Biology

Professors: Rhine Singleton, Jacques Veilleux, Shallee Page
Associate Professor: Susan E. Arruda
Assistant Professor: Colleen Sands

A Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology are offered to traditional students.

A minor is offered in Biology.

The mission of the Biology Department is to develop students’ breadth and depth of knowledge in the life sciences. We emphasize skill acquisition, including critical thinking, data analysis and interpretation, use of the primary literature, planning and execution of biological experiments and basic field/laboratory techniques. Students graduating from the Biology program will be able to communicate with biologists and non-biologists alike regarding current societal issues in the life sciences. Successful completion of the degree provides a solid foundation for specialized studies at the graduate level or a broad base of educational experience in preparation for career employment.

The Department of Biology offers a program of study leading to a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree. The basic philosophy of the Department is that a sound undergraduate program should provide either a solid foundation for specialized studies at the graduate level or a broad base of educational experience in preparation for career employment. In keeping with this philosophy, course selection within the major is accorded sufficient flexibility to accomplish the objectives of students desiring to meet entrance requirements of graduate and professional schools, as well as those of students planning to end their formal studies with the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science Degree. The primary distinction between these two approaches is in the number and specificity of related courses in science and mathematics. In either case, the program provides students with the basic informational content of the life sciences and with the disciplined attitudes, methods, and experiences of biological investigation.

Students who intend to teach Biology in high school should refer to the School of Education for information on the Secondary Teacher Certification program.

Major Requirements

In addition to all graduation requirements, a minimum of 48 credits (Bachelor of Arts) or 56 credits (Bachelor of Science) in the major must be completed successfully.

All Biology majors take the following major requirements (29-30 credits):

BI101 and BI102 Biology (with laboratory)	counts towards GLE NS requirement	8 credits
BI211 Genetics (with laboratory)		4 credits
BI319 Cellular Biology (with laboratory)		4 credits
BI325 Microbiology (with laboratory)		4 credits
BI215 Biology & Health Sciences Seminar		3 credits
BI218 Ecology (with laboratory) OR
BI241 Evolutionary Biology (with laboratory)		4 credits
CH101 and CH102 Chemistry (with laboratory)		8 credits
Two semesters of Math at the MT151 level or above		6-8 credits
(first semester MT counts as GLE MT requirement, second counts towards major)
BI460 Internship in Biology OR
BI480 Senior Seminar in Biology/Health Sciences OR
BI481 Invited Senior Research		3 credits

For the B.S. degree, students must take the following additional 16 credits
CH211 and CH212 Organic Chemistry (with laboratory)		8 credits
PH101 and PH102 Physics (with laboratory)		8 credits

Note: Students wishing to complete the Secondary Teacher Certification should consult with a faculty advisor in the School of Education. These students may substitute ED487 Secondary Student Teaching Seminar (1 credit), and ED492 Secondary Student Teaching (14 credits), for Biology Seminar and Biology Thesis.

Biology Electives

In addition to the major requirements, students must choose Biology Electives from the Advising Guide. For the B.A. students must choose a total of six courses for a minimum of 20 credits; for the B.S. students must choose four courses for a minimum of 12 credits. For students interested in the field of Biotechnology, we recommend a minor in Chemistry.

Biology Major Advising Guide Course	General Electives B.A. or .B.S.	Ecology & Evolution Track B.A. or .B.S.
BI319 Cellular Biology	x*	x*
BI217 Tropical Forest Ecology	x	x
BI218 Ecology	x	x
BI221 Entomology	x	x
BI231 Animal Behavior	x	x
BI235 Human Health and Nutrition	x
BI241 Evolutionary Biology	x	x
BI250 Introduction to Plant Biology	x	x
BI260 Human Anatomy & Physiology I	x
BI261 Human Anatomy & Physiology II	x
BI312 Vertebrate Zoology	x	x
BI325 Microbiology	x*	x*
BI326 Parasitology	x	x
BI327 Principles of Immunology	x
BI351 Endocrinology	x
BI375 Mammalogy	x	x
BI400 Kinesiology	x
BI402 Physiology of Exercise	x
BI403 Assessment and Prescription of Fitness	x
BI404 Strength and Conditioning	x
BI430 Forest Ecology	x	x
ES320 Wetland Ecology and Protection	x	x
ES342 Wildlife Conservation and Management	x	x
PS304 Introduction to Neuroscience	x
PS430 Introduction to Psychopharmacology	x

Minor in Biology – Requirements
BI101 and BI102 Biology (with laboratory	8 credits
Two electives in Biology at the 200-level or above	6-8 credits
Two elective courses in Biology at the 300-level or above	6-8 credits
At least two of the four elective courses must be laboratory courses (4 credits or more)
Total	22-24 Credits

