Degrees and Requirements
Biology (B.S.)
The bachelor of science program in biology is planned to provide scientific training as part of a liberal education and to give the student a basic comprehension of the main areas of biology. The program is designed to prepare the student for graduate work, for admission to medical/dental/veterinary school, for a biologically oriented career, or for research in the biological sciences.
To complete the biology (B.S.) major, a minimum of 120 credits is required, the last 30 of which must be earned at La Roche University. The required course work consists of:
- 36 credits in biology (includes 8 credits of biology electives 200 level or above)
- 35 credits in other science and mathematics courses
- 34 credits to satisfy remaining Core Curriculum requirements not satisfied above.
- 15 credits of general electives selected with the approval of the academic advisor.
Note: Those students choosing this major as preparation for medical, dental or veterinary school are advised to take the courses listed below under that category as either biology or general electives.
Summary of Requirements
Biology Requirements: 36 credits (includes 8 credits of Biology electives)
BIOL1003GENERAL BIOLOGY I
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
A presentation of a comprehensive survey of the major area within modern biology with emphasis placed on unsolved problems and the nature of scientific evidence. The course explores the properties of living matter on the molecular, cellular and organismic level. Open to all science majors and non-science majors with a strong interest in biology or a professional need.
PREREQUISITES:
Concurrent: BIOL1005
BIOL1004GENERAL BIOLOGY II
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: BIOL1003 & BIOL1005 COREQUISITE: BIOL1006 A presentation of a comprehensive survey of the major area within modern biology with emphasis placed on unsolved problems and the nature of scientific evidence. The course explores the properties of living matter on the molecular, cellular and organismic level. Open to all science majors and non-science majors with a strong interest in biology or a professional need.
PREREQUISITES:
BIOL1003 & BIOL1005, Concurrent: BIOL1006
BIOL1005GENERAL BIOLOGY I - LAB
Credits (Min/Max): 1/1
Selected experiments chosen to emphasize principles presented in the General Biology lecture courses.
PREREQUISITES:
coreg: BIOL1003
BIOL1006GENERAL BIOLOGY II - LAB
Credits (Min/Max): 1/1
PREREQUISITE: BIOL1003 & BIOL1005 COREQUISITE: BIOL1004 Selected experiments chosen to emphasize principles presented in the General Biology lecture courses.
BIOL2025MICROBIOLOGY
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: BIOL1004 AND BIOL1006 An examination of the morphology and physiology of microorganisms with emphasis on their relationship to their environment. Topics include food, water, soil, industrial, and medical microbiology, microbial genetics, and microbial diversity. The laboratory work introduces the student to both the organisms and the techniques necessary to study them. Lecture and laboratory course.
PREREQUISITES:
BIOL1004 & BIOL1006
BIOL2025LMICROBIOLOGY - LAB
Credits (Min/Max): 1/1
Laboratory for BIOL2025 Microbiology
BIOL3013GENETICS
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: BIOL1004 & BIOL1006 A study of the basic principles of heredity including Mendelian, molecular and population genetics. Topics will include the cellular functions that give rise to inherited traits, the genetic basis for evolution, the role of genetics in biotechnology, and the statistical basis for predicting the probability of inheriting certain traits.
PREREQUISITES:
BIOL1004 & BIOL1006
BIOL3014GENETICS - LAB
Credits (Min/Max): 1/1
Selected experiments will emphasize the principles presented in the lecture course.
BIOL3026CELL BIOLOGY
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: BIOL1004 AND BIOL1006 A survey course in cell biology. The ultra structure of the Eukaryotic plant and animal cell are examined and related to cell function. Special emphasis is placed on membrane structure and functions.
PREREQUISITES:
BIOL1004 & BIOL1006
BIOL3036BIOCHEMISTRY I (CHEM3036)
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: CHEM2015L AND CHEM2015 An introduction to the biochemical metabolism of the living cell. Cellular structure, macromolecules, metabolic pathways, energy transformations, regulatory mechanisms and molecular genetics are discussed. Cross-listed with CHEM3036
BIOL3037BIOCHEMISTRY I - LAB (CHEM3037)
Credits (Min/Max): 1/1
An introduction to current biochemical techniques including thin layer and column and gas chromatography, electrophoresis, spectrophotometry, and DNA technology.Cross-listed with CHEM3037
BIOL3038BIOCHEMISTRY II (CHEM3038)
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
A continuation of BIOL3036. The course covers advanced aspects of macromolecular structure, regulatory enzymes, intermediary metabolism (to include photosynthesis, biological oxidation and the chemosmotic theory, metabolic control mechanisms), signal transduction and hormonal regulation of metabolism, and molecular aspects of the nucleic acids and genetic engineering.Cross-listed with CHEM3038
BIOL4059SEMINAR IN BIOLOGY
Credits (Min/Max): 2/2
PREREQUISITE: CHEM1002 AND BIOL1004 The course consists of meetings for discussion of special topics selected from various areas of scientific investigation of recent or historical origin. Reports are given on results of literature studies.
PREREQUISITES:
JR/SR Status & BIOL1004 & CHEM1002
BIOLXXXX
Credits (Min/Max): /
Other Science & Mathematics Courses: 35 credits
CHEM1001GENERAL CHEMISTRY I
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
A study of the basic principles governing matter, energy and matter-energy interaction. Topics include atomic structure, bonding theory, aggregated states of matter, stoichiometry, thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, chemical equilibrium and electrochemistry.
PREREQUISITES:
Concurrent: CHEM1003
CHEM1002GENERAL CHEMISTRY II
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: CHEM1001 A study of the basic principles governing matter, energy and matter-energy interaction. Topics include atomic structure, bonding theory, aggregated states of matter, stoichiometry, thermodynamics, chemical kinetics, chemical equilibrium and electrochemistry.
