BIOS1150 – Biodiversity
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
The course provides a fundamental introduction to the Earth's biological diversity, including viruses, bacteria, protists, fungi, plants, and animals. You will also learn about evolutionary processes that have given rise to this diversity. The biology of different organism groups is a central topic in lectures, laboratory exercises, and seminars. Knowledge of biological diversity and the biology of organisms is essential for understanding nature as a system and is crucial for further studies in ecology and evolution.
Learning outcome
Upon completing the course, you will be able to:
- Describe the relationships between organism groups in the tree of life
- Describe biological diversity at a systematic and overarching level
- Explain evolutionary processes that have given rise to biological diversity
- Identify selected species of viruses, bacteria, protists, plants, fungi, and animals
- Provide examples of key characteristics within the major groups of the tree of life, including structure, morphology, and life cycles
- Integrate knowledge from various organism groups to explain general evolutionary processes
- Demonstrate basic skills in using microscopes and stereoscopes
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for?in Studentweb.
Special admission requirements
In addition to fulfilling the?Higher Education Entrance Qualification, applicants have to meet the following special admission requirements:
- Mathematics R1 (or Mathematics S1 and S2)
And in addition one of these:
- Mathematics R2
- Physics (1+2)
- Chemistry (1+2)
- Biology (1+2)
- Information technology (1+2)
- Geosciences (1+2)
- Technology and theories of research (1+2)
Mathematics R2 was a requirement up until and including the study year 2021/2022, as part of a trial arrangement. From and including the study year 2022/2023, Mathematics R2 is no longer a requirement.
The special admission requirements may also be covered by?equivalent studies from Norwegian upper secondary school or by other equivalent studies?(in Norwegian).
Formal prerequisite knowledge
Following?course must taken before the first lab session:?
Overlapping courses
- 6 credits overlap with BIO1000 – Elementary Biology (discontinued).
Teaching
The course consists of:
Lectures
Mandatory group tutorials
Mandatory lab sessions with the submission of mandatory lab reports
Mandatory course work must be approved to sit the exam. Approved mandatory course work is?valid for 5 years.
Attendance is mandatory for the first lecture and lab session. This also applies for those on the waiting list. You will lose your seat on the course if notice?is not given?to the student administration studieinfo@ibv.uio.no?prior to the first lecture.
As?the?teaching involves laboratory and/or fieldwork, you should consider taking out a separate travel and personal risk insurance.?Read about your insurance cover as a student.
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Examination
- Final written exam?which counts 100% towards the final grade.?
This course has mandatory course work that must be approved before you can sit the final?exam.
Examination support material
No examination support material is allowed.
Language of examination
You may write your examination paper in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
This course offers both postponed and resit of examination. Read more:
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- How to use AI as a student
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.