Undergraduate Courses
BIO 100
PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY
3, 3/0; NSIF
Non-majors only. The unifying principles of modern biology with special emphasis on cell biology, metabolism, and genetics.
BIO 101
HUMAN BIOLOGY
3, 3/0; NSIF
Non-majors only. Biological principles of the human condition with particular emphasis on physiology of normal body function with regard to nutrition, disease, psychoactive agents, reproduction and contraception, and aging. Contemporary health-related issues.
BIO 104
ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY
3, 3/0; NSIF
Non-majors only. Biological aspects of global environmental problems. Principles of ecology.
BIO 105
BIOTECHNOLOGY: APPLICATIONS AND ISSUES
3, 3/0; NSIF, TSIF
Science of molecular biology; tools for manipulating genes of most forms of life, including humans. Biotechnology’s application of those tools to address problems in agriculture, the environment, medicine, and society. Effectiveness and safety of biotechnology, as well as the cultural, political, and ethical concerns about its application.
BIO 210
MICROBIOLOGY
3, 2/2
Prerequisite: BIO 100.
Non-majors only. Morphology and physiology of bacteria. General application to household science, sanitation, hygiene, and infectious disease.
BIO 211
INTRODUCTION TO CELL BIOLOGY AND GENETICS
4, 3/3; NSIF
The chemicals of life and their hierarchal organization in cells. Cell organelles. Metabolism and energy transformations. Cell division, gene expression, Mendelian and population genetics. Biotechnology in human health, nutrition, and society.
BIO 212
INTRODUCTION TO ORGANISMAL BIOLOGY AND DIVERSITY
4, 3/3; NSIF
Origins and history of life. Functional biology of animals and plants studied in an integrated fashion. Survey of morphology, physiology, development, reproduction, and life cycles of animals, plants, fungi and microbes.
BIO 213
INTRODUCTION TO ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION, AND BEHAVIOR
4, 3/3; NSIF
Population, community, and ecosystem ecology; human impact on the environment. The Darwinian revolution, evolution of populations, and the formation of new species. Principles of animal behavior.
BIO 300
BIOSTATISTICS
4, 3/3
Prerequisites: Algebra, upper-division status.
Statistical inference as a guide to decision making during biological investigations. Elements of experimental design. Exploratory data analysis. Tabular, graphical, and written interpretation of results. Application of inferential techniques, including confidence intervals, t-tests, analysis of variance, chi-square analysis of contingency tables, and linear regression and correlation.
BIO 301
CELL PHYSIOLOGY
4, 3/3
Prerequisites: BIO 211, CHE 201.
Physiological processes at the cellular level.
BIO 303
GENETICS
4, 3/3; OCIF
Prerequisites: BIO 211, CHE 111, CHE 112.
Principles of Mendelian, molecular, and population genetics. Classic and molecular experimental methods for studying gene structure, transmission, expression.
BIO 305
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
4, 3/3
Prerequisites: BIO 211, CHE 201.
Structure, organization, and function in living matter at the molecular level.
BIO 308
HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
3, 3/0
Prerequisites: BIO 100, upper-division status.
Physiology and pertinent anatomy of the major organ systems of the human body, including consideration of clinical health and disease. Not applicable as a biology elective for students pursuing a B.A. in biology.
BIO 309
LABORATORY IN HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
1, 0/3
Prerequisites: BIO 100, upper-division status.
Human anatomy and functions of the major anatomical systems using the techniques of rigorous animal dissection (e.g., cats and sheep organs) and physiological experiments. Not applicable as a biology elective for students pursuing a B.A. in biology.
BIO 314
ADVANCED CELL BIOLOGY
4, 3/3
Prerequisites: BIO 211, CHE 201.
In-depth examination of the cell. Emphasis on the contribution of the molecular approach to the understanding of cell structure and functions, in particular, the contribution of recombinant DNA technology.
BIO 315
ECOLOGY
4, 3/3
Prerequisites: BIO 212, BIO 213, CHE 111, CHE 112.
Ecosystems, biotic communities, interspecific and intraspecific relationships, biogeochemical cycles, energy flow, population ecology, introduction to analysis of community composition, effects of humanity in modifying natural environments. Several halfday or all-day field trips may be required.
BIO 316
GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY
4, 2/6
Prerequisites: BIO 211, CHE 111, CHE 112.
Microorganisms and techniques of observing their morphology, growth characteristics, and distribution. The relationship of microorganisms to human activities.
BIO 321
COMPARATIVE VERTEBRATE ANATOMY
4, 3/3
Prerequisites: BIO 212, BIO 213.
Function, evolution, and development of the diversity of vertebrate structure. Rigorous dissections of representative vertebrate morphologies (e.g., preserved sharks, amphibians, cats, etc.).
