Biology
Our Biology program offers students a strong foundation in basic biological principles coupled with a varied emphasis in chemistry and molecular biology. This background is designed to provide you with a comprehensive undergraduate experience that will prepare you to enter graduate school or professional areas of the health sciences, wildlife biology, and more.
Learning Outcomes for Biology, BS and for Biology, Minor
Upon completion of this program, students can:
1. Demonstrate basic competence in the principles and theories used in biology, including:
- Describe cellular structure and function
- Describe, discuss, and give examples of evidence supporting evolutionary theory
- Recognize and explain abiotic and biotic ecosystem components and their interactions
2. Define, describe, and apply the scientific method, including
- Generate hypotheses, make predictions, design and conduct experiments
- Demonstrate skills in general biology and molecular* laboratory protocols
- Develop skills in field sampling methods
- Analyze, summarize, interpret, and present experimental results
3. Convey ideas using language and presentation skills specific to the natural sciences, including,
- Design and conduct an undergraduate research project under faculty guidance
- Prepare a manuscript citing peer-reviewed publications
- Prepare and present an oral presentation of a scientific topic
4. Use critical thinking to synthesize information, evaluate assumptions and claims, and draw evidence based conclusions.
- Organize information gathered from several sources, including peer-reviewed.
- Synthesize and communicate material correctly.
- Critically extend or defend evidence-based conclusions
*Biology majors only
Bachelor of Science Biology (No Minor Required)
Learning outcomes: Students will describe the structure and function of cellular components. Students will describe, discuss and give examples of macro and micro evolution. Students will recognize and explain interrelationships and dependencies between abiotic and biotic components of ecosystems. Students will apply the scientific method when testing hypotheses, designing and conducting experiments. The student will design and conduct an undergraduate research project under the guidance of the course faculty. Students will prepare a library research paper, using only peer-reviewed journal articles, which compares and contrasts two or more taxa. The student will prepare and present an electronic oral presentation of their undergraduate research project. The student will demonstrate appropriate gel electrophoresis and sample loading techniques. The student will demonstrate appropriate field population sampling. The student will demonstrate appropriate aseptic technique using bacteria.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
General Education Core | 33 | |
Common Science Core | ||
BIOB 160 | Principles of Living Systems | 4 |
BIOB 161 | Principles Living Systems Lab | 1 |
BIOB 420 | Evolution | 4 |
BIOE 370 | General Ecology | 4 |
BIOE 371 | General Ecology Lab | 0 |
BIOO 220 | General Botany | 3 |
BIOO 221 | Gen Botany Lab | 2 |
BIOO 380 | Zoology | 3 |
BIOO 381 | Zoology Lab | 2 |
CHMY 141 | College Chemistry I | 5 |
CHMY 142 | College Chemistry Lab I | 0 |
CHMY 143 | College Chemistry II | 5 |
CHMY 144 | College Chemistry Lab II | 0 |
PHSX 205 | College Physics I | 3 |
PHSX 206 | College Physics I Laboratory | 1 |
PHSX 207 | College Physics II | 3 |
PHSX 208 | College Physics II Laboratory | 1 |
Required Program Courses | ||
BIOB 485 | Molecular Biology and Genetics | 4 |
BIOB 486 | Molecular Biology Genetics Lab | 0 |
CHMY 321 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
CHMY 322 | Organic Chemistry Lab I | 2 |
NSCI 450 | Undergraduate Research I | 3 |
COMX 111 | Intro to Public Speaking (Meets CAT I Requirement) | 3 |
STAT 216 | Introduction to Statistics (Meets CAT II Requirement) | 3 |
Select twelve (12) credits from the following: | 12 | |
Molecular Biology Techniques | ||
Molecular Biology Technqus Lab | ||
Field Biology Methods | ||
Field Biology Methods Lab | ||
Freshwater Ecology | ||
Freshwater Ecology Lab | ||
Human Anat Phys I | ||
Human Anat Phys II | ||
Microbiology for Hlth Sciences and Microbiology Hlth Sciences Lab | ||
Microbiology Hlth Sciences Lab | ||
Medical Microbiology | ||
Medical Microbiology Lab | ||
General Botany | ||
General Botany Laboratory | ||
Entomology | ||
Entomology Lab | ||
Ornithology | ||
Ornithology Lab | ||
Intro to Paleontology | ||
Undergraduate Research II | ||
Advisor Approved Electives or Minor | 18 | |
Total minimum credits required for degree | 120 |
Minor Biology
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Courses (BIOB, BIOE, BIOM, BIOO, and NSCI are CAT III) | ||
BIOB 160 | Principles of Living Systems | 4 |
BIOB 161 | Principles Living Systems Lab | 1 |
BIOE 428 | Freshwater Ecology | 4 |
BIOE 429 | Freshwater Ecology Lab | 0 |
BIOM 250 | Microbiology for Hlth Sciences | 3 |
BIOM 251 | Microbiology Hlth Sciences Lab | 1 |
BIOO 220 | General Botany | 3 |
BIOO 221 | Gen Botany Lab | 2 |
BIOO 320 | General Botany | 4 |
BIOO 321 | General Botany Laboratory | 0 |
BIOO 380 | Zoology | 3 |
BIOO 381 | Zoology Lab | 2 |
NSCI 301 | Essence of Science | 3 |
Total minimum credits required for minor | 30 |