PREREQUISITES:
Concurrent: CHEM1004
CHEM1003GENERAL CHEMISTRY I - LAB
Credits (Min/Max): 1/1
A series of experiments related to the content of CHEM1001 emphasizing laboratory techniques and familiarization with basic laboratory equipment. Open to all science majors and non-science majors with a strong interest in chemistry or a professional need.
CHEM1004GENERAL CHEMISTRY II - LAB
Credits (Min/Max): 1/1
PREREQUISITE: CHEM1003 A series of experiments related to the content of CHEM1002, emphasizing laboratory techniques and familiarization with basic laboratory equipment. Open to all science majors and non-science majors with a strong interest in chemistry or a professional need.
CHEM2015ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: CHEM1002 A study of the classification and characterization of organic compounds, their preparation, properties and reactions. The application of modern organic theories to these subjects is stressed. Topics include nomenclature, bond theory, stereochemistry, synthesis, mechanisms, and structure determination by instrumental methods. Lecture and laboratory course.
PREREQUISITES:
CHEM1002 concurrent: CHEM2015L
CHEM2015LORGANIC CHEMISTRY I - LAB
Credits (Min/Max): 1/1
Laboratory for CHEM2015
CHEM2016ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: CHEM2015 A study of the classification and characterization of organic compounds, their preparation, properties and reactions. The application of modern organic theories to these subjects is stressed. Topics include nomenclature, bond theory, stereochemistry, synthesis, mechanisms, and structure determination by instrumental methods. Lecture and laboratory course.
PREREQUISITES:
CHEM2015 concurrent: CHEM2016L
CHEM2016LORGANIC CHEMISTRY II - LAB
Credits (Min/Max): 1/1
PREREQUISITE: CHEM2015L Lab for CHEM2016 Organic Chemistry
MATH1032ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS I
Credits (Min/Max): 4/4
PREREQUISITE: MATH1010 The first semester of a three-semester integrated course in the elements of analytic geometry and differential and integral calculus. Included are the concept and applications of the derivative of a function of a single variable, differentiation of polynomials and the trigonometric functions, the chain, product and quotient rules, implicit differentiation, and differentials. Concludes with anti-differentiation, integration, area under graphs of functions and applications.
MATH1033ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS
Credits (Min/Max): 4/4
PREREQUISITE: MATH1032 A continuation of MATH1032 including applications of the definite integral, area, arc length, volumes and surface area, centroids, average value and theorem of the mean for definite integrals. Derivatives and integrals of transcendental functions are followed by techniques of integration, L'Hopital's Rule and indeterminate forms and improper integrals. Also included are conic sections and polar coordinates.
MATH1040PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: MATH1010 The study of the fundamentals of probability theory with applications to natural and social sciences as well as to mathematics. Discrete and continuous distributions, sampling theory, linear correlation, regression, statistical inference, estimation and analysis of variance are included.
PHYS1032GENERAL PHYSICS I
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: MATH1032 This is the first of a three-semester introduction to calculus-based physics stressing experimental and problem-solving techniques. Concepts covered are mechanics, kinematics, Newton’s laws of motion, conservation laws, rotational motion, gravitation, oscillation, and wave/acoustics.
PREREQUISITES:
MATH1032, Coreq: PHYS1032L
PHYS1032LGENERAL PHYSICS I - LAB
Credits (Min/Max): 1/1
PREREQUISITE: MATH1032 Laboratory for PHYS1032 General Physics I
PHYS1033GENERAL PHYSICS II
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: PHYS1032 The second of a three-semester introduction to calculus-based physics. Concepts covered are thermal properties and electromagnetism: thermo dynamics, electricity, magnetism, electromagnetic wave, geometrical optics, and physics optics.
PREREQUISITES:
PHYS1032, Coreq: PHYS1033L
PHYS1033LGENERAL PHYSICS II - LAB
Credits (Min/Max): 1/1
Laboratory for PHYS1033 General Physics II
Recommended for Medical/Dental/Veterinary School Preparation Courses: Suggested but not required
BIOL2021COMPARATIVE VERTEBRATE
Credits (Min/Max): 4/4
A comparative study of the structural and functional characteristics of vertebrates tracing the evolution of animals from primitive chordates to mammals. Emphasis is placed on the physical and chemical operations of vertebrates and how these operations contribute to homeostasis. Structural/functional relationships are discussed. Lecture and laboratory courses.
PREREQUISITES:
BIOL1004 & BIOL1006 & Concurrent: BIOL2021L
BIOL2022COMPARATIVE VERTEBRATE
Credits (Min/Max): 4/4
PREREQUISITE: BIOL2021 AND BIOL2021L A comparative study of the structural and functional characteristics of vertebrates tracing the evolution of animals from primitive chordates to mammals. Emphasis is placed on the physical and chemical operations of vertebrates and how these operations contribute to homeostasis. Structural/functional relationships are discussed.
PREREQUISITES:
BIOL2021& Concurrent: BIOL2022L
BIOL4019IMMUNOLOGY
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
PREREQUISITE: BIOL1004, CHEM2004, BIOL1006 This course involves the description and development of the immune system, which includes the chemical, molecular, and cellular basis of immune reactions. The genetic and chemical control of the immune response is a recurrent theme of the course. Major topics covered in the course include specific immunities, types of hypersensitivity, autoimmunity, transplantation and rejection and immune disorders and deficiencies.
PREREQUISITES:
BIOL1004 & BIOL1006 & CHEM1002
BIOL4020IMMUNOLOGY - LAB
Credits (Min/Max): 1/1
PREREQUISITE: BIOL4019 This course introduces laboratory techniques in immunology.