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Explain the broad and local relevance of biodiversity, including its connection to ecosystem services, human well-being, and everyday life
Assessment Strategies
Quiz, Exam, Report, Scenario and/or Project
Criteria
Analyze the role of biodiversity at genetic, species, and ecosystem levels
Identify examples of ecosystem services and connect them to human well-being
Describe how biodiversity loss affects ecological stability and human communities
Explain the relevance of local biodiversity to regional ecosystems and everyday life
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Classify the major groups of living organisms using taxonomic vocabulary and distinguishing characteristics from domain to species
Assessment Strategies
Quiz, Exam, Report, and/or Project
Criteria
Distinguish the three domains of life and their key characteristics
Describe distinguishing features of major kingdoms and representative phyla
Use hierarchical taxonomic classification correctly from domain to species
Label diagrams, specimens, or images of representative organisms
Compare structural and functional characteristics used to classify organisms into major groups
Use taxonomic vocabulary effectively in both written and oral communication
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Describe the diversity, structure, function, and ecological significance of microorganisms, including bacteria, archaea, protists, and fungi
Assessment Strategies
Quiz, Exam, Report, and/or Project
Criteria
Compare the structural and metabolic diversity of bacteria and archaea
Describe the major groups of protists, including their diverse modes of nutrition, reproduction, and ecological roles
Explain the structural features, life cycles, and ecological roles of fungi, including mutualistic relationships such as mycorrhizae and lichens
Discuss the roles of microorganisms in nutrient cycling, decomposition, disease, symbiosis, and biotechnology
Evaluate the impact of microorganisms on human health, agriculture, and the environment
Identify representative microorganisms from prepared specimens, slides, or images and describes their distinguishing characteristics
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Describe the diversity, body plans, and evolutionary adaptations of major plant groups, including the transition from nonvascular to vascular plants and the evolution of seeds and flowers
Assessment Strategies
Quiz, Exam, Report, and/or Project
Criteria
Describe the evolutionary adaptations associated with the transition of plants to land, including the progression from bryophytes to seedless vascular plants to seed plants
Compare the distinguishing characteristics of major plant groups, including bryophytes, ferns, gymnosperms, and angiosperms
Explain alternation of generations
Compare reproductive strategies across major plant groups, including the roles of spores, seeds, pollen, and flowers
Describe the structure and function of flowers, fruits, and seeds in angiosperm reproduction
Explain pollination mechanisms and seed dispersal strategies and their ecological significance
Identify representative plants from specimens, diagrams, or images and describe their distinguishing characteristics
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Describe the diversity, body plans, and evolutionary adaptations of major animal groups, including invertebrates and vertebrates
Assessment Strategies
Quiz, Exam, Report, and/or Project
Criteria
Identify key features used to classify animals, including body symmetry, tissue organization, body cavities, and patterns of development
Describe distinguishing characteristics of major invertebrate phyla, including Porifera, Cnidaria, Platyhelminthes, Mollusca, Annelida, Arthropoda, and Echinodermata
Describe distinguishing characteristics of major vertebrate classes, including fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals
Explain evolutionary trends in animal body plans, including cephalization, segmentation, and the development of organ systems
Compare reproductive strategies and life cycles across major animal groups
Identify representative animals from specimens, diagrams, or images and describe their distinguishing characteristics
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Describe the basic principles of animal form and function, including how organ systems maintain homeostasis and support survival and reproduction
Assessment Strategies
Quiz, Exam, Report, Scenario and/or Project
Criteria
Explain the hierarchical organization of animal bodies from cells to tissues to organs to organ systems
Describe the concept of homeostasis and explains how feedback mechanisms maintain internal stability
Compare the structure and function of major organ systems, including digestive, circulatory, respiratory, excretory, immune, endocrine, reproductive, and nervous systems
Explain how organ systems are coordinated to carry out essential life functions, including gas exchange, nutrient processing, waste elimination, and reproduction
Describe how animals exchange materials with their environment and how body size and shape affect these exchanges
Analyze how evolutionary adaptations in animal form and function relate to the demands of different environments
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Evaluate multiple lines of evidence supporting the conclusion that living species share descent from common ancestry and explain the mechanisms by which evolution occurs
Assessment Strategies
Quiz, Exam, Report, Scenario and/or Project
Criteria
Explain the theory of evolution by natural selection, including the conditions necessary for natural selection to occur
Describes additional mechanisms of evolution, including genetic drift, gene flow, and mutation
Evaluate fossil, molecular, anatomical, and biogeographical evidence for common descent
Distinguish between homologous and analogous structures and their evolutionary significance
Explain how evolution operates at the population level and how it can lead to speciation
Interpret data to determine which evolutionary mechanisms are at work
