Biology: Environmental Biosciences Concentration, Bachelor of Science
Expected Student Outcomes
- Students will develop a broad-based knowledge of concepts and terminology in molecular, cellular, organismal, and ecological biology.
- Students will develop applied scientific skills though field and laboratory experience and data analysis.
- Students will develop skills in reading and interpreting the scientific literature and in presenting a synthesis of it accurately in oral and written form.
- Students will demonstrate critical thinking and problem solving skills using experimental design and the scientific method.
Outcomes Assessment Activities
Assessment of students’ improvement in intellectual skills, knowledge and capacities from entrance to graduation will be accomplished through the use of several tools. Exams and course assignments will be used as one measure of the student’s proficiency in writing skills, acquisition of knowledge, communication, problem solving and laboratory skills. All majors will take a Senior Seminar that requires scientific literature interpretation along with oral and written presentations evaluated by peers and department faculty. Seniors will also take the Biology Major Field Test, which measures Colorado State University Pueblo students’ content knowledge and analytical skills against national norms.
Specific Program Requirements
- Students majoring in biology must receive a grade of C or better (2.000) in all core biology courses.
- Students graduating with a BS in biology must have at least a cumulative GPA of 2.000 in the major area. A cumulative GPA of 2.600 in the major area is required for admission to the teacher education program.
- Transfer students are required to earn a minimum of 15 semester credit hours in approved Biology upper division courses from CSU-Pueblo, including BIOL 493 Seminar (1 c.h.), for graduation with a BS degree in Biology.
- A maximum of 6 semester credit hours of approved upper division CHEM courses may be applied towards approved upper division biology electives.
- A maximum of 6 semester credit hours of approved upper division WANR courses may be applied towards approved upper division biology electives.
- Graduates are encouraged to complete a minor outside the biology department.
Specific Core Requirements
Course | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
BIOL 171 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
BIOL 181 & 181L | College Biology I/Organismal Bio (GT-SC2) and College Biology I/Organismal Bio Lab (GT-SC1) | 4 |
BIOL 182 & 182L | College Biology II/Cellular Biology (GT-SC2) and College Biology II/Cellular Bio Lab (GT-SC1) | 4 |
BIOL 312 & 312L | Cell Biology and Cell Biology Laboratory | 4 |
BIOL 350 | Mendelian and Population Genetics | 2 |
BIOL 351 | Molecular Biology & Genetics | 3 |
BIOL 352 | Evolutionary Biology and Ecology | 3 |
BIOL 493 | Seminar | 1 |
Select one of the following two organismal courses: | 4 | |
Botany (GT-SC2) and Botany Laboratory (GT-SC1) | 4 | |
Zoology and Zoology Laboratory | 4 | |
Select one of the following four microbiology or physiology courses: | 4 | |
Microbiology and Microbiology Laboratory | 4 | |
Advanced Cellular Biology and Advanced Cellular Biology Lab | 4 | |
Plant Physiology and Plant Physiology Lab | 4 | |
Vertebrate Physiology and Vertebrate Physiology Lab | 4 | |
Total Credits | 30 |
Specific Concentration Requirements
This concentration includes Pre-Ecology and Pre-Forestry/wildlife.
Course | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Required Biology Core Courses | ||
Biology Core Courses with both of the following: | 34 | |
Botany (GT-SC2) and Botany Laboratory (GT-SC1) | 4 | |
Zoology and Zoology Laboratory | 4 | |
Adviser Approved Upper Division Biology Electives | ||
Select at least two Ecology/Environmental courses from the following: | 7-8 | |
Limnology and Limnology Lab | 4 | |
Ecology and Ecology Field Studies | 4 | |
Behavioral Ecology | 3 | |
Applied Geospatial Technology (GIS/GPS) | 3 | |
Environmental Policy & Management | 3 | |
Environmental Toxicology | 3 | |
Field Botany | 3 | |
Select at least one Taxonomy course from the following: | 3-4 | |
Ichthyology and Ichthyology Laboratory | 3 | |
Entomology and Entomology Lab | 3 | |
Herpetology and Herpetology Lab | 3 | |
Mammalogy and Mammalogy Lab | 3 | |
Ornithology and Ornithology Lab | 3 | |
Plant Taxonomy and Plant Taxonomy Lab | 4 | |
Required Support Courses | ||
CHEM 121 & 121L | General Chemistry I (GT-SC2) and General Chemistry Lab I (GT-SC1) | 5 |
CHEM 122 & 122L | General Chemistry II (GT-SC2) and General Chemistry Lab II (GT-SC1) | 5 |
CHEM 301 & 301L | Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Lab I | 5 |
CHEM 302 & 302L | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Lab II | 5 |
MATH 156 | Introduction to Statistics (GT-MA1) | 3 |
MATH 221 | Applied Calc: An Intuitive Approach (GT-MA1) | 4 |
Select one of the following sequences: | 8-10 | |
Sequence A: | ||
Principles of Physics I (GT-SC2) and Principles of Physics Lab I (GT-SC1) | 4 | |
Principles Of Physics II (GT-SC2) and Principles Of Physics II Lab (GT-SC1) | 4 | |
Sequence B: | ||
General Physics I and General Physics I Lab (GT-SC1) | 5 | |
General Physics II and General Physics II Lab (GT-SC1) | 5 | |
CID 103 | Speaking & Listening | 3 |
Institutional and General Education | ||
Select 21 credits | 21 | |
General Electives | ||
Select 14-16 credits | 14-16 | |
Total Credits | 117-123 |