Type of Action

	Course Deletion		Requisite Change
	Course Revision		Repeatability Change
	Description Change		DiversityOption
X	Title Change		General Education Option
	Number Change		area:
	Contact Hour Change		Computer Requirement
	Credit Change		Writing Requirement
	Add Cross-listing		Other

New/Current Course Number: 630 - 141 /                   Crosslist Number: -      /

Old Course Number: -       /

New/Current Course Title: Biology I: Plant Focus

Old Course Title: General Botany

15 Character Abbreviation: Biology I

25 Character Abbreviation: Biology I: Plant Focus

Sponsor(s): Sibdas Ghosh, Neil Sawyer

Department(s): Biological Sciences

College(s): Letters and Sciences

Other Programs Affected: None

Check if course is required in:    X Major/Emphasis (specify):  All Biological Sciences Emphases

                             X Minor/Emphasis (specify):   Biology & Biology Education Emphasis

I. Detailed explanation of changes (use FROM/TO format)

        FROM: General Botany

       TO: Biology I: Plant Focus

II. Justification for action

The biological sciences introductory course sequence, 630-141 and 630-142 (formerly General Botany and General Zoology) , has recently been reduced from five to four credits, and seven contact hours/ week to six contact hours/ week. The instructors can minimize loss of content with the contact hour change if the courses are provided in a standardized sequence, allowing better coordination and less unintentional redundancy between the courses. The instructors for both courses agree that 630-141 (formerly General Botany) is the appropriate first course of the two, due to its particular subject matter. The title change for this course will facilitate advising and student course selection, given the approval of the accompanying request to require 630-141 as prerequisite for 630-142 (formerly General Zoology).