difficult to make up (don’t miss lab).
Course Objectives:
1. To gain appreciation for the tremendous diversity of the vertebrates called “fishes.”
2. To identify how the anatomy, physiology, and behavior of fishes are adapted to their aquatic habitat.
3. To briefly summarize and compare life history strategies among major groups of fishes.
4. To briefly summarize the evolution of major groups of fishes.
5. To introduce you to the collection, preservation, conservation, zoogeography, and current research of North American freshwater fishes.
6. To learn to use taxonomic keys to identify fishes.
7. To learn to identify by sight common or important Missouri and Gulf of Mexico fishes.
8. To demonstrate that the human being and fish, amphibians & reptiles can coexist peacefully.
9. Students will have an understanding that Herpetology is the scientific study of the biology of amphibians and reptiles.
10. Students will examine the evolutionary history of both groups, and learn about their basic biology, including anatomy, physiology, ecology, behavior, reproductive biology, and conservation biology.
11. The laboratory emphasizes taxonomy of major groups of fishes, amphibians and reptiles, and techniques used to identify living and preserved specimens.
12. Students will leave the course with a good background in ichthyology and herpetology, and with a sound understanding of the diversity and distribution of fish, amphibians and reptiles worldwide, with including an emphasis on native Missouri representatives.
Grades:
Grades will be based on the following criteria:
There will be at least three tests during the semester.
There will be almost daily quizzes.
There will be case studies and lab reports.
There will be lab practical’s.
There will be no allowance for missed class quizzes or work if not officially excused through CMU.
Grading Scale:
100-90 A
89-80 B
79-70 C
69-60 D
Below 60 F
Final: Wed Dec 11th 10:30am-12:30pm