Biology

Program Requirements  -  Course Listing

The Biology curriculum offers a wide variety of courses and laboratory experiences, combining a strong foundation in basic biological concepts and principles with opportunities to specialize in your area of interest.

The broad curriculum encompasses areas such as cell biology, genetics, physiology, microbiology, immunobiology, developmental biology, neurobiology, animal behavior, ecology, and evolution, among other fields.

Student research in collaboration with a faculty mentor is a central part of many students' learning. Students who conduct research often co-author papers with faculty and present their work to the campus or at scientific meetings. This hands-on engagement with the practice of science provides invaluable preparation for graduate school and careers in biology and related fields.

Modern scientific instrumentation supports all study and research in biology. You will use the same tools that practicing scientists use, such as electron and other specialized microscopes, ultracentrifuges and other molecular equipment, a greenhouse, environmental chambers, and other facilities and resources.

Gettysburg biology majors have an outstanding record of success in the nation's leading graduate and professional schools, in medicine, in science-related careers, and in many other fields.

 

Program Requirements

Students who major in biology may pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree or a Bachelor of Science degree.

All courses taken to satisfy the requirements for the B.A. or B.S. degree or for the minor must be taken using the A-F grading system (except for Bio 461 which can be taken Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory).

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Biology

• Nine courses in Biology, to include:
  • The four-course core sequence: Biology 111, 112, 211, and 212
  • One course from each of these three areas:
    Cellular/Molecular (Biology 200, 215, 230, 235, 251, 320, 332, 334, 340, 351)
    Organismal (Biology 202, 204, 217, 218, 223, 224, 227, 228)
    Population/Community (Biology 205, 225, 240, 306, 307, 314; ES 311, 350)
  • Two additional elective courses which may be selected from the areas listed above or in Research Methodology (Biology 260*, 460, and 461)
  Bio 111 (or 101) and 112 are prerequisites for all upper level Biology courses.

• Four courses in related departments, to include:
  • Chemistry 107 (or 105) and 108 - to be typically taken in the first year
  • A mathematics course, selected from: Biology 260*; Mathematics 105-106, 107, 111, 112)
  • One elective, selected from: Chemistry 203 or 204; Computer Science 111 (or 107); Environmental Studies 223; Physics 103, 104, 109, 110, 111, or 112; Psychology 236 or 237

*Note: If Biology 260 is chosen to meet the mathematics course requirement, it may not also count as a biology elective course.

• A Capstone Experience - Fulfilled by Biology 307, 314, 320, 334, 340, 351, 460, or 461. All of these courses require independent research as well as a research or review paper.

• Interdisciplinary Course Cluster - Fulfilled by the successful completion of Chemistry 108 and Biology 212.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Biology

Students seeking the B.S. in Biology must fulfill all of the requirements listed above for the B.A., plus the following:

• One additional elective biology course (for a total of 10 biology courses)
• One additional course in a related department (for a total of five courses in related departments - only one of the CS courses can serve as an elective)

For those considering graduate or medical school

Students applying to some graduate school or medical school programs are required to complete two years of Chemistry (105 or 107, 108, 203, 204), one year of Physics (103-104 or 109-110 or 111-112), and one course in Mathematics (105-106, or 111). Students who complete these courses only need 5 Biology electives for the B.S., or 4 Biology electives for the B. A.

Requirements for the Minor in Biology

Students qualify for a minor in biology by completing six courses in biology: Biology 111 (or Biology 101 with at least a C grade), 112, and any other four Biology courses that count toward the major. Students selecting upper-level courses to meet the requirements for the minor must also any fulfill any prerequisites that may be required for those courses.

Course Listing

Course level: 100 | 200 | 300 | 400
BIO-101 Introductory Biology: Molecules, Genes & Cells
Introduction to cell biology, bioenergetics, gene expression, and patterns of inheritance with a focus on important topical issues. Laboratory emphasizes the experimental nature of biological investigation. Students not majoring in biology but who are interested in the health professions may, with a grade of C or better in Biology 101, enroll in Biology 112. Three class hours and laboratory


BIO-102 Contemporary Topics in Biology
Designed for nonscience majors. Course covers selected biological topics related to human diseases and focuses on contemporary problems and their possible solutions. Three class hours and laboratory.


