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2024-25 Academic Catalog

BIOL Course Descriptions

Table of Contents

BIOL 100 Foundations of Biology

4 credit hours

This course deals with the organization of living things, anatomy and physiology of cells and organisms, reproduction and heredity, and the role of energy in the ecosystem. Bioethical considerations are discussed. Two lectures and one two-hour laboratory per week. Additional course fee may be required. This course is offered through High School Concurrent Enrollment Early High College Program.

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BIOL 120 Environmental Science

4 credit hours

This course addresses the scientific concepts, practices, and motivations underlying natural resource availability and human resource use and management. Content will be delivered through lectures, activities, discussions and research projects and will emphasize an ecological understanding of resource cycling and human-environmental interactions, highlighting the mechanisms underlying current environmental problems and the role of Christian communities in addressing these problems. Three lectures and one laboratory per week. This course is offered through High School Concurrent Enrollment Early College Program.

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BIOL 150 Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology

4 credit hours

An introductory survey of the structure and function of the human organism, where students will learn about the important systems of the human body. Those systems include the skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive systems. This course is offered through High School Concurrent Enrollment Program.

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BIOL 211 Cellular Biology & Genetics

4 credit hours

An introduction to life science for those majoring in biology and bioscience-related fields. Topics include basic concepts in chemistry and biological molecules, an introduction to cellular structure, function and metabolism, genetics and theories of inheritance, and an introduction to prokaryotic cells and viruses. Three lectures and one two-hour laboratory per week. Additional course fee is required.

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BIOL 212 Organisms & Physiological Systems

4 credit hours

An introduction to life science for those majoring in biology and bioscience-related fields. Topics include a taxonomic survey of protists, fungi, plants, and animals with emphasis on the development, anatomy, and physiology of plants and animals. Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisite: BIOL 211 Cellular Biology & Genetics, or instructor permission.

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BIOL 220 Fundamentals of Cellular and Organismal Biology

2 credit hours

This course is a supplementary course to BIOL 221, 222 that provides necessary foundational training in cellular biology, genetics, plant/animal diversity, and ecology needed for certain upper-division biology courses.

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BIOL 221 Human Anatomy and Physiology I

4 credit hours

Structure and function of the human body. Fall semester topics include basic chemistry, body organization, integument, skeleton, muscles, and the nervous system, including special senses. The course is designed for nonscience majors. Three lectures and one laboratory per week. Additional course fee is required.

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BIOL 222 Human Anatomy and Physiology II

4 credit hours

Structure and function of the human body. Spring semester topics include cardiovascular, reproductive, endocrine, respiratory, urinary, and digestive systems. The course is designed for nonscience majors. Three lectures and one laboratory per week. Prerequisite: BIOL 221 Human Anatomy and Physiology I, or permission from instructor. Additional course fee is required.

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BIOL 275 Field Experience

1-6 credit hour

Includes internships and practica required for professional programs. The experience must have an on-site supervisor and/or a departmental instructor overseeing, designing, and evaluating the content of the course. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor and chairperson of the department. Pass/No Pass.

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BIOL 285 Selected Topics

1 credit hour

Offered when special needs arise or when sufficient enrollment permits. Course content includes specific interests of faculty or visiting professors, or special training required by graduate or professional schools. Prerequisites: BIOL 211 General Biology I and BIOL 212 General Biology II or BIOL 221 Human Anatomy and Physiology I and BIOL 222 Human Anatomy and Physiology II and instructor's permission.

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BIOL 295 Individualized Study

1-3 credit hour

Individualized study or supervised research in an area of special interest to the student which is outside the regular offerings of the major. Additional course fee (per credit) is required.

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BIOL 300 Evolution

4 credit hours

A study of mechanisms associated with the process of evolution (e.g. natural selection, genetic drift, mutation, etc.) and their underlying assumptions. Topics covered include phylogenetic history, the genetic theory of phenotypic evolution, species and speciation, evolution of genes and genomes, etc. Special attention will be given to how the principles of evolution interface with Christian beliefs. Three hours lecture and one laboratory per week. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisites: BIOL 211 Cellular Biology & Genetics, BIOL 212 Organisms & Physiological Systems, BIOL 311 Ecology & Biodiversity and BIOL 350 Genetics, or instructor permission.

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BIOL 310 Developmental Biology

4 credit hours

Theories and study of differentiation as they apply to growth and development of animals, with some emphasis on the mechanism involved. Includes historical topics, fertilization, embryonic organization, cell induction, histogenesis, organogenesis, and developmental morphogenesis of echinoderms, frogs, chicks, and pigs. Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisites: BIOL 211 Cellular Biology & Genetics, BIOL 212 Organisms & Physiological Systems and BIOL 350 Genetics, or instructor permission.

