33 courses with the subject BIOL, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
BIOL 111Introduction to Organisms
CR: 4 This course will cover the basic principles of genetics, evolution, and ecology. Students will learn how organisms interact with one another and their environment, inheritance of traits and the functioning of DNA, and how natural selection results in evolutionary change, and the diversity of life. Students will survey experiments and examples that illustrate these topics and learn how to make informed decisions about societal issues related to biology. The laboratory component will cover the fundamentals of biological research, including the scientific method and experimental design, as well as the analysis and presentation of your data. This course satisfies the CORE 160 requirement. Three hours lecture and one three-hour laboratory.
BIOL 111 . An introduction to cell biology, including the chemistry of biological macromolecules, cell structure, function, and reproduction. Additional topics include genetic engineering, viruses and cancer, and the cellular basis of immunity.
BIOL 112 . An introduction to basic methods and instrumentation in biology, emphasizing fundamental laboratory procedures. Techniques to be studied include light and electron microscopy, spectrophotometry, electrophoresis, and chromatography. The use of computer applications for the basic analysis and presentation of data is also examined. One three-hour laboratory.
BIOL 115Curious Naturalists
CR: 3.0 Late spring in Virginia is when mockingbirds raise nestlings, luna moths evade bats, and toads trill in the beaver marsh. Students will explore this natural world by wielding nets, binoculars, and cameras; interrogating field guides and identification keys; and documenting observations in journals or sketchbooks. Students will develop skills in observing and interpreting patterns in nature. This field course is designed for anyone who is a curious naturalist, or would like to become one.
BIOL 111 and BIOL 112 . A survey of marine organisms and their adaptations to seawater chemistry, seafloor geology, and waves, tides, and currents. Our comprehensive survey of marine microbes, fungi, plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates will then enable us to discuss the ecology of specialized marine communities, such as kelp forests, polar seas, the open ocean, intertidal zones, seagrass beds, coral reefs, and the deep sea.
BIOL 111 and BIOL 112 . Evolution, the unifying principle of all biology, is the process by which all species originate and diversify. This course focuses on genetic changes in populations (via mutation, gene flow, genetic drift, and natural selection) that result in evolution. Topics discussed may include adaptation, phylogeny, neutral theory, heritability, sexual and kin selection, speciation, and human evolution. III.O
BIOL 112 This course provides an overview of the study of animal science, covering the biology, management, and production of domesticated animals. Lectures will cover topics such as domestication, relevant anatomy & vocabulary, husbandry, breeding, behavior, and welfare. Emphasis will be placed on the meat, dairy, poultry, and egg industries in the United States. Current legislation regarding medical treatment, transportation, and quality inspection will be reviewed. This course is designed with students from non-agricultural backgrounds in mind.
BIOL 111 . A survey of the plant kingdom with emphasis on the flowering plants. The structure, reproduction, evolution, adaptations, and economic significance of the major plant groups will be covered. Three hours lecture and one three-hour laboratory. Offered alternate years.
BIOL 215Special Topics in Field Biology
CR: 3.0 BIOL 111 and BIOL 112 Travel gives burgeoning biologists an opportunity to learn firsthand about the natural history and adaptations that make our world so biodiverse. Topics and taxa will vary depending on location, but will include the identification of local species and their unique characteristics, articulating interesting questions about organisms and their environment, and evaluating relevant scientific literature to help frame those questions. In addition, students will learn how to document their observations and inferences using a field notebook. May be repeated for credit if the location changes substantially. Students will be responsible for the travel costs of this course and may apply for a Grant for Engaged Learning to offset these expenses. Study Abroad/Travel Course
Subject
BIOL
Type
course
Repeatable
May be repeated for credit if the location changes substantially.
BIOL 111 . An introduction to the diversity, structure, behavior, and ecology of insects. While exploring these beautiful, intriguing animals in the field and lab, students will develop skills in observation, microscopy, dissection, and collections management. This is a 3-week, 3-credit variant of BIOL 216 Insect Biology. Students may not receive credit for both courses. BIOL 217 counts as a “laboratory course” for the biology major.
BIOL 111 Course covering topics including the morphology, classification, and natural history of invertebrate phyla, from sponges to echinoderms. Three hours of lecture and one three-hour laboratory.
BIOL 112 and BIOL 113 . Structure, physiology, and ecology of bacteria and other microorganisms. Three hours lecture and one three-hour laboratory. Offered alternate years.
BIOL 111 . First-year students by permission. Functional anatomy of vertebrates, with emphasis on evolutionary adaptations. Three hours lecture and one three-hour laboratory.
