2007-08 Academic Catalog	home FAQs request

BIOLOGY

Programs offered

•  Major in Biology (8.0 course credits in biology plus 3.0 supporting course credits)
•  Minor in Biology (5.0 course credits)
•  Minor in Neuroscience (see neuroscience) (5.5 course credits)
•  Biology Education major with a teaching license, grades 9-12 (8.0 course credits in biology plus 8.0 course credits in education)
•  General Science teaching license, grades 5-8 (see education) (8.0 course credits in science)
•  Science Area of Specialization for Elementary Education majors, grades 5-8 (see education)  (6.25 course credits in science)

Biology Course Descriptions 

Faculty and Staff
Gerald L. Van Amburg, chair
Colleen B. Hyde, laboratory technician
Ellen L. Aho
Ivan M. Johnson
D. Bryan Bishop 
Ronald L. Nellermoe
Kirsten B. Diederich
Carol I. Pratt
John A. Flaspohler
Julie C. Rutherford
Greg A. Hoch
William L. Todt

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. Junior biology majors who meet the criteria are invited to participate in the biology departmental honors program. Biology students are encouraged to participate in laboratory or field research projects. The projects 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 8.0 course credits in biology and 3.0 supporting course credits:

•  BIOL 121 — Vertebrate Biology, 1.0 credit
•  BIOL 122 — Evolution and Diversity, 1.0 credit
•  BIOL 221 — Ecology, 1.0 credit
•  BIOL 222 — Genetics and Molecular Biology, 1.0 credit
•  1.0 credit field course selected from
−  BIOL 305 — Ecology and Field Biology, 1.0 credit
−  BIOL 309 — Ornithology, 1.0 credit
−  BIOL 311 — Entomology, 1.0 credit
−  BIOL 313 — Plant Taxonomy, 1.0 credit
−  BIOL 405 — General Ecology, 1.0 credit
−  BIOL 409 — Limnology, 1.0 credit
•  1.0 credit laboratory-based course selected from
−  BIOL 306 — Human Anatomy and Physiology, 1.0 credit
−  BIOL 324 — Invertebrate Zoology, 1.0 credit
−  BIOL 336 — Histology, 1.0 credit
−  BIOL 345 — Molecular Biology, 1.0 credit
−  BIOL 352 — Immunology and Parasitology, 1.0 credit
−  BIOL 402 — Embryology, 1.0 credit
−  BIOL 407 — Microbiology, 1.0 credit
−  BIOL 411 — Integrated Vertebrate Anatomy and Physiology I, 1.0 credit
−  BIOL 412 — Integrated Vertebrate Anatomy and Physiology II, 1.0 credit
−  BIOL 415 — Genetics, 1.0 credit
•  2.0 additional credits from 300- or 400-level biology courses. No more than the equivalent of 1.0 credit 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, 1.0 credit
– BIOL 315 — Evolution, 1.0 credit
– BIOL 390 — Cooperative Education, 0.5 to 1.0 credit
•  Supporting courses required for the major:
–  MATH 110 — Precalculus, 1.0 credit OR MATH 121 — Calculus 1, 1.0 credit OR MATH 205 — Introduction to Statistics, 1.0 credit
–  CHEM 127-128 — General Chemistry I and II, 1.0 credit each OR  CHEM 137-138 — Honors Chemistry I and II, 1.0 credit 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.  E SC 302, ENVR 302 — Geology, 1.0 credit, 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, 1.0 credit
–  MATH 122 — Calculus II, 1.0 credit
–  PHYS 111 — General College Physics I, 1.0 credit
–  PHYS 112 — General College Physics II, 1.0 credit
–  CHEM 341 — Organic Chemistry I, 1.0 credit
–  CHEM 342 — Organic Chemistry II, 1.0 credit
–  CHEM 373 — Biochemistry I, 1.0 credit
–  An applied statistics course
–  Research experience such as BIOL 490

Minor in Biology

The requirements for a minor in biology are 5.0 course credits:

•  BIOL 121 — Vertebrate Biology, 1.0 credit
•  BIOL 122 — Evolution and Diversity, 1.0 credit
•  BIOL 221 — Ecology, 1.0 credit
•  BIOL 222 — Genetics and Molecular Biology, 1.0 credit
•  1.0 credit from 300- or 400-level biology courses
The following cannot be counted toward a minor:
–  BIOL 303 — Biomedical Ethics, 1.0 credit
–  BIOL 315 — Evolution, 1.0 credit
–  BIOL 390 — Cooperative Education, 0.5 to 1.0 credit

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 8.0 course credits in biology plus 8.0 course credits in education:

• BIOL 101 — General Biology, 1.0 credit OR  BIOL 121 — Vertebrate Biology, 1.0 credit
• BIOL 122 — Evolution and Diversity, 1.0 credit
• BIOL 221 — Ecology, 1.0 credit
• BIOL 222 — Genetics and Molecular Biology, 1.0 credit
• 4.0 additional credits in biology, including at least:
– 1.0 credit field course selected from:
  BIOL 305 — Ecology and Field Biology, 1.0 credit
  BIOL 309 — Ornithology, 1.0 credit
  BIOL 311 — Entomology, 1.0 credit
  BIOL 313 — Plant Taxonomy, 1.0 credit
  BIOL 405 — General Ecology, 1.0 credit
  BIOL 409 — Limnology, 1.0 credit
  E SC 302 — Geology, 1.0 credit
 AND
– 1.0 credit laboratory-based course selection from:
  BIOL 306 — Human Anatomy and Physiology, 1.0 credit
  BIOL 324 — Invertebrate Zoology, 1.0 credit
  BIOL 336 — Histology, 1.0 credit
  BIOL 345 — Molecular Biology, 1.0 credit
  BIOL 352 — Immunology and Parasitology, 1.0 credit
  BIOL 402 — Embryology, 1.0 credit
  BIOL 407 — Microbiology, 1.0 credit
  BIOL 411 — Integrated Vertebrate Anatomy and Physiology I, 1.0 credit
  BIOL 412 — Integrated Vertebrate Anatomy and Physiology II, 1.0 credit
  BIOL 415 — Genetics, 1.0 credit
• Successful completion of the secondary/K-12 curriculum requirements.

The required methods of teaching course is EDUC 372 — Methods of Teaching in Science, 1.0 credit. 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 8.0 course credits (see education).