Animal and Zoology Classes
Classes with a focus on animals and zoology.
Lecture-only classes, classes with a lab, on-campus classes and online classes.
Zoology Classes
Lecture. 3 units. Online. Instructor Michelle Kowalewski
This course introduces you to many topics exploring the inner workings of all types
of animals. We will compare unique adaptations which allow individual species to
survive in different habitats. Included topics are the perception of and responses to external stimuli, integration of activities, maintenance
of the internal environment, locomotion and reproduction. Sample syllabus
- Describe individual cell structure and metabolism and the nature of cell-cell communications in immune, nerve, muscle, endocrine and neuroendocrine, and sensory systems.
- Describe cellular bioenergetics and processes of feeding and digestion, anaerobic and aerobic metabolism, and thermal regulation.
- Describe the structure and function of hormonal and nervous integrating systems controlling rhythms, reproduction, and behavior.
- Describe muscle and movement as related to internal fluid transport and locomotory activity.
- Describe structural and physiological mechanisms controlling homeostasis of dissolved gases, water, solutes, and metabolic wastes.
Animal Diversity is a general zoology course emphasizing the variety of structures, functions and adaptations of protozoa and animals.
Animal Diversity (Zoology 122) combined with Animal Diversity Laboratory (Zoology 123) satisfies the SBCC General Education Requirement in Natural Sciences and transfers to all UC and California State University campuses where they will also satisfy a general education requirement for a life science laboratory course. Animal Diversity alone satisfies the UC/CSU general education (IGETC) requirement for a life science lecture course.
Sample syllabus for the on campus class. Sample syllabus for the online class.
By the end of the course, a successful student can
• describe the system by which animals are organized within the various taxa;
• describe the structure and function of animal cell structures; describe, compare and contrast the structures and functions of the skeletal, digestive, nervous, circulatory, reproductive, endocrine, muscular, osmoregulatory, and sensory systems of animal phyla;
• describe the life histories of animals from all major phyla; describe the evidence for evolutionary relationships between animal phyla;
• and compare and contrast the unique features of animal phyla..
ZOOL 122 is a prerequisite or a corequisite for ZOOL 123.
Zoology 123 labs are designed to provide students with a hands-on experience examining a wide breadth of animals representing different animal phyla. By closely examining live and preserved specimens students will gain a strong understanding and appreciation for the wide diversity in animal life cycles, body morphology and adaptations. Sample syllabus
At the completion of this course students should be able to:
• Identify invertebrates and vertebrates to phylum and class, and common animals to species.
• Examine life histories and reproductive strategies of specific animals from different animal phyla and the role these have played in the evolution of diversity within groups.
• Demonstrate proficient laboratory procedures such as the use of compound and dissecting microscopes, micro-slide preparation, proper dissecting tool use during anatomical examinations, and proper handling and care of live animals.
• Demonstrate proper dissection techniques of animals from a variety of animal phyla for revealing internal anatomy and the relationship of organs and organ systems.
• Create hand-drawn illustrations of animals from all major phyla, identifying both internal and external anatomical features and features required for the completion of life histories.
Lecture. 3 units. Online. Instructor: Larry Friesen
Introduction to anatomy, physiology, ecology, behavior and diversity of insects and
other terrestrial arthropods.
- Describe the anatomy and physiology of insects and related forms.
- Describe the life histories of insects including reproduction, growth and development.
- Provide an annotated outline of the evolutionary history of insects from their origins to diversification on land.
- Identify insects to family and describe the characters that differentiate orders and families of insects.
- Explain and provide examples of the ecological roles of insects.
- Describe methods and results of experiments investigating insect learning and behavior.
- Describe the evolutionary history and development of insect social behavior.
Lecture. 3 units. Online. Instructor: Larry Friesen
Ornithology is a zoology course emphasizing the origin, natural history, functional
morphology, physiology, diversity and behavior of birds. Ornithology (Zoology 137)
transfers to all UC and California State University campuses satisfying an IGETC science
lecture requirement. Sample syllabus.
