Javascript is currently not supported, or is disabled by this browser. Please enable Javascript for full functionality.

   
    Mar 28, 2024  
2015-2016 Undergraduate Bulletin 
    
2015-2016 Undergraduate Bulletin [Archived Bulletin]

Biology Major


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: >College of Liberal Arts

Major Program

Biology students may choose to pursue a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Biology. Students preparing for graduate or professional schools are strongly encouraged to pursue the BS degree. Students should consult with a biology faculty member to determine which track is most appropriate for their goals.

The biology program includes a four-course core sequence that provides a solid background in the areas of ecology and evolution, cell biology, genetics, and organismal physiology. Biology majors draw basic theoretical and practical tools from allied sciences by completing required courses in mathematics, chemistry, and physics. Research as a learning process is a pervasive theme of the biology major. Many biology courses feature independent or team research projects as the focus of the laboratory, and students may also collaborate with faculty on original research. Summer Research Fellowships in Biology allow Hamline biology majors to participate full time in research during the summer by providing financial support in the form of a stipend, tuition remission, and a free residence hall room. State-of-the-art electronics, computers, and other modern apparatus support this distinctive research emphasis within the biology program. During the junior and senior years, students participate in the biology seminar program, and in the senior year they present a seminar drawn from their research. Internships that introduce students to careers in the basic biological sciences, health sciences, and industry are emphasized.

Biology Core Courses
Four courses–BIOL 1800, 1820, 3050, and 3060–provide a general biological foundation for majors in biology. The sequence is generally completed in the first two years of study. Two years of participation in biology seminar plus presentation of a seminar complete the core requirements. See the Environmental Studies major section or pre-medical program section if those options are of interest.

Four biology electives:


  • Biology courses at the 3000- or 5000-level

Calculus I/II including differential and integral calculus:


Biology seminar participation:


Participation in biology seminar for two years, including the presentation of a senior seminar based upon original research or an independent literature search.

Four biology electives at the 3000- or 5000-level:


  • Students who take the two course sequence, BIOL 3200: Human Anatomy and Physiology I and BIOL 3250: Human Anatomy and Physiology II, should note that only one of the two courses will count toward the Biology major elective requirement.
  • Students may count BIOL 5450: Current Topics in Biology only once as a Biology major elective.

Biology seminar participation:


Participation in biology seminar for two years, including the presentation of a senior seminar based upon original research or an independent literature search.

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: >College of Liberal Arts