Courses

BIO 1530 FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOLOGY I: INTRODUCTION TO CELLULAR BIOLOGY (4)
For students planning further study in biology or a related field: includes cell structure and function, mitosis and meiosis, principles of genetics, and classification of living organisms. Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory each week. Students must pass with a C- or higher grade to progress to other Biology courses.
Prerequisite: high school biology and chemistry or Sci 1420 and 1430.
Corequisite: BIO 1531(must be taken in the same semester as BIO 1530 lecture)
Offered: fall and spring

BIO 1531 FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOLOGY I LABORATORY (0)
This course will cover the laboratory-based components associated with the core concepts covered in the BIO 1530, Fundamentals of Biology I lecture course. Laboratory safety and basic laboratory techniques will also be introduced and reinforced. The lab will meet for three hours each week in conjunction with the lecture course (BIO 1530).
Prerequisite: high school biology and chemistry or Sci 1420 and 1430.
Corequisite: BIO 1530 (must be taken in the same semester as BIO 1531)
Offered: fall and spring

BIO 1560 FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOLOGY II: DIVERSITY OF LIFE (4)
This course is intended primarily as an introductory course for potential biology majors. An introduction to the major kingdoms of living organisms are presented with their similarities and differences noted. Emphasis will also be placed on evolutionary and ecological principles related to and impacting the diversity of life. The lab will meet for three hours each week in conjunction with the lecture course (BIO 1560).
Prerequisite: none
Corequisite: BIO 1561(must be taken in the same semester as BIO 1560 lecture)
Offered: fall and spring

BIO 1561 FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOLOGY II LABORATORY (0)
This course will cover the laboratory-based components associated with the core concepts covered in the BIO 1560, Fundamentals of Biology II lecture course with specific emphasis on identification of preserved flora and fauna specimens. Laboratory safety and basic laboratory techniques will also be introduced and reinforced. The lab will meet for three hours each week in conjunction with the lecture course (BIO 1560).
Prerequisite: none
Corequisite: BIO 1560 (must be taken in the same semester as BIO 1561)
Offered: fall and spring

BIO 2110 SURVEY OF HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I (4)
A survey course designed to familiarize students with the structure and function of the human body. This class will focus on the body wall and the central nervous system. Endocrine regulation will also be included. Concepts will be taught primarily on the systemic level. The effects of aging on physiological function, and discussion of diseases and disorders will be included as time permits. Credits for this class will not be applied toward the requirements for a major or a minor in biology. Three lecture and three laboratory hours per week. Students planning to apply to graduate programs in the health sciences, including the Methodist University PA program, should select Biology 3060 and 3080.
Prerequisite: Biology 1530 with a minimum grade of C- or higher
Offered: fall

BIO 2120 SURVEY OF HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY PART II (4)
This class is offered as a companion course to Biology 2060. Part 2 will cover sensory anatomy and physiology, the circulatory system, renal anatomy and physiology, digestion and nutrition, reproduction and the basic aspects of human embryonic development. The effects of aging on physiological function, and discussion of diseases and disorders will be included as time permits. Credits for this class will not be applied toward the requirements for a major or a minor in biology. Three lecture and three laboratory hours per week. Students planning to apply to graduate programs in the health sciences, including the Methodist University PA program, should select Biology 3060 and 3080.
Prerequisites: Biology 1530 and Biology 2110 with a minimum grade of C- or higher
Offered: spring

BIO 2430 INTRODUCTORY ZOOLOGY (4)
Classification, anatomy, development, and life history of the animals with emphasis on evolutionary relationships among the various invertebrate and vertebrate groups. Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory each week.
Prerequisite: BIO 1530 and 1560 with a grade of C- or higher
Offered: fall odd years

BIO 2440 INTRODUCTORY BOTANY (4)
Introductory Botany is designed as a second level course to provide an understanding of basic plant anatomy, physiology and diversity. A general knowledge of plant anatomy and physiology will be investigated to illustrate how plants develop modifications which allow them to survive in different habitats.
Prerequisite: Biology 1530 and 1560 with a grade of C- or better Offered: fall even years

BIO 2900 BIOLOGICAL STATISTICS (3)
This course is designed to teach how to apply appropriate statistical tests to biological data. We focus on how to choose the appropriate test for a given data set, how to design experiments to make them more suitable for statistical analysis, and how to interpret and present the results of statistical tests. Three hours of lecture each week.
Prerequisite: BIO 1530 and 1560 with a grade of C- or higher, MAT 1050 or higher and MAT 2200
Offered: fall