BIOL 232Cancer Biology
CR: 3 Prereqs: BIOL 112, BIOL 113 . This course is designed to give a solid foundation in general cancer biology. It explores cancer-related topics such as: oncogenes, tumor suppressors, intracellular signaling pathways, diagnosis, current therapeutic treatments, and clinical trials. In exploring these topics, one will be able to identify how cancer deviates from normal biological processes. The goal of this course is to help students understand the nature of cancer and its treatment in human and veterinary medicine. Fall.
One BIOL course and permission of the instructor. The study of introductory level material by an individual student or by a small group of students under the immediate supervision of a faculty member.
BIOL 112 , BIOL 113 ; and one year of chemistry, and any additional 200-level STEM lab course. Sophomores by permission. A study of animal function, with examples drawn from all the major phyla. Emphasis is placed on functional adaptations used by animals to overcome common environmental challenges, such as obtaining sufficient quantities of food, oxygen, and water. The roles of thermoregulation, osmoregulation, and animal sensory systems in maintaining homeostasis also are emphasized. Three hours lecture/discussion and one three-hour laboratory. Offered alternate years. III.W
BIOL 112 and at least one BIOL or ENVR class at the 200-level. An introduction to the diversity and natural history of birds. Students will learn to recognize worldwide bird diversity and identify species common to Virginia while applying general principles of evolutionary and behavioral biology to this well-studied taxon. The laboratory portion of the course includes regular outdoor excursions to observe birds, identification from museum specimens, and a substantive research project. Three hours lecture and three hours laboratory.
BIOL 112 and at least one BIOL or ENVR class at the 200-level. An introduction to the diversity and natural history of birds. Students will learn to recognize worldwide bird diversity and identify species common to Virginia while applying general principes of evolutionary and behavioral biology to this well-studied taxon. The course includes regular outdoor excursions to observe birds and identification from museum specimens. This is a 3-week, 3-credit variant of BIOL 332, Ornithology. Students may not receive credit for both courses.
BIOL 305 and one year of chemistry. Sophomores by permission. An examination of recent work in major areas of cell biology including membranes, regulation, cellular compartmentalization, signal transduction, and cellular and molecular aspects of immunology and cancer. Offered alternate years. III.W
BIOL 344Experimental Laboratory in Cell and Molecular Biology
BIOL 305 and one year of chemistry; or CHEM 321 and permission of instructor. Sophomores by permission. An introduction to current techniques and modern experimental approaches used in the study of cells and their components. Includes electrophoretic and chromatographic analysis of DNA and proteins, organelle characterization, advanced techniques in light microscopy and photomicrography, and basic techniques of genetic engineering. One three-hour laboratory. Offered alternate years.
One BIOL lab course at the 300-level; MATH 205 or PSYC 219 ; and permission of the instructor. An independent research project selected and carried out in consultation with a faculty sponsor. III.W
100-level BIOL course and permission of the instructor. The study of an intermediate level topic by an individual student or by a small group of students under the immediate supervision of a faculty member.
BIOL 111, BIOL 112, BIOL 113 and one 200-level or above BIOL course. This course will take an in-depth approach to the molecular mechanisms of signal transduction pathways. We will focus on various pathways and evaluate how extracellular signals are mediated within the cell. Students will be able learn how cell signaling pathways contribute to things such as cell growth, the cell cycle, and cell death. Furthermore, we will use primary literature to augment our discussions of research techniques and how aberrations within signaling pathways contribute to human disease.
One 100-level BIOL course, one 200-level BIOL course, and permission of the instructor. Pursuit of an upper-level research project determined in advance by the student in consultation with a faculty member who will act as the sponsor.
BIOL 470Advanced Honors
CR: 3 Upper-level research or creative project determined in advance by the student in consultation with two faculty members who will serve as primary and secondary project sponsors. The course is required for the Honors Degree, and serves as the capstone experience for Honors students who do not pursue a senior Honors thesis project. This course is typically taken in the student’s junior or senior year.
CR: 3 During this course, a senior is expected to refine and submit their thesis proposal under the supervision of a thesis advisor. The senior will submit their thesis proposal to the Student Advancement Committee by the deadline determined by the Honors Program. Pending approval by the Student Advancement Committee, the student will spend the remainder of the semester beginning the research described in their proposal. If a student does not submit an acceptable thesis proposal as determined by the Student Advancement Committee, they will not be allowed to continue in the pursuit of the Honors Degree/Program Honors. This course will carry the rubric of the student’s major in which the thesis is based.
CR: 3 In this course, the student is expected to continue the research proposed and approved by the Student Advancement Committee in the 471 Proposal/Research course. This work is completed under the supervision of faculty advisors, culminating in the student defending their thesis before a committee.
