Course Directory

Freshman Biology Seminar

Recommended for all freshmen and new majors in any area of Biology. Enables students to (1) explore and understand various majors, minors, curricula, and career options in Biology; (2) become familiar with Biology Department faculty, research interests and opportunities; (3) identify and /or utilize department, campus and community resources that will enhance their academic program; and (4) develop and apply strategies to facilitate the learning process.

Undergraduate

Basic Biology

Deals with the principles of biology. Includes cellular structure and physiology, growth and repair, reproduction and development, control, sources of food energy, inheritance, and people's interrelationship with their biological environment. Briefly reviews the classification of plants and animals. Credit not to be applied toward biology major. Each semester.

Undergraduate

Introductory Biology

A basic course in Biology for non-science majors. Includes cellular structure and function, molecular biology, genetics, survey of organisms, evolution, and ecology. Divided into two hours of lecture and a two-hour instruction/laboratory/discussion/recitation session weekly. Credit not to be applied toward the Biology major. Each semester.

Undergraduate

Aerodynamics: Ph/Bio Of Flight

The biomechanics of flight. Students will use techniques in physics and evolutionary biology to study how animals fly and swim. Drawing upon bats, birds, insects, and even winged seeds, we will discuss and test the basic operating principles of wings. We will apply results obtained with a wind tunnel to the locomotion of objects in water. Students will then be able to compare and contrast the flyers and swimmers of nature with those of human invention. The course will have a substantial stu,dio laboratory component. Offered every other fall.

Undergraduate

Intro To Forensic Science

Basic course in forensic science for non-majors combining field techniques in forensic ecology and taphonomy with laboratory techniques in molecular biology and biotechnology. Summer: daily for 8 hours, for 5 days or during the fall semester: weekly for 3 hours, for 12 weeks. Credit not to be applied toward any biology major. Summer or fall on demand. Prerequisite: a course in basic or introductory biology or permission of instructor.

Undergraduate

Insects And Society

A basic course in insects and their interactions with human society. Includes insect diversity, insect structure and function, insect biology, and both insect benefits and damage. Three lecture hours weekly. Credit may not be applied toward a Biology degree. Annually.

Undergraduate

Intro Animal Biology

Undergraduate

Intro Plant Biology

Undergraduate

Prin Of Biology I

Introduces fundamental concepts of biology focusing on the characteristics of living things, cell function, biological information, storage and retrieval, and organismal structure and function. Presents concepts in the context of current evolutionary theory. Three hours lecture weekly. For biology majors. All science and science education majors and biology minors must concurrently register for BIOL 165

Undergraduate

Prin Of Biology II

Introduces fundamental concepts of biology focusing on organismal structure and function, adaptation, behavior, and ecology in the context of current evolutionary theory. Three hours lecture weekly. For biology majors. All science and science education majors and biology minors must concurrently register for BIOL 166. SPring, annually.

Undergraduate

Prin Of Biology I Lab

Laboratory exercises augment and integrate course material emphasized in BIOL 155. Three hours laboratory weekly. For biology majors. Must be taken concurrently with BIOL 155 unless it is being repeated. Fall, annually.

Undergraduate

Prin Of Biology II Lab

Laboratory exercises augment and integrate course material emphasized in BIOL 156. Three hours laboratory weekly. For biology majors. Must be taken concurrently with BIOL 156 unless it is being repeated. Spring, annually.

Undergraduate

Selected Topics In Biol

Provides for focused study of a special interest topic in biology using different learning formats selected by the instructor as best suited for the particular course. May be offered in any semester, subject to demand and staff availability. Not forbiology majors.

Undergraduate

Genetics

A study of the principles of inheritance in plants and animals, including humans. Topics include Mendelian genetics, linkage recombination, cytogenetics, and molecular genetics. Three lecture hours and one recitation hour weekly. Prerequisites: Completion of BIOL 155, 156, 165, and 166, with a grade of a C or better and one semester of organic chemistry or permission of instructor. Fall and Spring, annually.

Undergraduate

Principles Of Ecology

Examines the interaction of organisms and their biotic and abiotic environment, population dynamics and interactions, community structure and function, and ecosystem energetics and biogeochemistry. Two lecture and three laboratory hours weekly. Prerequisites: Completion of BIOL 155, 156, 165 and 166 with a grade of C or better, or permission of instructor. Fall and Spring, annually.

Undergraduate

Cell Biology

Examines structure, biochemistry, and function of plant and animal cells. Three lecture and two laboratory hours weekly. Prerequisites: BIOL 155, 156, 165, 166, CHEM 151 or 153, 161 or 163, 152 or 154, 162 or 164, all with a C or better. Each semester.

Undergraduate

Sec Sci Ed Sophomore Seminar

Introduces biology, chemistry, earth science, general science, and physics education majors to the major requirements in their program. Cross disciplinary discussions guide students in the integration of pedagogical principles from their foundationeducation courses with content from their specialty courses. Students are introduced to the PA Academic Standards as well as the National Science Education Standards. Artifacts created with guidance in this seminar become part of an electronic Lear,ning Portfolio. Required for all Secondary General Science majors. Annually.

