IAI General Education Life Science Course Descriptions
* L at the end of an identifier indicates a lab course/course with a lab component.
LP - Life Sciences and Physical Sciences Interdisciplinary Courses (these courses must be a two-course sequence)
L1900: General Biology for Non-Majors (3-5-semester credits)
Courses will expose students to the breadth of biological concepts by including evolution, cell and molecular biology, organismal structure and function, genetics and heredity, and ecology. Evolution is a foundational concept that should be included in every biological sciences course. General Education courses will emphasize the value and contributions of life science to society. Inclusion of integrated scientific process skills development and the importance of science to society must each be evident in at least 25% of the course. Courses will engage students in science as a structured process that generates and refines knowledge through evidence-based decisions. Policies on the acceptance of AP credit vary among academic programs and from institution to institution, so AP credit toward the GECC or major requirements is not guaranteed. A score of 3 or higher on the AP Biology exam may be considered as equivalent to successful completion of postsecondary courses approved for IAI GECC L1 900. Feb 2016
Last Revised: Spring 2021 - April 26, 2021 - small clarification on evolution. Previous Revision:
4/5/2019 – Minor tweaks to emphasize content. - Current Tweaks Effective Fall 2019
Previous Complete Revision - 11/3/17 for Spring 2018
L1900L: General Biology for Non-Majors
(3-5-semester credits)
Laboratory courses will expose students to the breadth of biological concepts by including evolution, cell and molecular biology, organismal structure and function, genetics and heredity, and ecology. Evolution is a foundational concept that should be included in every biological sciences course. General Education courses will emphasize the value and contributions of life science to society. Inclusion of integrated scientific process skills development and the importance of science to society must each be evident in at least 25% of the course. Courses will engage students in science as a structured process that generates and refines knowledge through evidence-based decisions. A minimum of 50% of lab activities must show evidence of the development of science process skills. Policies on the acceptance of AP credit vary among academic programs and from institution to institution, so AP credit toward the GECC or major requirements is not guaranteed. A score of 3 or higher on the AP Biology exam may be considered as equivalent to successful completion of postsecondary courses approved for IAI GECC L1 900. Feb 2016
Last Revised: Spring 2021 - April 26, 2021 - small clarification on evolution. Previous Revision:
4/5/2019 – Minor tweaks to emphasize content. - Current Tweaks Effective Fall 2019
Previous Complete Revision - 11/3/17 for Spring 2018
L1901: Plants and Society (3-5-semester credits)
Courses will expose students to the breadth of biological concepts by including evolution, ecology, cell and molecular biology, plant structure and function, and plant genetics and heredity. Evolution is a foundational concept that should be included in every biological sciences course. General Education courses will emphasize the value and contributions of life science to society. Inclusion of integrated scientific process skills development and the importance of science to society must each be evident in at least 25% of the course. Courses will engage students in science as a structured process that generates and refines knowledge through evidence-based decisions.
Last Revised: Spring 2021 - April 26, 2021 - small clarification on evolution. Previous Revision:
4/5/2019 – Minor tweaks to emphasize content. - Current Tweaks Effective Fall 2019
Previous Complete Revision - 11/3/17 for Spring 2018
L1901L: Plants and Society(3-5 semester credits)
Laboratory courses will expose students to the breadth of biological concepts by including evolution, ecology, cell and molecular biology, plant structure and function, and plant genetics and heredity. Evolution is a foundational concept that should be included in every biological sciences course. General Education courses will emphasize the value and contributions of life science to society. Inclusion of integrated scientific process skills development and the importance of science to society must each be evident in at least 25% of the course. Courses will engage students in science as a structured process that generates and refines knowledge through evidence-based decisions. A minimum of 50% of lab activities must show evidence of the development of science process skills.
Last Revised: Spring 2021 - April 26, 2021 - small clarification on evolution. Previous Revision:
4/5/2019 – Minor tweaks to emphasize content. - Current Tweaks Effective Fall 2019
Previous Complete Revision - 11/3/17 for Spring 2018
L1902: Animals and Society (3-5-semester credits)
Courses will expose students to the breadth of biological concepts by including evolution, ecology, cell and molecular biology, animal structure and function, and animal genetics and heredity. Evolution is a foundational concept that should be included in every biological sciences course. General Education courses will emphasize the value and contributions of life science to society. Inclusion of integrated scientific process skills development and the importance of science to society must each be evident in at least 25% of the course. This course does not primarily focus on the survey of animal taxonomic groupings because such courses do not exhibit the breadth of topics necessary to meet the descriptor; no more than 50% of course content should be related to the survey of animal taxonomic groupings. Courses will engage students in science as a structured process that generates and refines knowledge through evidence-based decisions.
