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2024-2025 Catalog
Biology, BA
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 Return to: Majors, Minors, and Programs
New technologies and ideas have contributed to making the biological sciences one of the most explosive areas of modern intellectual pursuit. The study of biology is rich in history and our modern understanding of the living world is predicated on centuries of observations, analysis, debate, and reassessment and reinterpretation of previous discoveries. The biology program challenges students to explore the living world and to use the study of biology as a means to develop their full cognitive potential. The program embraces the philosophy that to understand science, a student must participate actively in the scientific process. Understanding and engaging in the scientific method within the context of the life sciences prepares students to succeed in graduate study in an area of specialization, pursue additional education in professional schools, engage in a technical career, or work as a science educator. Students may choose courses best suited to meet their professional goals within the larger structure of a curriculum designed to insure breadth of experience.
Major Program
The biology program balances instruction in “content” and “process” with active participation on the part of all students in research projects throughout their undergraduate careers. This research-driven curriculum has at its base an initial three course sequence comprising two semesters of introductory biology followed by a semester of scientific methodology and experimental design. The first course, “Principles of Biology I: Biological Processes,” provides a solid foundation in the study, scope, and processes of biology, including basic biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, ecology, evolution, and population biology. The second course, “Principles of Biology II: Diversity of Biological Systems,” applies a comparative approach to understanding the evolutionary basis for biological classification of organisms, continuity and diversity in the various kingdoms of life, and the central features of plant and animal physiology. The third course, “Research Methods in the Biological Sciences,” immerses the student in the actual practice of science. In this course, students actively practice the scientific method by observing natural phenomena, asking questions, formulating alternative hypotheses, designing and instrumenting controlled experiments to test their hypotheses, carrying out these experiments by collecting and analyzing data, drawing conclusions from their experimental results, presenting their findings in written and oral forms, defending their procedures and results, and critically evaluating the work of others.
Nearly all upper-level coursework in biology draws upon this platform of practical experience and knowledge by requiring students to design and carry out experimental extensions of their laboratory exercises. Upper-level courses provide a deep background at the organismal, population, and integrative levels. Most students choose to participate in collaborative research with faculty members during their college careers. Due to the highly integrative nature of modern biology, coursework in chemistry, physics, and mathematics is also required. A capstone experience is provided by the Senior Integrative Exercise in Biology, in which the student integrates her knowledge of biology and other academic disciplines to research and present a focused interdisciplinary topic in an open forum.
The goals of this curriculum are to graduate biology majors who can demonstrate a rich understanding of the current content and subject area of the biological sciences, who can apply a firm foundation of practical experience with the scientific method to actual research projects, and who can present themselves and their work in professional settings.
Department faculty can be contacted to help with initial course selection and the development of a long-range plan for course sequencing. Aspirants to medical, dental, allied health and veterinary schools must satisfy the specific entry requirements for those schools. Biology majors contemplating a career in Allied Health (e.g., Nursing, Physician’s Assistant, Medical Technologist, Physical Therapist) should complete both BIO 210 and BIO 211 in order to meet professional school requirements for a two-semester sequence in Human Anatomy and Physiology.
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Major Requirements for Biology
A major in biology requires a minimum of 60 semester hours, including the following:
37 semester hours of Biology, including at least three 300-level Biology courses
Six student learning outcomes have been identified for the required courses in the Biology major:
- Make evidence-based arguments using your own and other’s findings;
- Evaluate claims about the natural world in scientific papers, popular science media, and scientific journals;
- Record, organize, and analyze data sets;
- Create and interpret informative graphs and other data visualizations;
- Use a variety of modes to communicate scientific information about the natural world (e.g., oral, written, visual);
- Communicate the impacts of the natural sciences effectively to an audience with different perspectives and backgrounds
I. Foundational Courses (all 3 courses required; 12 hours):
II. Expanding (Upper-level Core Courses; 4 courses required, 1 from each pair, 15-16 hours):
III. Diversifying (elective courses to complete total of 37 hours of Biology):
Special Opportunities in Biology (recommended):
IV. Integrating (Required):
V. Associating (required courses in other science and math disciplines, 23 semester hours):
Note:
*Note: A maximum of 4 semester hours from the BIO 210 /BIO 211 sequence may be counted toward the biology major.
**Note: Any one course in calculus may be substituted for MAT 140 . Statistics (MAT 220 ) and Organic Chemistry II (CHM 222 ) are strongly recommended for students preparing for graduate or professional programs. PHY 121 , PHY 122 General Physics may be substituted for PHY 115 , PHY 116 .
Integrative Experience
The integrative experience requirement is met with BIO 440: Senior Integrative Exercise in the Life Sciences . In this course, students work individually to research a focused topic integrating biological concepts and methods with those of another discipline. Students work collaboratively in a small group to organize oral presentations which integrate individual topics into a broader theme, question, or problem. Students present their work at the end of the semester.
Professional Development in Biology
Throughout her Wesleyan education each student is given opportunities to explore professional and career choices, and to develop and demonstrate the knowledge and skills essential for professional success. Each student will complete PDE 350: Professional Practice Seminar and PDE 400: Professional Development Experience .
The biology professional experience requirement can be met by involvement in any of the following biology related activities: internship, independent study, assisting a faculty member with the instruction of a regular teaching laboratory (teaching assistant), working with a faculty member as part of a laboratory or field research project. With faculty approval, these activities may also be used to fulfill the general education requirement that each student, “must develop her understanding of how a liberal arts education enhances students’ preparation for careers and further professional growth” (general education learning objective #7). Registration for and completion of at least 1 credit hour of PDE 400: Professional Development Experience , is required to fulfill this aspect of the general education requirement.
Biology majors contemplating a career in Allied Health (e.g., Nursing, Physician’s Assistant, Medical Technologist, Physical Therapist) should complete both BIO 210 and BIO 211 in order to meet professional school requirements for a two-semester sequence in Human Anatomy and Physiology.
Course Sequencing for the Biology Major
For optimal progress, students considering a major in biology should begin with BIO 110 in the fall semester and BIO 112 in the spring semester of their first year. BIO 203 should be taken in the fall of the sophomore year. Students with some high school chemistry are strongly encouraged to take CHM 101 and CHM 102 in their first year and CHM 221 , CHM 222 in their sophomore year. Physics is normally taken in the second or third year. A recommended sequence of courses for the student majoring in biology is shown below.
Spring
- BIO core or electives
- BIO Independent Study
- Electives, General Education
Undergraduate Research Opportunities
All biology majors are exposed to the research environment of science in their sophomore year in the required course BIO 203: Research Methods in the Biological Sciences . This experience is furthered by research components in many of the upper-level courses for which BIO 203 serves as a prerequisite. Independent laboratory or field research experience is strongly encouraged as a means to gain further knowledge of how science is conducted and as a prelude to post-graduate study in both research and clinically-based programs. Faculty members welcome the opportunity to support and direct the research efforts of students enrolled in BIO 155 , BIO 451 , BIO 452 , and BIO 499 and to have students participate as research assistants in ongoing faculty research programs. Also, students are welcome to participate in the College intern program and receive academic credit for participation in research conducted at other institutions.
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Return to: Majors, Minors, and Programs
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