BISC 104
INQUIRY INTO LIFE-THE ENVIRONMENT

INTRODUCTION

BISC 104 is a general-education course for those persons who want to earn credit to apply to a degree other than in the natural sciences. The course will satisfy three of the semester hours in the natural sciences required by the College of Liberal Arts and Schools at The University of Mississippi. Students who are seeking degrees from other colleges or universities should request permission from their adviser before enrolling in this course. No specific courses are prerequisite to BISC 104. The companion course, BISC 102--Inquiry into Life--Human Biology, may be taken independently of BISC 104 to provide a total of six semester hours of credit. However, because BISC 102 (or an equivalent course) covers fundamental processes and concepts in support of topics covered in BISC 104, such a course will be helpful in successful learning and achievement in BISC 104. BISC 104 students who have not completed BISC 102 will be referred to chapters or specific topics in the same textbook (used also for BISC 102) that will support topics in BISC 104. University of Mississippi students who need laboratory credits should enroll in the independent laboratory sections of BISC 105 taught at the university.

BISC 104 will cover about one-half of the textbook, beginning with a study of molecular biology and genetics as a prelude to considerations of evolutionary processes and events. Subsequent studies will be on diversity of life on earth, biology of plants, and ecology.

Independent study students have little opportunity to discuss issues with their instructors, therefore they must organize their time and study habits to fit a self-paced program. The course will cover all or part of 16 chapters. A typical university lecture course would require at least 15 weeks of classroom time. One advantage of correspondence learning is that students are able to use as much time as needed to read, reread, study, and restudy the lessons, each of which will cover about the equivalent of one textbook chapter.

This course offers three (3) hours of academic credit.

MID-COURSE TEST AND FINAL EXAMINATION

The student will take a Mid-Course Test and Final Examination at a physical location in a college or university setting. Detailed instructions and Mid-Course Test and Final Examination applications are included in the online syllabus.

INSTRUCTOR

Dr. Bailey Ward holds a doctoral degree and is a professor emeritus of biology.

TEXTBOOKS

The Ole Miss Bookstore currently stocks the textbooks needed for Independent Study courses. Click here to order textbooks online. Select the term, department, and course number. Select “I Study” for the section number. To order by phone, call 662-915-7137 and be sure to indicate that you are ordering textbooks for an Independent Study course.

To apply for the course, go here.

If you need assistance or have additional questions please email us at indstudy@olemiss.edu.