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Analyze historical and evolutionary relationships among major groups of living organisms using phylogenetic trees and cladograms
Assessment Strategies
Quiz, Exam, Report, and/or Project
Criteria
Read phylogenetic trees and cladograms to interpret evolutionary relationships
Identify shared derived characters (synapomorphies) used to construct cladograms
Construct simple cladograms from morphological or molecular data sets
Explain what a phylogenetic tree represents about common ancestry and divergence
Use phylogenetic reasoning to make predictions about the characteristics of organisms
Distinguish between monophyletic, paraphyletic, and polyphyletic groups
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Analyze ecological relationships among organisms and their environments, including the abiotic and biotic factors that affect distribution, behavior, and population dynamics
Assessment Strategies
Quiz, Exam, Report, Scenario and/or Project
Criteria
Differentiate between abiotic and biotic factors and how each affects organism distribution and behavior
Describe major types of species interactions, including competition, predation, mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism
Explain how population size is regulated by density-dependent and density-independent factors
Interpret population growth models
Describe energy flow through ecosystems, including trophic levels and food webs
Explain biogeochemical cycles, with emphasis on the carbon cycle and its connection to climate change
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Evaluate issues affecting biological diversity and conservation
Assessment Strategies
Quiz, Exam, Report, Scenario and/or Project
Criteria
Describe the characteristics of major terrestrial and aquatic biomes
Explain the greenhouse effect and its role in regulating Earth's climate
Describe causes and consequences of global climate change on ecosystems and biodiversity
Identify major threats to biodiversity, including habitat loss, invasive species, pollution, overexploitation, and climate change
Evaluate conservation strategies and their effectiveness using evidence-based reasoning
Apply ecological and evolutionary principles
Apply major ecological concepts including biomes, the greenhouse effect, and global climate change
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Describe structure-function relationships in terrestrial vascular plants, including how plants acquire, transport, and use energy and material resources to complete their life cycle
Assessment Strategies
Quiz, Exam, Report, and/or Project
Criteria
Identify the major tissues and organs of vascular plants and describe their functions
Explain how water, minerals, and sugars are transported through xylem and phloem
Describe the process of photosynthesis in the context of whole-plant energy acquisition
Explain the role of soil composition and root-microbe interactions, including nitrogen fixation and mycorrhizal associations, in plant nutrition
Explain plant response to environmental stimuli, including light, gravity, and seasonal changes
Describe the plant life cycle, including alternation of generations in representative plant groups
Label diagrams and models of plant structures and explain how structure supports function
Describe coordination of development and resource acquisition across cells, tissues, and organs
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Investigate scientific problems
Assessment Strategies
Quiz, Exam, Report, Skill Demonstration and/or Project
Criteria
Identify a clear and testable scientific problem or research question based on prior knowledge or literature
Formulate testable, evidence-based hypotheses and predict outcomes
Experiments are designed with appropriate independent, dependent, and controlled variables
Conduct experiments
Selects effective data collection methods and scientific procedures
Accurately record, organize, and analyze qualitative and quantitative data
Evaluate experimental results
Draw evidence-based conclusions
Identify limitations of investigations
Propose modifications and future experimental directions
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Demonstrate biological research skills, including effective teamwork, laboratory and field techniques, data collection methods, and scientific communication
Assessment Strategies
Quiz, Exam, Report, Written, Oral, Visual Product and/or Project
Criteria
Laboratory and field techniques are conducted safely and accurately, including microscopy, pipetting, weighing/measuring, and quadrat plotting
Collect, record, and organize biological data systematically and reliably
Demonstrates effective teamwork and collaboration, contributing meaningfully to group investigations
Communicate scientific ideas clearly through written reports, oral presentations, and visual representations
Use accurate scientific terminology and conventions in all forms of communication
Data interpretation and presentation is accurate and consistent
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Design and carry out a semester-long Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) relevant to organismal biology
Assessment Strategies
Quiz, Exam, Report, Skill Demonstration, Reflection and/or Project
Criteria
Integrate course concepts with personal scholarly interest
Develop a clear, original research question connected to organismal biology concepts
Written project proposal includes background, objectives, methods, and expected outcomes
Conduct sustained investigation over the course of the semester, demonstrating iterative refinement of methods and analysis
Collect and analyze data using appropriate scientific methods and tools
Integrate concepts from evolution, ecology, and/or plant biology into the project analysis and conclusions
Findings are presented in a formal scientific format through both a written report and an oral or poster presentation
Identify challenges, limitations, and future directions
Collaborate effectively with peers throughout the research process