Undergraduate

Environ Science & Sustain

Humans are changing the global environment in profound ways but the consequences are not widely understood. This course will examine current environmental issues from a scientific perspective and explore how science can be best used to shape sound e,"nvironmental law and regulation, public lands, types and sources of air and water pollution, and other environmental issues of current interest. Environmental issues of local and regional importance will be emphasized. Three lecture hours weekly.Credit not to be applied toward a biology major.

Undergraduate

Human Biology

This course focuses on the biology of the human organism. Recent scientific and medical advances as they relate to the development of public policy are interwoven through topics covered. The biology of our aging human population including issues su,"ch as infection, autoimmunity, cancer, as well as respiratory, cardiovascular, and urinary system decline, will be discussed. Credit not to be applied toward a biology major or biology education certification. Annually.

Undergraduate

Human Genetics

Mendelian genetics and the inheritance of human genetic disease. Examines the anatomical, physiological, biochemical, and genetic basis of human diseases, including diabetes, atherosclerosis, and cancer, and the genetic component of human illness. Analyzes behavioral genetics, sociobiology, recombinant DNA, gene therapy, and medical ethics. Non-majors course for students who wish to know more about human genetics than is available in basic biology. Particularly useful for students in anthropology, rehabilitative sciences, psychology, sociology, and special education. Prerequisite: One semester of biology or permission of instructor. Annually.|

Undergraduate

Microbiology

Examines microorganisms, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa, emphasizing those associated with human health and disease. Considers immunity and resistance to infectious diseases and to their epidemiological and public health aspects. Laboratory emphasizes pathogenic bacteria and the bacteriological and microscopic techniques. Two lecture and three laboratory hours weekly. Not for biology majors. Pittsburgh Campus, annually.

Undergraduate

Career Dev Health Prof

Students in this course will research and discuss current issues in health care, including professionalism, policy, practice, and reform. The goals of this course are to familiarize future health care professionals with issues related to their career, as well as with the applciation process and requirements for admissino to health professional programs (medical, dental, veterinary, etc.), guide students in preparing a portfolio of necessay application materials, and develop their writing, interview, test-taking, and other necessary skills and experiences. It will also include a service-learning activity. Prerequisite: Junior standing or instructor's permission|

Undergraduate

Marine Invertebrates

This course introduces students to the taxonomy, structure, function and ecology of marine invertebrates emphasizing specializations which have allowe these animals to exploit a wide variety of marine habitats. Major trends in invertebrate evolution will be used to illustrate the development of form and function in these animals. Prerequisites: Completion of two semesters of introductory biology. Completion of a crouse in general zoology is desirable. Summer, on demand.

Undergraduate

General Zoology

Surveys the animal kingdom. Emphasizes the biology and classification of both invertebrate and vertebrate animals. Covers the role of animals in ecosystems and interrelationships among the various taxa and aspects of morphology, phylogeny, ethology,and zoogeography. Includes special reference to animals occurring in Pennsylvania. Two lecture and three laboratory hours weekly. Prerequisites: BIOL 155, 156, 165, 166. Alternate years.

Undergraduate

General Botany

A survey of the structure, function and diversity of non-vascular and vascular plants from an evolutionary perspective. Topics will include structure, function, organization and evolution of plant cells and tissues, photosynthesis and nutrition, water uptake and balance, hormonal control of growth, reproduction and dispersal, and classification and systematics. Two lecture and three laboratory hours weekly. Prerequisite: BIOL 155, 156, 165, 166 or equivalent courses.

Undergraduate

General Mycology

A survey of Kingdom Fungi, with particular emphasis on the mushrooms, molds, yeasts, smuts, rusts and slime molds. Topics include the morpholoogy, physiology, biochemistry, systematics, ecology and evolution of fungi. Laboratory stresses identification of higher fungi, laboratory techniques and field mycology. Two lecture and three laboratory hours weekly. Prerequisite: Completion of BIOL 155 and BIOL 156 or permission of instructor. Fall, alternate years|

Undergraduate

Sec Sci Ed Junior Seminar

This seminar engages secondary science education majors in cross disciplinary content and pedagogical discussions. Students create lesson plans that engage secondary students in science investigations, using advanced technologies where appropriate. Artifacts created in this seminar become part of an electronic Learning Portfolio. Includes early field experience guided teaching experiences.

Undergraduate

General Microbiology

A study of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi. Extensive laboratory work includes isolation, staining, culturing, and identification of microorganisms. Examine prokaryotic cell architecturee, microbial physiology, methods or controlling the growth of microbes, micorbial genetics, medical microbiology, and applied and environmental microbiology. Two lecture periods and two laboratory periods weekly. Prerequisites: BIOL 155, 156, 164, 166, CHEM 151 or 153, 161 or 163, 152 or 154, 162 or 164, all with a C or better. Each semester.|

Undergraduate

Problems In Biology

Acquaints students with skills and techniques used in research. Students identify a problem for investigation and complete all phases of its study, including writing a research report. Approval from the staff member who will direct the student must be secured before pre-registration.

Undergraduate

Herpetology

Students will study the ecology and evolution of amphibians and reptiles. Topics to be studied include behavior, morphology, physiology, taxonomic diversity, systematic practice, evolutionary biology, and conservation biology. Course includes a substantial field component. Taught summer session, Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology. Prerequisite: BIOL 202|

Undergraduate