BIOL 235 (Human Anatomy and Physiology) is a six-credit introductory biology course that covers all major elements of the human body, including basic anatomy, fundamental organic chemistry, cellular structure and function, and the integration, organization, and control of all the body systems. Students will acquire an understanding of normal anatomy and physiology, of physiological adaptations to special conditions, and of some of the physiological factors in disease processes. There are no prerequisites for this course, although a basic knowledge of biology and chemistry would be an asset. BIOL 235 has a challenge for credit option if students are interested, though students are encouraged to contact their program advisor to ensure this option will work for their particular program.
Students should note that BIOL 235 cannot be taken for credit if credit has already been obtained for BIOL 230.
Human Anatomy and Physiology is made up of twenty-nine chapters, two quizzes weighing three percent each, one quiz weighing six percent, three assignments worth five percent, two midterm examinations weighing twenty percent, and a final examination worth thirty-three percent. The twenty-nine chapters in this course cover a lot of topics, such as nervous tissue, muscular tissue, the respiratory system, the digestive system, the urinary system, the endocrine system, and so much more.
To receive credit for BIOL 235, students must achieve a minimum passing grade of fifty percent, or “D”, on each quiz, each assignment, and each exam. If students obtain less than fifty percent on any quiz or assignment, they may take another version of the quiz or assignment. This applies only to the quizzes and assignments for which you did not receive a minimum passing grade; you may not take an alternative quiz or assignment in an attempt to increase your grades. The examinations for this course must be taken online with an AU approved exam invigilator at an approved invigilation center.
Katherine Huston is currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts program with a major in Psychology and a minor in English at Athabasca University. She is also enrolled in BIOL 235. She provides a brief introduction, stating “My name is Katherine Huston, I’m 29 years old, and I currently work full-time in Calgary, Alberta. In my spare time, I love to hang out with my loved ones and to go on adventures whether that be hiking or going to a new restaurant!”
When asked to explain the course to students, she states “I have learnt a lot about the workings of the human body. The course is very in-depth, so if you enjoy the human body then this is the perfect course for you! The course comes with an e-textbook, but I ended up buying a used one because I like printed textbooks. The textbook, though, is very in-depth and very well laid out. The information is relevant and I even use it in my everyday life!”
As for the structure of the course, Katherine explains that “There are three major assignment, two midterms, and one final exam. The final exam is multiple choice. Reading the textbook and doing the practice exams are a must for your success in this course. The assignments are fairly spread out, the first one is due after chapter 10. They are straight forward as long as you take detailed notes and read the textbook.”
When asked for more information regarding the structure of the assignments, she states “The assignments for BIOL 235 are written assignments. They have a particular topic or topics that you can choose from. Most of the assignments I find are about 3-5 pages long and usually take me about a week (between the research and rough drafts) All of the assignments are similar format, but the topics and length are slightly different.”
Katherine finds that “the course is very heavy and has a lot of commitment and work. I found that I really needed to be more organized than I normally am. I find I have to balance more, even though I am only in two courses. There are lots of things to memorize, but I use flashcards and try to, every Sunday, to go over them (or when I’m done a chapter).”
She would recommend this course, stating that it is great for “anyone who is going into the medical field, or anyone who is curious about the human body. I find the course to be medium in complexity. If you read the textbook and complete the quizzes it all makes sense. I also bought flashcards, which seem to help!”
As for any tips or tricks to completing BIOL 235, she states “Read, read, and read some more! Use tons of notes! Buy flashcards or make your own! I also use a YouTube channel called “Crash Course” and it helps a lot!”
When asked how communication with her tutor has been, she states “My tutor is Shawn Irwin. He is very responsive and is always communicating with his students. He provides excellent feedback and is very prompt on marking assignments.”
Whether BIOL 235 is a degree or program requirement of yours, or the topics mentioned above are of interest to you, this course will have you learning a lot of interesting material surrounding the topic of human anatomy and physiology.