(An asterisk indicates that a non-refundable laboratory fee is required.)
110 Environmental Biology. One unit. Three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory weekly. Designed for non-science majors, this course provides an introduction to the living world and human impacts on it. Fundamental ecological concepts are presented to show how nature works as a web of interconnected factors. Major environmental problems and their possible solutions are discussed. Not open to students who have completed Biology 326. Offered as needed.*
120 Human Biology. One unit. Three hours of lecture weekly. This course is designed for non-science majors only. In the beginning of the course the evolutionary origins of humans are discussed. The basics of human biology are then presented at different levels of organization. The students are introduced to the basics of atoms, molecules, cells, tissues and organs. The largest part of the course addresses at an introductory level the structure and function of the different organ systems, including their importance for human health and disease. On the level of the whole organism, the students are introduced to human development and genetics. At the end, the course discusses human ecology, including the impact of humans on the environment. Offered as needed.
130 Exploring Biology. One unit. Three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory weekly. This course is designed for non-science majors only. Topics to be discussed include the scientific method, cells and metabolism, microbiological organisms, animal and plant systems, genetics, evolution, and ecology. Offered as needed.*
208 Genes to Genomics. One unit. Three hours of lecture weekly. This course is designed for non-science majors interested in the problems and promises associated with modern-day genetics. Discoveries and technological advances in genetics are taught with an emphasis on the social, moral, ethical issues facing society today. Offered as needed.
209 Human Anatomy and Physiology I. One unit. Three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory weekly. The study of human anatomy and physiology. Lecture topics include animal cell structure and function, tissues, and a survey of human physiological systems. The anatomy and physiology of the integumentary, skeletal, muscular, circulatory, lymphatic, and respiratory systems are covered relative to their roles in homeostatis. Laboratory exercises demonstrate the anatomy and processes of these systems. Primarily for majors in health sciences. Not recommended as a sole course in biology to meet distribution requirements. Not open to students who have completed Biology 312 or 333. Offered fall and spring semesters.*
210 Human Anatomy and Physiology II. One unit. Three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory weekly. A continuation of Biology 209. Lecture topics include the anatomy and physiology of the nervous, digestive, urinary, and endocrine systems. Emphasis is placed on the interaction between systems in maintaining the tissue environment. Not open to students who have completed Biology 312 or 333. Prerequisite: Biology 209 or permission of the instructor. Offered fall and spring semesters.*
213 Cells, Genes, and Evolution. One unit. Three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory weekly. A course designed to familiarize students with fundamental biological principles emphasizing evolution and speciation; cell chemistry, structure and function; Mendelian and population genetics. Laboratory experiments give students hands-on experience with various aspects of evolution, cell biology, and genetics. Primarily for science majors. Not recommended as a sole course in biology to meet distribution requirements. Offered fall and spring semesters.*
215 Biodiversity and Ecology. One unit. Five hours of combined lecture and laboratory weekly. This course is designed to familiarize students with the classification of organisms within their respective kingdoms, as well as fundamental principles of ecology. This course is not recommended for non-science majors. Prerequisite: Biology 213. Offered fall and spring semesters.*
216 General Pathology. One unit. Three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory weekly. A course in the principles, techniques, and clinical significance of standard clinical laboratory procedures in hematology, clinical biochemical analyses, and immunohematology. Cross-listed as Microbiology 216. Prerequisites: Two units of biology or microbiology; Chemistry 112. Offered spring semester.*
217 Forms and Functions of Life. One unit. Three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory weekly. In the beginning, this course familiarizes the students with the energetic basis of life, discussing the processes of photosynthesis, fermentation and respiration. The course then addresses the anatomy and physiology of plants and animals in general, as well as on the level of a number of specific functions, including water and electrolyte balance, nutrition and sensory systems. This course discusses comparative aspects of forms and functions as various organismal groups adopt similar structural and physiological solutions to address similar environmental challenges. This course is not recommended for non-science majors. Prerequisite: Biology 213. Offered fall and spring semesters.*
219 Gene Expression and Development. One unit. Three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory weekly. A course designed to familiarize students with fundamental biological principles emphasizing DNA replication, transcriptioin, translation, control of gene expression, and genomics. Gametogenesis, fertilization, early embryonic development, sex, and reproduction are considered in light of the molecular mechanisms involved. Laboratory experiments give students hands-on experience with various aspects of molecular biology and development. (Cross-listed as Microbiology 219.) This course is not recommended for non-science majors. Prequisite: Biology 213. Offered fall and spring semesters.*
221 Biostatistics and Experimental Design. One unit. Three hours of lecture and one hour of recitation weekly. This course provides an introduction to hypothesis testing, experimental design, and the statistical treatment of biological information. Fundamental aspects of data analysis are presented, including parametric and nonparametric testing procedures commonly used in biological research.Cross-listed as Microbiology 221. Prerequisites: Completion of any mathematics deficiencies; one unit of biology or one unit of microbiology and sophomore standing or permission of the instructor. Offered fall and spring semesters.
