SWAG��Ƶ

Biology is an exploration of the living world that underscores and explains the unity and diversity of life. But it is also a truly human endeavor in that it affects us all. Because we live at this time in human history — at the beginning of what many believe to be a biological age — students must be able to apply biological concepts to the wide array of problems and choices they inevitably face.

Students who major in biology programs become familiar with all levels of biological organization from molecules to ecosystems and gain practical experience in both laboratory and field studies. Small classes enable the faculty to adopt an approach to learning that stresses how different subjects are related to each other, facilitates critical thinking, and encourages a collaborative approach to learning between students and faculty. Professors want students to experience the excitement and to see the applications of biology as well as appreciate science as a way of knowing about the world around them. In addition, the medical biology program stresses the importance of field opportunities, research experience, and experiential learning. The department also offers a graduate degree in Biological Sciences (master level) which is detailed in the graduate portion of this catalog. The department's medically related programs benefit from interaction with the College of Osteopathic Medicine as well as SWAG��Ƶ's graduate programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and physician assistant. Visit our graduate programs page for details.

The medical biology major is designed to provide a strong foundation in the biological sciences for students who ultimately pursue careers in human medicine, dentistry, other health professions (e.g. physical therapy), biomedical research, or the biotechnology industry. Students in the medical biology major can choose one of two possible tracks: (1) medical sciences track, or (2) pre-physician assistant track.

The medical sciences track provides students with a solid foundation in the biological sciences at the molecular, cellular, tissue, organ, and organismal levels. In addition to the comprehensive introduction to general biology, the courses offered in this track introduce the student to the fields of physiology, biochemistry, cellular biology, and genetics. This track also includes those courses that are pre-requisite courses for entrance into medical and dental schools and graduate programs in Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and other health professional programs. The many laboratory-based courses in this track allow students to become familiar with the most up-to-date laboratory techniques used for biological research, an advantage for students who wish to enter graduate schools in the biomedical sciences or to work in the biotechnology industry. Finally, students in this track have the opportunity to complete off-campus internships for college credit (e.g. in a hospital, clinical, or laboratory setting).

This program is designed for: pre-medical students, pre-dental students, pre-veterinary students, students who will eventually enter graduate school in the biological sciences, and students who will eventually enter the biotechnology industry.

Additional Guidelines

BIO 210, BIO 295, BIO 410, and BIO 495 research and internship courses do not meet 200- and 400-level course requirements.

Accelerated 3–4 Option Medical Biology-Medical Sciences Track

For those students interested in attending the SWAG��Ƶ's College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM), an accelerated version of this track offers the opportunity to complete this major upon successful completion of three years of undergraduate work and the first year of medical school. Qualified CAS undergraduate students who wish to become a doctor of osteopathy (D.O.), may apply for early admission to the College of Osteopathic Medicine at the SWAG��Ƶ following their third year. This "3-4 Program" allows mature, qualified CAS students to complete an undergraduate degree and doctor of osteopathy degree in seven years. The program is for students admitted to CAS in the medical sciences track in the medical biology major. Recommended policy and procedures for this program follow:

• Complete admission requirements of the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the SWAG��Ƶ (see the COM Catalog medical college admission requirements.)
• Complete CAS graduation requirements for both the medical sciences track in the medical biology major and the CAS Core Curriculum (with the exception of one BIO 400 or higher level course).
• Successful completion of the first year of COM courses for which 30 hours of credit will be awarded towards meeting the undergraduate degree.
• Seventy-five percent or 90 credit hours of the total required credit hours for a baccalaureate degree must be completed prior to matriculation in COM.
• To qualify for the 3-4 Program, students must satisfy a two-year residency which requires that at least two thirds (60 credit hours) of the undergraduate requirements be taken while in CAS.
• Students entering the 3-4 Program should declare their intention by the end of the fall semester of their second year at the Registration Services office and with their advisor. The form may be obtained online on the Registration Services website.
• To remain in good standing, students in the 3-4 Program must maintain a SWAG��Ƶ cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or better (on a scale of 4.00) for all subjects and a science GPA of 3.00 or better.
• Students should apply to COM at the beginning of the fall semester of their third year. They will undergo the regular admission process as indicated in the SWAG��ƵCOM catalog and be evaluated by the Admission Committee of COM. Students are strongly advised to seek regular advice, counseling, and support from the Pre-Health Professions Advisory Committee (PHPAC). Continuing support of 3-4 students by the PHPAC requires demonstration of academic strength, personal motivation, and sufficient maturity to indicate probable success in the Osteopathic Medical Program.
• 3-4 Program students who fulfill requirements as described are guaranteed an interview and are assured of receiving full consideration by the Admissions Committee for admission to COM.
• Students are encouraged to take the MCAT in April of their second year.
• During their first year at COM, 3-4 Program students will also be CAS students and are therefore encouraged to continue to seek counsel and guidance of PHPAC of CAS.
• First-year 3-4 COM students will submit a "Petition to Graduate" form to the Registration Services office during the first week of their second semester and will be awarded a baccalaureate degree upon satisfactory completion of the first year at COM. This form may also be obtained online on the Registration Services website.
• Students must fulfill all other CAS and COM requirements and business office obligations

