2017-2018 Academic Catalog

Dec 22, 2024

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2017-2018 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Biology, B.S.

Major Requirements

To declare and be retained as a biology major, a student must maintain a 2.00 grade point average based on the courses attempted which satisfy the biology major’s requirements. No courses numbered below 204 except BIO 150 - Principles of Biology I: Organisms & Populations , BIO 151 - Principles of Biology II: Cells & Organisms , and BIO 152 - Principles of Biology III: Molecules & Cells can be used to fulfill the biology major requirements. In many biology courses a student is expected to devote more time than scheduled in laboratory and field investigations.

Required Courses:

Biology majors must complete 14 courses, nine in biology and five cognate courses.

Biology courses

Three introductory courses:

Three introductory courses must be completed before end of the third year.

BIO 150 - Principles of Biology I: Organisms & Populations 1 course unit
BIO 151 - Principles of Biology II: Cells & Organisms 1 course unit
BIO 152 - Principles of Biology III: Molecules & Cells 1 course unit

Five biology electives:

Five biology electives numbered 204 or above (except BIO 960 - Biology Internship and cluster courses) and may include ESC 312 - CUE: Toxicology , NSC 311 - Neurons & Networks , SUS 350 - Community Sustainability in Costa Rica , and up to one credit of BIO 970 Biology Independent Study/Research . At least one course must be from each of three areas of biological organization:

Area 1 - Molecules and Cells

Courses explore structural and functional relationships from the molecular to cellular level of organization:

BIO 205 - Cell Biology 1 course unit
BIO 215 - Genetics 1 course unit
BIO 220 - Biochemistry 1 course unit
BIO 225 - Microbiology 1 course unit

Area 2 - Cells and Organisms

Courses explore structural and functional relationships from the cellular to organism level of organization:

BIO 240 - Developmental Biology 1 course unit
BIO 242 - Entomology 1 course unit
BIO 245 - Comparative Anatomy 1 course unit
BIO 250 - General Physiology 1 course unit

Area 3 - Organisms and Populations

Courses explore the interactions of individuals and populations with their physical and biological environments:

BIO 204 - Invertebrate Zoology 1 course unit
BIO 255 - Ornithology 1 course unit
BIO 260 - Field Botany & Plant Ecology 1 course unit
BIO 262 - Cultural & Economic Botany 1 course unit
BIO 265 - Behavior 1 course unit
BIO 268 - Freshwater Ecology 1 course unit
BIO 270 - Ecology 1 course unit

Culminating Undergraduate Experience (CUE):

One of the biology courses numbered between 400 and 499. This is an advanced, seminar style course that incorporates inquiry-oriented student projects.

Cognate courses

MTH 121 - Calculus I 1 course unit OR
MTH 122 - Calculus II 1 course unit OR
MTH 223 - Calculus III 1 course unit
CHM 103 - General Chemistry I 1 course unit
CHM 104 - General Chemistry II 1 course unit
CHM 201 - Organic Chemistry I 1 course unit OR
CHM 203, 205 - Organic Chemistry IA 1 course unit
PHY 121 - General Physics I 1 course unit

Note:

Students are strongly encouraged to complete CHM 202 - Organic Chemistry II or CHM 204, 206 - Organic Chemistry IIA and PHY 122 - General Physics II because a full year of each are required by virtually all graduate programs in the biological sciences or health professions.