2023-2024 Catalog

Nov 23, 2024

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2023-2024 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Biology Major

Major Requirements

The major in biology requires a minimum of 14 courses, distributed as follows:

1. Introductory Biology and Chemistry (3 or 4 courses)

Students must complete all courses in any of these options:

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Option 4

2. Mathematics (1 course)

MATH030 CM - Calculus I

3. STEM Breadth (3 courses)

Three STEM Breadth courses, selected from:

Chemistry

Up to two courses selected from:

Computer Science

Up to one course selected from:

Environmental Science

Up to one upper-division environmental science course offered by Keck Science, selected from:

History, Philosophy, or Ethics of Science

Up to one course selected from:

Mathematics

Up to one math course for which MATH 030 CM is a prerequisite.

Physics

Up to two courses selected from:

4. Electives (6 courses)

Six full-unit biology or neuroscience elective courses numbered 100 and above, including at least 3 courses with labs.

5. Senior Thesis (1 or 2 courses)

Biology majors must complete a 1- or 2-semester thesis in biology.

Notes:

STEM breadth courses may not be double-counted elsewhere in the major. Courses should be selected in consultation with a Keck Science advisor.
Students wishing to continue their education in biology-related graduate or professional school programs may need to supplement this basic curriculum with additional coursework in science. Department faculty should be consulted for advice at the earliest possible opportunity.

Senior Thesis in Science

The senior thesis is a general education requirement and the capstone experience of a student’s undergraduate education. Students must complete a senior thesis in at least one of their majors under supervision of a faculty reader who teaches within that major, unless granted a special exception.

Science majors have the following senior thesis options. Refer to the major requirements above for major-specific senior thesis requirements.

2-Semester Thesis with Lab (2 courses, 2 credits)

Students interested in a 2-semester thesis with lab take one of the following pairs of courses in the 1^st and 2^nd semester of the senior year:

2-Semester Thesis with Summer Research (2 courses, 1 credit)

Students interested in completing a 2-semester thesis by conducting a substantial research project during the summer after their junior year should register for one of the following pairs of courses in the 1^st semester of the senior year. There is no credit or lab fee for 189L.

1-Semester Experimental Thesis with Lab (1 course, 1 credit)

Students interested in a 1-semester experimental thesis with lab take one of the following in the 1^st or 2^nd semester of the senior year:

1-Semester Library Thesis without Lab (1 course, 1 credit)

Students interested in a 1-semester library thesis without lab complete an extensive library research thesis in the 1^st or 2^nd semester of the senior year, chosen from:

Note:

The Senior Thesis Research Project course (188L) or the Summer Research Project course (189L) may not be counted as elective courses in the major.

Special Options for Majors

Dual Majors

The dual major in biology requires a minimum of 12 courses. Dual majors in biology may waive 2 elective course requirements from the full major, including 1 lab elective.

Honors in Biology

To be eligible for departmental honors in a science major, students must:

Achieve a minimum GPA of 3.5 in courses in the major;
Complete a 1- or 2-semester thesis project in which the student has demonstrated excellence by making a significant contribution to the progress of the research, by producing a thesis document judged to be of honors quality by the department, by presenting the work in a cogent fashion, and by engaging in the departmental seminar program.

Study Abroad for Science Majors

The Keck Science Department supports study abroad for science majors, however majors need to be aware that spending a semester off-campus requires careful advanced planning and program selection. Science majors interested in study abroad should discuss their interest with their major advisors as soon as possible.

General Education Requirements for Science Majors

General Education Requirement in Science

Every CMC student must complete one (1) laboratory science course offered by the Keck Science Department or elsewhere within the Claremont Consortium. This requirement must by satisfied by the end of the 2^nd year at CMC.

General Education Requirements in the Social Sciences and the Humanities

For students with science majors, general education requirements in the social sciences and humanities must be met by courses outside of a student’s major field(s). Students in most science majors, including this major, must take courses in 3 of the 4 fields of the social sciences and in 2 of the 4 fields of the humanities for a total of 5 courses.

Science majors with a dual or double major in either the humanities or the social sciences will be required to take an additional general education course in those categories.

Learning Goals and Student Learning Outcomes of the Biology Program

Learning Goals of the Biology Program

The biology discipline of the Keck Science Department aims to provide students with skills and knowledge to prepare them as citizens to effectively engage and evaluate biological science issues and innovations in the wider world, and to prepare them as leaders in research, biotechnology, and health-related career fields.

Student Learning Outcomes of the Biology Program

In addition to the Keck Science overall learning outcomes, the Biology major also has the following outcomes.

We see the following specific student learning goals as critical to achieving the learning goals above.

Understanding foundational scientific principles and findings in a student’s major field;
Develop critical thinking and analytical skills by developing specific hypotheses and designing controlled experiments to test these hypotheses.
Read, understand and critique original research articles.