Requirements for a Major or Minor in Biology
Programs offered • Major in Biology (32 credits in biology plus 12 supporting credits) • Minor in Biology (20 credits) • Minor in Neuroscience (see neuroscience) (22 credits in neuroscience plus 8 supporting credits) • Biology Education major with a teaching license, grades 9-12 (32 credits in biology plus 32 credits in education) • General Science teaching license, grades 5-8 (see education) (32 credits in science) • Science Area of Specialization for Elementary Education majors, grades 5-8 (see education) (25 credits in science) The biology department mission is to: • convey to students an understanding of how the biological sciences inform society • convey an understanding of how the human population and nature are interacting parts of creation • explore the limitations, boundaries, and ethical implications of scientific knowledge and practice • provide students with experiences that introduce them to up-to-date technologies and research methods employed in biology • foster respect and appreciation for different modes of inquiry in the biological sciences The biology department provides learning experiences that prepare students to achieve the following outcomes: • understand the basic concepts of the biological sciences • understand the limitations, boundaries, and ethical implications of scientific knowledge and practice • be familiar with to up-to-date technologies and research methods employed in biological sciences • experience different modes of inquiry in the biological sciences, such as group learning and collaborative problem solving • develop professional communication skills, including scientific reading, writing and speaking In addition, the department seeks to convey the excitement of biological inquiry and discovery through a variety of means: encouraging group learning and collaborative problem solving, providing opportunities to explore career options and helping students to develop professional communication skills, including scientific reading, writing and speaking. Sophomore and above biology majors who meet criteria are invited to participate in the biology departmental honors program. Biology students are encouraged to participate in laboratory or field research projects, which can be arranged on a directed research basis with various faculty members in the biology department. Majors are also regularly employed as laboratory assistants in the beginning biology courses and as teaching assistants to individual faculty, where they gain valuable teaching experience under the direct supervision of a biology staff member. Major in Biology The requirements for a major in biology are 32 credits in biology plus 12 supporting credits: • BIOL 121 – Vertebrate Biology, 4 credits • BIOL 122 – Evolution and Diversity, 4 credits • BIOL 221 – Ecology, 4 credits • BIOL 222 – Genetics and Molecular Biology, 4 credits • 4-credit field course selected from − BIOL 305 – Ecology and Field Biology, 4 credits − BIOL 309 – Ornithology, 4 credits − BIOL 311 – Entomology, 4 credits − BIOL 313 – Plant Taxonomy, 4 credits − BIOL 405 – General Ecology, 4 credits − BIOL 409 – Freshwater Ecology, 4 credits • 4-credit laboratory-based course selected from − BIOL 306 – Human Anatomy and Physiology, 4 credits − BIOL 324 – Invertebrate Zoology, 4 credits − BIOL 336 – Histology, 4 credits − BIOL 345 – Molecular Biology, 4 credits − BIOL 350 – Animal Behavior, 4 credits − BIOL 352 – Immunology and Parasitology, 4 credits − BIOL 400, NEU 400 – Neurobiology, 4 credits − BIOL 402 – Embryology, 4 credits − BIOL 407 – Microbiology, 4 credits − BIOL 411 – Integrated Vertebrate Anatomy and Physiology I, 4 credits − BIOL 412 – Integrated Vertebrate Anatomy and Physiology II, 4 credits − BIOL 416 – Advanced Topics in Genetics, 4 credits • 8 additional credits from 300- or 400-level biology courses No more than the equivalent of 4 credits from the following may be applied toward the major: − BIOL 300 – May Seminar − BIOL 380 – Special Topics − BIOL 480 – Independent Study − BIOL 490 – Directed Research The following cannot be counted toward a major: – BIOL 303 – Biomedical Ethics, 4 credits – BIOL 315 – Evolution, 4 credits – BIOL 390 – Cooperative Education, 2 to 4 credits • Supporting courses required for the major: – MATH 110 – Precalculus, 4 credits OR MATH 121 – Calculus I, 4 credits OR MATH 205 – Introduction to Statistics, 4 credits – CHEM 127-128 – General Chemistry I and II, 4 credits each OR CHEM 137-138 – Honors Chemistry I and II, 4 credits each The biology major field test provided by Educational Testing Service must be taken the last semester prior to graduation. The department will announce the date. ESC 302, ENVR 302 – Geology, 4 credits, may be counted by biology teaching majors. Organic chemistry, physics and mathematics are recommended as supporting courses for biology majors. For graduate work in the biological sciences, many schools require the following or their equivalents: – MATH 121 – Calculus I, 4 credits – MATH 122 – Calculus II, 4 credits – PHYS 111 – General College Physics I, 4 credits – PHYS 112 – General College Physics II, 4 credits – CHEM 341 – Organic Chemistry I, 4 credits – CHEM 342 – Organic Chemistry II, 4 credits – CHEM 373 – Biochemistry I, 4 credits – An applied statistics course – Research experience such as BIOL 490 Minor in Biology The requirements for a minor in biology are 20 credits: • BIOL 121 – Vertebrate Biology, 4 credits • BIOL 122 – Evolution and Diversity, 4 credits • BIOL 221 – Ecology, 4 credits • BIOL 222 – Genetics and Molecular Biology, 4 credits • 4 credits from 300- or 400-level biology courses The following cannot be counted toward a minor: – BIOL 303 – Biomedical Ethics, 4 credits – BIOL 390 – Cooperative Education, 2 to 4 credits Biology Education Major with a Teaching License, Grades 9-12 The requirements for a biology education major with a teaching license, grades 9-12, are 32 credits in biology plus 32 credits in education: • BIOL 121 – Vertebrate Biology, 4 credits • BIOL 122 – Evolution and Diversity, 4 credits • BIOL 221 – Ecology, 4 credits • BIOL 222 – Genetics and Molecular Biology, 4 credits • 16 additional credits in biology, including at least: – 4-credit field course selected from: BIOL 305 – Ecology and Field Biology, 4 credits BIOL 309 – Ornithology, 4 credits BIOL 311 – Entomology, 4 credits BIOL 405 – General Ecology, 4 credits BIOL 409 – Freshwater Ecology, 4 credits ESC 302 – Geology, 4 credits AND – 4-credit laboratory-based course selected from: BIOL 306 – Human Anatomy and Physiology, 4 credits BIOL 324 – Invertebrate Zoology, 4 credits BIOL 336 – Histology, 4 credits BIOL 350 – Animal Behavior, 4 credits BIOL 352 – Immunology and Parasitology, 4 credits BIOL 400, NEU 400 – Neurobiology, 4 credits BIOL 402 – Embryology, 4 credits BIOL 407 – Microbiology, 4 credits BIOL 411 – Integrated Vertebrate Anatomy and Physiology I, 4 credits BIOL 412 – Integrated Vertebrate Anatomy and Physiology II, 4 credits BIOL 416 – Advanced Topics in Genetics, 4 credits • Successful completion of the secondary/K-12 curriculum requirements. The required methods of teaching course is EDUC 372 – Methods of Teaching in Science, 4 credits. The biology major field test provided by Educational Testing Service must be taken the last semester prior to graduation. The department will announce the date. General Science Teaching License, Grades 5-8 A recommended addition to the biology education major with a teaching license, grades 9-12, is the general science teaching license, grades 5-8. The requirements for the general science teaching license, grades 5-8, are 32 credits in science (see education).
Course Catalog
