BI: Courses in Biology
Department of Natural Sciences
BI 101 Life Science 4 credit
An introduction to the fundamental principles common to all living
organisms. Presents basic biological principles at the organismal level
including structure and function, evolution, and ecology. A course for
non-biology majors. Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory per
week. Fall semester.
BI 102 Human Biology 4 credit
An introduction to the fundamental principles common to all living
organisms. Presents basic biological principles using human systems
as a study model including cell biology, genetics, and physiology. A
course for non-biology majors. Three lectures and one 3-hour laboratory
per week. BI 102 may be taken without BI 101. One-semester
course, offered both semesters.
BI 171 Biological Principles I 4 credit
An introductory course focusing upon fundamental biological concepts
and methods for students planning to major in biology or for students
needing to satisfy a professional school requirement in biology. This
course, the first in a two semester series, focuses on the biological
principles of evolution and speciation, a survey of biological diversity
(excluding animals), and the study of plant form and function. This
course provides a foundation for more advanced courses in the biology
major’s program and is a prerequisite for all other courses in the
program. Particular emphasis in the course is placed upon the evaluation,
analysis, and synthesis of information. Three lectures and one
3-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisites: High school biology and
chemistry. Offered annually. Fall semester.
BI 172 Biological Principles II 4 credit
An introductory course focusing upon fundamental biological concepts
and methods for students planning to major in biology or for students
needing to satisfy a professional school requirement in biology. This
course, the second in a two semester series, focuses on the study of
animal form and function, zoology and ecology. This course provides
a foundation for more advanced courses in the biology major’s program
and is a prerequisite for all other courses in the program. Particular
emphasis in the course is placed upon evaluation, analysis, and synthesis
of information. Three lectures and one 3-hour laboratory per week.
Prerequisites: BI 171. Offered annually. Spring semester.
BI 201-202 Intro. to Human Anatomy & Physiology 8 credit
A study of the morphology and physiology of the human body, both
from a normal and pathological viewpoint. Three lectures and one two
and one-half hour laboratory per week for 2 semesters. Prerequisite for
BI 202 is BI 201 or consent of the instructor. Offered annually. BI 201
Fall semester, BI 202 Spring semester.
BI 214 General Microbiology 4 credit
An introductory study of microorganisms for allied health professionals
(this course does not satisfy requirements of the biology major).
Course includes history, taxonomy and nomenclature, morphology,
physiology, nutrition, cultivation, ecology, genetics, immunity, and
the roles of micro-organisms in disease and agriculture. Emphasis is
on bacteria. Standard microbial methods and techniques are learned in
the laboratory. Three 50-minute lectures and 2 90-minute laboratories
per week. Prerequisites: At least one year of college chemistry and one
semester of college biology. Spring semester.
BI 221 Cell Biology 4 credit
The third in a four-course core sequence in biology. This course focuses
on the cell as the basic unit of structure and function in living things.
Topics include cellular organization, the structures and functions of
cellular organelles and the cytoskeleton, energy transformations, communication
between cells, and the cell cycle. Methods used to study
cells and their component parts will be introduced in the laboratory
portion of the course. As with the other courses in the core sequence,
the evaluation, analysis, and synthesis of information is emphasized.
Three lectures and one 3-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisites: BI
171-172 and CH 101-102. Offered annually. Fall semester.
B1 300 Genetics 4 credit
A study of the principles of inheritance at the organismal, molecular,
and population level. Topics include transmission mechanisms, linkage,
DNA replication and expression, genetic control and population
genetics. The laboratory will include an introduction to current
molecular genetics techniques. Both lecture and lab will emphasize
problem solving and experimental data analysis. Three lectures and
one 3-hour laboratory period per week. Prerequisites: BI 221 and CH
301. Offered annually. Spring Semester.
BI 305 Microbiology 4 credit
An introduction to the biology of the prokaryotes (bacteria and
archaea) and the animal viruses. Course topics include bacterial cell
structure, nutrition and metabolism, growth, genetics, traditional and
molecular systematics, ecology of microorganisms, genetic engineering
and biotechnology, antimicrobial agents, host parasite interactions, and
major infectious diseases. Current methods in bacteriology are used
in the identification of bacteria and the conducting of experiments.
