Welcome to the Department of Biological Sciences Main Office: Conant Science 301 Mrs. Tracie Fagan Admin. Assistant Phone: 508-531-1358
The Department of Biological Sciences Small Classes Excellent New Science Complex and Instrumentation Student-Faculty and Student-Student Interaction Courses and Laboratories held with Faculty Undergraduate Research Opportunities Internship Opportunities Tri-Beta Honor Society and Biology Club FISH : Friday Informal Seminar Hour 12:20 Fridays Presentations at Regional and National Conferences Success of Our Graduates Tufts Veterinary School Cal Tech Dartmouth College University of Pittsburgh
General Information Diverse & Challenging Curriculum Almost all courses have an attached 3 hour laboratory section Minimum BIOL GPA is 2.3 to graduate (2.0 for BA Degree) Only one D grade permitted (outside of Biology Core Sequence) In addition to the broad array of biology courses, students have opportunities to join biology faculty in research projects, and to participate in internships, whether local, regional or out of state.
Students must receive a grade of C- or higher for the Biology Core Sequence: BIOL 121-122, BIOL 200, BIOL 225, BIOL 321. Biology GPA requirement = 2.3. The following courses may not be applied toward the Biology major and thus cannot be computed as part of the major GPA: BIOL 110, BIOL 111, BIOL 112, BIOL 115, BIOL 117, BIOL 119, and BIOL 128. Only one D grade allowed--earned in a Bio course taught at BSU and course must be outside of the biology core sequence
Programs and Concentrations BS in Biology Program is designed to provide the skills and knowledge necessary for employment in the biotechnology, environmental, health-related and teaching areas, as well as providing a sound foundation for graduate or professional school. Secondary Education Concentration Program is designed to provide the skills and knowledge necessary for initial certification to teach in middle and high school. In Massachusetts, there is a state requirement for continuing your education to the Masters level, typically within five years of initial licensure and employment in the teaching profession. BA in Biology Program is designed for the biology major who wishes to use biological knowledge in pursuit of a career outside of biology. Examples of such careers are teaching elementary education, science writing, scientific illustration, technical sales or publishing.
How advising works in the Biology Academic Advisor Biology majors are assigned to a faculty member to serve as their academic advisor. Students meet one-on-one with their advisor to develop course schedules, resolve issues, and seek advice. Advisors are assigned by Dept Secretary, Tracie Fagan (CON301)
Overriding a Prerequisite If you want to enroll in an upperlevel course without having the exact prerequisite, you must complete the following form, allowing you to enroll in the course.
Recommendations for Transfer Students Take all courses recommended by your advisor Schedule the rest of your life around them Dropping a course can set you back a year or more! Come to our weekly FISH meetings Fridays at 12:20 in CON 371
Requirements for B.S. Degree in Biology Effective Fall 2013 Biology Core Sequence Number Course Name Credits BIOL 121 General I 4 BIOL 122 General II 4 BIOL 200 Cell Biology 4 BIOL 225 General Ecology 4 BIOL 321 Genetics 4 Beyond the core, 6 more BIOL courses are required: (At least 3 of these courses must be lab courses) Distributional Requirements Electives Requirements Experiential Learning Requirement Writing-Designated in Major Requirement
Biology Distributional Requirements Take one course from each Distribution. A course can only count towards one Distribution. Cell & Molec. Physiology Organismal Biology Biology BIOL 350 Molecular Biology BIOL 252 Human Anatomy & Phys. II BIOL 243 Systematic Botany BIOL 371 Histology BIOL 341 Plant Physiology BIOL 284 Invertebrate Zoology BIOL 374 Cancer Biology BIOL 360 Biological Clocks BIOL 325 Ichthyology BIOL 382 Comp. Chordate Anat. BIOL 373 Animal Physiology BIOL 326 Marine Biology BIOL 395 General Microbiology BIOL 375 Immunology BIOL 327 Wetlands Ecology BIOL 413 Medical Microbiology BIOL 376 General Endocrinology BIOL 328 Stream Ecology BIOL 430 Embryology BIOL 395 General Microbiology BIOL 360 Biological Clocks BIOL 434 Biol. Microscopy BIOL 413 Medical Microbiology BIOL 372 Animal Behavior BIOL 450 Virology BIOL 436 Mammal. Reprod. Phys BIOL 382 Comp. Chordate Anatomy BIOL 460 Toxicology Principles BIOL 482 Neurobiology BIOL 408 Biology of Marine Mammals BIOL 472 Human Genetics BIOL 495 Topics in Physiology BIOL 420 Limnology BIOL 475 Parasitology BIOL 422 Biological Evolution BIOL 482 Neurobiology BIOL 423 Invasion Ecology BIOL 493 Topics in Mol. Biology BIOL 425 Population Ecology BIOL 494 Topics in Cellular Biol BIOL 460 Toxicology Principles BIOL 490 Special Topics in Ecology BIOL 491 Topics in Environmental Biol BIOL 492 Topics in Field Biology
Biology Electives Requirements Complete ANY three additional biology courses (200-level or above).
