Course Schedule 2008-2009

• Introduction
• Important Dates
• Biology Major Requirements
• Advice on Scheduling Courses for the Major
• By-pass Examinations
• Advanced Placement Credit
• Independent Study
• Departmental Seminars
• Senior Exams and Seminar Abstracts
• Study At Other Institutions
• Biology Day
• Departmental Awards to Students
• Senior Thesis & Graduation with Distinction
• Undergraduate Opportunities
• Funding for Undergraduate Work & Research Opportunities
• Opportunities as a Graduate
• Suggested Electives for Various Fields of Biology
• Points and Getting into Biology Classes

  For further information, meet with your advisor, watch the bulletin boards, attend the majors' meeting in the fall, attend seminars, and check your Worner Center mailbox and e-mail frequently.  Please advise the department secretary of your Worner Center box number, phone number, e-mail address, any prolonged off campus sojourn, and any change in your status at the College.  Ultimately, it is your responsibility to know all departmental and college requirements and regulations. 

                Please read all sections of this handbook.  You should use the checklist--Appendix I, and note changes in department requirements for the biology major.

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•  Students may declare the biology major at any time, but are strongly urged to speak with a biology faculty member about the major before declaring.  Majors should be declared by the end of the sophomore year. See checklist of important items, Appendix I.

• Each fall a REQUIRED meeting of all prospective and declared majors will be announced in Block 1 or 2.  The senior class photograph is taken at this meeting.  Topics will include:

Other Important Announcements:

• Biology majors must attend departmental seminars and submit abstracts of 5 seminars during their senior year (see seminar abstract section).  Majors are highly encouraged to submit abstracts to their advisor as early as possible; abstracts may be submitted at any time following declaration of the major. 

1.  Two introductory units from:

 2.  One field course.  Those regularly taught:

 3.  BY 210 (Cell Biology) and BY 361 (Molecular and Classical Genetics)

 4.  Four electives (3 at the 300 or 400 level and 3 must have a BY number)

 A total of 9 units in Biology or 8 units in Biology plus 1 unit in another department.

 Not more than a total of 2 units from BY 309, 403, 409, 499, or independent study from off-campus programs can be used toward the biology major.  Not more than 1 unit of independent study from off-campus work can be used toward the biology major.

 5.  Three units in Chemistry

NOTE: Graduate schools often require BOTH CH 250 (Structure of Organic Molecules) AND CH 251 (Reactions of Organic Molecules).

 6.  One unit of Mathematics - One of the following:

 7.  Two Supplemental Units from one of these groups:

Please remember that courses that appear in more than one category will NOT count for more than a single requirement.  For example, a course may not count both as an elective and fulfill a field requirement.

                    IMPORTANT NOTES:

1)             Graduate or professional schools may require two courses in organic chemistry (CH250 and CH 251), Calculus II, Physics and/or the Graduate Record Examination (G.R.E.). You should talk with your advisor and check admission requirements.

2)             Some science courses taught at other institutions, especially those on the quarter system, may NOT transfer as one entire unit of CC credit.  Before taking science courses elsewhere, students are cautioned to check with their academic advisor, and the department Assistant Chair concerning transfer credit toward the major.

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The following are suggestions for the scheduling of courses for the biology major.  Many variations from these suggestions are possible, but may not be optimal.

  FIRST YEAR:

 Two of the following introductory biology courses:

                BY 105 (Biology of Plants)

                BY 107 (Biology of Microbes)

                BY 108 (Biology of Invertebrates)

                BY 109 (Biology of Vertebrates)

             and

CH 107 (General Chemistry I) and CH 108 (General Chemistry II)

  Note: Students with a weak background in math might find it advisable to take MA 125 Pre-calculus and Calculus before taking CH 107 and CH 108.  MA 125 will satisfy the one math course requirement for biology major.

