The Department of Biology offers students several degree options depending on interest and long-term career goals. Four Bachelor of Science degrees are offered: biology, environmental biology, medical technology, and molecular biology/biotechnology. The major requirements for all degrees are similar in the first two years, allowing students to switch between degree options and to readjust career objectives. All degrees are designed to prepare the student for success in the job market or pursuing advanced studies.
For those students interested in a career in teaching, the Biology Department offers a secondary education-biology degree and a secondary education-general science degree through the Department of Education. Also available is a Teaching Certificate in Environmental Education for grades K-12. The Biology Department offers a variety of programs in the health careers including pre-medical, pre-veterinary, pre-chiropractic, and pre-dental. The necessary training to pursue other careers in the health sciences is also available through the Pre-Professional Program. Students more interested in ecology may choose the ecology and evolutionary biology concentration within the biology B.S. degree.
Three minors, two in biology, with options in either cellular/organismal biology or ecology/evolutionary biology, and one in biotechnology are available to non-majors interested in a more in-depth study of these aspects of biology. There is also an opportunity for students to continue their education within the Biology Department by pursuing a Master of Science degree in biology. There are thesis and non-thesis options as well as an environmental science concentration offered cooperatively through both the Department of Biology and the Department of Anthropology, Geography, and Earth Science (AGES). Whatever the degree or interest, the faculty in the Biology Department are committed to helping students reach their professional goals.
BIOLOGY, B.S. – 53-69 credits
Required: BIOL 155/165, 156/166, 201, 202, 203, 382, and five courses (15 to 20 credits) from approved biology electives. In addition to these 35 to 41 credits in biology, the following supplemental courses are required: MATH 221 or 222 or BIOL 402, and MATH 260 or 270; CHEM 153, 163, 154, 164, 251, 252, 261, 262 and one additional chemistry elective, excluding CHEM 205 and 211; in some instances, students may be advised to substitute CHEM 151, 161, 152, and 162 for CHEM 153, 163, 154, and 164; PH 251 and 252.
ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY, B.S. – 56-72 credits
Required: BIOL 155/165, 156/166, 201 or 341, 202, 405, 493 or 494. A 3-credit field experience competency is required, which can be fulfilled by completing one of the following: ANTH 375, BIOL 410 or 499, COOP 308/408, or ES 455. Also required are 12 to 16 credits of electives selected from the following: BIOL 341, 382, 400, 402, 411, 421, 425, 427, 428, 432, 440, 451, 452, 456, 459, 460, 470, 471, 473, 477, 492, 493, 494, 497, 499; ENVR 475; COOP 308/408; ES 400, 425, 470; ANTH 375.
In addition to these 36 to 41 credits in environmental biology, the following supplemental courses are required: MATH 171 (or MATH 260 or 270), 221 or 222 or BIOL 402, ES 150, 260, 280 or 320 or 330, 400 or 470; CHEM 153, 154, 163, 164, 251/261 or 353/363 or 358/368, in some instances students may be advised to substitute CHEM 151, 161, 152, and 162 for CHEM 153, 163, 154, and 164.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY, B.S. – 61-73 credits
Required: BIOL 155/165, 156/166, 201, 203, 341, 450, 483, 485, 495, and 9 to 12 credits from approved biology electives. In addition to these 42 to 45 credits in biology, the following supplemental courses are required: MATH 221 or 222 or BIOL 402, and MATH 260 or 270; CHEM 153, 163, 154, 164, 251, 261, 252, 262, 453, 463, in some instances students may be advised to substitute CHEM 151, 161, 152, and 162 for CHEM 153, 163, 154, and 164.
MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, B.S. – 62-70 credits
The Medical Technology Program includes an academic preparation of three years (88 semester hours including general education) at Clarion and a 12-month course of clinical study in a hospital-based school of medical technology accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences, (NAACLS), (32 semester hours).
Upon successful completion of two years of prescribed courses at Clarion, the student is eligible to apply for admission to the hospital school. Although application is made through the office of the coordinator of medical technology at Clarion, acceptance is at the discretion of the staff of the clinical school. Clinical school spaces are limited, and admission to the Medical Technology Program at Clarion does not guarantee admission to the clinical school year. Clarion University maintains affiliations with six clinical schools, students may apply to accredited, non-affiliated schools, also.
After graduation from Clarion University, the student is eligible to take any of several certification examinations. Successful completion of the exam permits practice of the profession in most of the United States. A few states require a state examination for licensure. Further information on the exams can be obtained from the coordinator of medical technology.
The following courses are required during the three years at Clarion: BIOL 155, 156, 165, 166, 201, 203, 341, 444; CHEM 153, 163, 154, 164; eight additional hours of chemistry chosen from CHEM 251, 252, 261, 262, 353, 358, 363, 368, 453, 463; and MATH 171, and 221 or 222. Substitutions for the above courses must be approved in writing by the coordinator of medical technology. Students in the program must maintain the following quality-point averages: first semester freshmen, 2.0 overall; second semester freshmen and first semester sophomores, 2.5 overall; thereafter 2.5 overall with a 2.5 in the natural sciences. Exceptions to these requirements must be approved by the coordinator of medical technology.
