2024-2025 Catalogue
Biological Sciences
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 Return to: Programs by Area: Majors and Minors
Biological Sciences Overview
Chairperson: Elizabeth Greguske
Professors: Eric J. Berry, Lori LaPlante, Brian K. Penney; Associate Professors: Theresa Dabruzzi, Elizabeth Greguske, Stephen W. Tobin; Assistant Professors: Victoria DiBona, Shannon O’Leary, Amy Rohlfing; Professors of Practice: Judith Follo, Helen Markewich
The Department of Biology administers four majors: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biology, Environmental Science and Natural Science. In each of these majors, the curriculum is designed to: 1) explore the fundamental properties of life from the molecular to the community/ecosystem level, 2) demonstrate how biologists conduct inquiry in biology through rigorous application of the scientific method, and 3) incorporate this body of information into the framework of modern evolutionary theory. Laboratory and field work are important components of all four majors.
Students interested in careers in life science secondary education should double major in Natural Science and Secondary Education details under the Education Department in the online catalog and see the Biology Department Chair for more information
Performance requirements for all Biological Science Majors:
Students are required to earn a minimum of a “C” average (2.0), and receive no individual course grade lower than C-, in BI 103 - General Biology BI 103 andI, BI 104 and in - General Biology II, CH 130 - General Chemistry, and CH 130 and150 - Structure and Reactivity CH 150, the traditional first year biology and chemistry course sequences, to continue enrollment in a biology department-administered major into the second year.
A student who falls below either performance requirement (“C” average or minimum of “C-” in a class) will be placed on probationary status in his or her respective major while repeating the necessary course(s) to meet the performance requirements. Probationary students must repeat the necessary course(s) by the end of the subsequent academic year and must meet all the performance requirements before enrolling in upper-level Biology courses. All probationary students must obtain permission of the Biology Department Chair to remain in any of the biology department-administered majors. It is the student’s responsibility to provide evidence of successful completion of these courses to the Chair and the Registrar no later than one week prior to the first day of classes.
Beyond the introductory courses (see above), students must maintain each semester a minimum grade point average of 2.0 in their major courses (biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics) to continue in their respective majors.
Degree Change and Transfer requirements:
Students from other majors wishing to join one of the department’s four majors must first complete the equivalent of the General Biology BI 103-104 sequence. With permission of the chair, work completed in BI 101 - Exploring the Natural World (BI 101) or BI 102 - Topics in General Biology (BI 102 ) may be used in lieu of the corresponding semester of BI 103 - General Biology I (BI 103 ) or BI 104 - General Biology II (BI 104 ),, provided that a minimum average grade of B+ is earned in BI101BI 101 or BI102BI 102.
Students completing BI 101 or BI 102 but failing to earn a B+ average may also be admitted into a Biology Department major by meeting the minimum grade requirements described above for a typical major’s sequence, i.e. enrolling and successfully completing BI 103 - BI 104 and CH 130 - CH 150 with a C average or better across all four courses. These students must also take one additional elective to replace BI 101 or BI 102, in accordance with the College’s policy on repeating courses.
With permission of the chair, up to 3 upper-level courses may be transferred in from study abroad or from domestic institutions.
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