The Natural Sciences Department provides a curriculum and support to students majoring in the sciences and to non-majors. This curriculum and support will assist the students to reach their full potential and will prepare them to apply their knowledge in new and creative ways to their careers and professional choices in an age of expanding technology. The department offers a challenging curriculum in biology that leads to a Bachelor of Science degree. In addition, the Natural Sciences Department provides students with assistance in preparing for the standardized tests that are necessary for successful entry into graduate and professional schools.
The Department also helps prepare students for other careers that may require knowledge of biology. In addition, the Department prepares students with scientific reasoning, problem solving and research skills.
Biology majors are prepared for teaching; positions in industrial, academic, or government laboratories; medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, public health, veterinary medicine, nursing, and other allied health professions.
Having been exposed to and having taken advantage of the above opportunities, students selecting majors within the Natural Sciences Department will have the knowledge, skills, and motivation to enjoy the acquisition of knowledge throughout their lives.
Objectives
Upon completing a major in biology, a student will be able to:
- Apply Mendelian principles to demonstrate how traits/characteristics are passed from parents to offspring.
- Explain how certain genetic characteristics are inherited in a non-Mendelian fashion.
- Trace the process of the central dogma from nuclei DNA to protein synthesis.
- List and apply the tenets of the cell theory.
- Discrete the structures and functions of the cell organelles.
- Show the relationship of the structure of the cell membrane to the various methods of cellular transport.
- Compare and contrast prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and plant-like and animal-like cells.
- Identify the characteristics of the five kingdoms and give examples of organisms from each kingdom.
- Trace the flow or energy from its ultimate source through the food chain, including producers, consumers, and decomposers.
- Explain the role of enzymes in catalyzing chemical reactions within the cell.
- Compare and contrast mitosis and meiosis.
- Trace a cell through the cell cycle, explaining what occurs in each stage of the cycle.
- Explain the process of gematogenesis in sexual organisms.
- Explain the process of reproduction by asexual means.
- Explain the evolutionary processes of natural selection and adaptation ad how they lead to diversity in organisms.
- Explain the difference between nomenclature and classification and give the importance of each.
- Explain the process of the scientific method and apply it to specific problems.
- Give the composition of the four categories of organic macromolecules and state the significance of each to living organisms.
- Explain the properties of water and its importance in biological systems.
- Using the characteristics of life be able to distinguish living things from non-living things.
BIOLOGY
A major in Biology requires a minimum of 30 semester hours. The following courses are required for a major in Biology:
BIO 141 |
General Biology I .................................................... 4 hours |
BIO 142 |
General Biology II ................................................... 4 hours |
BIO 231 |
Zoology .................................................................. 3 hours |
BIO 232 |
Plant Organization ................................................... 3 hours |
BIO 333 |
Instrumentation ........................................................ 3 hours |
BIO 334 |
Genetics .................................................................. 3 hours |
BIO 420 |
Senior Biology Seminar ........................................... 2 hours |
BIO 438 |
Cell Physiology ....................................................... 3 hours |
BIO |
Electives.................................................................. 6 hours |
| MAT 132 |
Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry ........................... 3 hours |
| MAT 135 |
Calculus I ............................................................... 3 hours |
| or MAT 133 |
Applied Calculus .................................................... 3 hours |
| Chemistry Courses .................... |
............................................................................ 16 hours |
| Physics Courses ........................ |
.............................................................................. 8 hours |
A Biology minor requires a minimum of 20 semester hours in Biology courses and two Biology electives. The following courses are required for a minor in Biology:
BIO 141 |
General Biology I .................................................... 4 hours |
BIO 142 |
General Biology II ................................................... 4 hours |
BIO 231 |
Zoology .................................................................. 3 hours |
BIO 334 |
Genetics ................................................................. 3 hours |
BIO |
Electives.................................................................. 6 hours |
Sample Programs for the Major in Biology |
FRESHMAN YEAR
Fall Semester |
|
|
Spring Semester |
|
|
| BIO 141 |
General Biology |
4 |
BIO 142 |
General Biology II |
4 |
| ENG 131 |
English Comp. I |
3 |
ENG 132 |
English Comp. II |
3 |
| REL 131 |
Old Testament |
3 |
REL 132 |
New Testament |
3 |
| HUM 131 |
African Heritage |
3 |
MAT 131 |
Alg., Trig., Geom. I |
3 |
| LOG 131 |
Logic I |
3 |
REL 102 |
Chapel |
½ |
| REL 101 |
Chapel |
½ |
HPS 110 |
Physical Education |
1 |
| STI 121 |
Orientation |
2 |
HUM 132 |
African American Exp |
3 |
| |
|
18½ |
|
|
17½ |
SOPHOMORE YEAR
Fall Semester |
|
|
Spring Semester |
|
|
| BIO 231 |
Zoology |
3 |
BIO 232 |
Plant Organization |
3 |
| CHM 141 |
General Chemistry I |
4 |
CHM 142 |
General Chemistry II |
4 |
| MAT 132 |
Alg., Trig., Geom. II |
3 |
ENG 235 |
Technical Writing |
3 |
| PHY 143 |
Elementary Physics I |
4 |
PHY 144 |
Elementary Physics II |
4 |
| REL 201 |
Chapel |
½ |
REL 202 |
Chapel |
½ |
| PSY 230 |
Intro. Psychology |
3 |
MAT 135 |
Calculus I |
3 |
| |
|
17½ |
|
|
17½ |
JUNIOR YEAR
Fall Semester |
|
|
Spring Semester |
|
|
| CHM 343 |
Organic Chemistry I |
4 |
CHM 344 |
Organic Chemistry II |
4 |
| BIO 349 |
Microbiology |
4 |
BIO 334 |
Genetics |
3 |
| BIO 333 |
Instrumentation |
2 |
HPR 120 |
Health |
2 |
| REL XXX |
Religion |
3 |
REL 302 |
Chapel |
½ |
| REL 301 |
Chapel |
½ |
LOG 331 |
Logic II |
3 |
| CSC 121 |
Computer Literacy |
2 |
SPE 232 |
Public Speaking |
3 |
| |
|
15½ |
|
|
15½ |
SENIOR YEAR
Fall Semester |
|
|
Spring Semester |
|
|
| BIO 438 |
Cell Physiology |
3 |
BIO 420 |
Senior Biology Seminar |
2 |
| BIO 335 |
Anat. and Phys. I |
3 |
BIO 336 |
Anat. and Phys. II |
3 |
| BIO 343 |
Biochemistry |
4 |
BIO 433 |
Environmental Science |
3 |
| BIO 439 |
Molecular Biology |
3 |
BIO 332 |
Ecology |
3 |
| |
|
13 |
BIO 400 |
Public Health |
3 |
| |
|
|
|
|
14 |
|