Sample Diversification: Biological Sciences (DB) Initial Application and Syllabus

As most of the required questions in the Initial Application are straightforward and easy to respond to (e.g., pro forma questions about course alpha, number, title, etc.), the Diversification Board has chosen to provide a sample response to the last question: "Which Diversification hallmarks does your course fulfill, and how does this course fulfill those hallmarks in your selected Diversification category/categories?"

As noted in the Diversification Board Proposal Guide, one should take care to explain, by way of a short narrative, how the course meets those hallmarks through the Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs). A mere list of CLOs is insufficient to satisfy this requirement. In your response to this final question of the application, please be aware that you do NOT need to prove how two-thirds of the required class meetings fulfill the hallmarks of the Diversification designation being sought. Instead, use the syllabus to establish the two-thirds requirement.

The below response was supplied in the Initial Application for a Diversification: Biological Sciences (DB) Designation for Agriculture 170: Introduction to Commercial Aquaponics. Take particular note of the way the applicant explains which hallmarks of the DB designation the Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) fulfill and how the CLOs fulfill them. The attached syllabus at the bottom of this page establishes how two-thirds of the required class meetings demonstrate the hallmarks of the DB designation.

Please remember that responses should be entered into the online Initial Application form.

Sample Response

Which Diversification hallmarks does your course fulfill, and how does this course fulfill those hallmarks in your selected Diversification category/categories?

DB.1 uses the terminology of the biological sciences; All of the CLOs address this Diversification Hallmark. The students will be using terminology of the biological sciences to describe the functioning of an aquaponics system including the plants, animals, and microbes. Additionally, students will learn about food safety and the prevention of the spread of disease through proper laboratory techniques following Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) standards set by the US Department of Agriculture that they will employ in the corequisite course AG 170L.

DB.2 involves knowledge and theories relating to processes in the biological sciences; Through CLOs 1 and 2, students are required to employ the scientific process and apply a scientific framework to decision-making regarding issues of food production past, present, and future. This will include plant selection and care, animal selection and care, and demonstration of an understanding of microbial cycling in an aquaponics system. Through this framework, students will learn about biological theories like the competitive exclusion principle, evolution via natural and artificial selection (agriculture), and trophic structure/nutrient cycling in an ecosystem.

DB.3 demonstrates inquiry that is guided by observation/experiment and reasoning/mathematics. Through CLOs 2 and 3, students are required to participate in a semester-long project to develop a business plan for a small-scale aquaponics facility. They will be challenged to integrate their lab experience in AG 170L and their readings/lectures/research in AG 170 in this project. They will be required to perform simple calculations to determine the best combination of plant/animal crops to sustain their production facility. The results of their trials in the AG 170L experiments will help guide their plant selection and determine what Integrated Pest Management strategies they must employ to be successful in their proposed small scale production facility.

Sample Syllabus

Attached below is the accompanying syllabus for Agriculture 170. Please note that a syllabus does NOT require a daily course calendar updated for the semester of application, though it may. Rather, a syllabus that includes a list of topics and/or issues covered over the sixteen weeks of instruction may be submitted instead. However, the syllabus provided must be updated for current course alpha, number, and catalog description; credit hours; and Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs). If you are uncertain about any of these required elements, please consult the course information archived in the Kuali Student Curriculum Management system.