Learning Goals & Outcomes

At the completion of a degree from the Biology Department, the student will have:

• Working knowledge of general principles of biology, nature of living systems, cellular structure and function, molecular biology of the cell, mechanisms of membrane transport, fundamentals of enzymes, cellular receptors, and cellular reproduction.

• Working knowledge of the diversity of living organisms, structure and function at the organismal level, the paradox of unity and diversity, differentiation and specialization, principles of evolution.

• Working knowledge of the principles of inheritance, classical genetics, bacterial genetics, molecular genetics, genomics, and human genetic disorders.

• Working knowledge of the chemical structure of the components of living systems(DNA, RNA, proteins, oligosaccharides and lipids), macromolecular interactions, enzyme function (including kinetics), meta - bolic pathways (including photosynthesis).

• Working knowledge of biological techniques, including microscopy, spectrophotometry, dissection, care of laboratory animals, solution preparation, electrophoresis, centrifugation, extraction, purification, enzymology.

• Working knowledge of laboratory safety, including collection of data safely, safe disposal of chemical and medical waste, and good laboratory practice.

• Working knowledge of experimental design, data and error analysis, methods of biological analysis, computer technology used by biologists, and the types/uses of scientific search engines.