  SECOND YEAR:

BY 210 Cell Biology

A field course in biology (there are several which will satisfy the biology field course requirement)

*** Students in field courses must all travel in the CC vehicle--you may not follow in private cars.

  Note: Taking a statistics course before BY 208 Ecology is advisable.  The statistics course will satisfy the biology math requirement.

  CH 250 Structures of Organic Molecules

  Note: Only 1 course in organic chemistry is required for the biology major, but many graduate courses and virtually all health-profession post-baccalaureate programs will require 2 courses in organic chemistry (e.g. CH250 and CH 251).  Therefore, it may be advisable to also take CH 251 (Reactions of Organic Molecules).  This second course in organic chemistry could be taken any time during the four years, except that it is a prerequisite for Biochemistry.

  Students normally declare their major at the end of their second year at CC.  To be accepted into the biology major, a student must have taken and successfully completed with a grade of C or above in BY 210.

  THIRD YEAR:

BY 361 Molecular and Classical Genetics

2 biology electives

  Notes: The best time to take the physics or geology requirement for the biology major is probably during the second or third years.  If you choose the supplemental courses from chemistry or math, these may be taken any time after you have the prerequisites.  The best time to take a semester abroad is during the third year.  The best time to do research for a senior thesis is during the summer between the third and fourth years.

  FOURTH YEAR:

Two biology electives

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Students with strong backgrounds in biology may by-pass BY 105, 107, 108, 109 or 210 by examination. It is not necessary to have taken Advanced Placement (AP) Biology or the AP Exam to take a bypass exam.

                A successful score on the bypass exam, determined by the faculty person in charge, exempts the student from the required course and satisfies the prerequisite for other courses; students who pass the BY210 exam are exempted from taking that course as a requirement.   However, students should note that successful completion of one or more bypass exams means that a minimum of 9 other courses in Biology must still be completed.  Any approved elective may be substituted for the course bypassed via an exam (for the exception, see policy on AP/IB credit).  The department secretary has a list of faculty in charge of bypass exams.

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Students should consult with their academic advisor in biology or with the Assistant Chair concerning AP or IB credit toward the biology major.

AP credit for courses within the Biology Department. 

The Biology Department may grant one unit of credit for an Advanced Placement score of 4 or 5.  There are 2 possible outcomes of this credit:

The Biology Department accepts Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) credits in Biology if the Colorado College Registrar has given Colorado College credit based on the student’s achievement on the AP or IB exam.  Normally 1 CC credit is given for a grade of 4 or 5 on the AP exam, and either 1 or 2 units of CC credit are awarded for a score of 4 or higher on the IB exam.

Students with 1 AP or IB credit who desire to major in Biology are not required to take a bypass exam if they wish to apply these credits for one of the introductory Biology classes such as BY 105 or BY 109.  They may now automatically apply this credit as one unit of unspecified introductory biology and will therefore be required to take only one other introductory class.  Our introductory classes currently consist of BY 105 (Biology of Plants), BY 107 (Biology of Microbes), BY 108 (Biology of Invertebrates) and BY 109 (Biology of Vertebrates).  For students receiving AP or IB credit in place of 1 introductory biology class, a minimum of eight (8) additional units are required.

 Students with 2 IB credits in Biology who desire to major in Biology should discuss their individual program with the Department Chair.

 Important Notes: Students choosing this option are reminded that our intermediate and upper level courses often have specified introductory courses as prerequisites and that the AP/IB credit will not automatically bypass these prerequisites.

 Students who have AP or IB credit in Biology may not have strong preparation across the scope of organismic biology (for example, they may not have been exposed to significant amounts of botany or invertebrate zoology) and should consider taking one or more introductory courses as electives.  Your Biology department faculty advisor can advise you about this.

AP credit for courses outside the Biology Department. 

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Independent study allows more advanced students opportunities to pursue a lab or field research project under supervision of an experienced scientist.  Note that prerequisites are enforced.  A prerequisite may only be waived by formal petition to the biology faculty.  The written petition must be submitted by the student with assistance and advice from the supervising biology professor for the research block. The petition will be considered by the biology faculty at a regular department meeting, the third Friday of each block.  NOTE: Not more than a total of 2 units from BY309, 403, 409, 499, or independent study from off-campus programs can be used toward the biology major.  Not more than 1 unit of independent study from off-campus work can be used toward the biology major.

