Catalog - Table of Index

Biology Major

College of Arts and Sciences
Degree BS, Biology
Department Chair Cosima Wiese, PhD

Faculty

Angela Asirvatham, Assistant Professor of Biology, DVM Madras Veterinary College; MS University of Wyoming; PhD Kent State University

Michael A. Dexter, Assistant Professor of Biology, BS Guilford College; MS Wake Forest University, PhD Washington State University

Frank DiPino, Associate Professor of Biology, BA State University of New York; PhD Marquette University

Grant Hurlburt, Visiting Professor of Biology, BA, BS University of Alberta; MS, PhD University of Toronto

Carl J. Konecke, Associate Professor Emeritus of Biology, BS King’s College; MS University of Nebraska

Stanley S. Knapich, Professor Emeritus of Biology, BS Wilkes University; MEd, DEd The Pennsylvania State University

Anthony Serino, Associate Professor of Biology, BS MS University of Scranton; PhD The Pennsylvania State University

Cosima B. Wiese, Assistant Professor of Biology, BA Bucknell University; MSc, PhD The Pennsylvania State University

The biology program is designed to provide a sound background in the various major areas of the biological sciences. Given the rate and nature of the current advances, such a background requires a supporting foundation in the physical sciences, mathematics and the other liberal arts in order to adequately prepare an individual to pursue a career in the field of biology. A variety of opportunities exist for postgraduate employment in the pharmaceutical, agricultural, biotechnology, food, and chemical industries as well as in government agencies and universities.

With this foundation and the selection of appropriate elective courses, a biology major is prepared for post-graduate studies in medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, podiatry, optometry, or for graduate study in various specialties in the biological sciences such as molecular biology, neurobiology, genetics, physiology, developmental biology, botany, microbiology, and ecology. A biology major is assigned an advisor who helps plan a program of courses consistent with the student's interest and career objectives. Majors in Biology must maintain at least a “B” cumulative average and a GPA of at least 3.0 to be recommended to graduate or professional schools.

Sequence of Required Courses

First Year

First Semester	Total Credits	17	Second Semester	Total Credits	17
BIO 101	General Botany and	4	BIO 102	General Zoology	4
	Biological Principles		MTH 115	Statistics	3
ENG	Core	3	HIS	Core	3
HIS	Core	3	CHM 134	Chemical Principles II	4
CHM 133	Chemical Principles I	4	MTH 152	Calculus II	3
MTH 151	Calculus I	3

Sophomore Year

First Semester	Total Credits	15	Second Semester	Total Credits	17
BIO 241	Genetics	4	BIO 243	General Microbiology	4
BIO 251	Comparative Anatomy	4	ENG	Core	3
CHM 243	Organic Chemistry 1	4	PHL	Core	3
FA	Core	3	CHM 244	Organic Chemistry II	4
			FA	Core	3

Junior Year

First Semester	Total Credits	16	Second Semester	Total Credits	14
BIO 345	Developmental Biology or		BIO 346	General Physiology	4
BIO 435	Cell Biology	3	CHM	Free elective	3
PHL	Core	3		Free elective	3
CHM 353	Biochemistry I	3	PHY 222	General Physics II	4
PHY 221	General Physics I	4
CPS 101	Intro. to Programming	3

Senior Year

First Semester	Total Credits	14	Second Semester	Total Credits	14
BIO 425	Ecology	4	BIO 360	Immunology	1
BIO 490	Coordinating Seminar	1	BIO 480	Biology Research	1
BIO	Free elective	3	RLS	Core	3
RLS	Core	3	CPSSS	Core	3
CPSSS	Core	3		Free elective	3
				Free elective	3

Total required for graduation 124 credits

Biology Course Descriptions (BIO)