225 General Botany. One unit. Two hours of lecture and two laboratories of two hours weekly. A basic survey of the Plant Kingdom, including anatomy, development, reproduction, physiology, and evolution. Prerequisites include the following four foundation biology courses: Biology 213, 215, 217, and 219. Students not majoring in biology should have Biology 130 or Biology 215 and permission of the instructor. Offered as needed.*
227 Invertebrate Zoology. One unit. Three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory weekly. A study of the structure, function, classification, and life histories of the major groups of invertebrates. Prerequisites include the following four foundation biology courses: Biology 213, 215, 217 and 219. Students not majoring in biology should have Biology 130 or 215 and permission of the instructor. Offered as needed.*
291 Special Topics in Biology. One unit. Weekly lecture(s). Discussion and analysis of problems in biology which are not covered in regular course work. The specific content of the course will remain flexible in response to student and departmental interest. Special topics may be taken more than once with differing subject matters. Offered periodically; consult department chair.
304 Animal Behavior. One unit. Three hours of lecture, one hour of recitation, and two hours of laboratory weekly. This course examines the principles of animal behavior from several prespectives, such as classical ethology, behavioral ecology and sociobiology, comparative psychology, behavior genetics, behavioral endocrinology, and neuroethology. Such topics as communication, social organization, sexual selection, habitat selection, and the nature-nuture debate are investigated. Prerequisites: Biology 213 and either Biology 215 or Psychology 101. Offered spring semester of odd-numbered years.*
306 Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology. One unit. Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory/rectation weekly. A study of the nervous system with special emphasis on the human brain and spinal cord. Chemical, histological, anatomical and physiological aspects are covered. Prerequisites include the following four foundation biology courses: Biology 213, 215, 217 and 219. Students not majoring in biology should have two major courses in biology and permission of the instructor. Offered spring semester of odd-numbered years.*
311 Genetics. One unit. Three hours of lecture, two hours of laboratory and one hour of recitation weekly. Topics covered include classical genetics. human genetics, developmental and cancer genetics, population and evolutionary genetics. A weekly recitation deals with problems from the end of each chapter. Laboratory exercises include chromosome preparation from plants and animals, including humans; karyotyping and pedigree analyses;Drosophila experiments using a virtual fly laboratory; cancer genetics; and testing the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium model. Movies on recent developments in genetics and journal articles are assigned for classroom discussions and student presentations. Prerequisites include the following five foundation biology courses: Biology 213, 215, 217, 219, and 221. Students not majoring in biology should have Biology 219 and 221 (or equivalent) and permission of the instructor. Chemistry 112 is a prerequisite for all students. Offered fall semester.*
312 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy. One unit. Two hours of lecture and four hours of laboratory weekly. In the beginning of this lab-intensive course, the evolution of vertebrates within the phylum Chordata is discussed. The morphological and anatomical similarities and diversities of the vertebrate classes are then studied on the level of their organ systems. Through these studies students uncover evolutionary relationships between the different vertebrate groups and become aware of different adaptations to environmental challenges. Laboratories use the vertebrate collection and concentrate on dissections of representatives of the different vertebrate classes. During the laboratories the students compose their personal dissection guide for vertebrates. Not open to students who have sucessfully completed Biology 209, 210. Prerequisites include the following four foundation biology courses: Biology 213, 215, 217 and 219. Students not majoring in biology should have Biology 217 and permission of the instructor. Offered fall semester of odd-numbered years.*
323 Basic Medical Histology. One unit. Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory weekly. This course covers light-microscopic characteristics of the four basic tissue types of the body of vetebrate animals, including humans. It also focuses on microscopic anatomy of different organs. Emphasis is made on the relationship between the structure and function of cells and tissues that is fundamental for maintaining homeostasis and central to understanding histopathology, which in turn is crucial to medicine. In the laboratory, students familiarize themselves with the concepts of light miscroscopy, learn the basic procedures of tissue preparation (histotechniques), and practice light microscopic tissue analysis. Prerequisites include the following four foundation biology courses: Biology 213, 215, 217, and 219. Students not majoring in biology should have Biology 217 and permission of the instructor. Offered spring semester of even-numbered years.*
324 Endocrinology. One unit. Three hours of lecture weekly. A survey of the various endocrine glands of the human body. Attention is given to the secretion of hormones, their effects on target tissue metabolism, and resulting physiological effects. The relations between the endocrine and nervous systems are emphasized. Controls over higher-center hormone release and target secondary hormone secretion are discussed. Prerequisite: Biology 333. Offered as needed.