Begin talking with a faculty member in the area of your interest several months before your independent study block.  If a faculty member agrees to supervise your research and is not scheduled for BY 309 or BY 409 Independent Study that block, the Registrar will create a course for you.  Register for a BY 309 if you hold Junior standing, and for BY 409 if you have Senior standing.

For information about conducting research off-campus under supervision of a non-CC faculty member, see Appendix VII.  A petition is required.

GENERAL RULES:

                 Please do not take any equipment or supplies from the biology preparatory room (Room 525), the botany preparatory room (Room 419), the greenhouse (Room 514) or any classroom without communicating in writing or in person to the supervisor of the room: 1) who you are, 2) what you have taken, 3) where you have taken it, and 4) when you will return it.  This will keep the biology faculty and staff aware of equipment whereabouts when they are preparing for classes.

   *           If a piece of equipment gets broken or misplaced, immediately inform the professor with whom you are working.

   *           Before using any chemicals or instruments, make sure the professor with whom you are working explains to you how to properly use them.  It is your responsibility to ask if you are uncomfortable with something.

   *           Upon completion of your research, please clean and return all the equipment and supplies that you have used.

The following rooms and people will be valuable resources in helping you obtain your research goal.  Please become familiar with them:

BIOLOGY-PREPARATORY ROOM (Rm. 525)

                In this room you will find glassware, commonly used chemicals, field equipment, etc.  It is a good idea to introduce yourself to the supervisor of the preparatory room and familiarize her with your research.  This way, she will let you know what kind of supplies are available which will save you large amounts of time.  If you use the last of something or need to order new supplies, please let your supervisor know.

GREENHOUSE (Room 509), BOTANY PREPARATORY ROOM (Room 419) and GROWTH CHAMBERS (Room 514)

                Many of the research problems involving plants require the use of these rooms.   Please check with the supervisor of these areas as to the availability of these rooms before planning your research.  Again, if you anticipate using any of these rooms, introduce yourself to her and she can inform you as to what is and what is not possible.

BIOLOGY OFFICE

                The office (Olin 458) and room across the hall (Olin 465) contain a photocopier, a fax machine, a paper cutter and a variety of office supplies.  Please consult with the department secretaries before using any office equipment or taking office supplies.

RESEARCH PROFESSORS

                Work out with the cooperating professor exactly what your project will entail.  Make sure you understand when everything is due.  Please respect deadlines and be on time for meetings with any professors with whom you work.

BIOLOGY PARAPROFESSIONALS

                The paraprofessionals are available to help in a wide variety of ways.  Most often, the paraprofessional has done extensive research and knows what kinds of questions and problems that you are bound to encounter.  Feel free to ask them for help.  Each block, though, the paraprofessionals are assigned to assist with a class, which must be their first priority.  Please be considerate of their time.

SCANNING/TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPE USE

                Only individuals who have taken the necessary preparatory classes (BY 344 and BY 345) can use these microscopes for their research.  Please see Professor Ron Hathaway if you wish to use these microscopes.

LICOR/PRESSURE BOMB USE

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As an important part of your professional education, biology majors are expected to routinely attend department seminars.  Note that abstracts of five seminars are required.  Biology seminars are scientific presentations given by faculty or guest speakers.  See the professor in charge of seminar scheduling for arrange­ments if you have suggestions for speakers.

