Integrated Biology: Undergraduate

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Many students have an interest in science, but their career ambitions require in-depth knowledge in other areas. Now, through our integrated biology major, we see you blending your interests into a customized academic program to prepare for the career you want. For example, you can combine a Bachelor of Arts degree in integrated biology with:

Business courses, and pursue a career in pharmaceutical sales and marketing
Earning a Masters in Business Administration in one more year with our 4+1 program
Communication, English, or Art courses, and pursue a career in scientific publishing
Philosophy/religion courses, and pursue a career in bioethics
History/political science courses, and pursue a career in healthcare administration

You may choose 9 credits from one discipline outside the biological sciences, or self-design a program across multiple disciplines with advisor approval. Students should consult with their academic advisers to choose courses appropriate for their plans.

Dive A Little Deeper

Program requirements for the Integrated Biology Major

A minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.000 and a minimum average in the major of 2.000 is required for the major and minor in Integrated Biology. A grade of C- or better is needed for all courses that fulfill the departmental requirements. Courses transferred in for all majors must be taken less than ten years ago. Students may not declare multiple majors in any combination of: Biology, Environmental Conservation (B.S. or B.A.), Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Genetics and Counseling Psychology, Integrated Biology, Neuroscience or Nuclear Medicine Technology. Students majoring in the Biological Sciences may not minor in Biology. Students must earn a grade of C- or better in prerequisite courses before proceeding to subsequent courses. Any student who withdraws from a course or earns a grade lower than a C- may repeat the course only one time.

Total number of credits: 56.5 credits

Course requirements

BIO 123 Foundations in Biology 4 credits
BIO 124 Principles of Cell and Molecular Biology 4 credits
(Students with Advanced Placement credit for BIO 123 and/or BIO 124 are required to take the BIO 123 and BIO 124 Labs.)
BIO 239 Animal Ecology, Development and Evolution 4 credits
BIO 231 Genetics 4 credits
BIO 350 Junior Colloquium 2 credits
BIO 358 Science, Ethics, and Society 3 credits
BIO 357 Reflection on an Integrated Biology Major 0.5 credit
CHE 111 Chemical Principles 4 credits
CHE 112 Chemical Equilibrium and Analysis 4 credits

Mathematics two courses 6 credits*

Electives (12 Credits)

Any three 200- or 300-level BIO courses (aside from the Core**), with the exception of BIO 354. CHE 217 or CHE 307, CHE 308 or FSC 348, may be applied. A student may apply up to 2 credits of BIO 243 or BIO 353 or CHE 391 or HON 350/351, and up to 1 credit of BIO 201. At least one course must be a 4-credit lecture/lab course (i.e., with the lab explicitly associated with the lecture).

Integration Across the Disciplines (9 credits)

The Integrated Biology major offers the student the opportunity to make connections with other disciplines across the College. Students may choose 9 credits from one discipline outside the biological sciences, or may self-design a program across multiple disciplines with advisor approval. Students are encouraged to consult with their academic advisors to choose courses appropriate for their future plans.

* Two math courses appropriate for the student’s career plans, one being MAT 140 or above, to be chosen with advisor approval.

** The Integrated Biology Core is defined as BIO 123, BIO 124, BIO 239, BIO 231, BIO 350, BIO 358, and BIO 357.

Transfer students must complete at least the following at Cedar Crest College for the B.S. in Biology or the B.A. in Integrated Biology

BIO 350 Junior Colloquium 2 credits
BIO 358Science, Ethics and Society 3 credits
A 4-credit lecture/lab course and additional Electives, such that a student’s Biology/Integrated Biology Electives taken at Cedar Crest College total 7 credits (see Electives above)

It is a general Cedar Crest College policy that a student must complete a minimum of 18 credits of major requirements through Cedar Crest College course work.

