Students in this course will learn practical skills related to doing biology, including experimental design, collection and evaluation of quantitative data, collaboration with peers, and scientific communication. Students will also learn the five core concepts of biology (evolution, systems, structure/function, energy transfer, and information transfer) within the context of the human body. This course is an exploration of the anatomy and basic normal functions of the human body with consideration of development, genetics, immunology, endocrinology, and related molecular, cellular, and ecological concepts. Students design, perform, analyze, and report on small research projects.Laboratory work may require dissection. Three two- hour lecture-laboratory periods per week. (4U) Offered yearly.

Students in this course will learn practical skills related to doing biology, including experimental design, collection and evaluation of quantitative data, collaboration with peers, and scientific communication. Students will also learn the five core concepts of biology (evolution, systems, structure/function, energy transfer, and information transfer) within the context of animals. This course is an exploration of the animalkingdom with consideration of molecular and cellular biology, genetics, structure and function, ecology, evolution, and behavior of invertebrates and vertebrates. Students design, perform, analyze, and report on small research projects. Laboratory work that requires dissection. Three two-hour lecture-laboratory periods per week. (4U) Offered every other year.

Students in this course will learn practical skills related to doing biology, including experimental design, collection and evaluation of quantitative data, collaboration with peers, and scientific communication. Students will also learn the five core concepts of biology (evolution, systems, structure/function, energy transfer, and information transfer) within the context of plants. This course is an exploration of the morphology, physiology, cell biology, and genetics of plants with consideration of how they differ from other organisms, how they are adapted to different environments, and their function in ecosystems and human society. Students design, perform, analyze, and report on small research projects. Three two-hour lecture-laboratory periods per week. (4U) Offered yearly.

Students in this course will learn practical skills related to doing biology, including experimental design, collection and evaluation of quantitative data, collaboration with peers, and scientific communication. Students will also learn the five core concepts of biology (evolution, systems, structure/function, energy transfer, and information transfer) within the context of freshwater and marine organisms. This course is anexploration of all types of aquatic ecosystems, the evolutionary relationships, ecology, structure and function, and behavior of the organisms that live there, and contemporary issues in aquatic biology, including how human influences have altered aquatic ecosystems over time. Students design, perform,analyze, and report on small research projects. Laboratory work requires dissection. Three two-hour lecture-laboratory periods per week. (4U) Offered every other year.

Students in this course will learn practical skills related to doing biology, including experimental design, collection and evaluation of quantitative data, collaboration with peers, and scientific communication. Students will also learn the five core concepts of biology (evolution, systems, structure/function, energy transfer, and information transfer). Students design, perform, analyze, and report on small research projects. Three two-hour lecture-laboratory periods per week.(4U) Offered occasionally.

An exploration and application of biological concepts through examination of the structure, genetics, physiology, and culture of microorganisms with emphasis on bacteria and viruses. The course stresses scientific principles and experimental methods in the context of disease and the environment. Students design, perform, analyze, and report on small research projects. Three two-hour lecture-laboratory periods per week. (4U) Offered yearly. Prerequisite: one college-level biology course.

The history of life from its origins to the present. The preservation, distribution, and identification of invertebrate fossils as well as selected vertebrate and plant fossils. Competing evolutionary theories are evaluated in the perspective of geologic time. Fossils are studied as once-living organisms that were adapting to changing environments and part of a biological community. Lecture, discussion, laboratory, and field study. One weekend field trip. (Also listed as Geology 210.) Offered alternate years. Prerequisite: Geology 100, 105, or 110 or Anthropology 120 or 1 course in Biology.

An exploration of the relationships between microorganisms, environment, and diseases. General principles of genetics and evolution, as well as historical and political factors, are examined in an effort to explain the emergence of new diseases. Laboratory experiences include basic microbiology, data analysis, simulations, and survey research. Small groups of students design, perform, analyze, and report on a research project. Three two-hour lecture-laboratory periods per week. (4U) Offered yearly. Prerequisite: one college-level biology course.