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BIOL 311 Ecology & Biodiversity

4 credit hours

An introduction to the origin and maintenance of biodiversity for students majoring in Biology. This project-based course will provide foundational exposure to the process of scientific discovery, twenty-first century science practices, and the fields of ecology and evolutionary biology. Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisites: BIOL 211 Cellular Biology & Genetics and BIOL 212 Organisms & Physiological Systems or permission of the instructor. Additional course fee is required.

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BIOL 322 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy

4 credit hours

The comparative study of the structure and functional morphology of organisms in the phylum Chordata. Laboratory will emphasize dissection of representative vertebrate animals. Three one-hour lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisites: BIOL 211 Cellular Biology & Genetics, BIOL 212 Organisms & Physiological Systems and BIOL 350 Genetics, or instructor permission.

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BIOL 333 Advanced Physiology

4 credit hours

Investigation of physiological principles in animals, with 4 hours. A majors-level course is intended to meet the physiology requirement of graduate/professional programs in health-care fields. Investigation of physiological principles in humans/mammals, with emphasis on mechanisms of integration and homeostasis at cellular, organ, and system levels. Topics include muscular, neural, vascular, excretory, and endocrine interactions. Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisites: BIOL 211 Cellular Biology & Genetics, BIOL 212 Organisms & Physiological Systems, BIOL 311 Ecology & Biodiversity and BIOL 350 Genetics, or instructor permission.

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BIOL 335 Neuroscience

4 credit hours

An introductory course that provides a basic understanding in the multidisciplinary field of Neuroscience. Major topics covered in this course include neural signaling, neurophysiology, sensation and sensory processing, physical and functional neuroanatomy, movement and its central control, nervous system organization, brain development, complex brain functions and diseases of the nervous system. The course will examine different model organisms that have advanced the field of neuroscience. Three lectures and one laboratory per week. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisites: BIOL 211 Cellular Biology & Genetics, BIOL 212 Organisms & Physiological Systems and BIOL 350 Genetics, or instructor permission.

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BIOL 340 Plant Physiology

4 credit hours

A study of plant function from the molecular to the organismic level. Photosynthesis, respiration, water relations, growth and development, mineral nutrition, and practical applications will be covered. Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory period per week. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisites: BIOL 211 Cellular Biology & Genetics, BIOL 212 Organisms & Physiological Systems and BIOL 350 Genetics, or instructor permission.

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BIOL 350 Genetics

4 credit hours

A general genetics course covering Mendelian genetics, population genetics, and an introduction to molecular biology. This course fulfills the requirement for biology majors, and is appropriate for those with an interest in current topics in genetics, including inheritable diseases, cloning, and other recent scientific breakthroughs. Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisites: BIOL 211 Cellular Biology & Genetics and BIOL 212 Organisms & Physiological Systems or instructor permission.

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BIOL 360 Ecology

4 credit hours

An analysis of population, community, and ecosystem dynamics. Laboratory will emphasize field measurements, computer modeling, and behavior. Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week, and one required field trip to the Malheur Field Station. Additional course fee required. Prerequisites: BIOL 211 Cellular Biology & Genetics, BIOL 212 Organisms & Physiological Systems, BIOL 311 Ecology & Biodiversity and BIOL 350 Genetics, or instructor permission.

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BIOL 367 Essentials of Microbiology

4 credit hours

A course in the structure, metabolism, classification and health aspects of microorganisms. Special emphasis will be given to human-microbe interactions and clinical aspects of infection. Methods of microbiological investigation are emphasized and include current techniques and experiences within the field of Microbiology. Course designed for students not majoring in biology. Pre-requisites: BIOL 221 Human Anatomy and Physiology I; BIOL 222 Human Anatomy and Physiology II and CHEM 150 Foundations of General, Organic, and Biochemistry; or permission of the instructor. Additional course fee required.

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BIOL 370 Microbiology

4 credit hours

A course for biology majors in the structure, metabolism, classification and health aspects of microorganisms. Special emphasis will be given to microbial diversity, the molecular physiology and genetics of prokaryotes, and the human immune response to infection. Methods of microbiological investigation are emphasized and include current techniques and experiences within the field of Microbiology. Additional course fee required. Prerequisites: BIOL 211 Cellular Biology & Genetics, BIOL 212 Organisms & Physiological Systems and BIOL 350 Genetics, or instructor permission.

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BIOL 380 Ornithology

4 credit hours

A study of avian biology including phylogeny, evolution, anatomy, physiology, behavior, and ecology. Laboratory will emphasize identification, bird banding, and basic anatomy. Two lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week, and one required field trip to the Malheur Field Station. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisites: BIOL 211 Cellular Biology & Genetics, BIOL 212 Organisms & Physiological Systems and BIOL 350 Genetics, or instructor permission.