Additional course requirements for the Thesis Option

All students, particularly those who are interested in attending graduate school or obtaining a research-based job following graduation, are highly encouraged to participate in independent research, which may culminate in a thesis. The thesis option begins during the student’s junior year as part of Junior Colloquium (BIO 350). Most majors from the Department of Biological Sciences require students to develop a research proposal to investigate an original research question. This experience allows the students to go beyond the basic course information, select a problem that interests them, and apply what they have learned in their coursework to a novel situation. As part of the thesis option, students will spend a minimum of two semesters working with a faculty member to conduct the research outlined in their proposal. They will then develop a written thesis detailing their project and present their final project to the department in the form of a seminar talk or poster. Requirements towards fulfilling the thesis include: a.) two semesters (4 credits) of Independent Research (BIO 353) or b.) two semesters of Independent Research (BIO 243); and one semester of Independent Research (BIO 353), and one semester (1 credit) of Senior Thesis and Presentation (BIO 354) with grades of C- or better.

Recommended courses for the B.S. in Biology or the B.A. in Integrated Biology for students also majoring in Secondary Education with a Biology concentration

A student majoring in Secondary Education with a Biology concentration may elect to also complete the B.S. in Biology or the B.A. in Integrated Biology. Students should note that the Secondary Education major with a Biology concentration has flexible requirements; in some cases, specific options should be selected in order to complete the requirements of both majors. While fulfilling all of the requirements of the B.S. in Biology or the B.A. in Integrated Biology (see above), taking the following courses will allow for the most efficient completion of the requirements for both majors.

BIO 260 (Comparative Animal Physiology, lecture and lab; toward completion of the Electives requirement)
BIO 316 (Conservation Biology and GIS, lecture and lab; toward completion of the Electives requirement)
MAT 141 (Calculus I; toward completion of the mathematics requirement)

Fulfillment of the LAC requirements

Students fulfill Technology, Oral Presentation, and Information Literacy requirements through successful completion of the following required courses: BIO 123, BIO 124, BIO 239, BIO 231, BIO 350, and BIO 358. Students also fulfill the Natural Science requirement by completing BIO 123 and BIO 124, and the Mathematics and Logic requirement by completing the mathematics requirement of the major. Students will fulfill the Ethics and Writing 2 requirements with BIO 358.

Program outcomes

All majors within the Department of Biological Sciences have the following three outcomes:

Students can apply the foundation concepts and principles of the biological sciences, including cellular structure and function, genetics and molecular biology, evolution and organismal diversity, and ecology.
Students can discuss the interaction of science and society, including the ethical practice of science, within the local, national, and global community.
Students can write about and interpret the methodologies of scientific research.

Integrated Biology B.A. outcomes:

Students can apply concepts and principles of the biological sciences beyond those that comprise the foundation.
Students can demonstrate a conceptual understanding of the integration of biology with another academic discipline.

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Program Mission Statement

Within the broader mission of the Department of Biological Sciences, the mission of the integrated biology major is to promote an understanding of the structure and function of, and the interrelationships among, biological systems. To accomplish this mission, students study biological systems at all structural levels of the biological hierarchy: molecules and cells; organisms; populations, communities, and ecosystems.

Cedar Crest Accounting Students in the Classroom

Program Requirements

A minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 and a minimum average in the major of 2.0 is required for the major and minor in biology. A grade of C- or better is needed for all courses that fulfill the departmental requirements. Courses transferred in for all majors must be taken less than 10 years ago. Students may not declare multiple majors in any combination of biology, biodiversity, and conservation biology, genetic engineering, or neuroscience. Students majoring in the biological sciences may not minor in biology. Students must earn a grade of C- or better in prerequisite courses before proceeding to subsequent courses.

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Independent Research and Thesis Requirements (Optional)

All students majoring in biology will have the opportunity to conduct genuine research within our courses and by joining a faculty member’s research program. Many students conduct research for all four years.

The thesis option begins during the student’s junior year as part of the Junior Colloquium (BIO 350). As part of the thesis option, students will develop a research proposal to investigate an original research question. This experience allows the students to go beyond the basic course information, select a problem that interests them, and apply what they have learned in their coursework to a novel situation.

As part of the thesis option, students will spend a minimum of two semesters working with a faculty member to conduct the research outlined in their proposal. They will then develop a written thesis detailing their project and present their final project to the department in the form of a seminar talk or poster.

The title of a student’s thesis will appear on her transcript if she completes two semesters (4 credits) of Independent Research (BIO 353) and one semester (1 credit) of Senior Thesis and Presentation (BIO 354) with grades of C- or better.

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Accreditation

Cedar Crest College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education; 1007 North Orange Street, 4th Floor, MB #166, Wilmington, DE 19801