ACCELERATED 3-4 OPTION MEDICAL BIOLOGY-DENTAL MEDICINE TRACK 

For those students interested in attending the SWAG��Ƶ's College of Dental Medicine (CDM), an accelerated version of this track offers the opportunity to complete the Medical Biology – Medical Sciences major upon the successful conclusion of three years of undergraduate work and the first year of dental school. Qualified College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) undergraduate students who wish to become a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) may apply for consideration to the 3-4 program concurrently with their undergraduate application. This "3-4 Program" allows mature, qualified CAS students to complete an undergraduate degree and Doctor of Dental Medicine degree in seven years. As such, it follows the curriculum of that major with one restriction being that the “Biology 200 or higher” course requirement of that major must be satisfied by taking “Microbiology” (BIO 232 and BIO 232L). Policy and procedures for this program are as follows:

• Apply for consideration into the 3-4 program concurrently with undergraduate application.
• Qualified applicants as indicated by the College of Dental Medicine Admissions Committee will be invited for an on-campus interview. Candidates will be interviewed by faculty and/or staff from the College of Dental Medicine and be assessed in areas of academic record and scholarship ability, leadership potential, career goals, personal qualities, interpersonal skills, and maturity. Interviews will be conducted in the spring and summer months prior to fall matriculation into the undergraduate program.
• Interviewed candidates accepted by the College of Dental Medicine Admissions Committee will be conditionally accepted contingent on the requirements as listed below.
• Complete admission requirements of the College of Dental Medicine of the SWAG��Ƶ (see the SWAG��Ƶ Catalog for admission requirements.)
• Complete CAS graduation requirements for both the medical sciences track in the medical biology major and the CAS Core Curriculum (with the exception of one BIO 400 or higher-level course).
• Successful completion of the first year of CDM courses for which 30 hours of credit will be awarded toward meeting the undergraduate degree.
• Seventy-five percent, or 90 credit hours, of the total required credit hours for a baccalaureate degree must be completed prior to matriculation in CDM.
• Students must satisfy a two-year residency that requires at least two thirds (60 credit hours) of the undergraduate requirements be taken while in CAS.
• To remain in good standing, students in the 3-4 Program must maintain an American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS) cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or better (on a scale of 4.00) for all subjects and a math/science GPA of 3.40 or better. 
• Students must pass all Dental program prerequisite courses with a grade of “B” or better. These courses include the following: Biology I with lab – Ecology and Evolution (BIO 105 and BIO 105L), Biology II with lab – Cellular and Molecular Biology (BIO 106 and BIO 106L), Microbiology with lab (BIO 232 and BIO 232L), General Chemistry I with lab (CHE 110 and CHE 110L), General Chemistry II with lab (CHE 111 and CHE 111L), Organic Chemistry I with lab (CHE 210 and CHE 210L), Organic Chemistry II with lab (CHE 211 and CHE 211L), Biochemistry with lab (CHE 310 and CHE 310L), and English Composition (ENG 110).
• Students are encouraged to take the DAT in April of their second year, and must earn a minimum score of 17 on the total science and reading comprehension sections of the Dental Admission Test (DAT) in addition to a 17 academic average.
• Students must obtain a minimum of 30 hours of dental experience and must have demonstrated community service through volunteerism or service-oriented employment prior to their matriculation into the College of Dental Medicine.
• By the time of application, students must have obtained a letter from the Office of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences verifying good academic and social standing.
• All 3-4 Pre-Dental designates must provide an acceptable criminal background check and meet all program technical standards prior to matriculation in the College of Dental Medicine.
• All 3-4 Pre-Dental designates must submit an application for the DMD program through the ADEA AADSAS, at portal.aadsasweb.org. The application deadline to electronically submit the application to AADSAS is September 1 of the third year of undergraduate studies (i.e., one year prior to potential matriculation into the College of Dental Medicine). All completed and verified AADSAS applications must be received in the Office of Graduate Admissions no later than October 15. If accepted, two admission deposits are required.
• Applicants to the CDM will undergo the regular admission process as indicated in the SWAG��Ƶ catalog and will be evaluated by the Admission Committee of CDM. Students are strongly advised to seek regular advice, counseling, and support from the Pre-Health Professions Advisory Committee (PHPAC). Continuing support of 3-4 Pre-Dental students by the PHPAC requires demonstration of academic strength, personal motivation, and sufficient maturity to indicate probable success in the Dental program.
• During their first year at CDM, 3-4 Pre-Dental students will also be CAS students and are therefore encouraged to continue to seek counsel and guidance of PHPAC of CAS.
• First-year 3-4 CDM students will submit a "Petition to Graduate" form to the Registration Services office during the first week of their second semester and will be awarded a baccalaureate degree upon satisfactory completion of the first year at the CDM. This form may also be obtained online on the Registration Services website.
• Students must fulfill all other CAS and CDM requirements and business office obligations.