BIO 2960 GENETICS (4)
This course is a broad introduction to the principles of genetics in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Emphasis is placed on the molecular basis of heredity, chromosome structure, patterns of Mendelian and non- Mendelian inheritance, evolution, and biotechnological applications. Upon completion, students should be able to recognize and describe genetic phenomena, demonstrate knowledge of important genetic principles, and understand the importance of genetics to biology and society.
Prerequisites: BIO 1530 and CHE 1510
Offered: spring

BIO 2970 GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY (4)
Immunology, virology, morphology and physiology of bacteria, etiology, and applied microbiology. Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory each week.
Prerequisite: BIO 1530 with a grade of C- or higher and CHE 1510 and 1511 or permission of the instructor
Offered: fall and spring

BIO 2990 EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY AND POPULATION GENETICS (3)
The Modern Synthesis, the union of classical Darwinian selection and population genetics, with emphasis on the roles of selection, mutation, and genetic drift as agents of both micro and macro- evolutionary change. Three hours of lecture each week.
Prerequisite: BIO 1530 and 1560 with a grade of C- or higher
Offered: spring

BIO 3020 INVERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY (4)
Invertebrate animals with particular attention to physiological processes, ecological roles, and parasites of humans and domestic animals. Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory each week.
Prerequisite: BIO 1560 with a grade of C -or higher
Offered: fall (even years)

BIO 3060 HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I (4)
Part one of a two-course sequence. Topics covered include an introduction to histology, the skin and its derivatives, the skeleton, muscles, and the nervous, sensory and endocrine systems. Although this course is taught with an organ system emphasis, mechanisms on the cellular and molecular level are also covered.
Prerequisite: BIO 1560 with a grade of C- or higher or permission of instructor
Offered: fall

BIO 3080 HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II (4)
A continuation of the study of human structure and function. Topics include circulation, digestion, nutrition, respiration, excretion, immune response, reproduction, and development.
Prerequisite: BIO 3060 or permission of instructor
Offered: spring

BIO 3100 PLANT PHYSIOLOGY (3)
The field of plant physiology is the study of how plants survive. This course addresses the physiological process as they relate to most plants. Topics will include but are not limited to: plant-water relations, mineral nutrition, photosynthesis, respiration, carbon metabolism/transport and plant growth/development.
Prerequisites: CHE 1510, 1511, 1520 and 1521, or permission of instructor
Offered: spring (even years)

BIO 3110 PLANT TAXONOMY (4)
Plant taxonomy is intended for students to acquire knowledge of the evolutionary and morphological trends in the photosynthetic prokaryotes and protists, as well as non-vascular and vascular plants. Over the course of the semester students will be exposed to increasingly complex organisms. Classification and identification of plants will be emphasized in both lecture and weekly laboratories.
Prerequisites: none
Offered: fall (odd years)

BIO 3120 GENERAL ECOLOGY (4)
This class addresses the relationships among organisms and their environments. Topics will include organismal, population and community ecology. Mathematical models for biological systems will be included.
Prerequisite: BIO 1530/1531 or permission of instructor. Completion of MAT 1125 or higher recommended
Offered: spring (odd years)

BIO 3210 INSECT BIOLOGY (4)
Entomology: The roles of insects in the balance of life, public health issues, taxonomy, morphology, and physiology. Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory each week.
Prerequisite: BIO 1560 with a grade of C- or higher or permission of the instructor
Offered: as needed

BIO 3220 ANIMAL BEHAVIOR & NUTRITION (3)
This course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the principles and concepts of animal behavior and wellness. Topics covered will include the physiological and psychological aspects of animal behavior, the role of nutrition in animal behavior, and the relationship between behavior and nutrition in various animal species. Students will examine how animals interact with their environment, communicate, learn, and exhibit social behaviors, and how these behaviors are influenced by their nutritional needs. The course will also explore the ethical considerations related to animal behavior and wellness, and their implications for animal welfare and management.
Prerequisites: BIO 1530, BIO 1560, BIO 2430
Offered: fall

