Faculty: Amy E. Boyd, Mark Brenner, Robert A. Eckstein, Gregory Ettl, Jeffrey Holmes (Chair), Laura Lengnick, Michael A. Torres, Louise M. Weber.
The Department of Biology awards a Bachelor of Science degree through a broad and rigorous academic study of the living world within the context of a liberal arts education. Courses emphasize the process of gathering scientific information and building knowledge based on critical evaluation of experimental observation. All students majoring in Biology follow a program of study that provides a broad fundamental understanding of all areas of the life sciences. However, students are strongly encouraged to specialize by taking additional courses in a selected area. Because living things obey the laws of chemistry and physics, majors in biology must take courses in chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Concurrent training in education or environmental studies is possible.
Majors in Biology are prepared for employment in a wide variety of disciplines including wildlife biology, forestry and natural resources, laboratory assistance or management, public health, nutrition, animal science, and biotechnology. It is also possible to enter postgraduate professional programs in medicine, physical therapy, veterinary medicine, dentistry, public health, law, forensic science, or forestry. Others do graduate work toward the Ph.D. in areas such as molecular genetics, plant pathology, immunology, infectious diseases, animal science, botany, or zoology.
Grades: Course requirements for the major are fulfilled only by courses in which the student has earned a grade of C or better. This includes courses with BIO, CHM, MAT, PHY, and SCI prefixes.
Total Hours: A minimum of 34 credits in biology must be earned, with an additional 20 credits in physics, chemistry, and math.
Requirements:
BIO 116 General Biology
BIO 202 Ecology
BIO 322 Genetics
SCI 390 Research Design
SCI 486-489 Natural Sciences Seminar Research (minimum 2 credits.)
SCI 491 or 492 Natural Sciences Seminar Attendance
SCI 493 Natural Sciences Research Communication
Biology majors and minors may not take BIO courses numbered 110 or below to meet Biology requirements. See Natural Sciences section for requirements for the Natural Science Seminar.
Area Requirements: Students must complete a minimum of 4 credits in each of the following two areas:
Honors Program: Graduation in Biology with honors is possible for qualified students. See description under Natural Sciences on page 103.
Biology with Secondary Education: The student who elects to major in Biology and earn a Secondary Education Teaching License must complete, in addition to the Biology major, the pedagogy and content course requirements of the Teacher Education Program.
To be counted for a minor, each course must be passed with a grade of C or better.
Requirements: A minimum of 24 credits as follows:
BIO 116 General Biology
BIO 202 Ecology
BIO 322 Genetics
OR
BIO 208 Cell Biology
CHM 116 General Chemistry I
An additional 8 credits of Biology courses at or above the level of BIO 200