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

1. Describe cellular structure and function
2. Describe, discuss, and give examples of evidence supporting evolutionary theory
3. Recognize and explain abiotic and biotic ecosystem components and their interactions

2.  Define, describe, and apply the scientific method, including

a.    Generate hypotheses, make predictions, design and conduct experiments

b.    Demonstrate skills in general biology and molecular* laboratory protocols

c.    Develop skills in field sampling methods

d.    Analyze, summarize, interpret, and present experimental results

3.   Convey ideas using language and presentation skills specific to the natural sciences, including,

1. Design and conduct an undergraduate research project under faculty guidance
2. Prepare a manuscript citing peer-reviewed publications
3. 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.

1. Organize information gathered from several sources, including peer-reviewed.
2. Synthesize and communicate material correctly.
3. 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.

Minor Biology