Download View Outline

Natural Science 2: Foundations of Natural Sciences II
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Fundamental concepts, principles and theories of earth and life sciences.
CREDIT: 3 units
RGEP CLUSTER: MST
Division/College: Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics/UPV Tacloban College
Campus: Tacloban
GENERAL OBJECTIVES (Goals): After the course, the student should be able to:
1. gain comprehensive, integrated and synoptic understanding of the concepts, principles and theories of
the natural sciences.
2. appreciate the natural world within the context of the concepts, principles and theories discussed in
the course.
SPECIFIC COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1. To develop critical and creative thinking in the formulation and analysis of hypotheses and theories.
2. To determine the dependence and effect of the biosphere on the physical environment.
3. To recognize the significance of interrelationship of man and the environment.
4. To develop an appreciation and respect for life and environment.
NO. OF HOURS: 3 hours per week
COURSE OUTLINE:
GEOLOGY PART
I.
INTRODUCTION (1.5 hrs)
1.1
Geology: The Study of the Earth
1.2 Uniformitarianism: The Present is the Key to the Past
1.3 The Role of Geology in Society
1.3.1
Natural Disaster Mitigation
1.3.2
Environmental Impact Assessment
1.3.3
Utilization of Natural Resources
1.4 Getting to Know Your Planet: The Earth's Vital Statistics
1.4.1
The External Features of the Earth
1.4.2
The Internal Structure of the Earth
1.4.2.1
Crust,
Mantle, Core
1.4.2.2
Lithosp
here, Asthenosphere, Mesosphere, Core
II.
TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT THE EARTH
2.1 The Building Blocks of the Earth: Minerals and Rocks (1.5 hrs)
2.1.1
Minerals: Definition and Properties
2.1.2
Rocks: Definition and Three Basic Types
2.1.3
The Rock Cycle
2.2 Volcanism and Plutonism (1.5 hrs)
2.2.1
Magma
2.2.2
Intrusion (Plutonic Rocks, Textures,
Plutons)
2.2.3
Extrusion (Volcanic Rocks, Textures,
Volcanoes, Hazards)
2.3 Sedimentary Processes and Its Products (2.0 hrs)
2.3.1 Weathering: How Rocks Get Destroyed
2.3.2 Erosion and Transportation: How Materials Move from Place to Place
2.3.3 Deposition and Lithification: How Sedimentary Rocks are Formed
2.4 Metamorphism and Its Products (1 hr)
2.5 Rock Deformation (3.5 hrs)
2.5.1
Ductile Deformation: When Rocks Bend
2.5.2
Brittle Deformation
2.5.3
Earthquakes: When Rocks Break and
Shake
F I R S T E X A M I N A T I O N (1.5 hrs)
III.
OUR RESTLESS PLANET (4.5 hrs)
3.1 Wegener and the Migrating Continents
3.1.1
Drift Theory
3.1.2
3.2 Hess and the Migrating Sea-Floor
3.2.1
Sea-floor Spreading
3.2.2
Spreading
Historical Development of Continental
Evidences for the Continental Drift Theory
Historical Development of the Theory of
Evidences for the Theory of Sea-Floor
3.3 Plate Tectonics
3.3.1
Major Types of plate Boundaries
3.3.2
Possible Mechanisms
IV.
UNRAVELLING THE HISTORY OF THE EARTH (3.0 hrs)
4.1 Geologic Time
4.1.1
Concept of Geologic Time
4.1.2
Dating Techniques
4.1.3
The Geologic Time Scale
4.2 Setting the Scenario for Life
4.2.1
The Origin of the Atmosphere
4.2.2
The Origin of the Hydrosphere
4.3 Life Through Geologic Time
S E C O N D E X A M I N A T I O N (1.5 hrs)
V.
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
VI.
6.1
6.2
VII.
