Biology

The Biology Major —Requirements for a major in biology include nine courses from the Department of Biology, plus three cognate courses in chemistry and mathematics. No course with a grade less than C- may be counted towards the major.

The core sequence of biology courses is as follows:

BIOL 181 . Biology I: Inquiry into Life (recommended)

BIOL 182 L . Biology II: Evolution of Life

BIOL 203L . Biology III: The Cellular Basis of Life ( BIOL 182L and CHEM 111 L are prerequisites)

Ideally, incoming students who are interested in the life sciences should enroll in BIOL 181 and CHEM 111L in the fall semester. Although not required for the biology major, BIOL 181 is recommended as an introduction to the subject. All students interested in biology should take BIOL 182L and CHEM 112L in spring semester of their first year, followed in sophomore year by BIOL203L. BIOL 182L and 203L are designed as prerequisites for upper-level courses in the biological sciences. Biology majors often take BIOL 224 or BIOL 224L. Genetics in the spring semester of their sophomore year, although they are eligible for other biology courses as well.

Requirements for the Major in Biology

Biology majors are expected to take nine biology courses, at least six with labs. The nine required courses include BIOL 182L, 203L, and 224, one course each from Groups I, II, and IV, plus three other biology courses chosen from any of the groups. BIOL 181 can be counted as one of the nine courses. (Note: Students who wish to use "Research in Biology" as one of their nine majors courses must either take two semesters of BIOL 419 or 425, or one semester of either with concurrent enrollment in BIOL 403 or 404. Research Seminar).

Group I: Biodiversity—Group I offerings provide exposure to the biology of organisms other than vertebrates, groups that comprise the vast majority of all life. These courses employ an integrative approach with an ecological emphasis.

• BIOL 215 L . Botany

• BIOL 222 L . Invertebrate Zoology

• BIOL 308 L . Microbiology

Group II: C ellular/Molecular Basis of Life—Group II offerings will ensure that students gain competence in the cellular and molecular processes that are fundamental to life.

• BIOL 226 L . Recombinant DNA Technology

• BIOL 227 L . Cell Biology

• BIOL 317 L . Biochemistry

Group III: Electives in Biology—Group III courses are intended to allow students the opportunity to explore other areas of biology in detail.

• NESC 201 or 201L. Principles of Neuroscience: Neurobiology

• BIOL 204. Plant Diversity

• BIOL 206L. Histophysiology

• BIOL 233. Conservation Biology

• BIOL 244. Biology of Infectious Disease

• BIOL 300. Evolutionary Thought

• BIOL 310 L . Developmental Biology

• BIOL 315 L . Vertebrate Zoology

• BIOL 319 L . Animal Physiology

• BIOL 323 L . Plant Metabolism and Behavior

• BIOL 333 L . Ecology

• BIOL 336 L . Marine and Freshwater Botany

• BIOL 350 L. Biological Electron Microscopy

Group IV: Capstone Courses—Group IV courses provide students with a culminating experience in the major, and satisfies the senior exercise requirement.

• BIOL 419. Research in Biology (Library) plus Biology 403 or Biology 404

• BIOL 425. Research in Biology (Laboratory) plus Biology 403 or Biology 404

• BIOL 430. Avian Ecology and Conservation

• BIOL 435. Life History Strategies

• BIOL 440. Drug Discovery

• BIOL 446. Bacterial Pathogenesis

• BIOL 456 L . Biology of Communication

• BIOL 463 L . Ecological Concepts and Methods

• BIOL 464. Molecular Genetics

• BIOL 468. Marine Phytogeography

• BIOL 473 L . Sensory Biology

• BIOL 475. Symbiosis

Required Cognate Courses—In addition to courses in biology, the following cognate requirements must be met:

Chemistry

• CHEM 111L and 112L. Introductory Chemistry I and II

Quantitative methods (one of the following)

• MATH 107 . Elements of Statistics

• MATH 126 . Calculus with Algebra and Trigonometry

• MATH 131 . Calculus I (or an advanced calculus course such as MATH 132 or 142)

• PSYC 221L . Research Design and Analysis

The Writing Intensive Part II requirement is fulfilled by one of the following courses: BIOL 182L. Biology II: Evolution of Life, or BIOL 203L. Biology III: The Cellular Basis of Life.

Students are strongly recommended to take a two-semester course in organic chemistry (CHEM 211 and 212) and a two-semester course in introductory physics (e.g., PHYS 101 and 102). While not required for the major, these are considered to be essential for students who are interested in the health professions or in continuing their education at the graduate level.

