The
biology major is designed to give a broad pre- professional background for students interested in careers in biology, molecular biology, biomedical science, environment science, and related fields.
Biology majors are required to demonstrate basic knowledge in important areas of the life sciences from the cellular and molecular level through the ecosystem level. They learn how to develop experiments to test appropriate hypotheses, gather and analyze data and synthesize the information obtained. Students will demonstrate a knowledge of skills and laboratory techniques necessary for investigative research. Students gain an appreciation of the history of the life sciences and the relationship of information gained from a scientific perspective to values-oriented issues in their lives. Through this program, students also have the opportunity to develop their writing and speaking skills. Students demonstrate achievement of the biology program by satisfactory completion of the courses required for the major and a Senior thesis or the senior capstone course, Integration of Biology.
For the B.S. degree: (pre-professional)
Students must fulfill all the general education requirements, and for the biology major, they must complete MA 131M (Calculus I), and either MA 133M or BE 260M (Statistics), CH 121N, 122, 221, and 222, (general and organic chemistry), PH 241N, 242 (Physics), eight biology courses (Biodiversity: Botany, Biodiversity: Zoology, Cell Biology, Genetics, Physiology, Ecology, and two biology electives), one semester each of Biology Junior and Senior Seminar, and BI 498 Integration of Biology. Students participating in off-campus programs may petition for alternatives to these specifications.
Some Marine Science courses can count as Biology electives. See Marine Science for course descriptions for the following: MS 302 Biology of Fishes, MS 311 Marine Mammalogy, MS 315 Elasmobranch Biology & Management.
For the B.S. degree, foreign language may be taken in the Junior year to accommodate the early completion of prerequisite courses in chemistry and mathematics. Beginning students are strongly encouraged to begin General Chemistry their first semester.
Sample molecular and organismic course sequences for the B.S. degree in
Biology:
Both sequences:
Semester 1: Biodiversity: Botany & General Chemistry I
Semester 2: Biodiversity: Zoology & General Chemistry II
Semester 3: Cell Biology & Organic Chemistry I
Semester 4: Genetics & Organic Chemistry II
Molecular option:
Semester 5: Developmental Biology or Advanced
Genetics and Physics I
Semester 6: General and Molecular Physiology
Semester 7: Ecology and Microbiology
Semester 8: Immunology and/or Independent Study
Organismic option:
Semester 5: Ecology or Vertebrate Biology and Physics I
Semester 6: Comparative Physiology and Physics II
Semester 7: Marine Mammalogy or Biology of Fishes
Semester 8:Conservation Biology and/or Independent Study
For the B.A. degree: (liberal arts)
Students must meet the general education requirements and for the biology major they must complete eight biology courses (including Biodiversity: Botany and Biodiversity: Zoology, or the equivalent, Cell Biology, Genetics, Physiology, Ecology, and two biology electives),one semester each of Biology Junior and Senior Seminar, BI 498 Integration of Biology, plus MA 131M (Calculus I), a statistics course and General Chemistry I and II.
Some Marine Science courses can count as Biology electives. See Marine Science for course descriptions for the following: MS 302 Biology of Fishes, MS 311 Marine Mammalogy, MS 315 Elasmobranch Biology & Management.
Students who major in biology may not also major in marine science (biology track), or biochemistry.
For the Biology minor:
A minor requires five biology courses, not including more than two at the 100 level, perspective courses, or directed or independent studies. At least one of the five courses must be at the 300 level or above.
See Marine Science for course descriptions for the following: MS 188 Marine and Freshwater Botany, MS 189 Marine Invertebrate Biology, MS 302 Biology of Fishes, MS 311 Marine Mammalogy, MS 315 Elasmobranch Biology & Management.
