Overview
The Biology Department strives to provide an education in biology of the highest possible quality. The biology curriculum offers career preparation, preparation for further study, and an introduction to biological concepts and scientific reasoning in the liberal arts tradition.
A grade of C- or above must be earned in all courses that are required in a major or a minor.
Requirements
Core Courses – Biology (38 Credits)
| BIOL 150 | Introduction to Biology I (Lec/Lab) | 3/1 |
| BIOL 151 | Introduction to Biology II (Lec/Lab) | 3/1 |
| BIOL 201 | Biology Orientation | 1 |
| BIOL 305 | Cell Biology (Lec/Lab) | 4/1 |
| BIOL 430 | Genetics (Lec/Lab) | 4/1 |
| BIOL 445 | Biology Seminar I | 1 |
| BIOL 446 | Biology Seminar II | 1 |
| BIOL 442 | Evolution (Lec/Lab) | 3/1 |
| Courses chosen in consultation with advisor; at least one must be an upper level course with a substantial ecological component (304, 306, 308, or 310) | 13 |
Core Courses – Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics (23 or 24 Credits)
Strongly recommended courses for students considering graduate school:
Biology Majors Seeking Secondary Education Certification
Biology majors seeking secondary education certification must complete the major plus the requirements listed under the “Education Course Requirements for Secondary and K-12 Education Majors” on the Teacher Education page. In addition, students seeking secondary education certification must complete the Bachelor of Arts general education requirements. The Bachelor of Science general education track is for students who are not pursuing a career in secondary education or a second major in any bachelor of arts field.
Prospective Graduate School Students
Students planning to attend graduate school should consider a research internship during the summer after their sophomore and/or junior years. Prospective graduate school students should complete all courses required for the biology major, PLUS either Option 1 or Option 2 below:
Option 1 – For an emphasis in Environmental or Organismal Biology
Option 2 – For an emphasis in Cell Biology or Physiology
Plan of Study
Outcomes
Upon completion of the biology major, the student will be able to:
- Explain and apply the vocabulary, fundamental principles, and theories of the major areas of biology (cell and molecular biology, genetics, organismal biology, ecology and evolution).
- Choose and safely use appropriate laboratory and field techniques and equipment.
- Design and recognize an effective scientific study and demonstrate understanding of the process by which scientific concepts are evaluated, modified, and become accepted.
- Identify relevant sources of information and evaluate their credibility.
- Evaluate the quality of evidence supporting a hypothesis or theory and critically analyze, integrate, and draw conclusions from multiple lines of evidence.
- Communicate precisely and analytically in scientific written and oral formats.
- Make intellectual connections between biology and other disciplines and apply an interdisciplinary and ethical approach to challenges facing individuals, communities, and societies.