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Biology (Biol)
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Carmichael, Crossley, Darland, Goodwin, Kelsch, Kupchella, La Duke, Meberg, Mehl, Newman, Potvin, Pyle, Ralph, Rhen, Schlosser (Chair), Sheridan, Simmons, Sweitzer, Tkach and Vaughan

The Department of Biology offers a B.S. in Biology, B.S. in Biology with Pre-Health Science Emphasis, and a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology. In addition, there are three options associated with the B.S. in Biology degree: General Biology; Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology; and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Specific department requirements for the degrees and options are listed below.

FACILITIES

The Department of Biology is housed in Starcher Hall. In addition to classrooms, three computer laboratories and other specialized teaching laboratories, the building houses a herbarium, three greenhouses, environmental chambers, animal rooms for terrestrial and aquatic organisms, observation rooms, vertebrate and invertebrate museums, a darkroom, and isotope and tissue culture facilities. The Department also maintains two natural areas (virgin prairie and wooded stream valley) and a biology core molecular facility for teaching and research.

INDEPENDENT STUDY

Well qualified majors are urged to participate in independent studies, honors work, or undergraduate research. Normally, studies of this nature are initiated by invitation from a faculty member. Students selected for these programs usually carry out their studies in the research laboratories of the individual professors. Research apprenticeships or assistantships financed by private foundation support or faculty research grants may be available for part-time employment. The department participates in the University Honors Program through certain interdisciplinary colloquia, by honors credit in advanced courses, and by independent studies and tutorials in advanced topics.

College of Arts and Sciences

B.S. WITH MAJOR IN BIOLOGY

Required 125 credits (36 of which must be numbered 300 or above, and 60 of which must be from a 4-year institution) including:
  I.
General Education Requirements (See University GER listing. Minimum 39 total credits.) The following courses must be taken as part of the General Education Requirement:
    English 110 College Composition I
(3)


Comm 110
Fundamentals of Public Speaking
(3)
 
II.
43 major hours including:
    A. Core requirements for all options (23 hours):
    Biol 150 & Biol 151 General Biology I & II
(6)
    Biol 150L & 151L General Biology Lab I & II
(2)
    Biol 312 Evolution
(3)
    Biol 315 Genetics
(3)
    Biol 332 Ecology
(3)
    Biol 341 Cell Biology
(3)
    Biol 480 Senior Capstone Semminar **
(3)
      TOTAL
(23)
 

*Students who take Biol 111 and Biol 111L (Concepts of Biology and Lab) prior to becoming a Biology major are required to take Biol 150 and Biol 150L to complete the General Biology sequence.
    **Appropriate Senior Honors Thesis (Biol 489) credits can be substituted for Biol 480 if approved by both the Biology faculty adviser and the Biology Department Chairperson.
   
    We strongly advise mastery of materials in all core courses except Biol 480 prior to enrolling in other 300 or 400 level Biology courses.

No more than one Biology course intended for non-majors (all University of North Dakota 200 level Biology courses) will count toward the 43 hour major.

Up to two life-sciences related courses from other departments at the University of North Dakota may be counted toward the 43 hour major, provided they do not overlap extensively with subject matter included in Biology Department courses also being used for credit.

At least four upper division Biology courses with laboratories must be included in the 43 hour major. Two upper division life sciences-related laboratory courses from other departments at the University of North Dakota may be counted toward the four course upper division laboratory requirement, provided they do not overlap extensively with subject matter in Biology Department courses also being used for credit.
    A Biol 494 Directed Studies or Biol 492 Research Experience may be counted as one upper division laboratory requirement with appropriate documentation of the laboratory experience and approval by the supervising faculty member, the faculty adviser, and the Biology Department Chairperson.

Students may include no more than 10 combined credit hours from Biol 494 (Directed Studies), Biol 492 (Research), and Biol 489 (Senior Honors) towards the total 43 credit hours required for this Biology major.
    B. Advanced requirements for each option (minimum 20 credit hours required)
    Option 1. General Biology
    This program is designed for students interested in obtaining a broad background in biology, with maximum flexibility in program design. Students should consult with their adviser to develop an appropriate course of study.
    1. Advanced requirements (20 credit hours of Biology electives)
    All other 300 or 400 level Biology courses will count toward the 20 elective
credit hours needed.
    Option 2. Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
    This program is designed for students interested in the cellular and sub-cellular mechanisms underlying biological phenomena. It is especially appropriate for students anticipating a career in biotechnology or biomedical research. These courses will provide a foundation for students planning to continue their studies in graduate or professional programs, or students wanting to pursue technical positions in life science research or pharmaceutical companies. Students should consult with their adviser to develop an appropriate course of study.
    Advanced requirements (minimum 20 credit hours):
    1. Required courses (8 credit hours):
    Biol 341L Cell Biology Lab
(1)
    Biol 410 Molecular Biology Techniques
(4)
    Biol 378 Developmental Biology
(3)
   