Seminar Series WebPage

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A  senior examination will be required of all students graduating with a major in biology.   The senior comprehensive exam will be the Educational Testing Service (E.T.S.) Biology Subject Test, which will be administered by the Biology Department twice during the year: early in Block 3 (students wishing to graduate in December must take the exam then and early in block 6.  The ETS Biology Exam is a 2-hour multiple choice test covering diverse fields of biology and is a nationally administered exam.  Scores are recorded as percentiles ranked across multi-year performance of Biology majors at undergraduate institutions across the country.  Scores are given for Overall Percentile, and in 4 subareas: Cell Biology, Genetics, Organismic Biology, and Ecology and Evolution.  There is no minimum score necessary for graduation, but the test results will be treated in the following way:

            Outstanding: Overall Achievement at the 90^th percentile or above

Satisfactory: Overall Achievement at the 60th - 89th percentile, or in at least 2 of the 4 subscores. 

Poor: Overall Achievement below the 60^th percentile or in more than 2 of the subscores.

These results will be officially recorded on the student’s transcript as a Senior Comprehensive grade. 

Cost of the exam is approximately $26.  Students must register and pay for the exam by the second Monday of block 2 for the block 3 test date and by the second Monday of block 5 for the block 6 test date.  Registration and payment should be done in the Biology Department office.  This test is a requirement for completion of the biology major.

The Graduate Record Exams (GRE) Subject Test in Biology may be substituted for the ETS only if it is taken on the November or December test dates.  The Spring GRE results come back too late for graduation deadlines. To substitute the ETS, student must list Colorado College as a recipient of the GRE scores.

                  Students who will graduate with a biology major are required to submit abstracts of FIVE biology seminars.  NONE of these abstracts may come from student seminars although the keynote address from BioDay may be used.  Students from past years would recommend you write abstracts within several days of the seminar.  They frequently have not been able to reconstruct the main ideas of the seminar from notes taken several months earlier.  If you are a declared major, you will receive e-mail notices of Biology seminars, which are also listed on the departmental web page under Seminars.  

  Please follow these guidelines for seminar abstracts:

  DEADLINES-

·         abstracts of FIVE acceptable biology seminars must be submitted to your academic advisor in the biology department by noon the first Monday after Biology Day, usually the last Monday of block 7, or by noon the third Friday of block 4 for December graduates.  Majors with an advisor in another department must notify the secretary in the biology department office of this fact by the end of block 2, and then submit the five abstracts by the same block 4 or 7 deadline above to the biology department Chair or Assistant Chair.  These deadlines will be enforced.  Students may submit abstracts at anytime after they declare their major.

  ACCEPTABLE SEMINARS-

·         abstracts of seminars sponsored by the Biology Department will be accepted, but student seminars presented at Bio Day are NOT acceptable

·         abstracts from biology seminars at UCCS, CU, CSU, DU, CU medical school and at Penrose or Memorial Hospital will normally be accepted (if in doubt ask your academic advisor for approval before you attend the seminar).

·         abstracts of seminars from other science departments at CC may be eligible but abstracts must include a paragraph that clearly explains the link of the topic to biology (again, if in doubt ask your academic advisor for approval before you attend the seminar).

FORMAT-

·         abstracts are limited to one page and must be printed and not handwritten.

·         each abstract must include the following:  1) complete title of the seminar, 2) complete name and academic affiliation of the presenter, 3) date of the seminar, 4) a complete description (abstract) of the seminar where you summarize the major points of the presentation, and 5) the student's name with the honor code signed.  Each abstract must be clear, concise, well-written and complete to be accepted by your advisor and the department.  See the back of this handbook for an example format.

·         abstracts must include the honor code.  The letter and spirit of the CC honor code must be strictly followed.  For example, each abstract must be your own original description, written by you in your own words, and you must have actually attended the seminar in person.

                  If you have questions concerning these requirements see your academic advisor in the Biology Department

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OFF CAMPUS STUDY: CREDIT TOWARD THE BIOLOGY MAJOR

                These guidelines are only for biology majors and students who definitely intend to declare a Biology major.  Students majoring in other departments or programs (e.g. Neuroscience, Biochemistry, or Environmental Science) should consult with their Department Chair or Program Director and with a Biology faculty member associated with that program or major.  Off-campus study may be a Colorado College sponsored program such as the Associated Colleges of the Midwest Tropical Field Research Semester in Costa Rica, courses and programs such as the School for Field Studies, and research at established institutions such as government laboratories or the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.  Field or laboratory research directly supervised by a member of the Biology Department faculty does not require petitioned approval, nor does participation in an ACM program.

