This course will assist students in preparation for entrance exams for graduate and medical programs such as the MCAT, DAT, OAT, GRE, or PCAT. An overview of the test process will be presented, as well as review of major areas on the exam. Graded CR/NC. May be repeated for credit.
One hour seminar per week. This discussion-based course engages students in the critical reading and analysis of selected primary research articles associated with the annual Agnes W.H. Tan Science Symposium. The emphasis will be on developing skills in reading, interpreting, and discussing primary scientific literature through collaborative peer-mentoring teams. Students will use articles authored by invited Tan Symposium speakers to prepare for and deepen their understanding of the scientific research presented at the symposium.
One hour lecture per week. Introduction to diverse careers in the sciences, including healthcare professions. This includes learning about graduate school, pre-professional programs (like medical school), and area businesses/organizations that hire scientists. Students will participate in job shadowing experiences, spend time learning about application processes (of all types), and complete an individual assessment of what is required to achieve career goals. Restricted to students with sophomore or junior standing. (Equal to CHEM-212.)
This course will introduce you to the major ecological processes, the principal flora and fauna and their evolutionary adaptations, and diverse ecosystems that constitute major tropical, coastal and mountainous regions of Central and South America. Additionally, the issues surrounding the conservation of biodiversity in these areas will be examined and discussed. The course is divided into three parts. The first part (Fall) includes on-campus and on-line lectures, discussions, videos, and analysis of peer-reviewed research papers to introduce students to the major ecosystems, conservation issues, and biodiversity in tropical regions. The second part of the course involves travel to a Central/South American country (Costa Rica, Galapagos etc.) and study ecosystems through guided hikes, lectures, tours, discussions, journal writings, and research projects to understand the ecology and study the biodiversity of the region. Finally, we will wrap up the course in the spring semester with continued discussion and preparation of a data driven research project. Prerequisite: 161 or ENVS 101 or by instructor consent.
This course will introduce you to the major ecological processes, the principal flora and fauna and their evolutionary adaptations, and diverse ecosystems that constitute major tropical, coastal and mountainous regions of Central and South America. Additionally, the issues surrounding the conservation of biodiversity in these areas will be examined and discussed. The course is divided into three parts. The first part (Fall) includes on-campus and on-line lectures, discussions, videos, and analysis of peer-reviewed research papers to introduce students to the major ecosystems, conservation issues, and biodiversity in tropical regions. The second part of the course involves travel to a Central/South American country (Costa Rica, Galapagos etc.) and study ecosystems through guided hikes, lectures, tours, discussions, journal writings, and research projects to understand the ecology and study the biodiversity of the region. Finally, we will wrap up the course in the spring semester with continued discussion and preparation of a data driven research project. Prerequisite: 215.
An opportunity for students to be exposed to major ecosystems in North or Central America. There will be on-campus seminars to support this experience discussing the uniqueness of the general ecology and culture of the area. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Prerequisite: eight credits of BIOL, CHEM, ENVS, ESCI or PHYS; permission of instructor.
Three hours of lecture/three hours of lab per week. The structure and function of animal, plant, and prokaryotic cells with an emphasis on DNA/RNA structure and function, control of gene expression, cell signaling, cell cycle, cell organelles and cell division. Laboratory is a multi-week project based on gene cloning and expression. Prerequisite: C or higher in 160, 161; grade of C or higher in four semester hours of CHEM or concurrent. OC
Six hours of lecture/lab/field work per week. Emphasis is on the study of relationships between organisms and their environment and the investigation of mechanisms that drive organic evolution. Prerequisites: grade of C or higher in 160 or ENVS 101, 161; grade of C or higher in MATH 130 or 230 or concurrent. Restricted to students with sophomore standing or higher. WCII
Three hours lecture/discussion and one three-hour laboratory per week. An introduction to biological sciences. Covers ecological and evolutionary concepts, energetics, genetics, meiosis, speciation, and characterization of life and life forms with a focus on evolutionary adaptations of organisms to their environments. Includes an ecological and evolutionary survey of all biological kingdoms. This is an introductory course for science majors. Offered spring and fall semester. NS
Basic principles of living systems with particular emphasis on the biological factors affecting human behavior. In addition to basic concepts of human biology, special topics will include immunizations, sexually transmitted diseases, hereditary conditions, and diseases, and the biology of aging and development. Prerequisites: one year of high school biology and one year of high school chemistry are highly recommended. NS