BIOLOGY PART
INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGY
Theories on the Origin of Life (1.5 hrs)
5.1.1 Biogeochemical Theories
5.1.2 Abiogenesis or Spontaneous Generation Theory
5.1.3 Biogenesis
5.1.4 Interplanetary or Cosmozoic Theory
5.1.5 Special Creation
Manifestations and Characteristics of Life (1.5 hrs)
5.2.1
Discussion on the Concept of Life
5.2.2
Description of Manifestations of Life
5.2.2.1 Organization
5.2.2.2 Metabolism
5.2.2.3 Reproduction
5.2.2.4 Growth and Development
5.2.2.5 Irritability and Movement
5.2.2.6 Variation, Change and Evolution
Life Processes: Plant and Animal Patterns (3.5 hrs)
5.3.1
Cellular Level
5.3.2
Organismal Level
Biology and Society (1 hr)
5.4.1
Biology as a Science
5.4.2
Role of Biology in Society
HOMEOSTASIS AND FEEDBACK LOOPS (3.0 hrs)
Concept of Homeostasis
Homeostasis and Feedback Loops at Various Levels of Biological Organization
6.2.1
Cellular Level (Unicellular Organisms)
6.2.2
Organismal Level
6.2.2.1
Floweri
ng Plants
6.2.2.2
Human
s
T H I R D E X A M I N A T I O N (1.5 hrs)
PERPETUATION AND EVOLUTION OF LIFE
7.1 Reproduction
7.1.1
Asexual
7.1.2
Sexual
7.1.3
Reproductive Health
7.2 Developmental Biology
7.2.1
Development of Asexually Produced Organisms
7.2.2
Development of Sexually Produced
Organisms
7.3 Genetics
7.3.1
Mendellian and Non-Mendellian Mode of Inheritance
7.3.2
Environmental Influence on Gene
Expression in Development
7.3.3
Gene Technology: Cloning, Gene
Therapy, etc.
7.4 Change and Evolution
7.4.1
Theories
7.4.2
Mechanisms
7.4.3
Evidence, Issues
7.4.4
Human Evolution: Biological and Cultural
7.5 Biodiversity
7.5.1
Concept of Species
7.5.2
7.5.3
Biological Classification
Conservation of Genetic Resources
VIII.
ECOLOGY (4.5 hrs)
8.1 Structure and Function of Ecosystems
8.1.1
8.1.2
Food Webs, Matter Recycling
8.1.3
8.1.4
Abiotic and Biotic Functions
Processes: Energy Flow, Food Chains,
Productivity
Nutrient Cycling
8.2 Types of Ecosystems
8.2.1
Freshwater Ecosystems
8.2.2
Marine Ecosystems
8.2.3
Terrestrial Ecosystems
8.3 Types of Biomes
8.3.1
Tropical Rainforest
8.3.2
Grasslands
8.3.3
Others
8.4 Population
8.4.1
Characteristics
8.4.2
Regulation
8.5 Community (includes interactions)
8.5.1
Diversity
8.5.2
Succession
8.5.3
Stability
IX.
MAN AND THE ENVIRONMENT (1.5 hrs)
9.1 Anthropogenic Impact on Environment
9.2 Sustainable Natural Resources and Management
9.2.1
Population, Economics and Natural Resources
9.2.2
Conservation Biology, Protected Areas
and Wildlife Management
9.2.3
Human Settlements (Man-made
Ecosystems)
NATURAL SCIENCE II – GUIDELINES ON EXAMINATIONS AND GRADING
I. EXEMPTED FROM TAKING THE FINAL EXAMINATION
A. All students with a grade of 3.0 or better provided that
1. All four (4) examinations have been taken.
2. 80% attendance rule (not more than 3 unexcused absences in each portion had been
satisfied).
B. Should you take the final exam, the following computation will be adopted:
Pre-final grade (computed from the Geology and Biology ave.) ---------- 75%
Final Examination Grade -------------------------------------------------------------- 15%
Quizzes, Assignments, Project, Report ------------------------------------------- 10%
II. MUST TAKE THE FINAL EXAM
A. Missed one of the long exams, the final exam will replace the missed exam, and the final grade
will be based on the average of all exams.
B. Has failing average in all 4 exams.
III. After taking the final examination and the student still failed, a grade of 4.0 or 5.0 will be appropriately
given if the final average is below 50.
IV. A student who fails to take two (2) long exams, shall automatically incur a grade of 5.0 unless he drops
the subject. No student may be exempted from the finals if he/she fails to take one long exam.
V. Questions about the exams will be entertained only within one week after graded exams have been
returned.
VI. A grade of 4.0 can only be removed by passing the removal examination.
VII. GRADING SCALE
FINAL WEIGHTED SCORE
FINAL GRADE
90-100%
85-89%
80-84%
75-79%
70-74%
65-69%
60-64%
55-59%
50-54%
45-49%
0-44%
1.0
1.25
1.5
1.75
2.0
2.25
2.5
2.75
3.0
4.0
5.0