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BIOL 390 Plant Biology

4 credit hours

This course integrates the disciplines of plant diversity, plant physiology, plant systematics and plant ecology by surveying the structure and function of plants from the organismal to the ecosystem levels. Students will receive a comprehensive survey of concepts in plant biology with an emphasis on mechanisms of development and growth, ecophysiology, identification and classification, and current global issues that are rooted in plant biology. Two lectures and one laboratory per week. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisites: BIOL 211 Cellular Biology & Genetics, BIOL 212 Organisms & Physiological Systems, BIOL 311 Ecology & Biodiversity and BIOL 350 Genetics, or instructor permission.

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BIOL 399 Cross-Cultural Experience

3 credit hours

This course offers in-depth discipline specific cross-cultural study designed to enhance the intercultural emphasis of various academic majors. The course includes class meetings followed by travel to various locations throughout the world. Students will use core disciplinary knowledge to serve, learn and interact with other cultures. (Offered in May Term. Students must meet eligibility requirements.) Additional course fee is required.

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BIOL 410 Molecular Biology

4 credit hours

An introduction to the modern field of molecular biology. We will examine the structure, organization, and transfer of genetic information at the molecular level and its requirement for life processes. Viral, prokaryotic, and eukaryotic systems will be examined. Major themes include transcriptional regulation, post-transcriptional events (RNA processing), and regulation of translation. The laboratory is designed to include current techniques and experiences within the field of molecular biology. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisites: BIOL 211 Cellular Biology & Genetics, BIOL 212 Organisms & Physiological Systems and BIOL 350 Genetics, or instructor permission.

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BIOL 420 Cell Biology

4 credit hours

This course includes the study of cell physiology, energetics, neurobiology, muscle biology, and cell signaling. Other topics that will be discussed are cancer and immunology at the cellular level. Laboratory will focus on current cell culturing and analysis techniques. Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisites: BIOL 211 Cellular Biology & Genetics, BIOL 212 Organisms & Physiological Systems and BIOL 350 Genetics, or instructor permission.

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BIOL 450 Advanced Human Anatomy

4 credit hours

A majors-level course intended to meet the anatomy requirement of graduate/professional programs in health-care fields. A course presenting a systemic approach to the study of the human body. Lecture presentations begin with an introduction of anatomical terminology, tissue classification, and developmental origins to systems. Body structure will be studied by organ systems and will include histology. Laboratory work will follow a regional gross anatomy of the human body through cadaver dissection, human skeletal collections and preserved specimens. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisites: BIOL 211 Cellular Biology & Genetics, BIOL 212 Organisms & Physiological Systems and BIOL 350 Genetics, or instructor permission.

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BIOL 460 Invertebrate Zoology

4 credit hours

Comparative phylogeny, morphology, ecology, and life histories of several invertebrate groups and protozoa. Three lectures and one three-hour laboratory per week. Some weekend field trips required. Additional course fee is required. Prerequisites: BIOL 211 Cellular Biology & Genetics, BIOL 212 Organisms & Physiological Systems and BIOL 350 Genetics, or instructor permission.

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BIOL 465 Biological Research

1-4 credit hour

Specific instructional programs, laboratory or field research, or independent study as planned under an advisor. A total of not more than 4 hours may be applied toward the major. Prerequisites: upper-division biology majors and by permission.

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BIOL 475 Field Experience

1-6 credit hour

Includes internships and practica required for professional programs. The experience must have an on-site supervisor and/or a departmental instructor overseeing, designing, and evaluating the content of the course. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor and chairperson of the department. Pass/No Pass.

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BIOL 485 Selected Topics

1-4 credit hour

Offered when special needs arise or when sufficient enrollment permits. Course content includes specific interests of faculty or visiting professors, or special training required by graduate or professional schools. Prerequisites: BIOL 211 General Biology I and BIOL 212 General Biology II or BIOL 221 Human Anatomy and Physiology I and BIOL 222 Human Anatomy and Physiology II and instructor's permission. Additional course fee required.

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BIOL 490 Biological Exploration

2 credit hours

Discussion- and experience-based course covering scientific analysis, communication, and research. Prerequisite: Junior status or instructor's permission.

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BIOL 495 Individualized Study

1-3 credit hour

Individualized study or supervised research in an area of special interest to the student which is outside the regular offerings of the major. Additional course fee (per credit) is required.

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BIOL 496 Senior Thesis

1 credit hour

An independent study course for completion of a senior thesis. Required for all thesis-track majors in their senior year.

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