BIO-103 Contemporary Topics in Biology: Plants and Society
Designed for nonscience majors. Course covers selected biological topics related to the evolution of life and human evolution. Three class hours and laboratory.


BIO-111 Introduction To Ecology and Evolution
Designed to introduce students to general biological principles, with a focus on ecology and evolution. Topics include adaptation, nutrient cycling and energy flow, population growth and species interactions, Mendelian and population genetics, speciation, and the history of life. Laboratory emphasizes the experimental nature of biological investigation. Designed for science majors with a high school background in biology, chemistry, and mathematics. Three class hours and laboratory.


BIO-112 Form and Function in Living Organisms
Designed for science majors. Morphology and physiology of plants and animals are emphasized. Lecture and laboratory topics include nutrition, energetics, internal regulation, neural and hormonal integration, and reproduction. Three class hours and laboratory.



BIO-200 Physiology of Plant Adaptations
Major structural systems, physiological processes, and adaptations of plants to their environment. Topics include growth regulatory substances, photoperiodic responses, water balance, nutrition, plant defense mechanisms, and the responses of plants to environmental changes. Three hours lecture.


BIO-202 Structural Plant Development
Anatomical approach to the study of higher plant structures. The origin and differentiation of tissues and organs, environmental aspects of development, and plant anomalies are studied. Six hours in class-laboratory work.


BIO-204 Biology of Flowering Plants
Identification, classification, structural diversity, ecology, and evolutionary relationships of the angiosperms. Course includes field work for collection and identification of local flora. Three class hours and laboratory-field work. Alternate years.


BIO-205 Ecology
Principles of ecology, with emphasis on three levels of the biological hierarchy-organisms, populations, and communities-that are needed to understand the factors that determine the abundance and distribution of any species. Course includes a number of field trips. Three class hours and laboratory-field work. Credit cannot be received for both this course and Environmental Studies 211.


BIO-211 Genetics
Overview of principles of genetics. Topics include chemical nature of genes, Mendelian and non-Mendelian inheritance, gene regulation, genetic engineering, molecular evolution, and population genetics. Three class hours and laboratory.


BIO-212 Cell Biology
Structure and function of eukaryotic cells. Topics include protein structure, enzyme function, membrane structure and transport, protein sorting, energy transduction by mitochondria and chloroplasts, chromosome structure, cell division and cell-cycle control, cell communication, cell motility, and cell biology of cancer. Three class hours and laboratory. Prerequisites: Chemistry 107, 108 and Biology 211


BIO-215 Electron Microscopy
Introduction to basic theory and practice of transmission and scanning electron microscopy, techniques of tissue preparation, and introduction to interpretation of animal and plant ultrastructure. Each student is required to complete an independent project. Six hours in class-laboratory work. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.


BIO-217 An Evolutionary Survey of the Plant Kingdom
Synopsis of embryo-producing plants, primarily liverworts, mosses, fern allies, ferns, and seed plants. Emphasis is on comparative morphology or vegetative and reproductive characters unique features, and evolutionary trends in plants. Six hours in class-laboratory work.


BIO-218 Biology of Algae and Fungi
Study of algae (phycology) and fungi (mycology)in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems with emphasis on their role in primary production and decomposition. Topics include identification, morphology, reproduction, ecology, and phylogeny of these organisms. Culture techniques and principles of plant pathology and medical mycology are also considered. Six hours in class-laboratory work.


BIO-220 Development Biology
Survey of the phenomena and principles of animal development. Major attention is given to the genetic and cellular mechanisms that control cell differentiation and the development of form in several model organisms. Vertebrates are emphasized in the study of organ development. Three class hours and laboratory. Alternate years.


BIO-223 Parasitology
Introduction to the general principles of parasitism, with emphasis on the epidemiology, taxonomy, morphology, and physiology of the major groups of protozoan, helminth, and arthropod parasites of humans and other animals. Three class hours and laboratory.