BIO 322
HUMAN HEREDITY
3, 3/0
Prerequisites: BIO 100, upper-division status.
Non-majors only. Human inheritance and the social implications of genetics to modern society.
BIO 324
BIOLOGY OF HUMAN REPRODUCTION
3, 3/0
Prerequisites: BIO 100, upper-division status.
Non-majors only. Anatomy and physiology of the human reproductive system, development of the human embryo, and the processes of birth and lactation.
BIO 325
ICHTHYOLOGY
4, 3/3
Prerequisites: BIO 212, BIO 213.
Study of the biology of fishes: structure and function (anatomy and physiology), systematics, evolution, diversity, zoogeography, and ecology.
BIO 350
GENES IN POPULATIONS
4, 3/3; OCIF
Prerequisites: BIO 211, CHE 111, CHE 112, upper-division status.
Processes that cause populations to change over time; mutation, natural selection, genetic drift, and gene flow. Application of population genetic principles to problems in conservation biology and forensic genetic analysis.
BIO 402
COMPARATIVE ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY
4, 3/3
Prerequisites: BIO 211, BIO 212, CHE 201.
Study of hormonal control, neural processing, sensory mechanisms, circulation, gas exchange, digestion, muscles, energetics, and thermoregulation using vertebrate and invertebrate examples.
BIO 405
ORGANIC EVOLUTION
3, 3/0
Prerequisites: BIO 212, BIO 213, BIO 303.
Empirical foundation of evolutionary theory. Emphasizes the dynamics of the process of evolution, especially as it relates to individual variation within an interbreeding population, to the variation pattern on the population level, and to the origin of species; more recent trends, such as introgressive hybridization, polyploidy, apomixis, and genetic homeostasis are developed.
BIO 408
PLANT PHYSIOLOGY
4, 3/3
Prerequisites: BIO 211, BIO 212, CHE 201.
Physiological processes in plants, including photosynthesis, respiration, osmosis, translocation, transpiration, effects of hormones, soil nutrients, and tropisms.
BIO 414
MAMMALOGY
3, 2/3
Prerequisites: BIO 212, BIO 213.
Introduction to the study of mammals, living and extinct, including a survey of the diversity of mammalian life history strategies, behavior, ecology, morphology, and physiology. Required field trips, collection techniques, and preparation of study materials.
BIO 418
LIMNOLOGY
4, 3/3
Prerequisites: BIO 212, BIO 213, CHE 111, CHE 112.
Physical, chemical, and biological factors that influence freshwater life and the ecological interactions in freshwater communities. Lectures, demonstrations, and field trips.
BIO 421
INVERTEBRATE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
3, 2/3
Prerequisites: BIO 212, BIO 213.
Functional approach to the morphology, physiology, adaptation, ecology, reproduction, and evolution of invertebrates.
BIO 428
VERTEBRATE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
4, 3/3
Prerequisites: BIO 212, BIO 213.
Comparative study of vertebrates, with emphasis on their anatomy, adaptations, ecology, and phylogenetic relationships.
BIO 429
FISHERIES BIOLOGY
4, 3/3
Prerequisites: BIO 212, BIO 213.
Ecology and management of fish populations. Sampling techniques and fisheries-management techniques (including stocking, hatcheries, and aquaculture programs). Feeding, behavior, and life history of fishes.
BIO 430
STREAM ECOLOGY
4, 3/3
Prerequisites: BIO 212, BIO 213, upper-division status; a course in statistics recommended,
Biological, chemical, geomorphic, and hydrologic features affecting the ecology of flowing water systems. Emphasis on freshwater invertebrate life histories, adaptations, and community structure in shallow streams.
BIO 450
RECOMBINANT DNA TECHNOLOGY
4, 2/4
Prerequisites: BIO 303 or BIO 350, CHE 201.
Extensive hands-on experience using the techniques of biotechnology. Emphasis on techniques involving the construction of recombinant DNA molecules and their analysis.
BIO 488
BIOLOGY INTERNSHIP
Variable credit
Prerequisites: Minimum cumulative and biology GPA of 2.5; BIO 211, BIO 212, BIO 213; faculty adviser and department chair permission.
An opportunity to apply learned principles and methodologies in a workplace setting.
BIO 495
SPECIAL PROJECT
Prerequisites: Faculty adviser and department chair permission.
BIO 498
HONORS RESEARCH
3, 0/9
Prerequisites: Acceptance by the Biology Honors Committee, faculty adviser permission.
Individual investigation of an original problem. After two semesters of honors research, students submit written papers and present data orally at a scientific meeting or in a department seminar. Minimum of 6 credit hours required for honors certification.
BIO 499
INDEPENDENT STUDY
Prerequisites: Faculty adviser and department chair permission.
