Course Descriptions

Please refer to the current Academic Bulletin for the most updated list of course descriptions for this major.

BIO 103 Introductory Biology
3 Semester Credit Hours

Basic study of structure, function and interactions of living organisms including cell theory, genetics, energetics, evolution and ecology. (Offered on an irregular basis.)

BIO 105 Concepts in Biology
3 Semester Credit Hours

A study of basic cell biology, plant and animal diversity, genetics, evolution, and ecology. Three lecture hours per week. Primarily for non-biology majors – does not count towards the hours required for the biology major or minor. Offered every Fall. Co-requisite: BIO 106.

BIO 106 Concepts in Biology Laboratory
1 Semester Credit Hour

Co-requisite: BIO105, one 75 minute laboratory per week. Offered every Fall.

BIO 113 Introduction to Cell Biology and Genetics
3 Semester Credit Hours

A study of the fundamental mechanisms driving living systems. Students should receive a firm foundation in the principles of biology upon which they can build. Students should achieve a novice knowledge level in Mendelian genetics and essential cell functions (e.g. membrane functions, photosynthesis, respiration, DNA replication, protein synthesis, and cell division). This course is intended for students majoring in the natural sciences or enrolled in select pre-professional programs. Co-requisite: BIO 114. Offered every Fall.

BIO 114 Introduction to Cell Biology and Genetics Laboratory
1 Semester Credit Hour

This laboratory experience provides the opportunity for students to practice laboratory techniques related to cellular biology and genetics. Students will explore prokaryote diversity and competition while engaging in a collaborative research experience. This course is intended for students majoring in the natural sciences or enrolled in select pre- professional programs. Co-requisite: BIO 113. One three hour laboratory per week. Offered every Fall.

BIO 123 Introduction to Organismal Biology and Ecology
3 Semester Credit Hours

During this course, students should achieve a basic knowledge of biology from the level of the organism to the ecosystem, as well as a basic knowledge of the hierarchical nature of trophic interactions. Specifically, students will learn about the species concept, community structure, biodiversity, taxonomy, phylogeny, and evolution. This course is intended for students majoring in the natural sciences or enrolled in select pre-professional programs. Corequisite: BIO 124. Offered every Spring.

BIO 124 Introduction to Organismal Biology and Ecology Laboratory
1 Semester Credit Hour

This laboratory experience provides the opportunity for students: to observe and record, through drawing, a phylogenetic series or organisms; to practice laboratory techniques including safety precautions; to design and conduct an experiment; and to learn and practice writing a science report. One three hour laboratory per week. This course is intended for students majoring in the natural sciences or enrolled in select pre-professional programs. Co-requisite: BIO 123. Offered every Spring.

BIO 204 The Biology of Music
3 Semester Credit Hours

This course is an introduction to the biology of music. Interdisciplinary by nature, this relatively recent discipline draws from both the arts and sciences and seeks to understand the complex interaction of brain, health, cognition, and music. Students will gain a basic understanding and appreciation of how the nervous system underlies the perception of and interaction with components of music such as pitch, rhythm, timbre, tempo, meter, contour, loudness, and spatial location. Attention is given to the perceptual processing of music, to effects of brain changes or damage on music processing and performance, and to health related effects of music on the brain that deal with learning and memory, emotion and affect, and therapeutics. Origins of music, comparisons to language, and cultural and species differences and similarities are also considered. This course offered Fall of every even numbered year.

BIO 228 Medical Microbiology
3 Semester Credit Hours

A survey of microbial infections and diseases of humans. Students will learn the epidemiology of representative prion, viral, bacterial, fungal, protistan, and helminth diseases. Laboratory will include learning techniques basic to microbiology lab, characteristics of microbial species, and laboratory diagnostic procedures. Three lecture and three laboratory hours per week. Offered every Spring. Co-requisite: BIO 229

BIO 229 Medical Microbiology Laboratory
1 Semester Credit Hour

Co-requisite: BIO228. Laboratory will include learning techniques basic to microbiology lab, characteristics of microbial species, and laboratory diagnostic procedures. Three laboratory hours per week. Offered every Spring.

BIO 231 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
3 Semester Credit Hours

The first semester of this one year course is an introduction to the biochemical and cellular basis of structure and function in organ systems of the human body. Mechanisms of health and disease, as well as therapeutics, are examined. The laboratory portion of the class is coordinated to provide an experiential interface with concepts discussed in lecture using anatomical models, dissection, microscopy, and electrophysiological measurement to corroborate observations using scientific method. Three lecture hours per week. Corequisite: BIO 232. Offered every Fall.