BIO-224 Vertebrate Zoology
Introduction to systematics, distribution, reproduction, and population dynamics of vertebrates. Field and laboratory emphasis on natural history, collection, and identification. Optional trip to North Carolina. Six hours in class, laboratory, and field work.


BIO-225 Animal Behavior
Study of animal behavior through readings, discussions, and field and laboratory observations. Phenomena considered range from from simple reflex response to complex social organization. Role of behavioral adaptations in the biology of animal species is emphasized. Three class hours and laboratory.


BIO-227 Invertebrate Zoology
Study of the structure, physiology, and behavior of the major groups of animals representing 99 percent of the animal kingdom. Focus is on functional morphology and evolutionary adaptation. Course includes individual or group research projects. Six hours in class-laboratory work.


BIO-228 Tropical Marine Biology



BIO-230 Microbiology
Biology of viruses and bacteria, with emphasis on morphology, metabolism, taxonomy, reproduction, and ecology. Laboratory includes isolation, culture, environmental influences, identification, and biochemical characterization of bacteria and their viruses. Three class hours and laboratory.


BIO-235 Neurobiology
An exploration of the biological basis of brain function, including: electrical and chemical signaling of nerve cells; modulation and plasticity of signaling occurring in different behavioral states or during learning; and the structure, function, and development of circuits of interconnected nerve cells involved in sensory perception and motor coordination. Emphasis is placed on the behavioral and clinical aspects of modern neurobiology: how particular properties of the brain underlie specific behaviors, and how malfunctions of neural mechanisms lead to various neurological disorders.


BIO-240 Paleobiology



BIO-251 Introduction to Bioinformatics
Introduction to the emerging field of bioinformatics, where biology and computer science intersect with the rapidly expanding volume of biological information produced by genome sequencing and proteomic exploration of life processes. Application of bioinformatic software tools to the analysis of gene sequences and protein structures is emphasized. Students undertake a laboratory project combining in silico and in vitro approaches to isolate and analyze their own DNA. The course provides an introduction to computer algorithms used in bioinformatic software.


BIO-260 Biostatistics
Designed for students in biology who plan to engage in individualized study and/or research. Topics include the nature of biological data and the statistical procedures to analyze them. Special attention given to experimental design and hypothesis testing. Three class hours and one hour discussion. Credit cannot be received for both this course and Mathematics 107, Psychology 205, or Economics 241.



BIO-307 Freshwater Biology
Study of the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of inland waters. Topics include nutrient cycling, biological interactions, and effects of human activities. Course includes individual research projects and a number of field trips. Six hours in class, laboratory, and field work. Prerequisite: Junior or Senior Standing


BIO-314 Evolution
Study of the transformation and diversification of populations through time. Topics include history of life, adaptation, selection and population genetics, speciation and extinction, evolutionary innovations, and patterns of diversity. Three class hours and one hour discussion. Alternate years.


BIO-320 Development Biology
Survey of the phenomena and principles of animal development. Major attention is given to the genetic and cellular mechanisms that control cell differentiation and the development of form in several model organisms. Vertebrates are emphasized in the study of organ development. Three class hours and laboratory. Alternate years.


BIO-332 Immunobiology
Introduction to the vertebrate immune system at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels. Antibody structure, antigen-antibody interaction, the genetics of antibody diversity, the immune response, and the bases of self/non-self discrimination are emphasized. Three class hours. Alternate years.


BIO-340 Comparative Animal Physiology
Regulation of basic physiological processes in animals. Unifying principles are studied using a comparative approach. Three class hours and laboratory. Credit cannot be received for both this course and HES 210.


BIO-351 Molecular Genetics
Study of the basic mechanisms of information storage and retrieval from DNA and RNA. Topics include genome organization and the regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes and eukaryotes; DNA replication and repair; molecular genetics of cancer and human-inherited disorders; and recombinant DNA technology. Three class hours and laboratory.



BIO-452 Individualized Study-Tutorial
Individualized tutorial not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F


BIO-470 Individualized Study-Internship
Internship counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F