General Topic Sequence
Origins: Ancestors, origin of flight and flight dynamics, systematics
Form and Function: External anatomy, modes of flight, functional morphology
Communication: Pattern and display, vocalizations, learning, social behavior, courtship
and nesting
Migration: Annual cycles, origins and patterns of migration, navigation, and conservation
Reproduction: Egg shell, development, nesting
Biogeography: Demography, populations, species
By the end of this course, a successful student can:
• Describe current theories of bird origins and the diversification of birds through
time.
• Describe the functional anatomy of birds, related to flight, communication, reproduction,
migration, navigation, and social behavior.
• Describe bird mating systems, reproduction, egg production, embryogeny and post-embryonic
development, and altricial and precocial strategies.
• Describe the factors influencing bird life histories, geographic distribution and
population growth.
Lecture and Lab. Field trips. 8 week short course. 1.5 units. Instructor: Krista
Fahy
This a a late start field course that meets for eight Saturdays during the semester.
Anatomy, physiology, evolution and behavior of birds. Field trips emphasize identification
and classification. Sample syllabus.
By the end of the course, a successful student can:
• Identify birds by sight using field guides and their anatomical and behavioral features.
• Describe the natural histories of birds and how these relate to habitat selection
and patterns of migration.
This course is an introduction to the basic concepts of animal behavior. By the end of the semester, students will have a general understanding of invertebrate and vertebrate behavior, including learning, foraging strategies, sexual selection, mating systems, social behavior and the evolutionary mechanisms that guide it.
This is a 3-unit, non-major’s biology course which satisfies the SBCC General Education
requirement in Natural Sciences. This course is transferable to the UC & CSU as a
general education life science course. Biology majors are welcome to take this course,
however they will not receive credit toward their major for this course.
ZOOL 140 has the following Student Learning Outcomes:
BIOL 140 SLO 1 - Describe the structures and explain the functions of cells, tissues,
organs, and organ systems describing interrelationships and mechanisms of their integration
to support the whole.
BIOL 140 SLO 2 - Describe the principles of evolution and natural selection, the supporting
evidence, and the mechanisms contributing to variety and speciation.
BIOL 140 SLO 3 - Describe fundamental biomolecular structure and function, metabolic
pathways and bioenergetics including the roles of DNA, RNA and proteins in regulating
cell activity and their importance as the basis of inheritance, evolution, and biotechnology.
BIOL 140 SLO 4 - Explain and apply fundamental ecological principles of life histories,
populations, communities, ecosystems and biomes and the geographical distribution
of life on Earth.
Biology Classes
Lecture + two 3-hour labs/week. On Campus. Required for Biology Majors. Instructor:
Blake Barron
A study of the wondrous array of animal life and adaptation that has evolved on our
planet. This is a 5-unit course designed primarily for students who are interested
in a career in the Biological Sciences or related fields. This course is part of
the Biological Sciences Majors series at SBCC and is required for students majoring
in biology. This course also satisfies the SBCC General Education Requirement in
Natural Sciences, and is transferable to both the UC and CSU as a laboratory science
course. Sample syllabus. If you are simply looking to fulfill a general education requirement as a non biology-major,
Biology 100 or Zoology 122/123 may be a better alternative for you.
The Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) for BIOL 102 are:
• BIOL 102 SLO 1 - Summarize the fundamental molecular, cellular and ecological principles
critical to an understanding of zoology including the structure and functional importance
of biomolecules, cell membranes, cell organelles, the importance of water to life
on Earth, the general physical characteristics of animal habitats (biomes, marine
zones, etc.) and the basic ecological relationships between animals and the environment.
• BIOL 102 SLO 2 - Define the theory of evolution and articulate the fundamental role
that evolution plays in the adaptation of animal species including the correlation
of genetics to the evolutionary continuity and diversity of life.
• BIOL 102 SLO 3 - Characterize and differentiate the structural and functional characteristics
of the major animal phyla and explain the major evolutionary changes that have occurred
in these animals including a description of the fundamental anatomy, physiology and
ecology of animals as they relate to their habitats, life histories and phylogenetic
relationships.