BIO 232 Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory
1 Semester Credit Hour

Co-requisite: BIO 231, Three laboratory hours per week. Offered every Fall

BIO 234 Medical Terminology
2 Semester Credit Hours

This course introduces students to commonly used medical terms, prefixes, suffixes and root words. Terms related to the diagnosis, pathology and treatment of the major body systems are identified, defined and spelled. This class is learning, pronouncing, spelling, defining and applying numerous medical terms. Offered on an irregular basis.

BIO 241 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
3 Semester Credit Hours

This course continues the detailed study of structure and physiological activities of the human body. Three lecture hours per week. Must be taken with BIO 242. Prerequisite: BIO 231 and 232. Offered every Spring.

BIO 242 Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory
1 Semester Credit Hour

Co-requisite: BIO 241, Three laboratory hours per week. Offered every Spring

BIO 303 Genetics
4 Semester Credit Hours

The mechanisms of inheritance are examined at the molecular, cellular, organismal and population levels of organization. Students will gain knowledge in processes of information transfer from DNA, regulation of gene expression, the principles of genetics and epigenetics that explain transfer of traits from generation to generation, the role of genomic variability, mutation, and gene frequencies in the success of populations. Laboratory work includes recently developed techniques for characterizing and manipulating DNA Three lecture hours and one 3-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite: C or higher in BIO 113/114. Offered every Fall.

BIO 305 Physiological Psychology
3 Semester Credit Hours

This course provides an overview of the cells of the nervous system, how these cells are organized in the nervous system, and how they process and transmit information. Specific topics include brain development, brain damage, and the physiological bases of reproductive behavior, movement, learning, memory, psychological disorders, and degenerative diseases. Prerequisite: PSY 101 or BIO113 and 114. Offered during the Fall of even-numbered years.

BIO 308 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
4 Semester Credit Hours

The organs and systems of vertebrate animals are studied comparatively in laboratory and lecture. This is a course examining the evolution of vertebrate form and function using the established discipline of comparative morphology. Laboratory dissection, comparison of adaptive strategies, and phylogenetic relationships are emphasized. Three lecture hours and three laboratory hours per week. Cross-listed with ZOO 308. Prerequisite: BIO 123/124. Offered during the Spring of odd-numbered years.

BIO 312 Parasitology
4 Semester Credit Hours

A study of the principles of parasitism and other aspects of parasite biology using human parasites as models. Parasites causing human disease will be studied with emphasis on the occurrence, transmission, reservoirs and methods of control. Animal parasites, especially those of domestic animals, will also be included when appropriate. Three lecture and three laboratory hours per week. Prerequisite: BIO 113 and 114. Cross-listed with ZOO312. Offered on an irregular basis.

BIO 313 Microbiology I
4 Semester Credit Hours

Microbiology students will develop an in-depth level of understanding of the biology of Prokaryotes, Archeae, viruses, and fungi, notably their ubiquity and their relationships with other organisms. In the laboratory, students will be knowledgeable about BSL II laboratory safety and become proficient in aseptic technique and adept at routine culture and stain techniques. Three lecture hours and one three hour laboratory per week. Prerequisites: BIO 113 and 114 and 123 and 124. Offered every Fall.

BIO 314 Microbiology II
4 Semester Credit Hours

A continuation of Biology 313, this course focuses on bacterial classification and identification; microbial diversity and ecology; and industrial and environmental microbiology. Laboratory will be primarily project-oriented experiences. Three lectures and one, three-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite: BIO 313. Offered during the Spring of even- numbered years.

BIO 323 Cellular/Molecular Biology
4 Semester Credit Hours

This course covers cell structure, function and regulation along with the structure and function of biological macromolecules. The lab component will emphasize techniques in molecular biology. Three lecture hours and three laboratory hours per week. Prerequisites: BIO 113 and 114. Offered every Spring.

BIO 330 Biology of the Mind
3 Semester Credit Hours

This interdisciplinary course examines the concept of mind from a biological perspective, exploring not only the physiological bases of cognitive faculties, but also the behavioral ecology of mental emergent phenomena. Specific topics include consideration of the evolution of non-human animal minds and their behaviors (monkeys, apes, and hominids), and the biological origins of Hominid language and music. Prerequisite: BIO 303 or BIO 241 and 242 or BIO 305. Offered on Fall of every odd numbered year.

