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BiologyFull Time Faculty: Lin Aanonsen, Sarah Boyer, Chris Calderone, Devavani Chatterjea, Kristi Curry Rogers, Mark Davis (Chair), Jerald Dosch, Daniel Hornbach, Mary Montgomery, Paul Overvoorde Part Time Faculty: Elizabeth Jansen Laboratory Supervisor: Mike Anderson Laboratory Supervisor and Instructor: Steven Sundby Research Technician(grant supported): Mark Hove General Distribution RequirementAll courses in the biology department count toward the general distribution requirement in the natural sciences except courses above 600 (tutorials, independents, internships, preceptorships). General Education RequirementsCourses that meet the general education requirements in writing, quantitative thinking, internationalism and multiculturalism will be posted on the Registrar’s web page in advance of registration for each semester. Additional information regarding the general distribution requirement and the general education requirements can be found in the graduation requirements section of this catalog. Advanced PlacementStudents who received a score of 5 on the Advanced Placement (AP) biology exam or a score of 5 or better on the International Baccalaureate (IB) biology exam will receive 4 or 8 credits, respectively, in general biology. These credits will count toward the graduation requirement, but may not be used toward a biology major or minor, or in fulfilling the distribution requirement in natural sciences and mathematics. Upon consultation with the Chair, biology students with such test scores may be exempt from taking one of the core biology courses (BIOL 260, BIOL 265, BIOL 270 , BIOL 285). Those wishing such an exemption must seek approval from the Chair and are required to substitute an approved intermediate level laboratory course in the area of the exempted course. Honors ProgramThe biology department participates in the college's honors program. Eligibility requirements, application procedures, and specific project expectations for the biology department are available on the department website (www.macalester.edu/biology/majorsminors/honors/). Topics CoursesBIOL 194, BIOL 294, BIOL 394, BIOL 494 Examination of a topic of general interest to faculty and students, the topic to be announced in advance of registration. (4 credits) Independent StudyThe department offers independent study options in the form of independent projects, internships, preceptorships and Honors independent projects. For more information contact the department and review the Curriculum section of the catalog. Biology MajorMajor RequirementsAll biology majors will complete a common core of biology courses and additional supporting courses. The purpose of the core courses is to give students exposure to the breadth of the field of biology and to provide them with essential knowledge and competencies in the areas of genetics, cell biology, ecology, and evolution that, together, will give them the necessary background and tools they need to excel in whatever area of biology they choose to pursue. Following the core courses, an appropriate course of study at the undergraduate level will vary from student to student depending upon the student’s interests and career goals. For example, students majoring in biology may choose to take a broad course of study in the discipline thus maximizing exposure to major disciplinary concepts and providing a strong background for specialization at the graduate level. Alternatively, biology majors may choose to focus on a particular subdiscipline of biology or on the intersection of biology with another discipline. After core and intermediate level study, biology majors often participate in a research experience at the advanced level, which is empirical in nature (i.e. based on the testing of an hypothesis through observation or experimentation.) Ordinarily, students complete this research during their junior or senior year after significant coursework in biology and supporting disciplines has been completed. Effective catalog—Students are normally expected to satisfy the major or minor requirements in effect at the time of the declaration of their biology major. The requirements for a major in biology are: 38 credits in biology (consisting of four core courses, a 2 credit lab, four upper level courses, and the Senior Seminar) and five supporting courses (20 credits). Students may count only one course from Biology 470-478 or one independent study or internship toward their biology major. Transfer students wanting to graduate from Macalester with a major in biology must take at least four 4-credit biology courses at Macalester in addition to the BIOL 489 - Senior Seminar, only one of which can be an internship or independent. Required courses in biology for the major:1. Introductory Courses BIOL 255 - Cell Biology and Genetics Laboratory Methods The required courses (above) may be taken in any order, however, BIOL 260 - Genetics is normally taken before BIOL 265 - Cell Biology since CHEM 112 is a prerequisite for Cell Biology. BIOL 255 - Cell Biology and Genetics Laboratory Methods must be taken concurrently with either BIOL 260 or BIOL 265. The core courses have been developed for students beginning their Biology education. Ideally, the core courses should be completed by the end of the sophomore year and prior to studying abroad,, and must be completed no later than the end of the junior year. 2. Upper Level Courses Four upper level biology courses, at least two with laboratory. At least two of the four upper level courses must be taken at Macalester. 3. Capstone Requirement BIOL 489 - Senior Seminar is required as the capstone experience and consists of:
While an independent research experience may form the basis of the written and oral presentations, students may choose to present work they have done in other contexts such as internships, independent study, study-away opportunities, or in their other courses. Supporting courses for the biology major:A strong background in supporting sciences is important to all students studying biology. Many core concepts in biology have their foundation in the physical sciences and mathematics. Furthermore, the work of biologist continues to become more interdisciplinary. For these reasons, all majors must complete an approved set of supporting courses. Required supporting courses:CHEM 111 - General Chemistry I: Structure and Equilibrium and CHEM 112 - General Chemistry II: Energetics and Reactivity or CHEM 115 - Accelerated General Chemistry Note: Students with sufficient prior background in chemistry, and with approval from the Chemistry Department, may be exempted from taking CHEM 111 and may enroll directly into CHEM 112 or CHEM 115 . Note: Deviations from the MATH 135/MATH 155 sequence or the MATH 137//MATH 155 sequence will not be accepted unless approved ahead of time by the Chair. Math/Statistics