Goals
1. Demonstrate mastery of content across the broad field of modern biology
Biology majors are required to take the two-semester general biology course with laboratories (BIOL 141 -BIOL 142 with labs). In addition to this 9-credit sequence, biology majors will select a minimum of 27 credits of biology electives, with at least four credits in courses at the 200-level or higher that deal primarily with phenomena in each of the three subject areas listed below and a minimum of three laboratory courses.
| BIOL 141 with lab |
4.5 credits |
| BIOL 142 with lab |
4.5 credits |
| Molecular & Cellular Electives |
4 credits |
| Systems Electives |
4 credits |
| Multi-Organismal Electives |
4 credits |
| Major Electives |
15 credits |
| Total |
36 credits |
Laboratory Expertise
Biology majors must have three laboratory experiences at the 200 level or above from at least two of the three content areas listed below. At least one course should be a laboratory that incorporates manipulation of tissue or whole organisms at the macroscopic level. Students should consult the department’s website and their advisors for the lists of courses that fulfill these requirements.
One of the following can be substituted for only one of the laboratory experiences:
a. Successfully defend an Honors Thesis (BIOL 488H/489H) that generates original data.
b. Successfully complete a project awarded a President’s Fellowship for Summer Research.
c. Successfully complete Independent Research (BIOL 393 or BIOL 394 ).
2. Critically evaluate biological data (two courses or experiences)
Students should complete two of the following courses or experiences:
a. A course approved by the department that fulfills this requirement.
b. Successfully defend an Honors Thesis (BIOL 488H/489H) that generates original data.
c. Successfully complete a project awarded a President’s Fellowship for Summer Research that generates original data.
d. Successfully complete Independent Research (BIOL 393 or BIOL 394 ) that generates original data.
e. Serve as an author of an article that includes original data and is submitted for publication to a peer-reviewed journal.
3. Demonstrate mastery of the scientific method (one course or experience)
This experience would ordinarily be demonstrated by activities involving independent investigation or experimental design. The design must employ the scientific method, which includes designing a hypothesis and protocol, gathering data, interpreting results, and developing conclusions.
Students should complete one of the following courses or experiences:
a. A course approved by the department that fulfills this requirement.
b. Successfully defend an Honors Thesis (BIOL 488H/489H) that incorporates the scientific method.
c. Successfully complete a project awarded a President’s Fellowship for Summer Research that incorporates the scientific method.
d. Successfully complete Independent Research (BIOL 393 or BIOL 394 ) that incorporates the scientific method.
e. Serve as an author of an article that incorporates the scientific method and is submitted for publication to a peer-reviewed journal.
f. Present a project at the Biology Department Fall or Spring Student Conference that incorporates the scientific method as described above.
4. Effectively communicate biological information in writing (two courses or experiences)
These experiences ordinarily include a written product in which a majority of the citations come from the primary literature or that incorporates original data. Students should complete two of the following courses or experiences:
a. A course approved by the department that fulfills this requirement.
b. Successfully defend an Honors Thesis (BIOL 488H/489H) that generates original data.
c. Serve as an author of an article that is submitted for publication to a peer-reviewed journal.
d. Serve as first author of a poster presented at a scientific conference (requires evidence that the abstract was published in the conference program or website).
e. Working with a faculty mentor, produce a written project, either in a class or independently.
5. Effectively communicate biological information orally (two courses or experiences)
These experiences ordinarily demonstrate that the student has read the primary literature and/or analyzed original data. The oral presentation should be at least 10 minutes long.
Students should complete two of the following courses or experiences:
a. A course approved by the department that fulfills this requirement.
b. Successfully defend an Honors Thesis (BIOL 488H/489H) that generates original data.
c. Make an oral presentation at an extramural scientific conference (requires evidence that the abstract was published in the conference program or website).
d. Make an oral or poster presentation at the Annual Celebration of Student Scholars or an equivalent on-campus forum.
e. With the approval of the instructor, make an oral presentation in a class that might not ordinarily require an oral presentation.
f. Make an oral presentation at the Biology Department Fall or Spring Student Conference.