Major
Minor
Courses
Conservation Ecology Class Field Trip Spring 2009
Off campus research opportunity
Students visit Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural History Spring 2009 |
 |
The curriculum in biology provides a foundation
in both classical and contemporary biological concepts and prepares
the student for continuing intellectual growth and professional
development in the life sciences. These goals are achieved through
completion of a set of courses that provide a comprehensive
background in basic scientific concepts through lectures,
discussions, writing, and laboratory work. The program supplies the
appropriate background for employment in research institutions,
industry, and government; the curriculum also prepares students for
graduate school and for professional schools of medicine, dentistry,
veterinary medicine, and the like. Students planning to attend
graduate or professional schools should recognize that admission to
such schools is often highly competitive. Completion of a biology
major does not ensure admission to these schools.
A grade of "C-" or higher must be obtained in
each freshman- and sophomore-level science or mathematics course
that is required for this major or minor; these courses are numbered
100 through 300 in each discipline. A grade-point average of 2.0 or
higher is required in all courses required for the major.
Students who are interested in medical
illustration are encouraged to consider the Scientific Illustration
Tracks that are offered within the art major.
Major
The requirements for a major in
biology are as follows beginning with these four courses in
sequence: General Biology I and II, Genetics, and Microbiology.
One set of paired courses chosen
from the following three sets must be completed:
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
and Biotechnology or
Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy and Human Physiology or
Ecology and Special Topics in Biology: Conservation Ecology
Three upper-level courses chosen
from Cell Biology, Embryology, Evolution, Animal Behavior, and
Vascular Plants; or, any of the paired courses above not used to
fulfill the paired course requirement must be completed.
Additionally, Biology Seminar I:
Oral Presentations, Biology Seminar II: Biological Literature,
General Chemistry I and II (with laboratories), Organic Chemistry I
(with laboratory); either Organic Chemistry II (with laboratory) or
Elementary Quantitative Analysis (with laboratory); General Physics
I and II (with laboratories); and Statistics must be completed. The
degree awarded is the Bachelor of Science.
All introductory level science
courses (General Biology I, General Chemistry I (with laboratory),
General Physics I (with laboratory), College Physics I (with
laboratory) have the same mathematics prerequisite. There are three
ways that students can fulfill this mathematics requirement:
- by completing Precalculus at
Oglethorpe with a grade of "C-" or higher
- by successfully completing the
precalculus mathematics
placement examination (Placement Examination Two) [a
graphing calculator is required for the placement test]
- by achieving a score of 3, 4, or 5
on the Advanced Placement Calculus AB or BC Examination.
Minor
The requirements for a minor in
biology are General Biology I and II, Genetics, and Microbiology.
Students minoring in biology are not exempt from the prerequisites
for the biology courses and thus also will complete General
Chemistry I and II (with laboratories) and Organic Chemistry I (with
laboratory and either Organic Chemistry II (with laboratory) or
Elementary Quantitative Analysis (with laboratory).
Note: Effective Spring
Semester 2003, semester hour credit for biology classes taken with
their respective labs will total 5.
The following courses are offered in Biology:
|
BIO 101, BIO 102. General Biology I, II |
5 plus 5 hours |
|
An introduction to modern biology, these courses
include the basic principles of plant and animal biology, with
emphasis on structure, function, evolutionary relationships,
ecology, and behavior. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisites:
Precalculus in high school or MAT 103, BIO 101 must precede BIO
102 and it is recommended that the courses be completed in
consecutive semesters. Students who are majoring in biology must
earn a grade of "C-" or higher in BIO 101 before taking BIO 102.
|
|
BIO 201. Genetics |
5 hours |
|
An introduction to the study of inheritance. The
classical patterns of Mendelian inheritance are related to
modern molecular genetics and to the control of metabolism and
development. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisites or
corequisites: BIO 102, CHM 102, CHM 201, and CHM 201L. A grade
of "C-" or higher must be earned in each of the prerequisite
courses.
|
|
BIO 202. Microbiology |
5 hours |
|
An introduction to the biology of viruses,
bacteria, algae, and fungi. Consideration is given to
phylogenetic relationships, taxonomy, physiology, and economic
or pathogenic significance of each group. Lecture and
laboratory. Prerequisites: BIO 201, CHM 201, and CHM 201L with a
grade of "C-" or higher in each course. |
|
BIO 251. Biology Seminar: Oral Presentations |
1 hour |
|
This course is offered in the fall as a
component in a two-semester "capstone" sequence for biology
majors. The two-part experience is designed to introduce
students to the mechanics and intellectual components of the
practice of being a scientist. This course will cultivate the
skills of the framing, researching, preparation and presentation
of a public address on a topic of biological interest.
Recommended for students with junior or senior standing.
|
|
BIO 252. Biology Seminar II: Biological Literature |
1 hour |
This course is offered in the spring as a component in a
two-semester "capstone" sequence for biology majors. The
two-part experience is designed to introduce students to the
mechanics and intellectual components of the practice of being a
scientist. This course serves as an introduction to researching,
locating, interpreting and presenting information from the
professional scientific literature. Recommended for students
with sophomore or junior standing.
|
|
BIO 301. Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy |
5 hours |
|
An intensive study of the structural aspects of
selected vertebrate types. These organisms are studied in
relation to their evolution and development. The laboratory
involves detailed examination of representative vertebrate
specimens . Prerequisites: BIO 102, BIO 201, CHM 201, and CHM
201L. Completion of BIO 201 or CHM 201 and coregistration in the
other may be acceptable with the permission of the instructor. A
grade of "C-" or higher must be earned in each of the
prerequisite courses.
|
|
BIO 302. Human Physiology |
5 hours |
|
A detailed analysis of human functions that
deals primarily with the interactions involved in the operation
of complex human systems. Lecture and laboratory. Prerequisites:
BIO 201, CHM 201, and CHM 201L. A grade of "C-" or higher must
be earned in each of the prerequisite courses.
|
|
BIO 310. Special Topics in Biology |
1-5 hours |
|
Advanced course and laboratory work, including
independent studies, in various areas of biology. Approval by
the student's faculty advisor and the chairperson of the
department is required for off-campus activities. Prerequisite:
Permission of the instructor.
|
|
BIO 313. Embryology |
5 hours |
|
A course dealing with the developmental biology
of animals. Classical observations are considered along with
more recent experimental embryology in the framework of an
analysis of development. In the laboratory, living and prepared
examples of developing systems in representative invertebrates
and vertebrates are considered. Prerequisites: BIO 202, CHM 201,
and CHM 201L. A grade of "C-" or higher must be earned in each
of the prerequisite courses.
|
|
BIO 315. Animal Behavior |
5 hours |
This course considers the function, development, and evolution
of animal behavior, including the physical and physiological
bases of behavior, behavioral genetics, social behavior and
behavioral ecology. The laboratory component applies the issues
addressed in lecture in a handson interactive and field-oriented
setting. An integrated speakers series is part of the
interactive intellectual environment cultivated by the course.
Lecture and laboratory. Offered biennially. Prerequisites: BIO
102 and PSY 101. A grade of "C-" or higher must be earned in
each of the prerequisite courses.
|
|
BIO 316. Cell Biology |
5 hours |
|
An in-depth consideration of cell ultrastructure
and the molecular mechanisms of cell physiology. Techniques
involving the culturing and preparation of cells and tissues for
experimental examination are carried out in the laboratory.
Prerequisites: BIO 202, CHM 201, and CHM 201L. A grade of "C-"
or higher must be earned in each of the prerequisite courses.
|
|
BIO 326. Vascular Plants |
5 hours |
|
The biology of vascular plants is considered at
levels of organization ranging from the molecular through the
ecological. Studies of anatomy and morphology are pursued in the
laboratory, and an independent project concerning plant hormones
is required. Offered spring semester of even-numbered years.
Prerequisites: BIO 202, CHM 201, and CHM 201L. A grade of "C-"
or higher must be earned in each of the prerequisite courses.
|
|
BIO 413. Biochemistry |
5 hours |
|
An introduction to the chemistry of living
systems, this course will investigate the synthesis,
degradation, and functions of various molecules within living
organisms. Central metabolic pathways and enzyme reaction
mechanisms also will be studied. Lecture and laboratory.
Prerequisites: BIO 102, CHM 201, and CHM 201L with a grade of
"C-" or higher in each course; recommended Prerequisite: CHM
310.
|
|
BIO 414. Molecular Biology and Biotechnology |
5 hours |
|
This course is an introduction to the theory and
practice of molecular bioscience. Topics covered include the
principles and processes of molecular biology, DNA isolation and
characterization, restriction enzyme analysis, cloning,
construction and selection of recombinants made in vitro and
preparation and analysis of gene libraries. Lecture and
Laboratory. Prerequisites: BIO 202, CHM 201, CHM 201L, and BIO
413 with a grade of "C-" or higher in each course.
|
|
BIO 416. Evolution |
4 hours |
|
A course dealing with the various biological
disciplines and their meaning in an evolutionary context. Also,
a consideration of evolutionary mechanisms and the various
theories concerning them. Prerequisites: BIO 202, CHM 201, and
CHM 201L. A grade of "C-" or higher must be earned in each of
the prerequisite courses.
|
|
BIO 423. Ecology |
5 hours |
|
This course investigates the features of the
environment that dictate where an organism lives and what
density its population can achieve. The course takes a
quantitative approach to these topics and uses both laboratory
and field-based examples to illustrate concepts. Laboratory
sections involve several off-campus field trips. Prerequisites:
Permission of the instructor or a grade of "C-" or higher in BIO
202, CHM 201, and CHM 201L.
|
|