Specific information about courses, standards, and requirements established by the affiliate hospital schools are provided to enrolled students by the coordinator of medical technology. Students wishing to transfer into the program must be approved by the coordinator of medical technology and must plan to spend two years on the Clarion Campus. Hospital affiliates are Altoona Hospital, Altoona, Pa.; Susquehanna Health Systems, Williamsport, Pa.; Saint Vincent Health Center, Erie, Pa.; Guthrie Health Systems, Sayre, Pa.; Conemaugh Health System, Johnstown, Pa.; Women's Christian Association Hospital, Jamestown, N.Y.
SECONDARY EDUCATION, B.S.ED.
Certification for grades K-12, Biology (see under Secondary Education, Biology).
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, CONCENTRATION WITHIN THE B.S. BIOLOGY – 63-72 credits
The concentration is designed for those biology students interested in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, but desiring a means of maximizing their efforts in the applied aspects of the field.
Required: BIOL 155/165, 156/166, 201, 202, 203, 382, 493 or 494 and 12 to 14 credits from approved biology electives. In addition, the following courses are required: CHEM 153/154, 163/164, CHEM 251/261, 252/262, in some instances, students may be advised to substitute CHEM 151, 161, 152, and 162 for CHEM 153, 163, 154, and 164, and one additional chemistry elective excluding CHEM 205 and 211; MATH 221 or 222 or BIOL 402, and 260 or 270, PH 251 and 252, and six credits of electives in the sciences.
BIOLOGY MINOR, CELLULAR/ORGANISMAL BIOLOGY TRACK – 18-20 credits
This program is designed to provide students who are in other majors but require a general knowledge of the fundamental concepts of biology, but with a focus on cellular/organismal biology aspects. These students will be provided with additional skills and experience to enhance their education.
Required: BIOL 155/165, 201, 203, and 8-10 credits from the following: BIOL 341, 382, 444, 446, 450, 451, 455, 460, 461, 464, 483, and 485.
BIOLOGY MINOR, ECOLOGY/EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY TRACK – 18-20 credits
This program is designed for students who are in other majors but require a general knowledge of the fundamental concepts of biology, but with a focus on ecology/evolutionary biology aspects. These students will be provided with additional skills and experience to enhance their education.
Required: BIOL 156/166, 202, and 11-12 credits from the following: BIOL 382, 402, 425, 427, 428, 432, 456, 471, 473, 492, 493, 494, or 495.
BIOTECHNOLOGY MINOR – 18-19 credits
The minor in biotechnology serves to provide students in chemistry, physics, pre-engineering, mathematics, computer science, business management, finance, and marketing with a working knowledge of biotechnology. The minor provides these students with the cross-disciplinary experience to apply the expertise from the majors in the emerging fields of science and commercial technology.
Required: BIOL 155/165, 201, 341, 483, and 3-4 credits from the following: BIOL 444, 450, 464, 481, 485, or CHEM 453.
Environmental Studies
The Environmental Studies program introduces students to environmental problems confronting contemporary society and examines these problems from a multidisciplinary point of view. Students have the opportunity to learn the role of science in various environmental situations, as well as management policies. The Departments of Physics, Anthropology, Geography and Earth Sciences (AGES), Chemistry, Biology and the Science Education program are participants in the Environmental Studies program.
Clarion University is a member of the Regional Science Consortium located at the Tom Ridge Center at Presque Isle.Clarion University’s membership in the consortium allows students and faculty access to research and educational facilities on Lake Erie.
PRE-PROFESSIONAL STUDIES IN HEALTH CAREERS
The Biology Department offers a number of programs specifically designed to prepare students planning to enter a professional school in the healing arts, including pre-chiropractic, pre-dentistry, pre-medicine, pre-optometry, pre-pharmacy, pre-veterinary, and pre-podiatry. Qualified biology majors interested in a career in medicine have a unique opportunity to apply for early acceptance to their medical training through a "3+4" or "4+4" affiliation agreement with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) in Erie, Pa. Another affiliation agreement with the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) School of Pharmacy provides qualified students with the option of pursuing a "2+3" or "3+3" accelerated pharmacy program. Those students interested in pursuing a career in chiropractic have the opportunity of a "3+3" program with Logan College of Chiropractic in Chesterfield, Mo. Click here for more details on these programs.
Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology
Through a unique cooperative program with the University of Pittsburgh, Clarion University offers a program of study in field ecology at the Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology. Courses are taught by faculty from cooperating institutions. Sessions at Pymatuning are open to undergraduate and graduate student, are three weeks in length, and students normally reside on site.
The Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology (PLE) is a field station dedicated to environmental education and ecological research. In PLE courses, direct observation and hands-on experience with living organisms under field conditions are combined with modern laboratory and computer techniques in the discovery of structure and function in ecological systems. PLE is located within Pymatuning State Park and overlooks Sanctuary Lake, part of an 11,000 acre tract of water, wetlands, and forest. The region contains many natural lakes, marshes, streams, and intact forests, making it an ideal location to study field biology.
Regional Science Consortium
Located at the Tom Ridge Center at Presque Island, Clarion University's membership in the consortium allows students and faculty access to research and educational facilities on Lake Erie.
SECONDARY EDUCATION-BIOLOGY/GENERAL SCIENCE
The Biology Department offers in conjunction with the Education Department a program in Secondary Education-Biology. Also available is a multidisciplinary secondary education degree in general science. A Teaching Certificate in Environmental Education Grades K-12 is also available. See listings in the College of Education and Human Services.