REVISED: 11/7/2025 - Panel added a clarification on the amount of animal taxonomic groupings. Effective Spring 2026
Previously Revised: Revised: Spring 2021 - April 26, 2021 - small clarification on evolution. Previous Revision:
4/5/2019 – Minor tweaks to emphasize content. – Current Tweaks Effective Fall 2019
Previous Complete Revision - 11/3/17 for Spring 2018
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L1902L: Animals and Society(3-5 semester credits)
Laboratory courses will expose students to the breadth of biological concepts by including evolution, ecology, cell and molecular biology, animal structure and function, and animal genetics and heredity. Evolution is a foundational concept that should be included in every biological sciences course. General Education courses will emphasize the value and contributions of life science to society. Inclusion of integrated scientific process skills development and the importance of science to society must each be evident in at least 25% of the course. This course does not primarily focus on the survey of animal taxonomic groupings because such courses do not exhibit the breadth of topics necessary to meet the descriptor; no more than 50% of course content should be related to the survey of animal taxonomic groupings. Courses will engage students in science as a structured process that generates and refines knowledge through evidence-based decisions. A minimum of 50% of lab activities must show evidence of the development of science process skills.
REVISED: 11/7/2025 - Panel added a clarification on the amount of animal taxonomic groupings. Effective Spring 2026
Previously Revised: Revised: Spring 2021 - April 26, 2021 - small clarification on evolution. Previous Revision:
4/5/2019 – Minor tweaks to emphasize content. – Current Tweaks Effective Fall 2019
Previous Complete Revision - 11/3/17 for Spring 2018
L1903: Microbes and Society (3-5-semester credits)
Courses will expose students to the breadth of biological concepts by including evolution, cell and molecular biology, microbial structure and function, microbial genetics and heredity, and ecology. Evolution is a foundational concept that should be included in every biological sciences course. General Education courses will emphasize the value and contributions of life science to society. Inclusion of integrated scientific process skills development and the importance of science to society must each be evident in at least 25% of the course. Courses will engage students in science as a structured process that generates and refines knowledge through evidence-based decisions.
Last Revised: Spring 2021 - April 26, 2021 - small clarification on evolution. Previous Revision:
4/5/2019 – Minor tweaks to emphasize content. – Current Tweaks Effective Fall 2019
Previous Complete Revision - 11/3/17 for Spring 2018
L1903L: Microbes and Society (3-5-semester credits)
Laboratory courses will expose students to the breadth of biological concepts by including evolution, cell and molecular biology, microbial structure and function, microbial genetics and heredity, and ecology. Evolution is a foundational concept that should be included in every biological sciences course. General Education courses will emphasize the value and contributions of life science to society. Inclusion of integrated scientific process skills development and the importance of science to society must each be evident in at least 25% of the course. Courses will engage students in science as a structured process that generates and refines knowledge through evidence-based decisions. A minimum of 50% of lab activities must show evidence of the development of science process skills.
Last Revised: Spring 2021 - April 26, 2021 - small clarification on evolution. Previous Revision:
4/5/2019
– Minor tweaks to emphasize content. –
Current Tweaks Effective Fall 2019
Previous Complete Revision - 11/3/17 for Spring 2018
L1904: Human Biology (3-5-semester credits)
Courses will expose students to the breadth of biological concepts by including evolution, cell and molecular biology, human genetics and heredity, human structure and function, and ecology. Evolution is a foundational concept that should be included in every biological sciences course. General Education courses will emphasize the value and contributions of life science to society. Inclusion of integrated scientific process skills development and the importance of science to society must each be evident in at least 25% of the course. This course does not primarily focus on anatomy and physiology because such courses do not exhibit the breadth of topics necessary to meet the descriptor; more than 50% of course content must be related to topics beyond human anatomy and physiology. Courses will engage students in science as a structured process that generates and refines knowledge through evidence-based decisions.
Last Revised: Spring 2021 - April 26, 2021 - small clarification on evolution. Previous Revision:
4/5/2019 –
Minor tweaks to emphasize content.