Experiential Learning Requirement Complete one of the following biology courses. BIOL 293 Service-Learning in Biology BIOL 326 Marine Biology BIOL 327 Wetlands Ecology BIOL 328 Stream Ecology BIOL 350 Molecular Biology BIOL 355 Biology Study Tour BIOL 371 Histology BIOL 395 General Microbiology BIOL 396 Research Problems in Biology BIOL 373 Animal Physiology BIOL 420 Limnology BIOL 422 Biological Evolution BIOL 425 Population Ecology BIOL 430 Embryology BIOL 434 Biological Microscopy BIOL 450 Virology BIOL 460 Toxicology Principles BIOL 472 Human Genetics BIOL 475 Parasitology BIOL 482 Neurobiology BIOL 485 Honors Thesis BIOL 497 Undergraduate Biol. Research
Writing-Designated in the Major Requirement Complete one of the following biology courses. BIOL 325 Ichthyology BIOL 326 Marine Biology BIOL 328 Stream Ecology BIOL 341 Plant Physiology BIOL 360 Biological Clocks BIOL 373 Animal Physiology BIOL 374 Cancer Biology BIOL 395 General Microbiology BIOL 408 Biology of Marine Mammals BIOL 423 Invasion Ecology BIOL 425 Population Ecology BIOL 497 Undergraduate Biological Research
Cognate Requirements Required Courses CHEM 141-142 Chemical Principles I & II CHEM 343-344 Organic Chemistry I & II MATH 141 or MATH 161 BIOL 297 or MATH 142 or MATH 162 Two additional courses: CHEM 381 Physical Chemistry I CHEM 461 Biochemistry I CHEM 462 Biochemistry II GEOG 213 Geographic Information Systems (GIS) I GEOG 413 Geographic Information Systems (GIS) II GEOG 314 Satellite Image Processing GEOG 322 Biogeography GEOL 100 Physical Geology GEOL 210 Oceanography PHYS 181 Elements of Physics I PHYS 182 Elements of Physics II PHYS 243 General Physics I PHYS 244 General Physics II
Requirements for B.S. Degree in Biology Secondary Education Concentration Biology Core Sequence Number Course Name Credits BIOL 121 General I 4 BIOL 122 General II 4 BIOL 200 Cell Biology 4 BIOL 225 General Ecology 4 BIOL 321 Genetics 4 Beyond the core, 6 more BIOL courses are required: Subject matter Requirements Elective Requirement
Biology Subject Matter Requirements Complete the following 5 biology courses. Number Course Name Credits BIOL 251 Human Anat. & Phys. I 4 BIOL 252 Human Anat. & Phys. II 4 BIOL 341 Plant Physiology* 4 BIOL 382 or BIOL 284 Comp. Chordate Anatomy or Invertebrate Zoology 4 BIOL 422 Biological Evolution 3 *BIOL 341 satisfies Writing Designated Within Major Requirement
Biology Elective Requirement Complete ONE additional biology course (200-level or above).
Cognate Requirements Required Courses CHEM 141-142 Chemical Principles I & II CHEM 343-344 Organic Chemistry I & II MATH 141 or MATH 161 BIOL 297 or MATH 142 or MATH 162 Two additional courses: CHEM 381 Physical Chemistry I CHEM 461 Biochemistry I CHEM 462 Biochemistry II GEOG 213 Geographic Information Systems (GIS) I GEOG 413 Geographic Information Systems (GIS) II GEOG 314 Satellite Image Processing GEOG 322 Biogeography GEOL 100 Physical Geology GEOL 210 Oceanography PHYS 181 Elements of Physics I PHYS 182 Elements of Physics II PHYS 243 General Physics I PHYS 244 General Physics II
Fall Recommended Courses for BIOL 121 General Biology I BIOL 150 Biology for Life CHEM 141 MATH Spring BIOL 122 General Biology II CHEM 142 MATH New Students
Four-Year Plan for BS Degree