Oct 14, 2024  
2018-2019 Course Catalog 
    
2018-2019 Course Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Biology, B.S.


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Biology is no longer one discipline. Nor is it divided between plants and animals as it was a century ago. The main divisions are now between the approaches taken to study life as well as the scope of the endeavor: everything from the interactions of photons and pigments in the organelles of microbes, to unraveling how genes play out in immune system function, to the international loss of species diversity, to the impending massive changes climate will unleash upon the biota of the planet. This major can be personally designed to meet your needs depending on your interests.

Graduates of the program have gone on to positions at Jackson Laboratories, Northeast Audubon Center, UConn Medical Center, the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Miles Inc., Clean Harbors Inc., and Yale University. Graduate study is required for positions in most health fields, business, research, and environmental studies. Many prestigious graduate programs, including Brown University, University of Colorado, Wesleyan University, Dartmouth, Yale, Brandeis, Northeastern, and the University of Connecticut have admitted our biology graduates for advanced studies.

Program outcomes

The student will:

  • Develop a comprehensive strategy to investigate and research current topics in Biology

  • Communicate scientific information effectively through writing and presentation skills

  • Critique, develop and solve scientific problems using quantitative reasoning and integration of biological concepts

  • Reinforce underlying biological themes in evolution, scale systems and structure/function relationships

Continuation requirements and repeat policy

All biology required major and required supporting courses must be passed with a grade C or better. All 100 and 200 level major courses need to be passed with a C or better before taking the Capstone or BIOL 499.

If a student earns less than a C in any one of these major or supporting courses, up to three of those courses may be repeated once. Repeating a course needs to take place at the next offering or at the latest in the next academic year the student is enrolled.

Course being transferred to satisfy major or required supporting courses will also need to follow the policy. If the proposed transfer course for the major or supporting course is less than a C, that course will need to be repeated to achieve a passing grade of C or better.

 

Degree requirements:

(30 credits of Biology courses). Due to the variability of course credits, a student may need more than 30 credits to satisfy all requirements.

Required Courses (30 credits)


Required Supporting Coursework (30-32 credits)


Two semesters of General Chemistry
Two semesters of Advanced Chemistry (such as organic, biochemistry)
Two semesters of Physical Science (such as physics, earth science, hydrology)
Two semesters of Math (such as college algebra,  precalculus, calculus, statistics, modeling)

The exact courses will be determined by the student’s career interest.

Comprehensive Assessment


The Comprehensive Assessment is administered during the senior year.

Notes


  • During senior year, students with a 3.0 GPA may be able to take graduate-level courses
  • Biology majors seeking teaching licensure should speak to the teacher licensure officer about specific course selection requirements

Suggested Plan of Study


Sophomore Year


  • 4 Credits
  • MATH 1XX - Math elective 4 credits
  • MATH 1XX - Math elective 4 credits
  • PHYS 1XX - Physical Science elective 4 credits
  • PHYS 1XX - Physical Science elective 4 credits

Junior Year


  • 1 Credits
  • BIOL 3XX/4XX - Biology elective (300 level or higher) 4 credits
  • BIOL 3XX/4XX - Biology elective (300 level or higher) 4 credits
  • CHEM 2XX - Advanced Chemistry 4 credits
  • CHEM 2XX - Advanced Chemistry 4 credits

Specialized Career Requirements


Students who would like to follow a specific career path should consider these additional courses: