82 Biological Sciences
Biological Sciences Chair: Professor L. Fleishman Faculty: Professors S. Horton, R. Olberg, S. Rice; Associate Professors Q. Chu-LaGraff, J. Corbin, B. Danowski, S. Kirkton, R. Lauzon, K. LoGiudice, J. Salvo, N. Theodosiou; Assistant Professors R. Yukilevich; Senior Lecturers B. Pytel, P. Willing; Lecturer B. Cohen; Visiting Assistant Professor J. Bishop Staff: M. Angie (Life Sciences Specialist), A. Kelly (Life Sciences Specialist), M. Hooker (Technician), J. Klein (Administrative Assistant) Requirements for the Major: Ten courses in biology, including Biology 110 (102), 112 (101) and 225. Students who have Advanced Placement credit for biology will receive credit for Biology 050, which does not count toward the major or minor, but fulfills the CC Science with Laboratory requirement. The remaining courses must include at least one in each of the following areas: Sub-cellular (Biology 335, 352, 354, 355, 363, 368, 378, 380, 384); Organismal (Biology) 250, 315, 317, 321, 330, 332, 362, 365, 370, 375); Population or community (Biology) 201, 314, 320, 322, 324, 325, 345, 350). Of the ten courses, only one may be an independent study, research, or honors course (Biology 490-496 or 497-499). Students must take at least five courses numbered 240 or above and students must take three lab courses numbered 300 or higher. Normally required are at least five courses collectively in mathematics, physics, chemistry, computer science, and geology to be chosen in consultation with the advisor. Students usually should take Chemistry 101 and 102 and Mathematics 110 and 112 (or 113) in their first year. Note that acceptance to graduate and professional schools often requires at least two mathematics, four chemistry (including organic chemistry), and two physics courses. Requirements for Interdepartmental Majors: Students wishing to declare an interdepartmental major must submit a proposal to the department chair outlining their proposed program of study no later than the second term of their junior year. This program, which must be approved by the chair of the Biology Department, should be written in consultation with advisors from both departments to form a cohesive and integrated major; appropriate courses in mathematics and physical sciences should be included in the proposal. Students who wish to have their interdepartmental major listed as Biology/ Other are required to take eight biology courses. Those wishing to have their interdepartmental major listed as Other/Biology are required to take six biology courses. Only one of these may be a research course. Interdepartmental majors are not required to take one subcellular, one organismal and one population course, although they are strongly encouraged to do so. Requirements for Honors: Students eligible for departmental honors must fulfill the Collegewide criteria and satisfactorily complete a thesis, traditionally based on the results of original biological research, which receives the approval of the department and appropriate College committee. It is customary, but not required, that research students enroll in three honors research courses, typically during the senior year. Interdepartmental majors must consult with their advisors in both disciplines during their junior year to receive approval for an interdepartmental thesis. The biology component of an interdepartmental thesis will normally incorporate at least one term of biological research. Requirements for the Minor: Six courses in biology, including Biology 110 (102) and 112 (101). The courses must be selected from among those designated for credit toward the biology major. Students are cautioned that many upper-level biology courses require prerequisites (in biology or other science departments) beyond Biology 110 (102) and 112 (101). Therefore, any student who contemplates a biology minor must register at the Biology Department Office and be assigned a
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departmental advisor. Students with majors outside Division III or in psychology may count one biology CC course toward the minor if it is their first course in the minor. See relevant listings for requirements for a major in biochemistry, environmental sciences & policy, bioengineering, or neuroscience. Requirements for Secondary School Certification: Educational Studies strongly recommends that no undergraduate student at Union attempt to seek secondary certification as an undergraduate. However, those students who wish to become public secondary school teachers are urged to visit The School of Education at Union Graduate College to learn the requirements for achieving certification during a fifth year. Union students who enter the Union secondary certification program are often eligible for special scholarship consideration during their fifth year. All students who believe they will seek public secondary certification in biology should be advised that they must complete the following courses in biology: Biology 110 (102), 112 (101), and 225; at least four 200 or 300 level courses, including 350; and at least one course each from the areas of field biology (Biology 250, 314, 315, 320, 321, 324, 328), functional biology (Biology, 330, 355, 362, 370, 375), and morphological biology (Biology 321, 332, 354). All science majors are encouraged to seek certification in more than one science and/or in General Sciences. Students wishing to add certification in General Science must include at least two courses each from the areas of chemistry (Chemistry 101 and 102, or 110), physics (Physics 110, 111, or 210), and earth science (any geology course). Also required are at least six courses from mathematics, chemistry, and/or physics to be chosen in consultation with an advisor. Organic chemistry (Chemistry 231 and 232) will normally be required. Highly recommended courses include History 242; Philosophy 273 or 274; and Political Science 281. Biology interdepartmental majors seeking secondary school certification in any science must have a full major in their primary area of certification. In their second area of certification, a student hoping to teach in a public secondary school should have a minimum of eight courses, which will count toward a major in that science. All students considering a fifth year at Union Graduate College to achieve public secondary certification in biology must complete additional requirements beyond science courses during their undergraduate career. Before the end of winter term of their senior year they must take Psychology 246, Structured Field Experiences EDS 500A and 500B (see Educational Studies for the appropriate requirements to complete the Field Experiences), and one year of a foreign language. Course Selection Guidelines Placement: Students who received a score of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement exam may receive credit for Biology 050. The Biology 050 credit received from the A. P. exam does not count as one of the biology courses toward the major or minor. Courses Suitable for Non-Majors: Biology 050, 055, 058, 065, 077, and 094 are designed for the general college community and may not be counted toward the biology major nor toward interdepartmental majors that include biology. IDM 080, which requires permission from the instructor, is also suitable for selected non-majors, but it does not count for CC science credit. Senior Writing Requirement: Biology majors can satisfy the Senior Writing requirement (WS) by conducting research under the direction of a faculty member and writing a thesis (see Biology 497) or by taking one of the Senior Seminar courses in their senior year (see Biology 487, 488, or 489). Common Curriculum Courses (CC) BIO-050. Topics in Contemporary Biology (Fall; Willing). Recent developments in biology are pertinent to human health and to concerns of the nature of life and of human social values. This course will focus on human genetics, human genetic diseases, the genetic component of other diseases, the genetics of cancer, and the immune system. Fulfills CC science with laboratory requirement (SCLB).