Undergraduate College Catalog

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Biology Major

Overview

Mission Statement

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.

Requirements

Core Courses – Biology

BIOL 150Introduction to Biology I (Lec/Lab)

3/1
BIOL 151Introduction to Biology II (Lec/Lab)

3/1
BIOL 201Biology Orientation

1
BIOL 305Cell Biology (Lec/Lab)

4/1
BIOL 430Genetics (Lec/Lab)

4/1
BIOL 445Biology Seminar I

1
BIOL 446Biology Seminar II

1
BIOL 442Evolution (Lec/Lab)

3/1
Courses chosen in consultation with advisor; at least one must be an upper level course with a substantial ecological component (BIOL 304, BIOL 306, BIOL 308, or BIOL310)

13
Total Credit Hours:38

Core Courses – Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics

CHEM 133General Chemistry I (Lec/Lab)

3/1
CHEM 134General Chemistry II (Lec/Lab)

3/1
 
CHEM 245Survey of Organic Chemistry (Lec)

3
or
CHEM 343Organic Chemistry I (Lec/Lab)

3/1
 
CHEM 344Organic Chemistry II (Lec/Lab)

3/1
or
CHEM 353Chemical Methods of Analysis (Lec)

3
and
CHEM 431Advanced Lab I

1
 
MATH 251Calculus of Derivatives

3
or
MATH 205Statistics

3
 
PHYS 143College Physics I (Lec/Lab)

5
and
PHYS 144College Physics II (Lec/Lab)

5
or
PHYS 203Physics I (Lec/Lab)

5
and
PHYS 204Physics II (Lec/Lab)

5
Total Credit Hours:23-24

MATH 151: Or equivalent.

Total Credit Hours: 61-62

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

BIOL 304Invertebrate Zoology (Lec/Lab)

3/1
BIOL 216Microbiology (Lec/Lab)

3/1
BIOL 306Vertebrate Zoology (Lec/Lab)

3/1
BIOL 308Animal Behavior (Lec/Lab)

3/1
BIOL 310Ecology (Lec/Lab)

3/1

Option 2 – For an emphasis in Cell Biology or Physiology

BIOL 216Microbiology (Lec/Lab)

3/1
BIOL 312Developmental Biology

3
BIOL 412Molecular Biology (Lec/Lab)

2/2
BIOL 413Biochemistry I

3

Strongly recommended courses for students considering graduate school:

MATH 252Calculus of Integrals

3
 
MATH 205Statistics

3
or
MATH 401Mathematical Statistics I

3
 
PHYS 203Physics I (Lec/Lab)

5
or
PHYS 204Physics II (Lec/Lab)

5
Total Credit Hours:11

PHYS 203 and PHYS 204: Some graduate schools require a full year of physics.

Plan of Study

Outcomes

Upon completion of the biology major, the student will be able to:

  1. 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)
  2. Choose and safely use appropriate laboratory and field techniques and equipment
  3. Design and recognize an effective scientific study and demonstrate understanding of the process by which scientific concepts are evaluated, modified, and become accepted
  4. Identify relevant sources of information and evaluate their credibility
  5. Evaluate the quality of evidence supporting a hypothesis or theory and critically analyze, integrate, and draw conclusions from multiple lines of evidence
  6. Communicate precisely and analytically in scientific written and oral formats
  7. Make intellectual connections between biology and other disciplines and apply an interdisciplinary and ethical approach to challenges facing individuals, communities, and societies