  Students seeking credit for the biology major through participation in other off-campus programs or for doing research with a non CC supervisor must be aware of the following guidelines and credit limits.

  ·         Not more than a total of 2 units from BY309, 403, 409, 499, or independent study from off-campus programs can be used toward the biology major.  Not more than 1 unit of independent study from off-campus work can be used toward the biology major.  Units over these limits may still count toward the 32 units required for a CC degree.

  ·         Courses of study in off-campus programs must first be accepted for potential CC credit by the Registrar’s Office.  You will be asked to fill out a credit approval form; this form requires you to consult with your academic advisor about how this course of study will affect your progress towards a CC degree and your major.  The College’s International Programs Office can also assist you, but early consultation with your Biology advisor, the Co-Chair, or the departmental faculty member (currently Professor Tass Kelso) who deals with off-campus credit is essential.

  ·        If your proposed course of study program is given approval for CC credit by the Registrar, you may next seek credit toward the Biology major. Biology majors need to consult with their academic advisor in Biology (or Professor Kelso or Co-Chair if their advisor is not in the Biology Dept.) and fill out, then file the departmental off-campus study form in advance.  This form is used to gain departmental acceptance of your participation in the program.

  ·        Students are cautioned that a course must receive 4 semester hours to count as 1 full CC unit.  Courses of only 3 semester hours will count as only 0.75 units of CC credit and may not fulfill Biology major requirements.

Requests for off-campus credit fall into one of the four categories below.  Choose the correct category and then follow the procedures for that category.

  1. Courses at other institutions in traditional academic settings

Students are urged to take required courses for the major at Colorado College.  However, in unusual cases, you may seek substitute credit for a required course taken elsewhere in a formal university setting such as summer session at accredited colleges and universities.  Eligible required courses for the biology major are BY 105, 107, 108, 109, 210, or 361.  The department requirement for a field course (BY 118, 202, 203, 208, 218, 410, 412, 450) may be met by an off campus course described in number 2 described below. You may be asked to document the course content through syllabi, copies of exams, textbooks and through discussion with the Chair and/or a dept member who teaches the course for which you want to substitute one elsewhere.  Some of this material may not be available until after your course but we urge you to seek preliminary advice about whether the course can be counted as a substitute. Documentation of equivalency is the responsibility of the student.  Again, at most only 2 courses may be used to meet the biology major requirements, unless a case is exceptional (for example, transfer students from another college or university).  If courses require at least 2 prerequisites, they may count as upper-level electives.

Note: substituting required courses in other departments, such as Chemistry, requires written approval by that Department and approval by your academic advisor in the Biology Department or the Assistant Chair, if your advisor is not a member of the Biology faculty.  Courses taught in nontraditional formats will not be considered as substitutes for any required course.

Procedures for courses from traditional academic institutions

1)       Consult with your advisor about suitability of the course(s) for you.

2)       Confirm with the Registrar that credit from your proposed study will successfully transfer.  Fill out the Registrar’s Off-Campus Study form.

3)       Obtain your advisor’s signature to verify which requirements the proposed courses might fulfill. The advisor may need to consult with the CC Biology faculty members who teach the course for which equivalency is desired.  The signature of the co-chair or designated departmental representative, currently Professor Tass Kelso, is also required.  It is best to provide evidence (syllabi, etc.) BEFORE taking the course that the proposed course is the equivalent of a Biology major requirement.  If not, it will be noted on the form that adequate evidence must be supplied after the course (this is risky for the student). 

4)       When you return to CC, it is your responsibility to confirm that the Registrar has received the official transcript from the other institution and that the coursework appears on your transcript.  You must receive a grade of C or higher in order to receive credit.