Prerequisite: BI 300. Fall semester.
BI 306 Plant Biology 4 credit
An introductory course focusing on the evolutionary history of plants,
plant anatomy, and physiology. The laboratory exercises are diverse
and emphasize recognizing reproductive and anatomical differences
among major plant taxa (from algae to flowering plants), learning
how to identify seed plants (gymnosperms and angiosperms) to the
family level, and physiological experiments. Prerequisite: BI 300.
Three 50-minute lectures per week and one 3-hour laboratory per
week. Fall semester.
BI 307 Animal Physiology 4 credit
A study of the vertebrate organ systems which are most intimately
involved in maintaining homeostasis: Nervous, Endocrine, Cardiovascular,
Respiratory and Excretory. Regulation and integration of
the systems will be emphasized. Individual study of assigned journal
articles which complement the lecture material constitutes a major
part of the learning experience. The laboratory offers the student
experience using a variety of preparations and instrumentation. Three
lectures and one 3-hour laboratory period per week. Prerequisite: BI
300. Spring semester.
BI 311 Ecology 4 credit
An introductory course focusing on the basic principles of the interactions
and relationships among organisms and between organisms
and their environment. The laboratory includes field observations,
computer simulations, and statistical analysis of experimental data.
Prerequisites: BI 300. Three lectures and one 3-hour laboratory per
week. Fall semester. May fulfill writing intensive requirement. (Enrollment
limited.)
BI 323 Comparative Anatomy 4 credit
A comparative study of the evolution of the anatomical structures of
vertebrates. The course will emphasize the basic structures of vertebrates,
the functional role of anatomical structures, and the adaptive
changes that have occurred in vertebrate evolution. Three lectures
and one 3-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisites: BI 300. Spring
semester.
BI 350 Developmental Biology 4 credit
A course concerned with the mechanisms of early development in
animals. The molecular and cellular processes affecting differentiation,
growth, and morphogenesis are emphasized. The laboratory includes
experimental work and the study of anatomical changes occurring in
vertebrate embryos. Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory per
week. Prerequisite: BI300. Spring semester.
BI 370 Evolutionary Analysis 4 credit
This course explores the underlying principles of evolutionary change
(natural selection, genetic drift, mutation, and gene flow) from an
analytical perspective. The relevance of evolutionary change to realworld
concerns is emphasized while traditional and modem methods
of analysis are explored and evaluated. Three 50-minute lectures and
one 2-hour discussion or computer exercise per week. Prerequisite: BI
300. Spring semester.
BI 420 Topics In Biological Sciences 2 credit
A course that explores selected advanced topics in biology, usually in a
lecture-discussion format. Fundamental themes in biology (for example
evolution, anatomical structure and function, molecular systems) will
be explored from the perspective of specific sub-disciplines (ecology,
microbiology, genetics, cell biology, plant biology, animal physiology).
The focus of each section will be determined by the individual instructor.
Sections share the common requirements of critical reading of the
primary literature, evaluation of information, discussion, and extensive
writing. Two lectures/discussions per week. Prerequisites: BI 300 or
consent of the Instructor. See schedule listing for additional prerequisites.
Offered annually, both semesters (topics vary; see schedule).
Fulfills writing intensive requirement.
BI/CH 477 Honors Thesis Writing 1 credit
This course is intended to guide students through the process of
writing an honors thesis based upon data the student have collected.
The course consists of weekly meetings during which the parts of the
thesis (Introduction and Literature Review, Materials and Methods,
Results, and Discussion) will be discussed. Poster and Power Point
presentations are covered. By the end of the semester, students will
have completed a draft of their theses. One hour lecture/discussion
per week. Prerequisite: 3.25 gpa and completion of an honors research
project. Required for all biology and chemistry majors. Fall semester.
Fulfills writing intensive requirement.
BI 496 Senior Seminar 1 credit
Readings and discussion of significant past and current literature. One
hour each week. Prerequisite: BI 300, Senior status. Spring semester.