Department of Biology Biology & Biology-Chemistry Majors

CONTENTS:

1.& 2 - The two primary majors
3. - Concentrations in the Biology & Biology-Chemistry majors
4. - Required Courses in the two majors

For a quick summary and links on all programs and the four majors in the biology department, click here. General advice can be found at this page. For advice on what courses to take in your freshman and sophomore year, click here

1. The Biology Major

The Biology Major is an interdisciplinary major maintained by the Department of Biology.

Requirements for the major in Biology: The Biology major consists of 36 credits in Biology, 16 credits in Chemistry and 8 credits in Physics.  Individual required courses for the major are listed near the bottom of this page.

2. The Biology-Chemistry Group Major
The Biology-Chemistry Group Major is an interdisciplinary major maintained by the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Biology.

The Biology-Chemistry group major consists of 54 credits in Biology and Chemistry, plus 8 credits in Physics.

The Biology and Biology-Chemistry Majors provide preparation for a wide variety of fields in Biology, from Anatomy to Zoology.  Some students prefer to gain a wide variety of knowledge here at Saint Joseph's College.  Others, after taking the general introductory courses, prefer to then concentrate on a particular area of interest.  We provide advanced electives that allow students to narrow their focus into areas we call "Concentraitons."

3. CONCENTRATIONS:
Students major in Biology or Biology-Chemistry but take electives that give them depth of knowledge in one of the following areas:

- Wildlife Ecology - recommended for wildlife biology, zoology, ecology, environmental science, environmental consulting, conservation biology, aquatic and marine biology, and natural resource careers. Recommended minors for this track include: Earth Science, Business Administration, Human Resources, Management, Math, Economics, Political Science, Art, and Computer Science. This track follows the guidelines to obtain certification as a professional wildlife biologist from The Wildlife Society.  Keep in mind that you can participate in programs at other universities or research sites during the summer or as a semester away from Saint Joes.  You must get our approval before taking such courses if you wish to then transfer those credits to SJC.

- Forensics - emphasizes investigation of cause, location and time of human death to distinguish criminal from natural activity.  In this concentration, electives of interest in this concentration include: Quantitative Analysis, Statistics, Introduction to Entomology, Introduction to Forensic Science and Advanced Forensics.  For more information look here.

- Pre-Dental Program - In this concentration, electives of interest at Saint Joseph's College include: Biochemistry (Biochemical Physiology), Basic and Advanced Microbiology, Human Medical Physiology and Statistics.  This concentration is designed to enable students to meet the entrance requirements of American Dental schools. In addition, our program helps students prepare for the Dental Admissions Test (DAT). Click here for information on the test.  For more information on the Pre-dental program at Saint Joseph's College, click here.

- Pre-Medical Program - In this concentration, electives of interest at Saint Joseph's College include: Biochemistry (Biochemical Physiology), Basic and Advanced Microbiology, Human Medical Physiology, Histology and Statistics.  This concentration is designed to enable students to meet the entrance requirements of medical schools approved by the American Medical Association, the American Osteopathic Association, and the American Podiatric Association. In addition, our program helps students prepare for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT).  For more information on Saint Joseph's College's pre-medical program click here.

- Pre-Physician Assistant - In this concentration, electives of interest at Saint Joseph's College include: Biochemistry (Biochemical Physiology), Basic and Advanced Microbiology, Human Medical Physiology, Histology and Statistics (Very much like pre-med above).  This concentration is designed to enable students to get into Physician Assistant Schools.  For more information, click here.

- Pre-Pharmacy Program - In this concentration, electives of interest at Saint Joseph's College include: Biochemistry (Biochemical Physiology), Basic and Advanced Microbiology, Human Medical Physiology, Histology and Statistics.  This concentration is designed to enable students to get into Pharmacy Schools.  For more information, click here.

- Pre-Physical and Pre-Occupational therapy - In this concentration, electives of interest at Saint Joseph's College include: Biochemistry (Biochemical Physiology), Basic and Advanced Microbiology, Human Medical Physiology, Histology and Statistics.  This concentration is designed to fulfil the requirements of the various graduate programs in Physical or Occupational Therapy.  Many of these prerequisites, such as sociology, psychology and statistics can be made part of our Health Therapy minor.  This enables students to meet the requirements for entrance into Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy schools while getting a Bachelor degree in four years.  They then apply to Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy schools at the Master's degree level.  Click here for more information on Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy.

- Pre-Veterinary Program - In this concentration, electives of interest at Saint Joseph's College include: Biochemistry (Biochemical Physiology), Basic and Advanced Microbiology, Human Medical Physiology, Histology and Statistics.  This concentration is designed to enable students to meet the entrance requirements of American veterinary schools. For more information on the Pre-veterinary program click here.

- Zoology - This is the study of animals.  Electives for this concentration include: Population Biology, Ichthyology and Herpetology, Ornithology & Mammology, Microbiology, Invertebrate Zoology, Animal Behavior, Human Physiology, and Biochemistry.

4.  Courses to Take - This depends on your major and the concentration you choose.  In 3 above you saw the concentrations.  Number 5 below lists the required courses for each major.  Click here to get advice on when to take paricular courses.

5. Saint Joseph's College Required Courses

Requirements for the major in Biology: The Biology major consists of 36 credits in Biology, 16 credits in Chemistry and 8 credits in Physics.   Students must take a minor with this major.  Most students then take 2-4 credits of chemistry electives and get a minor in Chemistry.  Particular required courses are shown below.  You can get a checklist to use and keep for your records by clicking here.

Required: 36 credits in Biology that must include:
Biol 111 & 112 General Biology
Biol 225 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
Biol 337 Genetics
Biol 220 Sophomore Seminar
Biol 330 Junior Seminar
Biol 440 Senior Seminar
The remaining 36 hours are taken as electives (see concentrations).

Required 16 credits in Chemistry that must include:
Chem 121 & 122 General Chemistry
Chem 233 & 234 Organic Chemistry

Required: 8 credits in Physics that must include:
Phys 121 Mechanics and Heat
Phys 122 Optics, Electricity, and Atomic Structures

Requirements for the major in Biology- Chemistry:

For the Biology-Chemistry Group Major, the student must take a total of 54 credits in Biology and Chemistry and 8 credits in physics.  Those who take this group major do not need to take a minor.  Particular required courses are shown below. You can get a checklist to use and keep for your records by clicking here.

Requirements from Biology:
Biol 111 & 112 General Biology
Biol 225 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
Biol 337 Genetics
Biol 220 Sophomore Seminar
Biol 330 Junior Seminar
Biol 440 Senior Seminar

Requirements from Chemistry:
Chem 121 & 122 General Chemistry
Chem 233 & 234 Organic Chemistry
Chem 246 Quantitative Analysis
Chem 379 Biochemistry
The remaining 54 hours are taken as electives in Biology or chemistry.

Required: 8 credits in Physics that must include:
Phys 121 Mechanics and Heat
Phys 122 Optics, Electricity, and Atomic Structures

NOTE: Students majoring in Biology, Biology-Chemistry, cannot normally take Biol 101, 203, 115, or 323 as part of the major.  Biology 121 and 122 (Human Anatomy & physiology) can only be taken for credit in biology if the student is concentrating on Physical or Occupational Therapy and taking the pre-therapy minor.

Biology home page