BIO 3310 CONSERVATION BIOLOGY (3)
This course will use biological concepts as a framework to consider the management of natural resources both historically and presently. The use of land for farming as well as the use of air, water, fisheries, and forestry will be studied. An introduction to the laws that govern the use of these resources will also be included.
Prerequisites: BIO 1530/1531 or permission of instructor.
Offered: spring (even years)

BIO 3480 BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY (3)
This course is designed to present some of the more important physiochemical properties and processes of living organisms. It will emphasize the functions of macromolecules in living organisms and examine the interrelationships between molecular structure and physiological function. The physiological chemistry of energy metabolism will also be an important part of this class.
Prerequisite: BIO 1530 with a grade of C- or higher, one 3000 level biology course, and CHE 1510, 1511, 1520, 1521, and 3210.
Offered: as needed

BIO 3960 MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (4)
BIO 3960 will cover essential themes in molecular biology to include: biological molecules
(DNA, RNA, proteins), DNA synthesis and repair, RNA synthesis and processing, protein synthesis and folding, gene regulation, genomes, and genetic analysis. Applications of molecular biology, including recombinant DNA technology, will also be covered. Lab will cover standard techniques in molecular biology, including PCR, gel electrophoresis, restriction digest, DNA cloning, and DNA sequencing.
Prerequisites: BIO 1530, CHE 1510, and BIO 2960
Offered: fall

BIO 3980 VERTEBRATE COMPARATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTION (4)
The comparative anatomy and evolution of vertebrate organisms: fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.
Prerequisites: One 3000/4000-level biology class or permission of instructor
Offered: fall (odd years)

BIO 3990 COMPARATIVE ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY (3)
An examination of the various methods and mechanisms animals, both invertebrate and vertebrate, have adopted to maintain physiological conditions necessary for life. Although phylogenetic changes will be discussed, the major emphasis will be on the adaptation interaction between animals and their environments.
Prerequisites: One 3000 level Biology course or permission of instructor, CHE 1510, 1511, 1520, and 1521.
Offered: as needed

BIO 4000 MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY (4)
This course is particularly desirable for students planning to enter any health-related field, work as a laboratory technician or enter a graduate program in microbiology. This course deals primarily with the 190 study of pathogenic bacteria and fungi, viruses and viral infections, and the immunological response to infection. Emphasis will be placed on the effects of microorganisms on human beings.
Prerequisites: BIO 2970
Offered: fall

BIO 4010 EMBRYOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENTAL GENETICS (4)
Representative patterns in the development of animals from zygote to functioning adults, with emphasis on the early stages. Cellular and genetic mechanisms are included. Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory each week.
Prerequisites: 8 credits of upper-division biology; Previous completion of 3060, 3080, 3960, 3980 or 4400 is highly recommended
Offered: spring

BIO 4100 IMMUNOLOGY (3)
This course is a study of the molecular and cellular interactions and principles of the immune system. Topics include immune system development, humoral & cell-mediated immunity, disease and treatments involving immunization, immunodeficiency, and autoimmunity.
Prerequisites: BIO 1530, BIO 2960, CHE 1510
Offered: spring

BIO 4200 ADVANCED BOTANY (4)
This course addresses the physiological processes of plants and how they survive in their environment. Topics will include but are not limited to: plant-water relations, mineral nutrition, photosynthesis, respiration, carbon metabolism/transport, and plant growth/development. Students will also acquire knowledge of the evolutionary and morphological trends in nonvascular and vascular plants.
Classification and identification of plants will be emphasized in lectures and weekly laboratories.
Prerequisites: BIO 1530, BIO 1560, BIO 2440, CHE 1510
Offered: fall

BIO 4400 CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY (4)
Cellular structures and processes as they provide the basic mechanisms of life. Consideration of biologically important macromolecules. Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory each week.
Prerequisites: 8 credits of upper-division biology (3000-level or higher), and CHE 2210 and 2211 or permission of the instructor. CHE 4500 is recommended.
Offered: fall

BIO 4850 SPECIAL TOPICS IN BIOLOGY (1-4)
Courses not part of the regular departmental offerings. Taught as faculty availability and student interest dictate.

BIO 4990 INDEPENDENT STUDY IN BIOLOGY (1-4)
An opportunity for a well-qualified, upper-division student to engage in special research in his/her major. Prerequisite: approval by the faculty advisor, the supervising professor, the division head, and the college dean before approval by the Provost. Credits to be determined.