Biology

Faculty

Michael A. Hardisky, Ph.D., Chair
Paul R. Beining, S.J., Ph.L.
Timothy Joseph Cadigan, S.J., Ph.D.
Michael D. Carey, Ph.D.
John R. Conway, Ph.D.
Kathleen G. Dwyer, Ph.D.
George R. Gomez, Ph.D.
Gary G. Kwiecinski, Ph.D.
Christine E. McDermott, Ph.D.
Michael A. Sulzinski, Ph.D.
Terrence E. Sweeney, Ph.D.
Daniel S. Townsend, Ph.D.
Janice Voltzow, Ph.D.
Robert F. Waldeck, Ph.D.

Overview

Courses in the Department of Biology are designed to achieve the following objectives: (1) To present the fundamental scientific facts and concepts which are needed for an understanding of the living world and people’s relation to it; (2) To prepare students for advanced study or work in other biological fields.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Biology program supplies preprofessional preparation meeting all requirements and recommendations of professional schools (medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, podiatry).

While the department’s record in the preparation of physicians is an impressive one as indicated in the Pre-Medical section, its record as one of the baccalaureate sources of Ph.D.s in the biological sciences is equally prestigious. In this respect, a 1988 study by the Office of Institutional Research at Franklin and Marshall College shows that over the previous 66 years, The University of Scranton ranked 48th out of 877 four-year private, primarily undergraduate, institutions.

The biology curriculum appears below. In addition to the 9-credit freshman course in General Biology, biology majors will select 33 credits of Biology electives with at least one course in each of the following five course groups (special exemption may be made by permission of the chairperson).

Biology majors may use up to 6 credits in Chemistry (CHEM 350, 351, 360, 450, 451) as Biology electives.

See the Pre-Medical Program section for the premedical advisor's elective recommendations for pre-professional students.

Minor in Biology

The student must complete Biology 141-142, including the laboratory, and 15 additional credits of courses suitable for the Biology major. Biology electives must be selected from at least three of the five established course groups, and must include at least 3 credits of advanced laboratory work. It is strongly suggested that a potential Biology minor seek the advice of the department's chairperson concerning the selection of electives suitable to his/her personal goals.

Biology Curriculum
Dept. and No.				Descriptive Title of Course	Credits
				FIRST YEAR	FALL	SPRING
MAJOR (GE NSCI)		BIOL 141 -142		General Biology	4.5	4.5
COGNATE		CHEM 112-113		General Analytical Chemistry I-II	4.5	4.5
GE WRTG - SPCH		WRTG 107 - COMM 100		Compositon - Public Speaking	3	3
GE C/IL		C/IL 102		Computing and Information Literacy		3
GE PHIL		PHIL 120		Introduction to Philosophy	3
GE HUMN		HUMN ELECT		Humanities Elective		3
GE FSEM		INTD 100		Freshman Seminar	1
					16	18
				SECOND YEAR
MAJOR		BIOL		Biology Electives	4.5	4
COGNATE		CHEM 232 - 233		Organic Chemistry I -II	4.5	4.5
GE QUAN-COGNATE		MATH 103-114 1		Pre-Calculus Math. - Analysis I	4	4
GE S/BH		S/BH ELECT		Social/Behavioral Elective		3
GE PHIL-T/RS		PHIL 210-T/RS 121		Ethics-Theology I	3	3
GE PHED		PHED ELECT		Physical Education		1
					17	18.5
				THIRD YEAR
MAJOR		BIOL		Biology Electives	4.5	5
COGNATE		PHYS 120-121		General Physics I-II	4	4
GE S/BH		S/BH ELECT		Social/Behavioral Elective	3
GE HUMN		HUMN ELECT		Humanities Electives	3	3
GE T/RS		T/RS 122		Theology II	3
GE ELECT		ELECT		Free Elective		3
GE PHED		PHED ELECT		Physical Education		1
					17.5	16
				FOURTH YEAR
MAJOR		BIOL		Biology Electives	7.5	7.5
GE PHIL or T/RS		PHIL or T/RS		Philosophy or T/RS Elective		3
GE HUMN		HUMN ELECT		Humanities Elective	3
GE ELECT		ELECT		Free Elective	6	3
GE PHED		PHED ELECT		Physical Education		1
					16.5	14.5
					Total: 134 Credits
1 MATH 103 (taken before MATH 114) if indicated by Math Placement Test. Otherwise, credits may be taken in math, biology, chemistry or physics.