326 Environmental Issues. One unit. Three hours of lecture and discussion weekly. Lectures focus on principles of conservation biology and environmental science. A large portion of the course involves discussion of current environmental issues, such as global warming, resource use, and biodiversity. Prerequisite: BI 110 or 215. Offered as needed.
333 Animal Physiology. One unit. Six hours combined lecture, laboratory, and seminar weekly. This course is a comprehensive study of the basic concepts, principles, and mechanisms of the function of animals. After familiarizing the students with the structure and function of different specialized animal cells and tissues (cell physiology), the course addresses the anatomy and physiology of animal organs and organ systems (systems physiology) in a comparative approach. The course involves oral and poster presentations by students about selected topics of comparative animal physiology. During laboratories the students work in groups on supervised experimental projects conducted with invertebrate animals that are collected and maintained by the students themselves. Not open to students who have sucessfully completed Biology 209, 210. Prerequisites include the following four foundation biology courses: Biology 213, 215, 217 and 219. Students not majoring in biology should have Biology 217 and permission of the instructor. All students are required to have completed Chemistry 112. Offered fall semester.*
397 G, P, or N Internship in Biology. One or zero units. Research or teaching experience for at least 105 hours at a research facility or in a teaching laboratory where there is supervised, hands-on involvement in daily activities. The student will maintain a log describing day-to-day activities and the times and hours worked. A final paper in which the student evaluates the work experience is required. Other possible requirements will be determined by the faculty member overseeing the student’s progress. The student’s on-site supervisor will complete a written evaluation of the student’s performance and submit it to the faculty supervisor. Students registered for this course as BI 397G will receive a letter grade; those registered as BI 397P will be taking the course on a pass/fail basis; those registered as BI 397N will be taking the course for no credit (registration fee required). This course cannot be used to meet requirements for the senior Reflective Tutorial in Biology (BI 400) nor does it count towards completion of the requirements for the biology major. Interested students should contact the Center for Academic and Career Development. Prerequisites: BI 213 and permission of department chair. Offered as needed.
400E Experiential Component of Reflective Tutorial in Biology. Zero units. This zero-unit course is the experiential component of the senior learning community and is linked to Reflective Tutorial in Biology (Biology 400). It includes at least 120 hours of research or internship. The research or internship experience must be completed prior to Biology 400, as determined by the chair of the student's senior review committee. This experiential component serves as the basis for the review paper or research paper completed in Biology 400. Permission of Departmental Senior Reflective Tutorial Coordinator required. Offered fall, spring, and summer.*
400 Reflective Tutorial in Biology. One unit. This course is linked to a completed research or internship experience which includes at least 120 hours of research or internship. This course must be taken during the senior year, as part of the senior learning community, by all biology majors, as well as bio-psychology majors who have advisors in the Department of Biological Sciences. In this course the student who has completed an internship prepares a review paper on a topic related to the internship experience, while the student who has completed independent research analyzes his/her own data and completes an original research paper. Writing follows standard scientific journal formats. Each student is required to successfully defend his/her paper before a senior review committee. All students are also expected to present their findings publicly in oral or poster form using venues that are deemed appropriate by the instructor. Prerequisite: Completion of research or internship experience (Biology 400E), as determined by the chair of the student's senior review committee, is required prior to the beginning of this course. Offered fall and spring semesters.
412 Developmental Biology. One unit. Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory weekly. This course examines the principles and mechanisms that govern the development of multicellular organisms. Differentiation and pattern formation, morphogenesis and organogenesis in plants and animals are explored in this course. Other topics of interest include formation of symmetry, sex determination, metamorphosis, and problems associated with development. Prerequisites: The following four foundation Biology courses (213, 215, 217, and 219). Students not majoring in Biology should have BI 219 and permission of the instructor. All students are required to have completed CH 112. Offered as needed.
413 Marine Ecology. One unit. Three hours of lecture weekly. After a general description of physical and chemical parameters in marine waters, the course focuses on benthic and pelagic life in different marine environments such as the sunlit ocean surface, deep-sea communities, upwelling areas, coral reefs, submerged vegetation communities, and estuaries. The main emphasis is on those biological factors that allow selected species to survive in different marine ecosystems. Prerequisites include the following four foundation biology courses: 213, 215, 217, and 219. Students not majoring in biology should have Biology 215 and permission of the instructor. Offered as needed.
