Biology Courses

A weekly class meeting required for all new biology majors. The requirements for the major, schedule planning and advisement procedures are introduced. On- and off-campus resources pertinent to the biology major are introduced and practice in their acquisition and utilization is conducted. Career information, including immediate job entry opportunities and requirements for post-baccalaureate degree programs professional and graduate, is presented. (This class is available during fall semester.)

In a laboratory setting over eight weeks, students complete seven environmental curricula certifications conferred by nationally recognized agencies: Project WET Water Education for Teachers, Project WOW Wonders of Wetlands, Project WILD and Growing Up WILD, Project Learning Tree and Early Childhood PLT and the Leopold Education Project. All books and educational/reference/craft materials are provided. This is a general elective open to all students. There are no prerequisites. Fee per certification is required. Some Saturday classes may be required. (This class is available during odd fall semesters.)

A survey course designed to examine the central concepts of modern biological thought and the evidence that provides support for these concepts. This course is a prerequisite for many advanced biology courses and is for majors only. Three hours lecture/discussion and three hours laboratory each week. (This class is available during fall semester)

This course emphasizes biological aspects of the environment, including the effect of humans on other organisms and vice versa, and their role in biological ecosystems. This course is designed for students who have little or no training in science and does not count as a course toward a biology major. There are three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory each week. (TBA)

The first course in a two-course sequence and is the study of the structure and function of the human body, including cellular and tissue structure and function, as well as the skeletal, muscular, nervous, and endocrine systems. (This class is available during fall semester.)

Taught concurrently with Biology 2003, 2103. Concurrent enrollment is recommended but not required. (Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory I class is available during the fall semester; II offered during the spring.)

This is the second course in a two-course sequence and is the study of the structure and function of the human body: circulatory, excretory, digestive, immunological and reproductive systems. Prerequisite: BIOL 2003 or permission of instructor. (This class is available during spring semester.)

This is a survey course designed to examine plant structure and function. The emphasis is on mechanisms of plant adaptation to the environment. The laboratory involves hands-on activities related to concepts and principles discussed in lecture. There are three hours of lecture/discussion and three hours of laboratory each week. Prerequisite: BIOL 1214. (This class is available during spring semester.)

This course, intended for nursing majors and students who plan to enter allied health fields, is an introduction to the structural and functional characteristics of microbes with a focus on bacteria and viruses. The importance of microbes to human health and welfare is a principle perspective in the architecture of this course. The laboratory component is devoted to the acquisition of skills required in the study of bacteria. There are three hours of lecture/discussion and three hours of laboratory each week. Prerequisites: CHEM 1025 or equivalent and BIOL 2003 or equivalent, or permission of the instructor. (This class is available during spring semester.)

This course is a study of animal structure and function with an emphasis on animal diversity and mechanisms of adaptation to the environment. Most laboratory sessions include dissection of preserved specimens of the animals discussed in lecture. There are three hours of lecture/discussion and three hours of laboratory each week. Prerequisites: BIOL 1214 or equivalent, or BIOL 2003, 2041, 2013, and 2141, or permission of instructor. (This class is available during spring semester.)

This course is designed for students who are in the biomedical track or pre-medicine track. The course focuses exclusively on terminology required for medical practitioners. (This class is available during spring semester.)

This course deals with the fundamental principles and mechanisms of genetics; including, structure and function of nucleic acids; mechanisms of inheritance and genetic change; similarities and differences in viral, prokaryotic, and eukaryotic systems; applications of statistics and other analytical tools to understanding the mechanisms of genetics; and an introduction to population genetics and related questions in molecular evolution. There are three hours of lecture/discussion each week. Prerequisite: BIOL 1214 or equivalent and a college chemistry course, or permission of instructor. (This class is available during fall semester.)

This class covers detailed coverage of processes that are fundamental to the study of biology, including a study of biological macromolecules, enzymes and metabolic processes, cell structure and gene expression. Prerequisite: BIOL 1214. (This class is available during spring semester.)

This course, intended for majors in biology and related fields, focuses on the structure and physiology of microorganisms, with an emphasis on bacteria. The skills required to handle and study bacteria are acquired in the lab portion of the course. There are three hours of lecture/discussion and three hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisites: BIOL 1214 or equivalent and CHEM 1104 or equivalent, or permission of instructor. (This class is available during fall semester.)

This class focuses on morphology of the organ systems in animals with special emphasis on vertebrates, providing a basis for the structural and developmental history of humans and other animals. It also includes detailed dissection of selected vertebrates. There are three hours lecture/discussion and three hours of laboratory each week. Prerequisites: BIOL 1214 and either BIOL 2414 or BIOL 2003, 2041, 2103, and 2141, or permission of instructor. (This class is available during odd fall semesters.)

This class explores basic concepts in neurobiology and the connection between the nervous system and behavior. It includes organization and evolution of nervous system, structure and function of the brain, neurons and neurotransmitters, brain function in sensation, perception, learning, memory, neurological disorders and psychoactive drugs. This is an upper-level biology elective. Prerequisite: BIOL 1214 or permission of the instructor. (This class is available during even spring semesters.)

