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Course Information .
Course Information .
This is a full semester, hybrid-online course with TWO mandatory laboratory meetings every week. This course is a late-start, 16-week course and begins on January 27, 2025. Lectures are accessed via our Canvas online learning technology. Please plan to attend every laboratory meeting – don’t make other appointments or schedule work shifts during these hours. Attendance in the laboratory is critical for your learning experience, and it’s a course requirement. Exams and quizzes will be given in person during the laboratory sessions.
Note: Attendance on the first day of the laboratory is required, and you will be dropped if you do not attend. This is an impacted class with many students attempting to add. Seats are not held for students who are not there.
Laboratories are held in person on the Ocean Campus in STEAM 316. Each laboratory session is approximately 2 hours long. We meet twice a week in person for a total of four hours per week. Please pay careful attention to the dates/times of the lab section you signed up for.
Important Documents for Fall 2025
Important Documents for Fall 2025
Access Online Course Resources
Access Online Course Resources
CCSF uses an online course management system called CANVAS. This is where you will login to the course to access course content. You will need a RAM ID to log in to Canvas. Claim your RAM ID and/or login to Canvas. If you are unable to login after following those instructions, then you can visit the CCSF Online Course Support Center for help.
Required Books
Required Books
Zero Textbook Costs in BIO 120
Zero Textbook Costs in BIO 120
Good news: your textbooks for this class is available for free online, in web view and PDF format! You can also purchase a print version of the lecture textbook, if you prefer, via the campus bookstore or from OpenStax on Amazon.com. You can use whichever formats you want. Web view is recommended -- the responsive design works seamlessly on any device. If you buy on Amazon, make sure you use the link on your book page on openstax.org so you get the official OpenStax print version. (Simple printouts sold by third parties on Amazon are not verifiable and not as high-quality.)
Print ISBN 1938168143, Digital ISBN 1947172239
Lab Manual
Lab Manual
I have written a lab manual that is free, which you can either use digitally or print out before each lab. You may also purchase a full-color, bound version for less than $20. BIO 120 Lab Manual
Guidelines for Letters of Recommendation
Guidelines for Letters of Recommendation
I am willing to write letters of recommendation for students who have earned As or Bs in my classes within 2 years from the semester that they took my course. You MUST ask me first BEFORE providing my name as a reference. Please don't just assume I will write you a letter.
Unless there are unique circumstances, I cannot write a letter of recommendation for students who do not earn at least a ‘B’ in the course. Also, I may decline a request for a letter if I don’t have sufficient evidence to support strong positive statements about a student, or if there is negative history such as low exam scores, absences in lab, failing to arrive prepared for class, etc.
In general, I cannot provide EOPS recommendations unless I know you very well. The problem is that these questionnaires ask me to respond to questions that I almost never know about my students, including their status as disadvantaged, immigrants, etc. Please do not email me about EOPS recommendations - this will require an appointment and an in-person meeting, and I may still say no.
Please give me at least one month's notice to write your letter. Plan to provide me with a personal statement (it can be a draft). Your personal statement should contain details about your motivation to attend the program you are applying for and work/volunteer experiences that have helped prepare you for the career you are working towards.
Letter-writers are typically asked to rank students in academic preparedness, emotional maturity, ability to prioritize, communication skills (oral and written), ability to work with others, professional behavior, sensitivity to diversity, the potential for leadership, problem-solving, critical thinking, integrity, ability to handle stress and reliability. If you want a letter, be sure to demonstrate these characteristics in my class!
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