Health Sciences Concentration, Biology, B.S.

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Biology

Chairperson

Meledath Govindan
Professors	Associate Professors	Assistant Professors
Christopher Cratsley (Biology)	Steven Fiedler (Chemistry)	Dennis Awasabisah (Chemistry)
Meledath Govindan (Chemistry)	Lisa Grimm (Biology)	Emma Downs (Chemistry)
Michael Nosek (Biology)	Ronald Krieser (Biology)	Elizabeth Kilpatrick (Biology)
Christopher Picone (Biology)	Mathangi Krishnamurthy (Chemistry)	Eric Williams (Biology)
	John Ludlam (Biology)
	Aisling O’Connor (Chemistry)
	Erin Rehrig (Biology)
	Sean Rollins (Biology)
	Billy Samulak (Chemistry)
	Daniel Welsh (Biology)

Objectives for the Program in Biology

Fitchburg State University offers a biology program that emphasizes basic scientific principles while challenging students. The Department of Biology and Chemistry has a rich history of producing successful graduates in secondary education, biotechnology, environmental biology and health sciences. Our faculty foster a supportive teaching and learning environment, offer individual attention to students, and provide numerous undergraduate and graduate research opportunities. The Biology and Chemistry Club sponsors social events to encourage interaction between students and faculty. The department also offers courses in laboratory science for other majors.

Requirements for the Major in Biology

All Biology majors are required to take four core courses and six advanced BIOL electives (>2000) including a Capstone course, for a total of 36 credits.

The core biology courses include student laboratory work so that students develop the skills of scientific inquiry. Students develop scientific literacy through reading, writing, testing hypotheses, and quantitative analysis. Core courses also integrate computer literacy through lab activities.

Core courses required in the Biology major

BIOL 1800 - General Biology I 4 cr.
BIOL 1900 - General Biology II 4 cr.
BIOL 2300 - Ecology 4 cr.
BIOL 2800 - Genetics 4 cr.

Additional Requirements

Biology majors also take six advanced electives at or above BIOL 2000. Independent study, directed study or internship may each count as one advanced BIOL elective in a student’s program of study. Courses with a separate lecture and lab registration count as a single elective: the lab portion of a course does not constitute a distinct biology elective.

One of the six electives must be a designated Capstone course. Students in the Capstone course conduct a research project to demonstrate their skills in research design and analysis. The Capstone course also meets the University’s Listening and Speaking and Junior/Senior Writing requirement.

Biology majors must earn a minimum grade of 2.0 in General Biology I and General Chemistry I. If a grade below 2.0 is earned in either course, that course must be repeated before enrolling in any subsequent BIOL or CHEM classes. They are also limited to two attempts for each of General Biology I and General Chemistry I. If Biology majors earn <2.0 or a W in a second attempt, they must find another major that more closely matches their skills and interests.

Capstone course options

Capstone courses must be taken at Fitchburg State: courses that transfer as the equivalent course will not fulfill this requirement. Independent studies (BIOL 4903 ) require approval by the departmental curriculum committee in order to fulfill the Capstone requirement.

BIOL 3550 - Developmental Biology 4 cr.
BIOL 3650 - Plant Biology 4 cr.
BIOL 4500 - Molecular Biology 4 cr.
BIOL 4700 - Animal Physiology 4 cr.
BIOL 4903 - Independent Study 3 cr. (requires department approval)

Required courses in related sciences

In addition to BIOL courses, Bachelor of Science (BS) students are required to take courses in related sciences and two courses in mathematics at or above MATH 1300 .

CHEM 1300 - General Chemistry I 4 cr.
CHEM 1400 - General Chemistry II 4 cr.
CHEM 2000 - Organic Chemistry I 4 cr.
CHEM 2100 - Organic Chemistry II 4 cr.
PHYS 2300 - General Physics I 4 cr.
PHYS 2400 - General Physics II 4 cr.
2 MATH courses at or above the 1300 level

BS in Biology/Health Sciences

The B.S. in Biology/Health Sciences is an appropriate concentration for students interested in continuing their education in health professional programs, such as allopathic medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, podiatric medicine, chiropractic medicine, naturopathic medicine, nutrition, physician’s assistant, pharmacy, and physical therapy. This is not an appropriate pre-major for transfer into the University’s B.S. Nursing program. However, it would be an appropriate option for those seeking admission to post-bac nursing programs.

Required courses

Among the six advanced BIOL electives including the Capstone, students with the concentration in Health Sciences must also take:

BIOL 2004 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I 4 cr.
BIOL 2005 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II 4 cr. and
BIOL 3030 - Biochemistry I 3 cr.
Students should choose the remaining electives based on their intended career path and are strongly encouraged to consult the pre-requisites for the particular professional degree program at the institution to which they intend to apply. The University’s pre-health advisor is available as a resource to students in this concentration.

Note

The BIOL 2004 and BIOL 2005 requirement will be waived in favor of the BIOL 1200 and BIOL 1300 sequence for those students who enter the major/concentration having already taken those courses, however BIOL 1200/1300 will not count as BIOL electives.