BIOLOGY

The biology major is designed to give a broad pre- professional background for students interested in careers in biology, molecular biology, biomedical science, environment science, and related fields. Students beginning in fall 2012 or after will select one of three tracks: ecology, molecular biology, or integrative biology.

Biology majors are required to demonstrate basic knowledge in important areas of the life sciences from the cellular and molecular level through the ecosystem level. They learn how to conduct scientific studies to test appropriate hypotheses, collect and analyze data, and synthesize the information obtained. Students will demonstrate a knowledge of skills and laboratory techniques necessary for investigative research. Through this program, students also have the opportunity to develop their writing and speaking skills. Students earn a biology degree by completing the requirements for a B.S. or B.A. as indicated below. Because of a curriculum revision instituted in fall 2012, the requirements for students enrolling at Eckerd before fall 2012 differ from those enrolling for fall 2012 or later.

For the B.S. degree, students must complete the following:

MA 131M Calculus I
MA 133M or any approved statistics course
CH 121N and CH 122 General Chemistry I & II
CH 221 and CH 222 Organic Chemistry I & II
PH 241 and PH 242 Fundamental Physics I & II
Eight biology courses as prescribed below
Biology Junior and Senior Seminar
BI 498 Integration of Biology

Transfer students and students participating in off-campus programs may petition for alternatives to these specifications. A grade of C- or better is required in the following biology courses: BI 111N Ecology and Evolution, BI 112N Cells and Genes, BI 212 Genetics and Molecular Biology, and BI 498 Integration of Biology, the senior capstone course.

For students enrolling at Eckerd College before fall 2012, the eight biology courses must include:

Botany (BI 100N or BI 222)
Zoology (BI 101N or BI 221)
Cell Biology (BI 202)
Genetics and Molecular Biology (BI 303 or BI 212)
Principles of Ecology (BI 301)
one physiology course (BI 308 or BI 314)
two biology elective courses

For students enrolling at Eckerd College for fall semester 2012 or later, the eight biology courses must include the following five courses and three courses in one of the tracks below:

BI 111N Ecology and Evolution
BI 112N Cells and Genes
BI 212 Genetics and Molecular Biology
one organismal course (BI 221 Principles of Zoology, BI 222 Principles of Botany, BI 200 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, or BI 204 Microbiology) or the equivalent as determined by biology faculty
one physiology course (BI 308 General and Molecular Physiology or BI 314 Comparative Physiology) or the equivalent as determined by biology faculty

In addition to the five courses above, specified courses in one of the following three tracks are required:

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY track - CH 415 Biochemistry I and any two of the following Upper-level Molecular Synthesis Courses: BI 397 Neuroscience, BI 412 Receptor Pharmacology, BI 422 Advanced Topics in Genetics, or BI 424 Developmental Biology.

ECOLOGY track - BI 301 Principles of Ecology and any two of the following Ecological Synthesis Courses: BI 351 Plant Ecology, BI 352 Animal Behavioral Ecology, BI 371N Conservation Biology, or BI 373 Restoration Ecology.

INTEGRATIVE track - BI 301 Principles of Ecology and one course from two of the three following Upper-level Synthesis sets:

Molecular Upper-level Synthesis Set
BI 397 Neuroscience
BI 412 Receptor Pharmacology
BI 422 Advanced Topics in Genetics
BI 424 Developmental Biology

Organismal Upper-level Synthesis Set
MS 302 Biology of Fishes
MS 311 Marine Mammalogy
MS 315 Elasmobranch Biology and Management
AN 448 Human Osteology and Anthropology
BI 362 Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles
BI 372 Parasitology

Ecological Upper-level Synthesis Set
BI 351 Plant Ecology
BI 352 Animal Behavioral Ecology
BI 371N Conservation Biology
BI 373 Restoration Ecology

Sample course sequence for students starting in fall 2012 (for sample course sequences under the pre-2012 model, see the 2010-2012 edition of the catalog):

Freshman

Fall semester
Cells and Genes or Ecology and Evolution
General Chemistry I
Spring semester
Cells and Genes or Ecology and Evolution
General Chemistry II

Sophomores

Fall semester
Organismal course
Organic Chemistry I
Spring semester
Genetics and Molecular Biology
Organic Chemistry II

Juniors

Fall semester
Principles of Ecology (Integrative and Ecological tracks) or
Biochemistry (Molecular track)
Fundamental Physics I
Biology Junior Seminar
Spring semester
General and Molecular Physiology or
Comparative Physiology
Fundamental Physics II

Seniors

Fall semester
Synthesis course in your track (see above)
Spring semester
Synthesis course in your track (see above)
Biology Senior Seminar

For the B.A. degree, students must fulfill the requirements and track options as listed for the B.S. degree above except that Organic Chemistry I and II and Fundamental Physics I and II are not required. Because Organic Chemistry I and II are prerequisites for Biochemistry I, it is anticipated that the B.A. option for the molecular track will be very rarely used.

The biology minor requires five biology courses, not including more than two at the 100 level, perspective courses, or directed/independent studies. At least one of the five courses must be at the 300 level or above.