• BIOL 102 SLO 4 - Recognize, identify and classify animals to their taxonomic class
or subclass.
• BIOL 102 SLO 5 - Perform animal dissection and selected microscopy techniques.
• BIOL 102 SLO 6 - Research and prepare a cited written report in a standard scientific
format based on a search and evaluation of the literature data.
Lecture only. 3 unit. On campus in Spring semester and online in Fall semester and
summer.
Instructors: Jennifer Maupin (on campus spring), Blake Barron (online summer) and Larry Friesen (online fall)
BIOL 112 and BIOL 141 together satisfy SBCC's General Education requirement as a Natural Science with Lab.
Evolution is considered to be the core theme of biology – the idea that unifies the
study of life and makes sense of our observations of diverse natural phenomena. This
course is an introduction to concepts of biological evolution, evolutionary processes,
and major events in the evolution of life on earth. Sample syllabus for the on-campus class. Sample syllabus for the online class.
Upon completion of this course, the successful student has the knowledge to:
1. Describe principles of evolution.
2. Correlate historical events with advances in the understanding of evolutionary
processes.
3. Describe the underlying genetic basis of inherited characteristics.
4. Solve elementary problems of Mendelian genetics and population genetics.
5. Explain the underlying bases of classification and taxonomy.
6. Describe the functional design of major taxa of each of five kingdoms with special
emphasis
on trends of vertebrate evolution.
7. Describe the trends of evolution within the major lineages.
8. Describe the chemical evolution of Universe & scientific theories relating to the
origin of life.
9. Provide an annotated time scale of the history of life on Earth.
On campus occasionally in the Fall. Online Spring and Summer. Lecture + lab. 4
units. The online BIOL 120 is one of the few classes where both lecture and lab are
online.
Instructors: Jennifer Maupin (on campus) and Larry Friesen (online).
The on campus BIOL 120 class provides an introduction to the natural history of the Santa Barbara area. Through lectures, labs, and field trips, students explore this area as naturalists, examining plant and animal communities, ecological interactions, and physical influences on ecosystems. The online BIOL 120 labs focus on the concepts covered in the online lecture and not on the physical characteristics of one local area. Sample syllabus for the on campus class.
At the end of the semester, the successful student has the knowledge to:
1. Distinguish major groups of organisms based on their structures, means of producing
or acquiring food, and life history.
2. Compare and contrast different communities through a description of the diversity
of organisms, the biological and physical factors that determine geographic range,
and the adaptations that make each species successful in their particular habitat
and niche.
3. Identify and describe major ecological, geological, climatological, and historical
forces that shape global and local landscapes and ecosystems.
4. Produce original research reports in a standard scientific format based on field-collected
data that include critical quantitative and qualitative evaluation of data to effectively
communicate results, interpretations, and concepts.
Ecology is a general biology course emphasizing the history of the development of the principles of ecology, the interactions of organisms with biotic and abiotic elements of their environment, the growth and distribution of populations, and the relationships that occur within communities. Ecology (Biology 122) combined with the optional Ecology Laboratory (Biology 123) satisfies the SBCC General Education Requirement in Natural Sciences and transfers to all UC and California State University campuses where they will satisfy a general education requirement for a life science laboratory course. Ecology alone satisfies the UC/CSU general education (IGETC) requirement for a life science lecture course. Sample syllabus.
Ecology Student Learning Outcomes
1. Describe the physical laws of thermodynamics, the driving force attributed to electromagnetic
radiation, and the flow and cycling of matter through ecosystems.
2. Explain biomass transfer via food chains and food webs and the direction, rates,
and efficiencies of transfer for different types of ecosystems such as aquatic versus
terrestrial and homeothermic versus poikilothermic models.
3. Research and create essays that critically evaluate fluctuations of populations
in time and space, outlining the principles and outcomes of key-factor analysis using
specific examples of real populations.