– Current Tweaks Effective Fall 2019
Additional Clarification/Revisions: 04/13/2018 - Effective Fall 2018
Last Complete Revision: 11/3/17 - Effective Spring 2018
L1904L: Human Biology (3-5 semester credits)
Laboratory courses will expose students to the breadth of biological concepts by including evolution, cell and molecular biology, human genetics and heredity, human structure and function, and ecology. Evolution is a foundational concept that should be included in every biological sciences course. General Education courses will emphasize the value and contributions of life science to society. Inclusion of integrated scientific process skills development and the importance of science to society must each be evident in at least 25% of the course. This course does not primarily focus on anatomy and physiology because such courses do not exhibit the breadth of topics necessary to meet the descriptor; more than 50% of course content must be related to topics beyond human anatomy and physiology. Courses will engage students in science as a structured process that generates and refines knowledge through evidence-based decisions. A minimum of 50% of lab activities must show evidence of the development of science process skills.
Last Revised: Spring 2021 - April 26, 2021 - small clarification on evolution. Previous Revision:
4/5/2019 – Minor tweaks to emphasize content.
– Current Tweaks Effective Fall 2019
Additional Clarification/Revisions: 04/13/2018 - Effective Fall 2018
Last Complete Revision: 11/3/17 - Effective Spring 2018
L1905: Environmental Biology (3-5 semester credits)
Courses will expose students to the breadth of biological concepts by including ecology, biodiversity, evolution, physiology and health, and human populations as they apply to natural and managed systems. General Education courses will emphasize the value and contributions of life science to society. Inclusion of integrated scientific process skills development and the importance of science to society must each be evident in at least 25% of the course. Courses will engage students in science as a structured process that generates and refines knowledge through evidence-based decisions. (Environmental science courses with a primarily physical science focus should use the P9 901 identifier, and two-semester physical science/ life science interdisciplinary courses should use LP 900 and LP 901.)
Last Revised: 4/5/2019 – Minor tweaks to emphasize content. – Current Tweaks Effective Fall 2019
Additional Clarification/Revisions: 04/13/2018 - Effective Fall 2018
Last Complete Revision: 11/3/17 - Effective Spring 2018
L1905L: Environmental Biology (3-5 semester credits)
Laboratory courses will expose students to the breadth of biological concepts by including ecology, biodiversity, evolution, physiology and health, and human populations as they apply to natural and managed systems. General Education courses will emphasize the value and contributions of life science to society. Inclusion of integrated scientific process skills development and the importance of science to society must each be evident in at least 25% of the course. Courses will engage students in science as a structured process that generates and refines knowledge through evidence-based decisions. A minimum of 50% of lab activities must show evidence of the development of science process skills. (Environmental science courses with a primarily physical science focus should use the P9 901 identifier, and two-semester physical science/ life science interdisciplinary courses should use LP 900 and LP 901.)
Last Revised: 4/5/2019 – Minor tweaks to emphasize content. – Current Tweaks Effective Fall 2019
Additional Clarification/Revisions: 04/13/2018 - Effective Fall 2018
Last Complete Revision: 11/3/17 - Effective Spring 2018
L1906: Heredity and Society (3-5 semester credits)
Courses will expose students to a breadth of biological concepts by including evolution, cell and molecular biology, genetics and heredity, and biotechnology. Evolution is a foundational concept that should be included in every biological sciences course. General Education courses will emphasize the value and contributions of life science to society. Inclusion of integrated scientific process skills development and the importance of science to society must each be evident in at least 25% of the course. Courses will engage students in science as a structured process that generates and refines knowledge through evidence-based decisions.
Last Revised: Spring 2021 - April 26, 2021 - small clarification on evolution. Previous Revision:
4/5/2019 – Minor tweaks to emphasize content. –
Current Tweaks Effective Fall 2019
Previous Complete Revision - 11/3/17 for Spring 2018
L1906L: Heredity and Society (3-5 semester credits)
Laboratory courses will expose students to a breadth of biological concepts by including evolution, cell and molecular biology, genetics and heredity, and biotechnology. Evolution is a foundational concept that should be included in every biological sciences course. General Education courses will emphasize the value and contributions of life science to society. Inclusion of integrated scientific process skills development and the importance of science to society must each be evident in at least 25% of the course. Courses will engage students in science as a structured process that generates and refines knowledge through evidence-based decisions. A minimum of 50% of lab activities must show evidence of the development of science process skills.
Last Revised: Spring 2021 - April 26, 2021 - small clarification on evolution. Previous Revision:
4/5/2019 – Minor tweaks to emphasize content. – Current Tweaks Effective Fall 2019
Previous Complete Revision - 11/3/17 for Spring 2018
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L1907: Evolution (3-5 semester credits)
Courses will expose students to a breadth of biological concepts by including cell and molecular biology, genetics and heredity, origin of life, natural selection, diversification, biogeography, populations, and speciation. Courses will emphasize the value and contributions of the study of evolution to society. General Education courses will emphasize the value and contributions of life science to society. Inclusion of integrated scientific process skills development and the importance of science to society must each be evident in at least 25% of the course. Courses will engage students in science as a structured process that generates and refines knowledge through evidence-based decisions.
