BISC116/CHEM116: Frequently Asked Questions

• Who teaches this course?

  Lecture Faculty: Mala Radhakrishnan, Adam Matthews
  Laboratory Faculty: Elizabeth Oakes, Adam Matthews
  Supplemental Instruction (SI) leader/Attached tutor:Elizabeth Wren

• When and for how long does this course meet?

  The lecture component of the course meets for four 75-minute periods per week, and the laboratory component meets for 3.5 hours per week. In addition, there is another 2-hour period that will be used for active learning, problem-solving, and laboratory-related material.
  Lecture: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Fridays from 9:55am-11:10am AND Fridays from 1-3pm
  Laboratory section: Either Mondays 1:45-5:15PM OR Tuesdays 12:45pm-4:15pm
  

• How much credit do I receive for this course?

  2.5 credits: Note that while this is operationally one 2.5-unit course, it will appear on the transcript as 1.25 units from BISC116 and 1.25 units from CHEM116

• Are there any pre-requisites for this course?

  Yes, the following pre-requisites are important to ensure success in this course:

  • One year of high school chemistry
  • Math equivalent of two years of high school algebra
  • Quantitative Reasoning basic skills requirement, assessed upon arrival to campus.

• Will this course count toward the 100-level biology and chemistry requirements for a Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Geosciences, Chemical Physics, or Neuroscience major?

  Yes, this course counts toward major requirements for these departments. Successful completion of this course enables a student to take any course for which either CHEM105 or BISC110 is a prerequisite.

• Does this course meet medical and graduate school pre-requisites?

  Yes, this course meets the requirements for one introductory chemistry course and one introductory biology course. It will be listed as two separate entries on your transcript (BISC116 and CHEM116).

• Is this course only for first year students?

  No, the course is open to any students who have not taken BISC110, BISC112, CHEM105, CHEM105P, or CHEM120. However, the course is intended for first-years and we anticipate that nearly all of the students enrolled in this course will be first years.

• Is the "extra" Friday class meeting required?

  Yes, the Friday session is a required meeting for this course. It will be used for active learning, for group problem-solving, or for laboratory and writing workshops.

• Can I really learn all the Biology and Chemistry lab skills in one combined lab section per week?

  Yes, even though the combined laboratory session meets for half the time (compared to the CHEM105 and BISC110 individual labs) it has been specially designed to introduce all the skills necessary for you to be successful in subsequent Biology, Chemistry, and Biochemistry courses.

• Since this is a "double course" should I register for two additional courses or three during the fall semester?

  The workload for this course is equivalent to two classes, so you should only enroll for two additional courses during the fall semester.