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2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Biology, B.A.
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Majoring in biology offers students the opportunity to choose from a variety of exciting and interesting courses of study and future careers. The Biology program at UMF offers three concentrations, reflecting three common areas of interest and career paths for students who choose a BA in Biology as their major. These concentrations are: Pre-Professional, Ecology and Conservation, and General Biology. The degree requirements for each concentration are listed separately, below.
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PRE-PROFESSIONAL CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (52 Credits)
16 credits of electives from the following list:
BIO 150N Human Anatomy and Physiology I, BIO 253 Human Anatomy and Physiology II, BIO 351 Microbiology, BIO 355 Mammalogy, BIO 356 Developmental Biology, BIO 482 Theory and Methods of Scientific Inquiry, CHY 291 Analytical Chemistry, CHY 374 Biochemistry.
ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (52 Credits)
16 elective credits in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geology, or Environmental Science, of which at least 12 credits are in the ecological or conservation sciences. Ecological or conservation science electives for the Ecology and Conservation concentration
BIO 130N Tropical Nature: Exploring Costa Rica, BIO 232 Landscape Ecology, BIO 265 Ecological Restoration, BIO 294 Forest Ecology and Conservation, BIO 355 Mammalogy, BIO 383 Aquatic Biology, BIO 391 Entomology, BIO 396 Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, ENV 257 Soil Science.
4 credits in data analytics are to be chosen from the following list:
MAT 120M Introductory Statistics, MAT 220 Data Analysis, EPP 304 /GEO 304 Environmental GIS, or both TEC 103 Introduction to Python, and TEC 104 Introduction to R.
GENERAL BIOLOGY CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS (52 Credits)
16 elective credits in Biology, Chemistry, or Physics, to include at least 4 credits in cellular, molecular or physiological sciences and at least 4 credits in ecological or conservation sciences. Cellular, molecular, and physiological science electives
BIO 150N Human Anatomy and Physiology I, BIO 253 Human Anatomy and Physiology II, BIO 351 Microbiology, BIO 356 Developmental Biology, CHY 241 Organic Chemistry I, CHY 242 Organic Chemistry II, CHY 291 Analytical Chemistry, CHY 374 Biochemistry.
Ecological or conservation science electives for the General Biology concentration are to be chosen from the following list:
BIO 130N Tropical Nature: Exploring Costa Rica, BIO 232 Landscape Ecology, BIO 265 Ecological Restoration, BIO 294 Forest Ecology and Conservation, BIO 355 Mammalogy, BIO 383 Aquatic Biology, BIO 391 Entomology, BIO 396 Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology.
For all concentrations, electives not included in the above lists may only be counted toward the major if the substitution is approved in advance by the chair of the Division of Natural Sciences.
NOTE: A grade of C- or above must be earned in all science courses and their prerequisites.
One chemistry course and one physics course from the major may be counted for the General Education requirement in Natural Sciences.
For science majors declaring a science minor in a different science discipline, only eight credits of required coursework in the major can be counted toward the science minor.
World Language Requirement
For specific information about world language requirements and expectations see the General Education Requirements in the Academic Programs section of this catalog
General Education Requirements
For specific information about general education requirements and expectations see the General Education Requirements in the Academic Programs section of this catalog.
Minimum Total Credits for The Degree: 128
Learning Goals and Assessment
General Program Goals:
Biology majors at UMF become members of a scientific community. They will learn scientific techniques of field observation, experimentation, measurement, sampling and analysis. They will learn how to work side by side with professors in classes, laboratories and in the field as they conduct research in nearby forests, lakes, rivers, hospitals, health agencies and bio-technological settings. They become proficient in doing and communicating science, often making presentations in public and scientific arenas.
Learning Goals:
- Students will be able to use the scientific techniques of field observation, experimentation, measurement, sampling and analysis.
- Students will be able to work and conduct research collaboratively with peers and professors in classes, laboratories and in the field.
- Students will gain an understanding of core areas of biology sufficient to prepare them for entry level career positions or graduate/professional school.
- Students will be able to do and communicate science, including making presentations.
Pre-professional Track:
- Students will acquire the scientific knowledge in biology, chemistry and physics necessary for admission to professional health careers.
- Students will acquire observational, sampling, data analysis, and communication skills common to both science and professional health careers.
Assessment Criteria:
- Knowledge
- Students will be able to use biological vocabulary (“nominal and functional biological literacy”).
- Students will be able to understand of major concepts in the following six critical areas of biology, and communicate these concepts in their own words:
- Evolution
- Interaction and Interdependence
- Genetic Continuity and Reproduction
- Growth, Development, and Differentiation
- Energy, Matter, and Organization
- Maintenance of a Dynamic Equilibrium
- Students will be able to distinguish science from non-science.
- Students will understand the place of biology among other disciplines and the interactions between biology and society.
- Skills
- Students will be able to apply the scientific method (i.e., to understand procedural knowledge and skills so that one can carry out a scientific study as well as critically analyze the work of others).
- This includes the ability to:
- develop hypotheses and make predictions
- design experiments to test hypotheses
- critically evaluate results and draw conclusions
- Students will be able to use basic modern technology for biological research and communication. This should include use of the following:
- equipment used in field biology (standard monitoring equipment)
- microscopes
- equipment and techniques used in molecular genetics (micropipettes, centrifugation, electrophoresis, etc.)
- computer-based data acquisition & analysis hardware and software
- computer-based literature searching.
- Students will be able write scientific papers is appropriate format and orally communicate the results of scientific research.
- Attitude
- Students will be able to demonstrate professional behavior.
- Students will be aware of the ethical responsibilities of scientific practice.
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