Biology
The Department of Biology is housed in the College's Integrated Science Complex. In addition to state-of-the-art campus facilities — which include confocal and scanning electron microscopes, anaerobic growth chambers, real time thermocyclers, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and a flow cytometer — the department also makes extensive use of nearby sites for field studies that are central to ecological and evolutionary biology.
A major educational goal of the biology department is to introduce undergraduates to the excitement and methods of scientific research. Students are exposed to modern research techniques in laboratory courses, and have additional opportunities to do significant semi-independent research under the supervision of a faculty member, often for academic credit.
The curriculum of the biology major helps students develop critical thinking and analytic skills as they learn biological concepts alongside discussions of remaining unanswered questions in the field. Introductory classes solidify foundational concepts and include classroom and exploratory laboratory components. In upper-level biology courses, students choose to explore in more depth the topics that interest them most. These courses cover the major topics of the course subject and students learn how to read and discuss primary literature articles and develop oral and written communication skills. The major thus prepares students with the intellectual and hands-on skills they need to enter various career paths, in biology, medicine and beyond.
51С»Æ³µ Biology majors enter numerous career paths after graduation. In addition to many different career options in biotech, science communication, wildlife conservation, ecology and environmental science, many attend graduate school in some area of biology or a health-related professional school (medical, dental, veterinary, physician assistant, etc.), entering top-ranked graduate or professional programs in their areas.
Areas of Study
- Cellular and Molecular Biology
- Organismal Biology
- Ecology and Evolution
Requirements
The Biology Major includes three courses in the introduction to biology sequence; five upper division laboratory courses across cellular and molecular biology, organismal biology, and ecology and evolution, with at least three of these classes including accompanying labs; two chemistry courses; a calculus course; a statistics course; and two additional cognate courses from an approved list across STEM departments.
Biology majors can study Cellular and Molecular Biology, Organismal Biology Ecology, and Evolution through a variety of courses.
The structure, function, development and evolution of the skeletal, muscular, nervous, respiratory, circulatory, digestive and urogenital systems of the chordates, with special emphasis on vertebrates.
A comprehensive introduction to microbiology. This course provides an overview of microorganisms, including their structure and function, growth, ecology, genetics, taxonomy and evolution. Emphasis is placed on prokaryotes and viruses. The laboratory emphasizes enrichment and pure culture methods, diagnostic microbiology and physiology.
This course provides a comparative exploration of development from fertilization to adulthood, using the major model systems of nematodes, fruit flies, frogs, chicks and mice. Throughout the course, we will also examine how developmental processes affect aging, cancer and regeneration/repair after disease.
An extensive exploration into the hydrology, chemistry and ecology of freshwater ecosystems. Covering stream ecology and limnology from natural pristine settings to urban environments, we aim to understand the basic functioning as well as the impact of current threats on freshwater systems.
This course presents a survey of the organisms that live in the sea and their adaptations to the marine environment. The course covers common ecological patterns, physiological processes and evolutionary strategies, while also considering the relevance of marine biology to current scientific, social, health and economic affairs.
This course is a general introduction to virology. Its primary focus is on human viruses that contribute to disease. We will explore different strategies viruses have adopted to replicate in the host cell, the battles viruses wage to outmaneuver the host immune system and the disease states that result from a viral infection.
An introduction to genetics that explores the molecular and cellular basis of heredity and physical traits. Topics include the central dogma, cell division, Mendelian inheritance, genetic analysis, chromosome structure and replication, gene expression, molecular biology techniques, genetic linkage, disease gene identification and population genetics.
The course explores the structure and function of eukaryotic cells and considers how cellular structure allows for biological activity. Topics include homeostasis and metabolism, intracellular compartments and protein trafficking, signal transduction and the cell cycle, with the cell biology of human disease considered throughout the course.
A study of the nervous system at multiple levels, from molecular to the systems level. Major topics include: structure of the nervous system and neurons, generation of electric signals, function of synapses, structure and function of sensory and motor circuits and a discussion of higher order processing.
An inquiry-based approach to the study of evolutionary processes, including those that are adaptive and neutral with respect to natural selection. Evolution will be examined at a variety of scales, from molecular to ecological, and from changes in populations over a few generations to patterns over millennia.
Opportunities in Biology
Facilities
The department has the physical facilities and state-of-the-art equipment to allow students to be exposed to a variety of exciting and current techniques used in both laboratory and field studies. This exposure occurs routinely as an integral part of course labs and in independent student research. Equipment within the department includes: tissue and cell culture facilities, a Departmental Microscopy Facility with live cell fluorescence, laser scanning confocal and scanning electron microscopes, real time thermocyclers, surface plasmon resonance (SPR), a flow cytometer, growth chambers in which a variety of organisms can be grown or tested in controlled environments, a motorized jon boat and equipment for sampling of aquatic life and for making physical and chemical measurements of environmental conditions and greenhouses used to grow plants and certain animals in conjunction with field studies.
Research
The biology department is very proud of the research opportunities available to students. Each spring, students involved in research, both on campus and off campus, present their studies at a poster session as part of the Academic Conference. Each year, a number of student research projects are published in scholarly journals with the students as co-authors. Moreover, many faculty also take students to national meetings of professional societies, with full financial support from the College.
Seminar Series
We understand how important it is for our students to make connections between the content that they are learning in their classes and real-world science applications. The Schaeffer family seminar series is a cornerstone of our efforts to provide our students with opportunities to connect with us, with other students, with alums and with other professionals in our discipline. Scientists are invited to campus to talk as part of this seminar series throughout the academic year, covering a wide variety of biological research topics and enabling our students to better understand the connections between different areas of research, as well as between different subdisciplines of biology.
Study Abroad
Many Biology majors study abroad for one or two semesters in their Junior year. Popular programs with a biology focus include: Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) in Costa Rica or South Africa, School for Field Studies (SFS) with locations in the Caribbean, Africa, Central America and Australia/New Zealand, and SEA Semester with travel through the Caribbean or Polynesia.
