Dec 05, 2024  
Undergraduate Catalog 2019-2020 
    
Undergraduate Catalog 2019-2020 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Biology, BS


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The curriculum for the biology major has been designed so that students meet a set of specific goals before graduation.  It is the responsibility of the student to obtain the necessary documentation and work with their advisor to ensure that the proper classes and experiences meet the criteria for all of the goals of the Biology major.  Once satisfied, the advisor will sign the Portfolio Requirement Checklist and forward it to the Biology Chair with the appropriate documentation to note completion of these goals.


For more information about the Biology department, visit its website.


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

2.  Laboratory Expertise

Biology majors must have three laboratory course experiences at the 200 level or above from at least two of the three content areas (Molecular/Cellular, Systems and Multi-organismal).  At least one course should be a laboratory course 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.

NOTE: One of the laboratories can be substituted by only one of the following laboratory experiences; with supporting documentation supplied:

a.  Successfully defend an Honors Thesis (BIOL 488H/489H) involving research that generated original data.
b.  Successfully complete a fellowship or internship for summer research in a life science-related project.
c.  Successfully complete Independent Research (BIOL 393  or BIOL 394 ).

3.  Critically evaluate biological data (two courses or experiences)

Students must gain expertise in acquiring data either first-hand or from primary literature sources, and in evaluating and interpreting the data. Activities include: literature searches, data analysis and synthesis, and graphical representation of 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.  Successfully complete a project awarded a Fellowship for Summer Research in a life science-related project 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.
 f.  Serve as an author of an article that includes original data and is submitted for publication to a peer-reviewed journal.

4.  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, developing conclusions, and formulating directions for further investigation.

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 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.

5.  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.

6.  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.  Made a poster presentation as PRIMARY or PRESENTING AUTHOR at an extramural scientific conference (requires evidence that the abstract was published in the conference program or website). Note: second authorship of a poster does NOT qualify.
e.  Make an oral or poster presentation at the Annual Celebration of Student Scholars or an equivalent on-campus forum.
f.   With the approval of the instructor, make an oral presentation in a class that might not ordinarily require an oral presentation.
g.  Make an oral presentation at the Biology Department Fall or Spring Student Conference.

Additional Information


See the Pre-Medical Program  section for the pre-medical advisor’s elective recommendations for pre-professional students.

See the Pre-Law Advisory Program  section for the pre-law advisor’s recommendations for electives.

For a faculty listing, overview and listing of affiliated programs of the Department of Biology, visit Biology .


Biology Curriculum


  Department and Number - Descriptive Title of Course Fall Cr. Spr. Cr.

First Year

                                  
MAJOR (GE NSCI) BIOL 141 - (E) (FYOC, FYDT Lab only) General Biology with Lab 1BIOL 142 - (E) (FYOC, FYDT Lab only) General Biology with Lab 1 4.5 4.5
COGNATE CHEM 112-113 - (E) General and Analytical Chemistry /CHEM 112L-113L   4.5 4.5
GE WRTG WRTG 107 - (FYW) Composition   3  
GE ELECT FREE ELECT – Free Elective   3
GE PHIL PHIL 120 - Introduction to Philosophy   3  
GE HUMN HUMN ELECT - Humanities Elective   3
GE FSEM First Year Seminar 2    
    15 15

Second Year

   
MAJOR BIOL ELECT – Biology Electives 4 4
COGNATE CHEM 232 - (E) Organic Chemistry /CHEM 232L  – CHEM 233 - (E) Organic Chemistry /CHEM 233L   4.5 4.5
GE QUAN MATH 114 - (Q) Calculus I   4  
GE S/BH S/BH ELECT - Social/Behavioral Elective   3
GE PHIL–T/RS PHIL 210 - Ethics  – T/RS 121 - Theology I: Introduction to the Bible   3 3
    15.5 14.5

Third Year

   
MAJOR BIOL ELECT – Biology Electives 3 4
COGNATE PHYS 120/PHYS 120L - (E) General Physics I  – PHYS 121/PHYS 121L - (E) General Physics II   4 4
GE S/BH S/BH ELECT – Social/Behavioral Elective 3  
GE HUMN HUMN ELECT – Humanities Electives 3 3
GE T/RS T/RS 122 - Theology II: Introduction to Christian Theology   3  
GE ELECT FREE ELECT - Free Electives   3
    16 14

Fourth Year

   
MAJOR BIOL ELECT – Biology Electives 6 6
MAJOR BIOL 479 - Portfolio Completion   0  
GE PHIL or T/RS PHIL ELEC - Philosophy or T/RS ELECT – T/RS Elective   3
GE HUMN HUMN ELECT – Humanities Elective 3  
GE ELECT FREE ELECT – Free Electives 6 6
    15 15
 

Total: 120 Credits

1Successful completion of BIOL 141 Lab  and BIOL 142 Lab  satisfies the EP requirement.

2The selection of a First Year Seminar is likely to fulfill requirements both for the First Year Seminar and a General Education Requirement. Thus, the First Year Seminar will not add to the total credits for the semester. Talk with your advisor if you have any questions.

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