BIO 390 Topics in Biology
1-4 Semester Credit Hours

An in-depth study of a sub-discipline in biology. The instructor and biology faculty will determine the course subject for a given semester. The schedule of course offerings will list the specific title. Examples of subjects include electron microscopy, animal behavior, etc. Prerequisite: BIO 105 and 106 or BIO 123 and 124 or BIO 113 and 114. One to three lecture hours per week with the option of an additional 1 credit hour weekly laboratory, as appropriate for the course.

BIO 400 Independent Study
1-3 Semester Credit Hours

An opportunity for the biology major to carry out a research project (library, laboratory and/or field) under the supervision of a Biology faculty member. Prerequisites: Biology major and permission of the Biology Program Director and Academic Dean.

BIO 401 Directed Student Research
1-3 Semester Credit Hours

An opportunity for the upper-level biology student to carry out library, laboratory, and/or field research under the direction of a biology faculty member. Students must complete a departmental statement of intention before registration. Prerequisite: Biology major and permission of the Biology Program Director and Academic Dean.

BIO 402 Introduction to Bioinformatics
4 Semester Credit Hours

This course provides a broad overview of bioinformatics and computational biology as applied to biological and biomedical research. The primary objective of this course is to provide students a hands-on introduction to modern bioinformatics tools with a significant problem-solving component so they will be prepared to use these tools in a research setting. This course will include a basic primer in operating in a UNIX environment and will introduce students to Python, R, and Shell scripting for reproducible research and data analysis. Prerequisites: BIO 303 and either MATH 104 or IDS 202. Offered during the Spring of even-numbered years.

BIO 403 Animal Physiology
4 Semester Credit Hours

Diverse form and function across the animal kingdom are studied to illustrate life sustaining strategies in diverse environments. The goal of this course is the elucidation of common physiological principles in biologically diverse animals. Students will examine the organs and organ systems that accomplish homeostasis in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Differences in animal physiology throughout the eleven organ systems will be used to highlight the unifying principles and mechanisms of physiological diversity. Laboratory exercises will emphasize and familiarize the student with the scientific discipline of observing, quantifying, and verifying principles of animal function. Three lecture hours and three lab hours per week. Prerequisites: BIO 123 and 124 or by Permission of Instructor. Offered during the Spring of even numbered years.

BIO 404 Senior Seminar
1 Semester Credit Hour

A further study of the topics presented in IDS 324, but with additional emphasis on analyzing, evaluating and processing information from primary literature into a cohesive presentation. Students will learn and practice effective oral communication in science. Students will prepare and present a report (library or laboratory) as the primary requirement for this course. One hour lecture per week. Senior status is required. Prerequisites: BIO 123 and 124, BIO113 and 114 and IDS 324. Offered every Fall.

BIO 405 Biological Internship
1-3 Semester Credit Hours

An opportunity to gain hands-on practical experience in a biological field. Students completing an internship will apply theories and skills learned in the classroom to their real-world experience. Prerequisites: BIO 113 and 114 AND BIO 123 and 124.

BIO 406 Evolution
3 Semester Credit Hours

Evolution provides the opportunity for students to learn about a central unifying theme in biology. Students will become familiar with mechanisms of micro- and macro-evolutionary change; patterns embedded in the history and diversity of life; consequences of evolution to molecular, developmental, and ecological systems. Cross-listed with ZOO406. Prerequisite: BIO 303. Offered every fall.

BIO 412 Immunology
4 Semester Credit Hours

A study of the fundamental aspects of immunity, hypersensitivity, serology and mechanisms of resistance to various infectious diseases. Three lecture and three laboratory hours per week. Prerequisite: BIO303 and BIO313. Offered during the Spring of odd-numbered years.

BIO 413 Investigations in Molecular Cell Biology
3 Semester Credit Hours

An inquiry based course that builds on the content of Genetics (BIO 303) and Cellular/Molecular Biology (BIO 323). The course will include a mixture of lecture, reading and interpretation of scientific journal articles and team-based original laboratory projects in an active learning environment that focuses on current questions in molecular and cell biology. The emphasis will be on critical thinking, data analysis and interpretation. Four scheduled lecture/laboratory hours per week. Pre-requisite BIO 303, Pre/Corequisite: BIO 323. Offered every spring.

BIO 414 Ecology
4 Semester Credit Hours

This course includes advanced study of: functions provided by ecosystems of the world, as well as the underlying ecological interactions that result in such functions; the flow of energy through trophic interaction; and the physical template guiding ecological interactions. The course includes the design and implementation of research projects and fundamental experiences in analysis of data from plant and animal observation and enumeration. Cross-listed with ZOO 414. Prerequisites: BIO 113, 114 and 123, 124. Pre/Corequisites: IDS324. Offered every Spring.