Last Revised: 4/5/2019 – Minor tweaks to emphasize content. –
Current Tweaks Effective Fall 2019
Previous Complete Revision - 11/3/17 for Spring 2018
L1907L: Evolution (3-5 semester credits)
Laboratory courses will expose students to a breadth of biological concepts by including cell and molecular biology, genetics and heredity, origin of life, natural selection, diversification, biogeography, populations, and speciation. Courses will emphasize the value and contributions of the study of evolution to society. General Education courses will emphasize the value and contributions of life science to society. Inclusion of integrated scientific process skills development and the importance of science to society must each be evident in at least 25% of the course. Courses will engage students in science as a structured process that generates and refines knowledge through evidence-based decisions. A minimum of 50% of lab activities must show evidence of the development of science process skills.
Last Revised: 4/5/2019 – Minor tweaks to emphasize content. –
Current Tweaks Effective Fall 2019
Previous Complete Revision - 11/3/17 for Spring 2018
L1910L: General Biology for Majors (3-5 semester credits)
This course is intended to allow students to count any one of the courses in the BIO 910 sequence for their GECC life sciences requirement. Courses in this identifier are those courses approved by the IAI Biology major panel for the BIO 910 sequence.
COURSE SUBMITTER NOTE:
These courses are not reviewed by the panel and are not included in the GECC panels ongoing review process. Stand-alone submissions should NOT be made to this identifier. See the major panel for submissions to the BIO 910 sequence (a two or three-course sequence): BIO 910 description. Courses will only be added here after approval by the IAI Biology major panel!
LP900: Interdisciplinary Physical and Life Science (3-5 semester credits)
Interdisciplinary courses that include topics from both Physical and Life Science disciplines. Students must also take a course coded LP 901 or 901L to satisfy general education requirements.
Interdisciplinary science courses are those that integrate two or more disciplines in both the physical and life sciences. These courses should make explicit the relationship between the disciplines being covered and strike a balance between physical and life science. Textbooks and reading should incorporate perspectives from the various disciplines. Team teaching is encouraged in order to help students gain an understanding of the methodology and perspectives of two or more physical and life sciences. In order to ensure that there is a balance between the two areas of science for general education, students should take the sequence of courses prior to transfer. The two courses may or may not be sequential.
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LP900L: Interdisciplinary Physical and Life Science Lab
(3-5 semester credits)
Interdisciplinary laboratory courses that include topics from both Physical and Life Science disciplines. Students must also take a course coded LP 901 or 901L to satisfy general education requirements.
Interdisciplinary science courses are those that integrate two or more disciplines in both the physical and life sciences. These courses should make explicit the relationship between the disciplines being covered and strike a balance between physical and life science. Textbooks and reading should incorporate perspectives from the various disciplines. Team teaching is encouraged in order to help students gain an understanding of the methodology and perspectives of two or more physical and life sciences. In order to ensure that there is a balance between the two areas of science for general education, students should take the sequence of courses prior to transfer. The two courses may or may not be sequential.
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LP901: Interdisciplinary Physical and Life Science (3-5 semester credits)
Interdisciplinary courses that include topics from both Physical and Life Science disciplines. Students must also take a course coded LP 900 or 900L to satisfy general education requirements.
Interdisciplinary science courses are those that integrate two or more disciplines in both the physical and life sciences. These courses should make explicit the relationship between the disciplines being covered and strike a balance between physical and life science. Textbooks and reading should incorporate perspectives from the various disciplines. Team teaching is encouraged in order to help students gain an understanding of the methodology and perspectives of two or more physical and life sciences. In order to ensure that there is a balance between the two areas of science for general education, students should take the sequence of courses prior to transfer. The two courses may or may not be sequential.
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LP901L: Interdisciplinary Physical and Life Science Lab (3-5 semester credits)
Interdisciplinary laboratory courses that include topics from both Physical and Life Science disciplines. Students must also take a course coded LP 900 or 900L to satisfy general education requirements.
Interdisciplinary science courses are those that integrate two or more disciplines in both the physical and life sciences. These courses should make explicit the relationship between the disciplines being covered and strike a balance between physical and life science. Textbooks and reading should incorporate perspectives from the various disciplines. Team teaching is encouraged in order to help students gain an understanding of the methodology and perspectives of two or more physical and life sciences. In order to ensure that there is a balance between the two areas of science for general education, students should take the sequence of courses prior to transfer. The two courses may or may not be sequential.
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