Biology (BA) and Secondary Education
Program Mission
The mission of the Biology Program is to prepare majors to appreciate and understand biological diversity across levels of organization and apply biological principles and the scientific method to think critically and solve problems in an evidence-based manner. Majors will engage in collaborative and creative experimental- and literature-driven research, which involves measuring data, generating questions, using statistical tools, and drawing evidence-based inferences. Graduates will effectively communicate their work in both written and oral form. They will be prepared to enter graduate and professional schools, to teach at the secondary-school level, or to enter the work force.
Program Outcomes
- Majors will demonstrate above average comprehension (relative to their peers at other institutions) of cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, organismal biology, population biology, evolution, and ecology.
- Majors will be able to use good scientific practices to ask research questions and collect, organize, analyze, and interpret data.
- Majors will demonstrate proficiency in oral and written communication of scientific information.
- Biology Education students will demonstrate knowledge of biology and the ability to teach it.
- Majors will be able to present biological information to diverse audiences in relevant ways, taking into account differences in background and experience.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| BIOL-1121 | General Biology I | 5 |
| BIOL-1122 | General Biology II | 4 |
| BIOL-3305 | Biological Statistics | 4 |
| BIOL-3310 | Biology III- Mechanisms of Evolution | 3 |
| BIOL-3355 | Ecology | 4 |
| BIOL-3370 | Genetics | 4 |
| BIOL-4457 | Methods of Teaching Secondary Science | 2 |
| BIOL-4482 | Animal Physiology | 4 |
| One 4-hour "BIOL" prefixed laboratory courses numbered above BIOL-3311 1 | 4 | |
| Double Major in Secondary Education | ||
| BIOL-COMP | Senior Comprehensive Exam | NULL |
| Required Supporting Courses | ||
| Required supporting courses that should be taken before all biology courses numbered above 3311 are as follows: | ||
| CHEM-1200 | General Chemistry I Lecture | 3 |
| CHEM-1201 | General Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| CHEM-1210 | General Chemistry II Lecture | 3 |
| CHEM-1211 | General Chemistry II Lab | 1 |
| CHEM-2200 | Organic Chemistry I Lecture | 3 |
| CHEM-2201 | Organic Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| MATH-1220 | Introductory Statistics | 4 |
| PHYS-1100 | Concepts in Physics | 4 |
| Total Hours | 54 | |