Major- Biology

Biology is the study of life, and of life processes. The Biology Department believes that knowledge of biological principles is necessary for every educated person. The Department offers foundation courses for non-majors, a B.S. or a B.A. degree for those who seek to major in Biology, and the option of a concentration in environmental science. The Department provides students with an appreciation of the organization, evolution, and interrelationships of organisms, the understanding of the techniques, goals and limits of science as a process, and the quality laboratory experience. Biology majors develop oral and written presentation abilities, and receive academic preparation and skills for entry into graduate and professional programs, and into the workplace. Biology students are considered partners in the learning process and are expected to demonstrate cooperation with faculty in their progression.

It is the nature of biology to observe the fundamental symmetry of nature and the patterns and tempo in the evolution of organisms. In this biologists, and scientists in general, seek to understand the natural world. The first goal of the Biology Department is to familiarize students with the natural world and to gain a minimal understanding of the processes that govern the way that the natural world functions. We hope to help students become good citizens who can effectively participate in society. Increasingly the ethical questions which society debates are rooted in science. To participate in debate, and to make informed decisions, students will have to understand the underlying science.

The Biology Department has the following goals for biology majors: 1) To understand the methods of science, 2) To understand the basic theories in each biological discipline taught in the Department, 3) To be able to search biological literature effectively, 4) To understand the fundamental principles of biology, and 5) To be able to communicate effectively their knowledge of biology.

B.A. in Biology 120 hours

To be eligible for acceptance into the B.A. degree program, the student must have completed BI 101, BI 201, and BI 231, and must have earned a C or better in all three courses.

In addition to the other Core Curriculum requirements, the following are specific core requirements:

BI 101 – Natural World	4
MA 151 – College Algebra	3
Major Requirements	31 hours
BI 201 – Cell Biology	4
BI 231 – Organismal Diversity	4
BI 300 – Genetics	4
BI 310 or BI 361 – Animal or Human Physiology	4
BI 407, BI 408 – Coordinating Seminars I, II	2,2
CH 105, CH 106 – General Chemistry I, II	4,4
MA 152 – Trigonometry	3
PY 101 – Physics I
Electives	31 hours

 

B.S. in Biology 120 hours

To be eligible for acceptance into the B.S. degree program, the student must have completed BI 101, BI 201, and BI 231, and must have earned a C or better in all three courses.

In addition to the other Core Curriculum requirements, the following are specific core requirements:

BI 101 – Natural World	4
MA 151 – College Algebra	3
Major Requirements	31 hours
BI 201 – Cell Biology	4
BI 231 – Organismal Diversity	4
BI 300 – Genetics	4
BI 310 or BI 361 – Animal or Human Physiology	4
BI 407, BI 408 – Coordinating Seminars I and II	2,2
CH 105, CH 106 – General Chemistry I and II	4,4
MA 152 – Trigonometry	3
MA 208 – Statistics	3
PY 101. PY 102 – Physics I, II	4,4
Electives	31 hours
Biology electives (excluding internships, if taken)	16
(Credits earned through internships are not counted toward the major. They are counted as elective hours toward graduation and are graded on a pass-fail basis).

 

Concentrations in the Major

Students who desire to complete one of the concentrations within the Biology major must take all of the required pre-requisite courses for a B.S. or a B.A. in biology. Courses listed within each concentration are to be taken as the 16 hours of biology electives (see above) to complete the degree.

 

Courses with an * are required for the specific concentrations.

Biotechnology	17 hours
*BI (Biology) 308: Microbiology	4
CH (Chemistry) 316: Biochemistry	3
*BI 322: Biological Techniques	4
BI 409: Immunology	4
BI 314, 411: Special Problems in Biology (approved by the Department Chair).	2
Pre-requisites: BI 101, BI 201, and BI 231. Class is three hours and laboratory is four hours per week. The concentration is offered upon sufficient demand.
Interdisciplinary Allied Health	16 hours
*BI 360 – Human Anatomy	4
*BI 361 –Human Physiology	4
At least two of the following: BI 307 – Microbiology BI 402 – Histology BI 409 – Immunology BI 420 – Embryology and Development	4 hours each
Environmental Science:	30 hours
Students seeking this concentration will not be required to take BI 310 or BI 361. They must complete other courses required in Biology, Chemistry, Math, and Physics for the B.S. or B.A. in Biology, and select the courses from the list below. Courses marked with an * are required.
BI 305: Field Biology	4
BI 306: Entomology	4
BI 308: Microbiology	4
BI 311: Taxonomy of Vascular Plants	4
*BI 326: Plant Ecology or	4
*BI 403: Ecology	4
*EV 300: Environmental Science	4
*EV 350: Environmental Issues	3
*EV 498: Directed Study in Environmental Science	3
Minor in Biology	15 hours
Fifteen (15) credits of Biology at the 200-level or above. The preponderance of the hours must be taken at Belmont Abbey College.

 

Faculty

Dr. Mike McLeod – Chair and Professor of the Biology Department, and the Coordinator of the Environmental Studies Department B.S. Lincoln Memorial University, M.A. East Tennessee State University, Ph.D. University of Miami (of Ohio)

Elizabeth Baker – Professor of Biology
B.A. George Washington University, M.S. University of Michigan, Ph.D. University of Virginia

Sheila Reilly – Professor of Biology and Chair of the Mathematics and Natural Science Division B.S. Grove City College, Ph.D. State University of New York-Stony Brook

Robert Tompkins – Associate Professor of Biology
A.A.S. Rutledge College, B.S. Guilford College, M.S. North Carolina State University

Jennifer Ellington – Assistant Professor of Biology
B.S. Siena College, M.S. University of North Carolina-Charlotte, Ph.D., Wake Forest University

Ask Dr. Sheila Reilly a question about the Biology program.

*Name:

*E-mail Address:

Phone Number: