Biology

Chairperson: Peter G. Pauw
Professors: M. Bertagnolli, W. Ettinger, H. Lefcort, P. Pauw, R. Prusch, N. Staub
Associate Professors: K. Anders, J. Beckstead,
Assistant Professor:  D. Boose, J. Haydock
Assistant Professors: G. Chang, S. Coleman, M. Poxleitner, B. Swanson

The Biology Department offers a selection of courses that helps students to understand the unity, diversity and complexity of life at the molecular, cellular, organismal, and ecological levels using evolutionary principles as the unifying theme. Students in the biology program learn concepts in subdisciplines of biology and acquire scientific problem solving skills through lectures, discussions, laboratory exercises, and research. The program is aimed at preparing students for a broad range of biology-oriented careers, such as those in medicine, biotechnology, environmental science, research, and teaching. For more information on the Biology Department, please see the departmental website at http://gonzology.gonzaga.edu/.

The Bachelor of Science degree is designed for students preparing for a career in biology, including continued training in graduate programs in a broad range of subdisciplines of biology, as well as medical and dental school. Students interested in careers in biological research should consider the Research Option Program. Students interested in biochemistry should consider a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and a minor in chemistry, which provides the equivalent of the biochemistry degree recommended by the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. The Bachelor of Arts degree, in coordination with the teacher certification program in the School of Education, prepares students to teach biology at the secondary level. The Bachelor of Arts degree may be suitable for certain graduate programs that do not require physics or more than two semesters of chemistry. A Bachelor of Arts degree allows students to take more elective courses in other departments at the university, thus gaining a broader liberal arts education. A minor in biology is offered for students interested in careers that integrate biological principals with other fields, including engineering and scientific journalism.

The Biology department also participates in the inter-disciplinary environmental studies concentration, which is open to all majors in the College of Arts and Sciences. Biology faculty teach the science portion of the environmental studies curriculum, which includes either BIOL 123 (Human Ecology), BIOL 102 (Ecology-for Biology majors) or approved sections of BIOL 199 (Core Topics), followed by ENVS 200 – Case Studies in Environmental Science. Members of the Biology Department also advise environmental studies students, and collaborate in teaching the concentration’s capstone course.

The biology curriculum is designed to provide students with a broad background in biology. During the first two years, students receive a foundation in biological diversity (BIOL 101), ecology (BIOL 102), cell biology (BIOL 201) and genetics and evolution (BIOL 202). At the same time, students learn the principles of chemistry that are essential for understanding the structure and function of biological molecules and how these molecules interact in living systems. Students are encouraged to choose, in consultation with their advisor, a set of upper division courses. Students must complete an Advanced Topics course (BIOL 399), preferably in their junior year. Students are required to complete the Senior Colloquium (BIOL 499) in their senior year, which provides practice in the application of students’ mastery of biological knowledge through discussion of a broad range of literature.

Some courses are specifically designed to fulfill requirements for non-science majors. These include courses that fulfill the laboratory science requirement for the core curriculum of the College of Arts and Sciences: Human Ecology (BIOL 123 and BIOL 123L), Field Botany (BIOL 140 and BIOL 140L), and Core Topics (BIOL 199 and BIOL 199L); and those that fulfill the mathematics or natural science requirement of the core curriculum of the College of Arts and Sciences: Biological Concepts (BIOL 100) Science and Religion (BIOL 134), and Biology of Medicine (BIOL 165).

* The prerequisite for all upper division Biology classes is a cumulative GPA≥2.00 in BIOL 101, BIOL 102, BIOL 201, BIOL 202, and CHEM 101 (or CHEM 105) and CHEM 230, and the associated labs. In regards to upper division biology electives, a minimum of 10 credits (BS), 6 credits (BA), or 4 credits (Minor) must be biology classes taken from Gonzaga faculty; students participating in School of Field Studies programs or other study abroad programs should make note. All classes should be chosen in consultation with a faculty advisor.

B.S. or B.A. in Biology with Research Option

The Research Option is a new, challenging track within the biology major. Its goals are to make research experiences available to more students, to show students the value of science education outreach through experiential learning, and to provide our students with a more solid foundation in biological mathematics and science communication. It consists of a number of courses and experiences designed to prepare students to pursue research in some venue (graduate school, industry, government, medical school, or science education) after graduation. Students can enter the program at anytime, although we anticipate most students will enter the program as sophomores and juniors.

To complete the Research Option, the following requirements are added to the requirements for the B.S. or B.A. degree in biology:

• Participate in a significant research experience. This means working on an independent research project for the equivalent of four credits. We encourage students to do research for 7-8 months if possible (e.g., summer followed by fall semester). With prior permission, this requirement can be fulfilled at a different institution. The credits themselves are not necessary (for example, a student may be paid from a faculty’s grant or by Gonzaga Summer Research Program (GSRP) in the summer).
• Present research findings at a scientific meeting. Attend research seminars (BIOL 484; 1 credit) and attend at least three department seminars per year in addition to those in BIOL 484.
• Take a college calculus course (Math 148: Survey of Calculus or MATH 157: Calculus and Analytic Geometry I). Also, complete a statistics course or biological mathematics course.
• As part of the requirement for BIOL 499, biology’s capstone course, students in the Research Option program will write up their research results. This course is already required of all biology majors but will have a variety of writing options for different students.
• Participate in science education outreach (Science in Action! or GIEOP) for 15 hours one semester.