Recommended Curriculum Guide – Bachelor of Arts - Biology

First Year
*Fall Semester*		*Credits*	*Spring Semester*		*Credits*
BI101	Biology I (laboratory)	4	BI102	Biology II (laboratory)	4
CH101	General Chemistry I (laboratory)	4	CH102	General Chemistry II (laboratory)	4
GLE110	First-Year Composition	3	______	GLE Elective	3
MT151 or MT260	College Algebra or Statistics	3	MT151 or MT260 or MT221	College Algebra or Statistics or Calculus I	3-4
GLE101	First-Year Inquiry Seminar	3
	Total	17		Total	14
Second Year
*Fall Semester*		*Credits*	*Spring Semester*		*Credits*
BI218 or BI211	Ecology (laboratory) or Genetics (laboratory)	4	BI211 or BI241	Genetics (laboratory) or Evolutionary Biology	4
BI215 or BI ___	Biology and Health Sciences Seminar or Biology Elective	3 or 4	BI215 or BI___	Biology and Health Sciences Seminar or Biology Elective	3 or 4
______	GLE Elective	3	GLE230	Second-Year Composition	3
______	GLE Elective	3	______	GLE Elective	3
______	Elective	3	______	Elective	3
	Total	16		Total	16
Third Year
*Fall Semester*		*Credits*	*Spring Semester*		*Credits*
BI235 or BI319	Biology Elective or Cellular Biology (laboratory)	4	BI235 or BI319	Microbiology (laboratory) or Cellular Biology (laboratory)	4
______	Biology Elective	4	______	Biology Elective	4
______	GLE Elective	3	______	GLE Elective	3
______	GLE Elective	3	______	Elective*	3
______	Elective*	3	______	Elective	3
	Total	17		Total	17
Fourth Year
*Fall Semester*		*Credits*	*Spring Semester*		*Credits*
BI___	Internship in Biology/Health Sciences or Senior Seminar in Biology/Health Sciences or Invited Senior Research or Biology Elective	3-4	BI460 or BI480 or BI___	Internship in Biology/Health Sciences or Senior Seminar in Biology/Health Sciences or Invited Senior Research or Biology Elective	3-4
BI___	Biology Elective	4	BI___	Biology Elective	3
______	Elective*	3	______	Elective	3
______	Elective	3	______	Elective	3
	Total	13		Total	12
				Total Credits	122

Recommended Curriculum Guide – Bachelor of Science - Biology

First Year
*Fall Semester*		*Credits*	*Spring Semester*			*Credits*
BI101	Biology I (laboratory)	4	BI102	Biology II (laboratory)	4
CH101	General Chemistry I (laboratory)	4	CH102	General Chemistry II (laboratory)	4
GLE110	First Year Composition	3	______	GLE Elective	3
MT151 or MT260	College Algebra or Statistics	3	MT151 or MT260 or MT221	College Algebra or Statistics or Calculus I	3 or 4
GLE101	First Year Inquiry	3	______	GLE Elective	3
	Total	17		Total	17
Second Year
*Fall Semester*		*Credits*	*Spring Semester*			*Credits*
BI218 or BI211	Ecology or Genetics (laboratory)	3 or 4	BI215 or BI___	Genetics (laboratory) or Evolutionary Biology (laboratory)	3 or 4
BI215 or BI___	Biology and Health Sciences Seminar or Biology Elective	3 or 4	BI215 or BI___	Biology and Health Sciences Seminar or Biology Elective	3 or 4
CH211	Organic Chemistry I (laboratory)	4	BI___	Biology Elective	3
______	Biology elective	3	GLE230	Second-Year Composition	3
	Total	13		Total	12
Third Year
*Fall Semester*		*Credits*	*Spring Semester*			*Credits*
BI319 or BI___	Cellular Biology or Biology Elective	4	BI235 or BI319	Microbiology (laboratory) or Cellular Biology (laboratory)	4
PH101	General Physics I (laboratory)	4	PH102	General Physics II (laboratory)	4
______	GLE Elective	4	______	GLE Elective	3
______	GLE Elective	3	______	GLE Elective	3
______	Elective	3	______	Elective	3
	Total	18		Total	17
Fourth Year
*Fall Semester*		*Credits*	*Spring Semester*			*Credits*
BI460 or BI480 or BI___	Internship in Biology/Health Sciences or Senior Seminar in Biology/Health Sciences or Invited Senior Research or Biology Elective	3 or 4	BI460 or BI480 or BI___	Internship in Biology/Health Sciences or Senior Seminar in Biology/Health Sciences or Invited Senior Research or Biology Elective	3 or 4
______	GLE Elective	3	BI___	Biology Elective	3
______	Elective	3	______	Elective	3
______	Elective	3	______	Elective	3
______	Elective	3
	Total	15		Total	12
				Total Credits	121

*One or more additional electives may be needed to fulfill general education requirements. See General and Liberal Education (GLE).