2. Option courses (minimum 5 credit hours from the list below):
    Biol 315R Genetics Recitation
(1)
    Biol 367 Cytology
(3)
    Biol 369 Histology
(2)
    Biol 369L Histology Lab
(2)
    Biol 450 Molecular Genetics
(2)
    MBio 302 General Microbiology
(2)
    BMB 401 Biochemistry of Proteins
(3)
       
   
3. Biology electives (7 additional credit hours)
   
All 300 or 400 level Biology courses, including any of those not taken from the groups above, will count toward the elective credit hours needed.

    Option 3. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology  
   
This program is designed for students interested in ecology, evolutionary biology, and related areas. Students will explore animal behavior, biodiversity, evolutionary history and interactions of organisms and their environments. The coursework outlined here will familiarize students with the conceptual framework of ecology and evolutionary biology and provide necessary analytical skills and familiarity with the major groups of living organisms. The program will help prepare students for careers in ecological, evolutionary and related fields, including those in conservation, the environment, and graduate study. Students should consult with their adviser to develop an appropriate course of study.

    Advanced requirements (minimum 20 credit hours):  
    1. Required courses (4-5 credit hours):  
    Biol 332L Ecology Lab
(1)
    Biol 376 Animal Biology & Biol 376L Animal Biology Lab
(4)
   
or
  
    Biol 350 Plant Biology
(3)
    2. Option courses (minimum 5 credit hours from the list below):
    Biol 333 Population Biology
(3)
    Biol 338 Animal Behavior
(2)
    Biol 433 Aquatic Ecology
(3)
    Biol 439 Conservation Biology
(3)
    3. Biology electives (minimum 8 additional credit hours)  
    All 300 or 400 level Biology courses, including any of those not taken from the groups above, will count toward the elective credit hours needed.  
    Although not required, all students in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology emphasis are strongly encouraged to take both plant (Biol 350) and animal (Biol 376) biology.  
    Depending on the student’s area of interest, any, or several of the following courses that were not already identified are potentially recommended: Biol 336 (Systematic Botany), Biol 363 (Entomology), Biol 364, 364L (Parasitology and lab), Biol 425 (Ichthyology), Biol 427 (Ornithology), Biol 428 (Mammalogy).  
    Biol 410 (Molecular Techniques) is strongly recommended as one elective course for students interested in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.  
    4. Physical Sciences requirement (3-4 credit hours taken from the list below):  
    Geog134, 134L Introduction to Global Climate and Lab
(4)
    Geog 471, 471L Cartography and Computer Assisted Mapping & lab
(3)
    Geog 474 Introduction to GIS
(3)
    Geol 101, 101L Introduction to Geology and Lab
(4)
    Geol 102, 102L The Earth Through Time and Lab
(4)
     
  III. Cognate requirements in other departments for all three options (30-33 credit hours):
    A. Mathematics (3-4 credit hours):    
    Math 146 Applied Calculus  
(3)
   
or
   
    Math 166 Calculus II  
(4)
    Pre-requisites for either course are the responsibility of the student.
    B. Chemistry (16-18 credit hours):  
    Chem 121/121L General Chemistry I & Lab  
(4)
    Chem 122/122L General Chemistry II & Lab  
(4)
    Chem 240 and BMB 301 Survey of Organic Chemistry & Biochemistry Lecture
(8)
   
or
    
    Chem 341, 341L, 342, 342L Organic Chemistry I and II with labs  
(10)
    C. Physical sciences (8 credit hours) :  
    Phys 211/212 College Physics I and II  
(8)
   
or
    
    Phys 251/252 University Physics I and II  
(8)
    D. Other - Statistical Methods and Data Interpretation (3 credit hours from the list below):
    Biol 470 Biometry  
(3)
    Soc 326 Sociological Research Methods  
(3)
    Math 321 Applied Statistical Methods  
(3)
   
Note: Biol 470 (Biometry) is required in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology option.

Teacher Certification
Students seeking secondary teacher certification in Biology must complete the Department of Teaching and Learning requirements in Secondary Education (see Secondary Education listing).

These students must complete the B.S. with Major in Biology or the B.S. with Major in Biology (Pre-Health Sciences Emphasis) or the B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology and include the following three courses:
    Biol 312 Evolution
(3)
    Biol 336 Systematic Botany
(4)
    MBio 302 General Microbiology
(4)
         
    These students must also complete at least four credit hours of earth science from the following:
    Geol 101, 101L Physical Geology with lab
(4)
    Geog 121, 121L Physical Geography with lab
(4)
    Geog 134, 134L Introduction to Global Climate with lab
(4)
Other choices of courses in Biology should be made with the aid of a Biology adviser. Among the other requirements for the major, students seeking teacher certification must complete the Chem 240 Organic Chemistry (5) and BMB Biochemistry Lecture (3) option. Formal admission to Teacher Education is required and is normally sought while enrolled in T&L 325 (see Department of Teaching and Learning listing). Biology majors seeking secondary certification must have an adviser both in the Biology Department and in the Department of Teaching and Learning.