  2. ACM Programs

No departmental paperwork is required for these programs, and the course work will transfer directly to your Biology major.  However, well in advance of your program you should consult with the college ACM advisor, currently Professor Marc Snyder, about entrance requirements and deadlines and with your Biology advisor about the suitability of these programs for your educational goals.  We strongly recommend taking BY208 Ecology AND BY220 Biostatistics before attending either of these programs; you will benefit much more from the experience with the background obtained in these courses.

  a)       ACM Tropical Research (Spring) Semester in Costa Rica.  Successful completion of the program provides three units toward the Biology major.  Up to two of these will be for BY309/409 Independent Study if the field project is on a biological topic (as determined by your advisor or Professor Snyder after you return).  The third unit will count as an upper-level elective if the student has taken a field course prior to the ACM program or as a field course or lower-level elective if the student has not had a field course prior to the program.  Students also receive a fourth unit in Spanish.

  b)       ACM Human Evolution & Ecology in Tanzania.  Students who successfully complete this program will receive two units of credit toward the major.  One unit will count as a field course or lower-level elective, and the second will count as an upper-level elective.

Procedures for ACM programs

1)       Consult with your advisor about suitability of program for your goals.

2)       Consult with CC advisor of the program about suitability of the program for you and about application procedure, etc.

3)       Upon return, get confirmation of that your field project topic was biological and merits credit toward the Biology major. 

  3. Non-ACM field programs The college has limited CC credit to a select list of off campus programs (see the Registrar or International Programs Office for a current list of CC-Approved Programs).  Effective beginning in the summer of 2007, changes have been made in the credit the Biology Department awards for most CC-accepted programs (exceptions listed below), to 2 lower level electives [OR 1 field and 1 lower level elective], rather than the 1 lower level and 1 upper level elective credit that had been the previous practice.  Students with strong preparation who feel they have completed a substantive project in a CC-approved program worthy of upper level credit may petition the department after they return; if granted, they would then receive 1 upper and 1 lower level credit, to a maximum of 2 elective units towards the major (as it currently stands).  The petition would include demonstration of coursework preparation (e.g. BY208 and 220) and submission of a completed project to a relevant faculty member who supports the petition (project must have adequate design, hypothesis, and data, and be done solo rather than in a group).

 Some exceptions to the new rule apply.  These are the programs for which upper level elective credit will continue to be awarded, and no petition is required:

• ·  ACM Costa Rica (3 Biology credits, up to 2 credits at the upper level with adequate preparation-no change).  See the CC ACM Costa Rica advisor.

• ·  Boston University Tropical Ecology Participants in the program can receive 1 upper and 1 lower level elective in Biology as per the current practice.  Prereqs are: 1 year of intro Bio and a course in Ecology; 1 yr college Spanish.

• ·  Woods Hole Sea Semester Oceans and Climate (for advanced students)  This program is advertised as targeting more advanced science students than the regular program. Prerequisites: A minimum of 3 lab science courses, including 1 at the 300-level or higher, or consent of instructor.  Three CC units of credit toward the bio major will be given as follows: 1) one unit of geology that can be paired with GY140 to satisfy the geology option for the biology major; 2) one unit of lower level elective biology credit; 3) an upper level biology elective (equivalent to independent study), if the student project is on a biological topic.

Note: Woods Hole Regular Sea Semester Program receives 1 lower level Biology elective and 1 geology unit (can be paired with GY140 to satisfy the Geology option for the major) OR 2 lower level biology electives OR 1 lower level  elective and 1 field course unit in Biology. (No change from previous Biology Department policy)

• ·  CC/Woods Hole Environmental Science Semester (at Woods Hole) Prerequisites are 1 year biology, 1 year chemistry, 1 year calculus (1 year typically equals 2 blocks).   This program will receive 1 lower level Biology elective and 2 upper level Biology electives for a total of 3 Biology units.

  Procedures for non-ACM field programs

1)       Consult with your advisor about suitability of the course(s) for you.

2)