490 Biology Research for Elementary School Teachers. One unit. Independent but supervised research experience open only to dual majors in Childhood Education and Natural Science. Recommended for students in their junoir or senior year. The student spends at least four hours per week researching, designing, and possibly testing pedagogical tools to enhance teaching and learning of biological concepts required to be taught in elementary school by the New York State Department of Education. Prerequisites: Biology 120, 213, 215, Nursing 224, and permission of the department chair. Offered as needed.
492 Ecological and Evolutionary Theory. One unit. Three hours of lecture, two hours of laboratory, and one hour of recitation/discussion weekly. Theoretical issues in ecology and evolutionary biology are discussed, including models or population growth and community interactions, behavioral ecology, population and quantative genetics, macroevolution, and current controversies. Senior status required. Prerequisites: BI 213, 215 and permission of the instructor. Offered spring semester.
493 Undergraduate Research in Biology I. One unit. A minimum of eight hours per week of supervised research on a selected topic culminating in a research paper using the format of any preferred scientific journal in biology. A minimum of 10 references to the selected topic is required. Students taking this course for credit may not use the research experience to meet Biology 400E requirements for the senior learning community. Permission of the instructor is required. Prerequisites include the following four foundation biology courses: Biology 213, 215, 217, and 219. Students not majoring in biology should seek permission of chairs of his/her own department and of the Department of Biological Sciences. Offered fall and spring semesters.*
494 Undergraduate Research in Biology II. One unit. A minimum of eight hours per week of supervised research on the same selected topic as in Biology 493. A rare student has the possibility of completing the research started as Biology 493 for publication consideration. The course culminates in a research paper using the format of the scientific journal selected for consideration for publication. An additional 10 references to the selected topic are required. Students taking this course for credit may not use the research experience to meet Biology 400E requirements for the senior learning community. Permission of the instructor is required. Prerequisite: Biology 493. Offered fall and spring semesters.*
495 Molecular Cell Biology. One unit. Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory weekly. An examination of current knowledge concerning eukaryotic cell structures and functions. Topics covered include cell organelles, membranes and membrane trafficking, the nucleus and nuclear membrane, cell signaling and communication. A molecular perspective is emphasized throughout the course. Cross-listed as Microbiology 495. Senior status required. Prerequisites: BI 213, 219 and permission of the instructor. Offered spring semester.*
497 G, P, or N Internship in Biology. Two or zero units. Research or teaching experience for at least 210 hours at a research facility or in a teaching laboratory where there is supervised, hands-on involvement in daily activities. The student will maintain a log describing day-to-day activities and the times and hours worked. A final paper in which the student evaluates the work experience is required. Other possible requirements will be determined by the faculty member overseeing the student’s progress. The student’s on-site supervisor will complete a written evaluation of the student’s performance and submit it to the faculty supervisor. Students registered for this course as BI 497G will receive a letter grade; those registered as BI 497P will be taking the course on a pass/fail basis; those registered as BI 497N will be taking the course for no credit (registration fee required). This course cannot be used to meet requirements for the senior Reflective Tutorial in Biology (BI 400) nor does it count towards completion of the requirements for the biology major. Interested students should contact the Center for Academic and Career Development. Prerequisites: BI 213 and permission of department chair. Offered as needed.
524 Electron Microscopy. 1 unit. Six hours of combined lecture and laboratory weekly. The principles and use of the transmission and scanning electron microscopes are covered. Students learn the basic techniques of electron microscopic tissue processing and microphotography. Each student must prepare a final technical report including examples of their own microphotographs. Prerequisites: BI 213, 215, 217, 219 and CH 111, 112. Not open to students completing MI 615. Offered as needed.*
524 Molecular Genetics. One unit. Three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory weekly. A course in the application of molecular knowledge to the problems of genetic engineering. A comparison between the genetic systems of prokaryotes and eukaryotes and their role in molecular genetic techniques used in the fields of molecular biology and microbiology is explored. The development of current concepts and methods in molecular genetics as they apply to research, agriculture, industries, pharmaceutical companies, and medicine is studied. The laboratory explores the most current techniques used in recombinant DNA technology as it relates to the course material. Cross-listed as Microbiology 524. Prerequisite: Biology 311. Offered as needed*
591 Special Topics in Biology. One unit. Weekly lecture(s). Discussion and analysis of problems in biology that are not covered in regular course work. The specific content of the course remains flexible in response to student and departmental interests. Special topics may be taken more than once with differing subject matter. Offered periodically; consult the department chair.
593 Independent Study. One unit. Supervised independent research projects developed by the student, with faculty advisement. Restricted to advanced majors. Offered fall and spring semesters.