4. Evaluate the differing hypotheses used to define populations and communities based
on biological parameters and geographic range.
Lab. 1 unit. Online. Instructor Larry Friesen
Investigations of ecological principles. Satisfies SBCC General Education requirement
in Natural Sciences when combined with BIOL 122.
Ecology Laboratory is the companion course to Ecology that provides exercises that illustrate ecological principles. You must currently be enrolled in Ecology (BIOL 122) or have completed Ecology in order to enroll in the laboratory. The laboratory sequence comprises ten self-contained exercises, independent of the lecture, that illustrate different aspects of population growth, structure, abundance, distribution, and biodiversity. Sample syllabus.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Describe general ecology principles and how they are quantified.
- Design and complete population sampling experiments to determine population size and growth, predator-prey interactions, and reproductive potential.
- Calculate values from data collected that describe size, age structure, variation and distribution of populations, biodiversity of an area, and environmental factors determining growth and success
This class teaches you about the connections between the physical environment of the oceans and marine organisms, focusing on biological adaptations and ecology. You work with these concepts in both lecture and lab. The lab is your chance to put your learning into action, proving concepts for yourself and using tools & skills used by oceanographers worldwide to study the marine realm. Sample syllabus.
By the end of the semester, the successful student can:- Physical: Summarize the major physical aspects of the oceans (salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, nutrients, pH), how each one varies or does not vary, and how each one affects marine life (geographically and/or seasonally).
- Adaptations: Describe basic adaptations that occur in marine pelagic organisms to facilitate buoyancy, migrations, and reproduction.
- Communities: Compare and contrast marine benthic communities in tropical, polar, and deep-sea marine environments.
- Lab: Recognize the major pieces of oceanographic equipment, what each one samples or measures, and what the sample or measurement can tell about the ocean.
In this class, you will learn about the ocean as a habitat and the animals that live within it. This course serves non-science majors, but biology majors will also gain much from the material. The goal of this class is to help you understand the basic principles of science and apply them toward understanding how organisms live in the ocean. Labs frequently are at the harbor or beach. The major course objective is to familiarize the student with marine plants, algae and animals, their basic structure, feeding habits, reproductive modes, and interactions with each other and their environment. Sample syllabus.
The course objectives for BIOL 125 are:
- Define the major ecological principles operating in marine communities.
- Describe marine plankton as the base of most marine food webs.
- Identify the major groups of marine organisms.
- Compare the major littoral habitats (sand, rock, mud), the species of marine organisms commonly found in each one, and their adaptations to the habitat.
- Specify the major marine physical and biological forces at work in littoral zones (these concepts can be applied anywhere in the world).
Lecture. 3 units. Online. Rarely offered. Instructor: Larry Friesen
Diversity of life associated with marine and freshwater aquatic ecosystems; ecological
relationships and adaptations to life in water.
- Explain general biological principles as displayed in the rich diversity of aquatic life forms and associations.
- Discuss the interrelationships among electromagnetic radiation, the physical environment and living organisms in marine and freshwater ecosystems.
- Identify the common living organisms in marine and freshwater habitats and describe the characteristics by which they are classified.
- Describe the methods used in collecting, recording and interpreting data related to water analysis, biodiversity evaluation and tracking.
- Compare and contrast the adaptations of organisms from different aquatic ecosystems and different phyla.
- Describe the history, advances, diversification and biogeography of aquatic life on Earth through time.
Lecture. 3 units. On Campus. Fall only. Instructor: Mike Masson
Evolution of Humans from early primate ancestors to modern humans. In this course we examine the process of evolution as it applies to the evolution
of the human species and its primate relatives. We study the structural and behavioral
adaptations of humans and the other primates, and the fossils that bear on the evolution
of all the primates and of humans in particular. Sample syllabus
- Explain in detail, and with specific examples, important stages of human evolution. Be able to use multiple lines of evidence including fossils (anatomy), phylogenetics, and molecular biology.
- Explain how environment and ethology influenced evolution of humans.