Biological & Environmental Sciences

Dr. Theodora Pinou, Chair
pinout@wcsu.edu
Science Building 243, Midtown campus
(203) 837-8569

Kara Swenson, Department Secretary
swensonk@wcsu.edu
Science Building 220, Midtown campus
(203) 837-8791

Faculty

T. Pinou, Chair	N. Connally	J. Cordeira
K. Giamanco	R. Krell (Special Appointment)	M. Monette
T. Philbrick	P. Boily	E. Wong
H. Reynolds	S. Wagener	C. Santibanez-Lopez

Overview

The programs in the Department of Biological and Environmental Science provide students with the background required to succeed in a wide variety of fields such as cell and molecular biology, medicine, environmental science and education. A core of science courses provides a solid foundation in biology while electives allow students to pursue their special interests. All biology majors conduct research under the supervision of a faculty mentor.

Mission

The programs in the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences provide students from diversified backgrounds with the conceptual and technical knowledge for careers in biology, environmental science, teaching, and prepare them for graduate programs and careers in the health sciences. Electives at Western allow students to pursue special interests, and all biology majors conduct research under the supervision of a faculty mentor. The Department also provides service courses to support the education of students in other majors.

Objectives

To accomplish this mission, the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences:

Prepares students for successful careers related to biology by training them for advanced responsibilities in research, education, industry and other biology-related fields
Provides up-to-date courses supporting student needs
Integrates undergraduate research with faculty research projects
Provides a variety of general education and service courses to the student body
Promotes faculty research and professional contributions that advance the biological and environmental sciences, teaching pedagogy and support regional needs, including science education

Degree Programs in Biological and Environmental Sciences

Bachelor of Arts in Biology

Options:
Professional
Ecological Sciences
Bioscience

Bachelor of Science in Biology

Secondary Education: Biology

Minor Program

Biology

Bachelor of Arts in Biology (B.A.)

Requirements:

All degree programs require the completion of general education requirements (including foreign language), the specified courses and credits listed below and additional free electives to total a minimum of 120 semester hours. To contact the department, call (203) 837-8791.

Learning Outcomes:

By the completion of their BA degree in biology:

Graduates will have a broad understanding of the following core concepts of biology:
1. Evolution shapes the diversity of life.
2. Structure and function are interrelated at all levels of biological organization.
3. Information is stored and exchanged, within and among, organisms.
4. Life depends on transformations of energy and matter.
5. Living systems are interconnected and interacting.
Graduates will be able to:
1. Apply the process of science.
2. use quantitative reasoning, including statistics, modeling and simulation.
3. Tap into the interdisciplinary nature of science, including communicating and collaborating with other disciplines.
4. Clearly convey their understanding of biology through written and oral communication.
5. Describe the interrelationships between science and society, including the role of ethics in scientific research.

Professional Option

This option is for students planning to continue their education in either graduate school or professional school, such as medical, dental, veterinary, etc. It also will prepare students for entry-level positions, such as a laboratory technician in the pharmaceutical industry.

Required Courses:

BIO 103, 104 General Biology I & II
BIO 200 Ecology
BIO 205 Animal Physiology
BIO 260 Modes of Scientific Communication
BIO 300 Cell Biology
BIO 312 Genetics
BIO 325 Evolutionary Biology
BIO 480 Group Senior Research or BIO 490 Senior Research
MAT 120 Elementary Statistics
CHE 110, 111 General Chemistry I & II
CHE 210, 211 Organic Chemistry I & II
Biology electives approved by the department (see below) 7-8 SH
Math or science electives approved by the department (see below) 14 SH

Bioscience Option
For students who are not planning to continue their biology education after undergraduate school and who wish a course of study with less emphasis on physical science.
Required Courses
BIO 103, 104 General Biology I & II
BIO 200 Ecology
BIO 205 Animal Physiology
BIO 260 Modes of Scientific Communication
BIO 310 or 311 Vertebrate Embryology or Developmental Biology
BIO 312 Genetics
BIO 325 Evolutionary Biology
BIO 480 Group Senior Research or BIO 490 Senior Research
MAT 120 Elementary Statistics
CHE 110, 111 General Chemistry I & II
Biology electives approved by department (see below) 7-8 SH
Math or science electives approved by department (see below) 12 SH

Ecology Option:

This option is for students who are interested in ecology and environmental biology and who wish to either work or attend graduate school in that field.

Required Courses:

BIO 103, 104 General Biology I & II
BIO 200 Ecology
BIO 205 Animal Physiology
BIO 216 General Microbiology
BIO 260 Modes of Scientific Communication
BIO 312 Genetics
BIO 325 Evolutionary Biology
BIO 422 Conservation Biology or BIO 450 Population Ecology or BIO 375 Climate Ecology
BIO 480 Group Senior Research or BIO 490 Senior Research
MAT 120 Elementary Statistics
CHE 110, 111 General Chemistry I & II
Biology electives approved by the department (see below) 11 – 12 SH
MAT or science electives approved by the department (see below) 12 SH

Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education – Biology (B.S.)

Requirements:

See the Department of Education and Educational Psychology within the School of Professional Studies.
*Note: The Secondary Education – Biology (B. S.) Option is the same suggested BIO sequence as the Professional option, except there are NO Biology electives.

Biology Electives

Any Biology course 200-level or above will count in this category. Biochemistry (CHE 421, 422, 431) is acceptable in this this category.

Math/Science Electives

For all three options (Professional, Ecological Sciences, Bioscience), the following courses are approved to count as Science/Math electives (if they are not already required by the option): All BIO courses level 200 or above; All CHE courses level 200 or above; MAT 133, 170, 171, 181, 182; PHY 110, 111, 120, 121; AST 150; MTR 150; ES 110; CS 140, 143.

Course Restrictions
For a complete list of prerequisites, corequisites and other restrictions for all courses, please consult the Course Description section of this catalog.

Minor in Biology

At least 18 SH of biology courses* including:
BIO 103, 104 General Biology, I & II
or BIO 110 The Animal World & BIO 111 General Botany

At least 6 SH of biology courses at or above the 200-level
Additional biology courses to total at least 18 semester hours.

*BIO 100 Concepts of Biology will not count towards the minor; BIO 105, 106 Anatomy & Physiology I & II will count if both courses are taken. Students electing to minor in Biology should consult with the department chairperson for course selection. (A minimum of one-half of all semester hours in the minor must be taken at Western. Students must attain a minimum GPA of 2.00 for the courses taken at Western.)