GuidelinesMany biology majors take calculus and/or statistics in high school. The MATH 135/MATH 155 sequence is still appropriate for most such students, even those who took AP or IB courses and scored well on the tests. The reason is that MATH 135/MATH 155 emphasizes the calculus and statistics of multiple variables, topics usually not encountered in even the most advanced high-school courses. Those biology majors with strong high-school calculus preparation (see Math/CS department web site) may elect to to take MATH 237 - Multivariable Calculus directly instead of MATH 135 - Applied Calculus. Or they may elect to take MATH 137 - Single Variable Calculus then MATH 237. MATH 137 may NOT replace MATH 135 unless MATH 237 is also taken. Note: Some elective courses for the biology major have MATH 137 as a pre-requisite: PHYS 227 - Principles of Physics II and CHEM 311 - Thermodynamics and Kinetics. Students who plan to take CHEM 312 - Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy are advised to take MATH 237. Students who do not plan to take MATH 237 should take MATH 135, even if they are prepared to enter MATH 137 directly. All students must enroll in MATH 155 - Introduction to Statistical Modeling. Elective supporting courses:One elective supporting course selected from the following: One elective supporting courses among the following: ANTH 115 - Biological Anthropology, ANTH 239 - Medical Anthropology, ANTH 240 - Human Osteology and Paleopathology, CHEM 211 - Organic Chemistry I, CHEM 222 - Analytical Chemistry, COMP 120 - Computing and Society, COMP 121 - Introduction to Scientific Programming, COMP 123 - Core Concepts in Computer Science, GEOG 225 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems, GEOL 160 - Dynamic Earth and Global Change, GEOL 165 - History/Evolution of Earth, GEOL 300 - Paleobiology, MATH 237 - Multivariable Calculus, MATH 253 - Applied Mulitivariate Stats, MATH 354 - Probability, PHYS 221 - Introductory Physics I, PHYS 226 - Principles of Physics I, or another course approved by the Chair. Selection of the elective supporting courses should be made in consultation with the student's advisor and must be approved by the Chair. Long-term goals typially will influence the choice of supporting courses. For example, students interested in a career in medicine or research in the biomedical sciences normally should complete a year of organic chemistry and a year of introductory physics. Students interested in pursuing an ecology path should consider taking a GIS (Geographic Information Systems) course, intermediate or advanced math or statistics, or a geology course. Students planning a career as a science educator at the primary or secondary level should consider taking supporting courses in several of the science departments, as well as courses from the Educational Studies Department. Individualizing the Biology MajorIn consultation with one or more biology faculty members, each student will develop a major plan by choosing appropriate electives in biology and supporting disciplines. By their choice of electives, students may explore a variety of biological subdisciplines or focus on one or two areas of study. For example, students may design majors that focus on such areas as ecology; evolution; immunology and microbiology; genetics, cell and developmental biology; plant biology; biochemistry; or neurobiology. Biology majors interested in attending medical school after graduation should refer to the “Premedical Program” in the “Special Programs” section of this catalog and should consult a premedical advisor as early as possible in their planning process. Requirements for the major with added emphasisIncreasingly, biological scientists address questions by working in groups that are interdisciplinary in nature. Thus, interdisciplinary fields of study have emerged that cannot be adequately covered within a single department. Two such interdisciplinary fields, Biochemistry and Neurobiology, can be explored through an added emphasis to a biology major. Students choosing such a major with one of these EMPHASES will have this noted on their transcript (e.g. Biology Major with Added Emphasis in Neurobiology). In all cases, students must successfully complete the core requirements for the biology major: BIOL 255, BIOL 260, BIOL 265, BIOL 270, and BIOL 285; CHEM 112 or CHEM 115; MATH 135 and MATH 155 or MATH 237 and MATH 155 ; and BIOL 489 Senior Seminar. It is expected that the required senior presentation will be in the area of the student’s emphasis. Students should configure their electives in consultation with a biology faculty member using the following guidelines: Requirements for a Major in Biology with Added Emphasis in BiochemistryStudents with a strong interest in pursuing more in-depth study of biochemistry may want to consider this track. This emphasis would also be an option for students interested in medical school and/or graduate study in virtually any biomedical field. Because one of the required supporting courses, PHYS 227, has MATH 137 as a prerequisite, and MATH 237 is recommended for another of the supporting courses, CHEM 311, students pursuing an added emphasis in biochemistry should consider taking MATH 137 and MATH 237 in place of MATH 135. Biology electives:BIOL 351 - Biochemistry I Plus at least two courses from the following (at least one of which must be in Biology):BIOL 353 - Advanced Genetics CHEM 312 - Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy Other courses with the approval of the Chair Required supporting courses: CHEM 212 - Organic Chemistry II Requirements for a Major in Biology with Added Emphasis in NeurobiologyStudents with a strong interest in pursuing more in-depth study of the biological basis of behavior and/or the nervous system may want to consider a major in Biology with added emphasis in neurobiology. This emphasis would be an option for students interested in medical school and/or graduate study in a field of neuroscience or biomedicine. Required course:CHEM 212 - Organic Chemistry II Plus two of the following three courses:BIOL 360 - Neuroanatomy Plus three additional upper level Biology courses from the following list:BIOL 351 - Biochemistry I Plus two of the following supporting courses:COMP 484 - Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (same as NEUR 484) Additional recommended supporting courses:PHYS 221 - Introductory Physics I or PHYS 226 - Principles of Physics I Biology MinorThe requirements for a minor in biology are five biology courses, which must include two from the core series (BIOL 260 - Genetics, BIOL 265 - Cell Biology, BIOL 270 - Biodiversity and Evolution, and BIOL 285 - Ecology). At least two of the five courses must have a lab. Students with a minor in biology may include one course numbered below 200 among their five courses.
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