B.S. WITH MAJOR IN BIOLOGY (Pre-Health Sciences Emphasis)
This program is designed for students interested in medicine or allied medical fields such as dentistry, veterinary medicine, or medical research. Pre-health students should consult with their Biology adviser and the pre-health adviser in the College of Arts and Sciences to develop an appropriate course of study.

Required 125 credits (36 of which must be numbered 300 or above, and 60 of which must be from a 4-year institution, including:
 
I.
General Education Requirements (see University GER listing. Minimum 39 total credits). The following courses must be taken as part of the General Education Requirement:
    Engl 110 College Composition I  
(3)
    Comm 110 Fundamentals of Public Speaking  
(3)
 
II.
43 major hours including:
   

A.
Core Requirements (23 credit hours; all courses below):
Biol 150 & 151 General Biology I & II
(6)
Biol 150L & 151L General Biology I & II Laboratory
(2)
Biol 312 Evolution
(3)
Biol 315 Genetics
(3)
Biol 332 Ecology
(3)
Biol 341 Cell Biology
(3)
Biol 480 Senior Capstone Seminar**
(3)
TOTAL
(23)

    *Students who take Biol 111 and Biol 111L (Concepts of Biology and Lab) prior to becoming a Biology major are required to take Biol 150 and Biol 150L to complete the General Biology sequence.
    **Appropriate Senior Honors Thesis (Biol 489) credits can be substituted for Biol 480 if approved by both the Biology faculty adviser and the Biology Department Chairperson.
    We strongly advise mastery of materials in all core courses except Biol 480 prior to enrolling in other 300 or 400 level Biology courses.
    No more than one Biology course intended for non-majors (all University of North Dakota 200 level Biology courses) will count toward the 43 hour major.
    Up to two life-sciences related courses from other departments at the University of North Dakota may be counted toward the 43 hour major, provided they do not overlap extensively with subject matter included in Biology Department courses also being used for credit.
    At least four upper division Biology courses with laboratories must be included in the 43 hour major. Two upper division life sciences-related laboratory course from other departments at the University of North Dakota may be counted toward the four course upper division laboratory requirement, provided they do not overlap extensively with subject matter in Biology Department courses also being used for credit.
    A Biol 494 Directed Studies or Biol 492 Research Experience may be counted as one upper division laboratory requirement with appropriate documentation of the laboratory experience and approval by the supervising faculty member, the faculty adviser, and the Biology Department Chairperson.
    Students may include no more than 10 combined credit hours from Biol 494 (Directed Studies), Biol 492 (Research), and Biol 489 (Senior Honors) towards the total 43 credit hours required for this Biology Major.
   

B.
Advanced requirements (minimum 20 credit hours):
Upper-level courses (minimum 12 credit hours taken from the list below):  
Biol 341L Cell Biology Lab
 (1)
Biol 364 Parasitology
(2)
Biol 364L Parasitology Lab
(2)
Biol 367 Cytology
(3)
Biol 369 Histology
(2)
Biol 369L Histology Lab
(2)
Biol 420 Neuroscience
(3)
Biol 442 Physiology of Organs and Systems
(3)
Biol 442L Physiology of Organs and Systems Lab
(1)
MBIO 328 Introduction to Immunology
(3)
Biol 376 Animal Biology
(3)
Biol 376L Animal Biology Lab
(1)
Biol 378 Developmental Biology
(3)
1.
 

  2. Biology electives (8 additional credit hours)    
    All 300 or 400 level Biology courses, including any of those not taken from the group above, will count toward the elective credit hours needed.
III. Cognate requirements in other departments (30-33 credit hours):
  A. Mathematics (3-4 credit hours)
 
    Math 146 Applied Calculus
(3)
  
   
or
  
 
    Math 166 Calculus II
(4)
  
  Pre-requisites for either course are the responsibility of the student.  
  B. Chemistry (16-18 credit hours):
 
  Chem 121/121L General Chemistry I & Lab
(4)
  
  Chem 122/122L General Chemistry II & Lab
(4)
  
  Chem 240/BMB 301 Survey of Organic Chemistry &Biochemistry Lecture
(8)
  
   
or
  
 
  Chem 341/341L Organic Chemistry I and II with labs
(10)
  
  Note: the sequence of Chem 341 and Ch