
About this program
Biology is the study of life, from the simplest cells to the most complex ecosystems. When you study biology you develop an understanding of your own life and an appreciation for your connection to the natural world. A biology degree helps open the door to a broad range of fields including health care, food science, public health, biotechnology, conservation and natural resource management.
Biology graduates may choose to continue on to professional and graduate programs in health care, research and education. The biology major provides students with scientific knowledge, laboratory skills, research experience and intellectual training in analytical and quantitative reasoning.
The Bachelor of Science in Biology offers students a comprehensive introduction to the biological sciences with a strong foundation in mathematics and the physical sciences, followed by advanced study in at least one area of student interest.
Student outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Read, analyze, present and interpret quantitative data. More specifically, students will be able to:
- Read and interpret a graph
- Choose the graph type appropriate for a given data set
- Construct a graph from quantitative data
- Evaluate the results of a statistical test presented in terms of sample size and p-value
- Demonstrate competence in Cell and Molecular Biology. More specifically, students will be able to:
- Describe in detail the structure of DNA and the process of gene expression
- Explain and apply the principles of genetic inheritance, mutation and DNA repair
- Apply knowledge of cell structure to cell function
- Demonstrate competence in Ecology and Evolution. More specifically, students will be able to:
- Apply the principles of Hardy-Weinberg analysis to population genetics data
- Apply the principles of exponential growth to population data
- Calculate and interpret species richness and an index of biodiversity from ecological community data
- Demonstrate competence in Organismal and Physiological Biology. More specifically, students will be able to:
- Apply the principle of structure-function to organismal traits
- Apply knowledge of how physiological systems can change in both short and long term situations, including homeostatic and pathological situations
- Read and interpret a phylogenetic diagram
- Create a phylogenetic diagram given a set of character data