Biology – Major/Minor
For information, contact John Cigliano.
The biology major is offered within a challenging, comprehensive liberal arts
education, with spacious state-of-the- art laboratories and facilities and one
of the most active and sophisticated programs of undergraduate research. The
same is true for all other majors within the department of biological sciences:
biodiversity and conservation biology, genetic engineering, neuroscience,
nuclear medicine technology and biology/secondary education, as well as the
department’s minors in bioinformatics and biology. The department also provides
pre-professional education for medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and
other allied health fields. All coursework and laboratories emphasize the
development of skills in reading, questioning, analyzing, and evaluating
assumptions along with development in technical writing and oral presentations.
In terms of research, all first-year students actively participate in a
professor’s ongoing research program, as do all interested seniors. Highly motivated
students commonly participate in research during their sophomore and junior
years at Cedar Crest College. Graduates with biology majors go on to advanced
study, to professional programs, and to research positions in universities and
pharmaceutical firms. Biologists work in agriculture and medical professions,
in schools, hospitals, clinics, the government and zoos, and as naturalists,
science writers, medical illustrators, and forensic scientists.
Thesis Option
All students, particularly those who are interested in attending graduate school
or obtaining a research-based job following graduation, are highly encouraged
to participate in independent research, which may culminate in a thesis. The
thesis option begins during the student’s junior year as part of Junior Colloquium (BIO 350). As part of their capstone
project, all students who select a major from the Department of Biological
Sciences are required to develop a research proposal to investigate an original
research question. This experience allows the students to go beyond the basic
course information, select a problem that interests them, and apply what they
have learned in their coursework to a novel situation. As part of the thesis
option, students will spend a minimum of two semesters working with a faculty
member to conduct the research outlined in their proposal. They will then
develop a written thesis detailing their project and present their final
project to the department in the form of a seminar talk or poster. The title of
a student’s thesis will appear on her transcript if she completes two semesters (4
credits) of Independent Research (BIO 353) and one semester (1 credit) of
Senior Thesis and Presentation (BIO 354) with grades of C- or better.
Grade Requirements
For the most recent and complete and departmental policies, refer to the
Biological Sciences website:
http://www2.cedarcrest.edu/academic/bio/acad_policies.htm. A minimum cumulative
grade-point average of 2.000 and a minimum average in the major of 2.000 is
required for the major and minor in Biology. A grade of C- or better is needed
for all courses that fulfill the departmental requirements. Courses transferred
in for all majors must be taken less than ten years ago. Students may not
declare multiple majors in any combination of: Biology, Biodiversity and
Conservation Biology, Genetic Engineering, or Neuroscience. Students majoring
in the Biological Sciences may not minor in Biology. Students must earn a grade
of C- or better in prerequisite courses before proceeding to subsequent
courses.
Requirements for the Biology Major (B.S. / B.A.*)
BIO 121 Principles of Biology I 4 credits
BIO 122 Principles of Biology II 4 credits
(Students with Advanced Placement credit for BIO 121 and/or 122
are required to take the BIO 121 and 122 Labs.)
BIO 235 Ecology, Evolution and Genetics 4 credits
BIO 236 Cell and Molecular Biology 4 credits
Students who have previously taken BIO 222, 231, or 234 should consult their advisors
or the department website to determine the courses needed to complete the major.
BIO 350 Junior Colloquium 2 credits
BIO 355 Science, Ethics, and Society 2 credits
CHE 111 Chemical Principles 4 credits
CHE 112 Chemical Equilibrium and Analysis 4 credits
CHE 205 Organic Chemistry I 4 credits
CHE 206 Organic Chemistry II 4 credits
PHY 101 Introductory College Physics I 4 credits
PHY 102 Introductory College Physics II 4 credits
One year of mathematics at the appropriate level 6 credits
One designated World Views course (may be BIO 307) 3 credits
Plus choose one organismal course from the following:
BIO 207 Botany 4 credits
BIO 227 Microbiology 4 credits
BIO 251, 252, 253, 256 or 259
Hawk Mountain Courses (totaling at least 4 credits) 4 credits
BIO 325 Marine Field Ecology and Conservation 4 credits
Plus four 200- or 300- level BIO or BIO cross-listed elective courses:
Two electives must be 4-credit lab courses (a 3-credit course plus a mini-lab,
or 4 credits of Hawk Mountain
courses, may count as a 4-credit elective). The other two electives may be
3-credit non-lab courses. CHE 307,
CHE 308 and CHE 348 are allowable electives.
Transfer Students
Transfer students must complete at least the following at Cedar Crest College:
BIO 350 Junior Colloquium 2 credits
BIO 355 Science, Ethics and Society 2 credits
Two four-credit upper level biology electives 8 credits
*The B.A. Biology major requires only two electives, both of which must be
4-credit lab courses, as described
above. PHY 101 and 102 are not required for the B.A. in Biology.
Requirements for the Biology Minor
BIO 121 Principles of Biology I 4 credits
BIO 122 Principles of Biology II 4 credits
(Students with Advanced Placement credit for BIO 121 and/or 122
are required to take the BIO 121 and 122 Labs.)
BIO 235 Ecology, Evolution and Genetics 4 credits
BIO 236 Cell and Molecular Biology 4 credits
Students who have previously taken BIO 231 or 234 should consult their advisors
or the department web page to determine the courses needed to complete the
minor.
BIO Elective upper level BIO courses 4 credits
(CHE 307, 308 and 348 are allowable electives)
For transfer students planning to minor in Biology, 12 of these credits must be
from Cedar Crest College.
Requirements for the Biology/Secondary Education Co-Major
Any student who meets the College admission requirements for biology and
education will be accepted into the
program. In order to be admitted to the professional term, the student must have
a cumulative grade-point average
of 3.000. A cumulative GPA of 3.000 is required for certification. In addition,
the student must fulfill all
requirements of the education and biology programs.
1) BIO 307 (Biodiversity and Conservation Biology) must be taken as one of the
four electives required for the
biology major.
biology major.
2) GSC 103 [Earth Science III: Astronomy] or GSC 104 [Earth Science IV:
Historical Geology] is required for
the co-major.
the co-major.