Pre-Health Professions Advisory Committee

The Pre-Health Professions Advisory Committee (PHPAC) consists of staff and faculty members of the College of Arts and Sciences. The major function of this committee is to draft letters of evaluation for students applying to health professions programs such as Medical, Dental, and Veterinary schools. Interested students should view our web page for information regarding the protocol for obtaining a PHPAC letter of evaluation.

Graduation Requirements

A minimum grade of C- must be achieved in all science and mathematics courses used toward graduation in any of the programs in the Department of Biology. A 2.00 cumulative average in sciences is a requirement for graduation in any of the programs in the Department of Biology.

Students in this major can participate in the pre-health graduate school preparation tracks.

The expected learning outcomes for students graduating with a bachelor of science degree from the Department of Biology include:

• Knowledge of fundamental principles in biology, relevant concepts in mathematics and the physical sciences, and the ability to apply this knowledge to the critical analysis of new biological information, in the following areas:
  • Molecular and Cellular Basis of Life — including cell structure, metabolism, heredity, and reproduction.
  • Organismal Diversity — including organismal structure and function, hierarchy of organization, and the evolution of life.
  • Interrelations of Organisms and their Environment - including abiotic and biotic interactions, biogeochemical cycles; ecosystems and their dynamics, and human actions and interventions.
• Understanding of the process of science, as well as demonstrated competency in biological research, with a particular emphasis on:
  • The scientific method, including observational, comparative and experimental approaches and the tools utilized.
  • A critical reading of the primary scientific literature.
  • Data analysis, interpretation and the communication of scientific results (including oral presentations and scientific report writing).
• Appreciation for the relevance of the biological sciences to real-world issues, including:
  • Familiarity with avenues and applications of current and future research as well as the careers that use them.
  • Bioethical issues and their biological and social basis.
  • Recognition of the civic responsibility to share knowledge and to apply expertise to the improvement of human and environmental health.

The medical biology minor requires 6 biology courses, including the introductory biology series. In particular, Biology majors who wish to take a biology minor must select 4 additional courses beyond those required for their major. No biology courses can satisfy both the major and minor requirements except for the introductory 100-level courses.

We offer qualified students the option of graduating with Honors. This includes significant research, scholarship or creative activity under the direction of a faculty member. Interested students should consult with their advisor. 

Courses previously completed at another accredited college can be transferred to this degree program. Transferred biology courses must be reasonably close in scope and content to the biology courses offered at SWAG��Ƶ in order to count as exact equivalents. Otherwise, they will transfer as general electives. All Biology courses previously completed must be no older than eight years. Other options and restrictions apply. See Undergraduate Admissions also.

See Undergraduate Admissions.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees for subsequent years may vary. Other expenses include books and housing. For more information regarding tuition and fees, please consult the Financial Information section of this catalog.