An exploration of descent with modification and the evolutionary history of life on earth. The history and philosophy of evolutionary theory, the genetic basis of microevolution, contemporary hypotheses of speciation, and phylogenetic systematics comprise the major course material. Small groups of students design, perform, analyze, and report on a research project. Three two-hour lecture-laboratory periods or three lecture-discussion class periods and one laboratory period per week. Occasional Saturday field trips may be required. (4U) Offered occasionally. Prerequisite: one of the following: one college-level biology course, Anthropology 120, Geology 210, or consent of instructor.

This course explores the study and practice of conservation biology, a field that endeavors to understand and retain biological diversity at local, regional, and global scales. Students examine the nature of biological diversity, the effects of human activities on biological diversity, and the management and restoration strategies for ameliorating these threats. Students read research literature on conservation efforts at the population, community, and ecosystem levels, and learn to use quantitative models to predict changes in population size. Through writing and oral presentations, students develop their professional communication skills focused on environmental policy recommendations. Offered occasionally. Prerequisite: one college-level Biology course.

A comprehensive analysis of cell structure and function and the molecular mechanisms that regulate cellular physiology, with a focus on eukaryotic cell biology. Topics include: origin and evolution of cells and cellular organelles, structure, synthesis, and regulation of biomolecules, membrane structure and transport, the cytoskeleton, the extracellular matrix and cell adhesion, cell motility, cell signaling, cell division and cell cycle regulation, cancer and cell stress, aging, and death. Small groups of students design, perform, analyze, and report on a research project. Three two-hour lecture-laboratory periods or three one-hour lecture-discussion class periods and one laboratory period per week. (4U) Offered yearly. Prerequisite: one college-level biology course or consent of the instructor.

The application of statistical methods to the solution of biological problems. Experimental design, sampling methods, and statistical analysis of data using both parametric and nonparametric methods are introduced. Computer-supported statistical packages are used in laboratory exercises. Small groups of students design, perform, analyze, and report on a research project. Three two-hour lecture-laboratory periods per week. Offered each semester. Prerequisite: one college-level biology course and at least sophomore standing, or consent of instructor.

An investigation of human anatomy evaluated by functional analysis in an evolutionary context by comparing similarities and differences among vertebrates. Anatomy of human development is also emphasized. Laboratory work requires dissection. Offered occasionally. Prerequisite: One biology course and one chemistry course at the college level are required, and a statistics course is preferred, or consent of instructor.

An investigation of physiological concepts, such as structure-function relationships and homeostasis, in the human body. While the primary focus of this course is the regulation of human physiological systems in normal and diseased states, animal models are used for comparative analysis. Students are required to prepare oral and written presentations, as well as conduct and present a group research project. Laboratory work requires dissection. Offered yearly. Prerequisite: Biology 247, Chemistry 117, and at least 1 additional college-level biology course, or consent of instructor.

Molecular biology, bioenergetics, and regulation of cellular processes. Metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, and nucleic acids. Laboratory experiments investigate metabolism and electron transport utilizing techniques for preparation and purification of enzymes, carbohydrates, and lipids. Three class periods and one laboratory period per week. (Also listed as Chemistry 260.) Offered each spring. Prerequisite: Chemistry 230 and either any college-level biology course or Chemistry 235.

Topics vary. Designed to pursue topics in biology. May be repeated for credit if topic is different. Offered occasionally. Prerequisite: established individually for each offering.

An investigation of Mendelian, population, quantitative, and molecular genetics using a problem-solving approach. Small groups of students design, perform, analyze, and report on a research project. Three lecture-discussion class periods and one laboratory period per week. Offered each fall. Prerequisite: one college-level biology course and Biology 247 (concurrent enrollment permitted) or consent of instructor.

At the fundamental chemical level, how do cells maintain and extract information from DNA to build and utilize proteins? Considerable emphasis on the chemical basis of biological information storage and processing, structure and function of proteins, enzyme catalysis theory, and quantitative analysis of enzyme kinetics. Three class periods and one lab period per week. (CP) (Also listed as Chemistry 300.) Offered each fall. Prerequisite: Chemistry 220, 235, and either any college-level biology course or Chemistry 240.

