Department of Natural Sciences
BI 101 Life Science 4 Cr
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. Offered at the discretion of the department.
BI 102 Human Biology 4 Cr
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 Cr
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 biomolecules, the molecular components of life, fundamental cell structures and an introduction to genetics. 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 Cr
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 biological principles of evolution and speciation, a survey of biological diversity, the study of plant form and function and the study of animal 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 evaluation, analysis, and synthesis of information. Three lectures and one 3-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisites: BI 171 with a minimum grade of “C”. Offered annually. Spring semester.
BI 201-202 Intro. to Human Anatomy & Physiology 8 Cr
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 with a minimum grade of “C” or consent of the instructor. Offered annually. BI 201 Fall semester, BI 202 Spring semester.
BI 214 General Microbiology 4 Cr
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.
B1 281 Genetics 4 Cr
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 171-172 and CH 101-102 with a minimum grade of “C”. Offered annually. Fall Semester.
BI 282 Cell Biology 4 Cr
The fourth 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 281 and CH 301 with a minimum grade of “C”. Offered annually. Spring semester
BI 305 Microbiology 4 Cr
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 282 with a minimum grade of “C”. Fall semester.
BI 306 Plant Biology 4 Cr
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 282 with a minimum grade of “C”. Three 50-minute lectures per week and one 3-hour laboratory per week. Fall semester even numbered years.
BI 307 Animal Physiology 4 Cr
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 282 with a minimum grade of “C”. Spring semester.
BI 311 Ecology 4 Cr
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 172 with a minimum grade of “C”. Three lectures and one 3-hour laboratory per week. Fall semester. May fulfill Writing Intensive requirement. (Enrollment limited.)
BI 323 Comparative Anatomy 4 Cr
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 281 with a minimum grade of “C”. Spring semester.
BI 350 Developmental Biology 4 Cr
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: BI 282 with a minimum grade of “C”. Spring semester.
BI 370 Evolutionary Analysis 4Cr
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 real world 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 282 with a minimum grade of “C”. Spring semester.
BI 420 Topics in Biological Sciences 2 Cr
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 282 with a minimum grade of “C” or consent of the Instructor. Offered annually, both semesters (topics vary; see schedule). Fulfills Writing Intensive requirement.
BI/CH 477 Honors Thesis Writing 1 Cr
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 Cr
Readings and discussion of significant past and current literature. One hour each week. Prerequisite: BI 282 with a minimum grade of “C”,