Optional Courses of Potential Interest—Students also are encouraged to take courses in other departments and programs that have a relationship to the biological sciences. Examples of such courses are as follows: ANTH 215. Introduction to Medical Anthropology, CHEM 316L.Physical Biochemistry, CPSC115L. Introduction to Computing, ENGL 208.Argument and Research Writing, ENGR 411.Electrophysiology of the Central Nervous System, ENVS 149L.Introduction to Environmental Science, GEOS 112.Introduction to EarthScience, NESC 202L.Clinical Neuroanatomy, NESC 401. Neurochemistry, PHIL 215.Medical Ethics, PHIL 221.Science, Reality, and Rationality, PHIL 227.Environmental Philosophy, PHIL 374.Minds and Brains, PSYC 261.Brain and Behavior, and PSYC 464.Neuropsychopharmacology.

Advanced Placement—Students who receive a score of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement examination in biology may receive one course credit towards graduation. This course credit may not be counted towards the biology major, nor does it exempt students from any of the courses required for the major.

Teaching Assistantship s—Each year, by invitation, certain students will be given the opportunity to function as teaching assistants. Those accepting will work closely with a faculty member in the presentation of a departmental course. The primary responsibilities of student assistants will be instructional. Students taking part in this program can receive course credit by registering in BIOL 466 (not creditable to the biology major).

Research in Biology—Majors in biology are provided the opportunity to carry out research through direct laboratory work, field work, or library research under the direction of an individual faculty member. Seniors and those students using a laboratory or library research course to satisfy the Group IV requirement must simultaneously enroll in the research seminar (BIOL 403 or 404). Because of the nature of laboratory work and field work, students should be willing to devote at least two semesters to research. Library work is to be done on the semester basis and will involve the preparation of a paper dealing with a significant phenomenon or issue in the field. Those who wish to pursue this work should seek permission from the sponsoring faculty member no later than December 1 if the work is to be initiated in the spring term or no later than May 1 if the work is to be initiated in the fall term. Students are urged to make their arrangements as early as possible in the preceding semester. Ideally, students interested in summer research should contact faculty members in the preceding fall semester.

Non-majors—All students who wish to participate in departmental courses are welcome to enroll in any of these courses as long as they satisfy the listed prerequisites, or after obtaining permission from the faculty member teaching a course.

Courses at Other Institutions—Students who wish to receive major credit for course work at other institutions should submit to the department chair the name of the institution and the number, title, and catalogue description of the course. This information must be submitted in writing before the work is initiated and formal permission must be granted before the course can be credited toward the major at Trinity. Upon approval, up to three biology courses taken away from Trinity may be counted toward the biology major. Under special circumstances, students may petition the department for permission to transfer additional courses; transfer students wishing to transfer more than three courses should petition at the time of admission.

Study Away—While there are many general programs of study abroad for Trinity students, biology majors interested in foreign study should be aware of programs designed particularly for serious biological study outside the College. Examples of suitable programs in which Trinity students participate regularly are listed below:

• Duke University Marine Laboratory

• School for Field Studies (field sites in Kenya, Baja Mexico, Costa Rica, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Australia)

• Organization for Tropical Studies

• Marine Biological Laboratory Semester in Environmental Science

• S.E.A. Semester, Woods Hole

Honors—Students seeking honors must apply for the honors program in biology. This application must be in written form and should be submitted to the chair of biology before the sixth week of classes of a student’s sixth semester. The faculty of biology will act upon each application. Students seeking honors must have completed five biology courses that count towards the major by the end of their fifth semester and their grade point average in these courses must be at least 3.3 (B+). In addition, they must demonstrate in their work a scholarly intent. Students not qualifying for the honors program after five semesters may be invited by the faculty to enter the program at a later time.

After acceptance into the honors program, students must maintain a GPA of 3.3 in their biology courses. In addition, they must perform research in biology (BIOL 419 or BIOL 425) for two semesters, including participation in BIOL 403 and 404. The honors program for a student culminates in an honors thesis (BIOL497), an oral presentation to the biology faculty, and a poster presentation at our annual science symposium. Upon completion of these requirements, the faculty of biology will vote to award honors to those candidates who are deemed qualified. Under exceptional circumstances, certain research students not enrolled in the honors program, may, by producing particularly distinguished work, be considered for honors by the faculty of biology.