A structure/function-based analysis of the nervous system from molecules to systems. The course will investigate cellular neuroscience, neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, neurotransmission, and sensory and motor systems organization to understand information integration within the nervous system. Laboratory exercises may include anatomy, physiological measurements of neural conduction, cell biology techniques, dissection, and experiments with mice. Students improve their understanding of a specific topic of neuroscience by working in small groups to conduct and present a research project. (CP) Offered occasionally. Prerequisite: Biology 247 or another statistics course, Chemistry 117, and at least 1 of the following courses: Biology 237, 256, 257, 260, 289, 300, 345, Chemistry 260, 300, or consent of instructor.

An investigation of the molecular, physiological, and ecological mechanisms of bacterial and archaeal microbes that are relevant to the production, preservation, and spoilage of foods. Topics may include: foodborne diseases, principles of food preservation, food spoilage, and foods produced by microbes. Students will learn methods of microbe isolation, culturing, and identification in the lab and use these methods to analyze foods made in the kitchen. (CP) Offered occasionally. Prerequisite: three college-level biology courses.

A topics based investigation of pathophysiological concepts which will explore the different etiologies and expressions of human pathology. The course will focus on the breakdown of the structure/function relationship and will integrate concepts from human anatomy and physiology as well as microbiology and molecular biology. Laboratory exercises will be group based and will include dissections, molecular biological techniques, and microscope work. Students will work through different practical cases to practice the integration of theory with practice. Offered every other year. Prerequisite: Biometrics (Biology 247).

This course explores the chemistry of antibiotics, including their chemical structures, mechanisms of antibiotic action, mechanisms of bacterial resistance, methods of drug discovery, and stewardship and policy. Students engage in critical reading and discussion of scientific literature. During the laboratory component of the course, students discover and characterize antibiotic-producing bacteria from soil. Techniques include aseptic microbiological work, PCR and introductory bioinformatics (BLAST, and antiSMASH), chemical extraction, and biochemical assays. Students engage in experimental design during a semester-long research project and communicate their findings by preparing and presenting a poster about their research project. (CP) (Also listed as Chemistry 360.) Offered every other spring. Prerequisite: one 200-level biology course, Chemistry 230, and junior or senior standing, or consent of instructor.

This advanced biology course is an introduction to the field of ecotoxicology. Like its name, the field of ecotoxicology is an integration of biological sub-disciplines, with the focus of how environmental chemicals affect organisms situated within the context of an ecosystem. Topics include sources, transport, fate, accumulation, and toxicity of contaminants. Students also discuss toxicity testing and analysis of effects at different levels of biological organization (molecular to ecosystem). Throughout the semester, students read and discuss a variety of published ecotoxicology literature, as well as engage in hands-on activities to emphasize scientific process and techniques. (CP) Prerequisite: junior or senior standing, Biology 247, two other college-level biology courses, and one college-level chemistry course, or consent of instructor.

An investigation of the study of interactions among organisms and interactions between organisms and the nonliving environment. Ecologists study these interactions to understand the patterns of organism abundance and distribution of organisms that occur in different ecosystems. In this course, students examine these interactions at the population, community, ecosystem, and landscape levels through classroom, field, and laboratory activities. Contemporary questions about sustainability, biological diversity, and global change will be examined at each of these levels using quantitative methods. Students design, perform, analyze, and report on a major research project. Three lecture-discussion class periods and one laboratory period per week. (CP) Offered every other year. Prerequisite: junior or senior standing, 2 college-level biology courses and a statistics course (Biology 247, Mathematics 106, Anthropology 240, Psychology 162, or Sociology 205), or consent of instructor.

Topics vary. Designed to pursue advanced topics in biology. May be repeated for credit if topic is different. (CP) Offered occasionally. Prerequisite: established individually for each offering.

Individual study under faculty supervision. Prerequisite: sophomore standing; consent of faculty supervisor and chair of biology department.

Research project conducted by a student with supervision by a faculty member. Prerequisite: sophomore standing; consent of faculty supervisor and chair of biology department.

Work with faculty in classroom and laboratory instruction. Graded credit/no credit. Prerequisite: sophomore standing; consent of faculty supervisor and chair of biology department.

Course, laboratory, and curriculum development projects with faculty. Prerequisite: sophomore standing; consent of faculty supervisor and chair of biology department.

An opportunity to acknowledge on a student’s permanent transcript experience as a teaching assistant, in the preparation or design of laboratory materials, or as a research assistant. Prerequisite: consent of faculty supervisor; consent of faculty supervisor and chair of biology department.