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Home 2013-2014 Undergraduate College Catalog Undergraduate Programs of Study(Majors, Minors & Requirements) Biology

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Biology

The major program in Biology seeks to provide a solid foundation in the traditional discipline with courses such as Human Anatomy and Physiology, Histology, Microbiology, Developmental Biology, Biochemistry and Evolutionary Biology. In addition, the major program offers the student the opportunity to sample the diversity in the field of biology with such courses as Anatomy and Physiology, Bioethics, Biology of Cancer, Electron Microscopy, Environmental Ecology, Global Environmentalism, Marine Biology, Immunology, Principles of Virology, Infectious Disease, Molecular Cell Biology, Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology, Vertebrate Biology, Invertebrate Zoology, Nutrition in Health and Disease, and Recombinant DNA Technology.

Students may choose to major in Biology, Biochemistry, Environmental Studies, or the interdisciplinary concentration in Neuroscience.

The flexibility of the Biology major allows students to choose among a variety of courses that provide a strong background for teaching, biomedical and bio-technical research, graduate studies, nursing and other health-related careers. Faculty advisors help to ensure that all Biology majors receive a well-rounded education in the basic biological sciences as well as the needed preparation for any health-related or graduate research pursuit.

Biology Laboratories

The Department of Biology has well-equipped Biochemistry, Histotechnique, and Molecular Genetics laboratories. The electron microscopy suite contains all equipment for both scanning and transmission electron microscopy that includes three automatic microtomes, critical point dryer, sputter-coater, a JEOL scanning electron microscope, and a Hitachi transmission electron microscope. A full darkroom for both negatives and prints is part of this laboratory. In the Molecular Genetics laboratory, students can perform many molecular techniques including restriction analysis, polymerase chain reactions, gene sequencing, blotting, and transfection. Students have the opportunity to use these laboratories for independent research as well as course-related activities.

Recent renovations have provided several new laboratory spaces, including a cold room-waste management facility with several new refrigerator/freezers and an ultra low-temp freezer, all secured by a generator. Our "smart classroom" provides a multimedia/research room for all faculty and students in the Biology Department. Innovative equipment such as the Optipro 580 Smart Board and Expression Multimedia cabinet, along with the Pentium 4 computers, DVD, CD-RW, LCD projector, video cameras, wireless keyboard and mouse and ready data ports allow for technology-enhanced instruction of introductory classes as well as informal seminars or formal senior research presentations. New components and software for gel documentation, digital and video photomicrography, fluorescent microscopy, and human physiology have greatly enhanced our research and laboratory endeavors.

There is also a new, cutting edge research laboratory, the Tissue Culture Facility, which consists of: a clean room with T-grid overhead ceiling system for lighting and in-line filtering, twin stacking Napco 6500 CO2 incubators, double ESCO Labculture Horizontal Laminar Flow Hoods, Millipore Direct-Q 5 water purification system, large capacity benchtop autoclave and liquid nitrogen tank storage, electronic single and multichannel pipettors, and equipment and supplies for supporting adherent and suspension cell cultures, with digital video computer image analysis.

Our largest lab has recently been renovated, and houses the Principles of Biology and Human Anatomy Labs, with a new ventilation system, cold storage for specimens, and new laboratory cabinets and benches. Most recently, our preparatory room and environmental and microbiology lab was renovated and expanded to house larger laboratory classes, and a new fish holding system for research. Most recently, we have renovated our preparatory room and our second largest lab, which houses environmental ecology, microbiology and senior research projects.

Faculty and Professional Interests

Wendy McFarlane – Comparative physiology, environmental physiology, marine biology/ecology

Nancy E. Todd – Ecology and evolution, anatomy, vertebrate biology, environmental studies

Anna Yeung-Cheung – Microbiology, virology, immunology, human disease, infectious disease and nutrition in health & disease

Adjunct Faculty

Gary P. Aronsen – Tropical ecology, primate anatomy and evolution, animal behavior

Meredith Behr – Parasitology, genetics, introductory biology

Julie Heck – Introductory biology, nutrition

Hiroshi Osaka – Biochemistry, introductory biology

Sunera Rahman – Environmental studies

Biology Major Requirements

Entry-level requirements and co-requisites:

• Principles of Biology I and II, completed with a minimum grade of C, or evidence of high achievement in equivalent course work, as a prerequisite for all biology courses above the 2000 level. If a C - or below is received in either class, it must be retaken and passed with a minimum grade of C before students can progress to the 3000-level electives.
• Principles of Chemistry I and II, Principles of Chemistry I and II Lab, completed with a minimum grade of C-.
• Calculus I completed with a minimum grade of C -.

It is strongly recommended that students take Principles of Biology and Principles of Chemistry in the freshman year. Students who begin the program as General Biology majors and plan to pursue graduate study or a career in the health professions must complete the appropriate co-requisites before applying (see pre-health and graduate school preparation).

Upper Level Biology Requirements:

• Seven elective courses above the 1000 level. Four of these must be laboratory courses, one of which may be an independent study or internship.
• For the General Biology Program, no more than two of the major courses may be at the 2000 level. Students preparing for the health professions or graduate school (see below) should not take more than one 2000 course as part of their seven course electives. Biology majors should seek an advisor from the Biology department in the beginning of their sophomore year to guide in the choice of program and electives.

Note: All elective major courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C-.

Biology Senior Research Program

In addition to the entry-level requirements and co-requisites and the seven electives, as outlined above, biology majors must also complete the following three-course sequence (see course descriptions below for further details):

• BIO 3099: Research Seminar
• BIO 3499: Senior Research
• BIO 3998: Senior Evaluation

Health Professions and Graduate School Preparation

Prerequisites:

For those students planning to pursue health-related careers such as medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, optometry, osteopathy, nursing, or medical technology, or for those preparing for graduate school, the following prerequisites are required:

• Principles of Biology I and II
• Principles of Chemistry I and II with Laboratories
• Organic Chemistry I and II with Laboratories
• Calculus I and II
• Physics I and II
• English Literature course in addition to an academic writing course (e.g. ENC).

Biology Minor

• Principles of Biology I and II, completed with a minimum grade of C, or evidence of high achievement in equivalent course work, as a prerequisite for all biology courses above the 2000 level. If a C - or below is received in either class, it must be retaken and passed with a minimum grade of C before students can progress to the 3000-level electives.
• Principles of Chemistry I and II, Principles of Chemistry I and II Lab, completed with a minimum grade of C-.
• Four additional one-semester courses in Biology of which three should be laboratory courses above the 2000-level. An independent study may fulfill one of these requirements.

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