This class discusses and correctly applies fundamental principles of evolution. It also includes individual and group projects, lecture, discussion groups and selected readings. Classroom experiments and field excursions will occur, as well as overnight field trip(s). Prerequisite: BIOL 1214 or equivalent. (TBA)

This course is designed for biology majors and has an emphasis is placed on ecological theory in an effort to explain the development and maintenance of natural ecosystems. Field trips are included. There are three hours lecture and three hours laboratory each week. Prerequisite BIOL 1214 or equivalent. (This class is available during even spring semesters.)

This course covers the integration of neural, hormonal, nutritional, circulatory and excretory functions of the animal as related to cell-origin interrelationships. Laboratory exercises include instrumentation and techniques required for the study of animal systems. There are three hours lecture/discussion and three hours of laboratory each week. Prerequisites: BIOL 1214 and either BIOL 2414 or BIOL 2003, 2041, 2103 and 2141, or permission of instructor. (This class is available during even fall semesters.)

This course covers principles of cellular activity, molecular structure and protoplasm, surface and osmotic phenomena, permeability, energy exchange mechanisms, and the biochemistry of cellular replication. There are three hours lecture and three hours laboratory each week. Prerequisite: BIOL 1214 or permission of instructor. (This class is available during even spring semesters.)

This course examines the discipline of plant biology focusing on the study of plants that are economically important to people, including plants that are sources of food, fibers, medicines, gums, insecticides, etc. (TBA)

This course examines chemical properties and metabolism of constituents of living organisms. There are three hours of lecture/discussion and three hours of laboratory each week. Prerequisite: CHEM 3103 and BIOL 1214 or equivalent, or by instructor permission. Cross-listed CHEM 3714. (This class is available during the fall semester.)

These courses are level-designed for individual or small-group study within specialized areas of biological science. Under appropriate faculty guidance, study opportunities range from specialized course work, i.e. courses not listed in the catalog and seminars or colloquia, to participation in a specific research project. The course level shown on enrollment reflects the level of complexity inherent in the study opportunity. (TBA)

This course provides a thorough and detailed study of avian biology beyond an introductory level, as well as basic understanding of systematics and classification, vertebrate evolution, phylogeny and morphology. There also are overnight field trip(s). Prerequisite: BIOL 2414. (TBA)

This course includes critical analysis of primary scientific literature; construction of scientific articles; presentation of research findings; development of scientific arguments; responsible and accurate citations of other’s work. This is a required prerequisite for BIOL 4502 Biology Capstone. Prerequisite: BIOL 1214 or equivalent. (TBA)

This course details mechanisms and evolution of animal behavior. It includes methods of observation of behavior, hypothesis testing, neural and physiological basis of behavior, communication, aggression, social behavior and cognition. There are three hours lecture and three hours laboratory each week. Prerequisite: BIOL 1214 or permission of instructor. Cross-listed PSYC 4114. (TBA)

This course focuses on biologic processes at the molecular level, including in-depth study of nucleic acids, gene organization and gene expression. Modern recombinant DNA technology and approaches are addressed throughout the course. There are three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory each week. Prerequisite: BIOL 3003 or permission of instructor. (This class is available during odd spring semesters.)

This course addresses the mechanisms by which microorganisms, especially bacteria, cause disease. The human immune responses to invasive microorganisms also will be covered. There are three hours of lecture/discussion and three hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisites: BIOL 3114, and junior or senior standing or permission of instructor. (This class is available during spring semesters.)

This course includes detailed analysis of selected areas of intermediary metabolism with an introduction to enzyme and hormone research. There are three hours of lecture/discussion each week. Prerequisite: CHEM 3714 or BIOL 3714. Crosslisted CHEM 4403. (This class is available during spring semesters.)

This course offers an introduction to techniques used in biochemical research with emphasis on experimental design, evaluation and interpretation of data. There are six hours of laboratory each week. Prerequisite: CHEM 3714 or BIOL 3714 (may be taken concurrently). Cross-listed CHEM 4442. (TBA)

This course fulfills the general education capstone requirement for all biology majors. The student completes a capstone project that requires conducting laboratory or library research on an approved question drawn from the field of biology. Course requirements include a written paper, which draws on the primary research literature in addressing the research question and an oral presentation of the capstone project to the department. Prerequisite: BIOL 3851-8 or 4851-8 and senior standing. (This class is available during fall semesters.)

This course includes biological study of a selected region of the world through travel, field work, reading and lecture. Specific topics, e.g. ecology, animal behavior, zoology, botany, and/or environmental issues, reflect the expertise of the instructor and the characteristics of the region, supplemented by informal lectures, seminars, demonstrations, discussions, experimentation and directed study. Library research paper and/or other forms of writing required. (TBA)

Internships offer structured and evaluated experiential learning in a biology-related organization. The number of credit hours and location are arranged through the Department of Biology. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing and permission of the department chair. (TBA)

Research projects are conducted under appropriate faculty guidance. By permission of department chair only. (TBA)