NS103 Biology
NS103 Biology
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Feb 02, 2026
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Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences
Irma Mahmuljin
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
The purpose of this course is to provide students with the introductory level principles, mechanisms, and methodology of biological sciences with special emphasis on molecular and cellular aspects of living systems.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Biology, Concepts and Connections, Campbell-Reece-Taylor-Simon, 2011, Pearson, 7th Edition.
Additional Literature
-Teaching Methods
Lecturing
Class discussions with examples
Assignments (group project)
Student centered learning
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to syllabus | - |
| 2 | Exploring Life - review | Chapter 1 |
| 3 | The Chemical Context of Life | Chapter 2 |
| 4 | Water and the Fitness of the Environment | Chapter 3 |
| 5 | Introduction to the cell - QUIZ1 | Chapter 5 |
| 6 | An Introduction to Metabolism | Chapter 8 |
| 7 | The cell cycle | Chapter 12 |
| 8 | Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles | - |
| 9 | MIDTERM | Chapter 13 |
| 10 | The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance | Chapter 15 |
| 11 | From Gene to Protein | Chapter 17 |
| 12 | DNA Technology and Genomics - QUIZ2 | Chapter 20 |
| 13 | The Genetic Basis of Development | Chapter 21 |
| 14 | Project presentation | - |
| 15 | Project presentation and Shorts Review | - |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NS103.1 | Course | Tuesday 09:00 - 11:50 | B F2.4 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday | 14:00 - 15:30 | A G.6 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Ouizes
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Midterm exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Project presentation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Participation and attendance
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 14
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Home study
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
In-term Exam Study
24 hours ⏳ (8 week × 3 h)
Final Exam Study
36 hours ⏳ (9 week × 4 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [NS103] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Feb 02, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| NS103 | Biology | 3 | 0 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | BIO301, BIO310, NS205 | |||||||
| Lecturer | Irma Mahmuljin | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Thursday: 14:00-15:30 |
|||||||
| imahmuljin@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | / | Assistant E-mail | ||||||||
| Course Objectives | The purpose of this course is to provide students with the introductory level principles, mechanisms, and methodology of biological sciences with special emphasis on molecular and cellular aspects of living systems. | |||||||||
| Textbook | Biology, Concepts and Connections, Campbell-Reece-Taylor-Simon, 2011, Pearson, 7th Edition. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Lecturing. Class discussions with examples. Assignments (group project). Student centered learning. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction to syllabus | - | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Exploring Life - review | Chapter 1 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | The Chemical Context of Life | Chapter 2 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Water and the Fitness of the Environment | Chapter 3 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Introduction to the cell - QUIZ1 | Chapter 5 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | An Introduction to Metabolism | Chapter 8 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | The cell cycle | Chapter 12 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles | - | ||||||||
| Week 9 | MIDTERM | Chapter 13 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance | Chapter 15 | ||||||||
| Week 11 | From Gene to Protein | Chapter 17 | ||||||||
| Week 12 | DNA Technology and Genomics - QUIZ2 | Chapter 20 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | The Genetic Basis of Development | Chapter 21 | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Project presentation | - | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Project presentation and Shorts Review | - | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Ouizes | 2 | 15 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Midterm exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Project presentation | 1 | 10 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Participation and attendance | 1 | 5 | 1,2,3,14 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Home study | 3 | 15 | 45 | |||
| In-term Exam Study | 3 | 8 | 24 | Final Exam Study | 4 | 9 | 36 | |||
| 0 | ||||||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 19/02/2026 | |||||||||