Professors: M. Bertagnolli, W. Ettinger, H. Lefcort, P. Pauw, R. Prusch, N. Staub
Associate Professors: K. Anders, J. Beckstead, D. Boose, J. Haydock, B. Swanson
Assistant Professors: G. Chang, S. Coleman, M. Poxleitner
The Biology Department offers a selection of courses and experiences that help students 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, dental, and veterinary school. Students interested in careers in biological research should consider the Research Option Concentration: see below. Students interested in biochemistry and molecular biology may consider several options. For a course of study with a more biological emphasis, students may consider a Bachelor of Science in biology and a minor in chemistry. For a more biochemical emphasis, students may consider the Biochemistry degree offered in the department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. 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 political science, engineering, business and scientific journalism.
Biology majors from Gonzaga University are well prepared for a variety of careers or post-graduate education. Some go on to medical or dental school-recently our graduates have been accepted to Colorado State University, Creighton University, Georgetown University, Marquette University, Oregon Health & Science University, Tulane University, University of Colorado at Denver, University of Colorado, University of Hawaii, University of Washington and Washington State University, to name a few. Many of our graduates go on to graduate school-students have been accepted into programs at the University of California at Berkeley, Yale University, University of California at San Francisco, University of California at Irvine, Oregon State University, University of New Mexico, and University of Wisconsin-Madison, to name a few. Many of our students choose to participate in the Peace Corps or the Jesuit Volunteer Corps prior to pursing post-graduate education. Others work in biotech or nature conservation fields after graduation, or earn their teaching credentials and work to make the world a more scientifically literate place.
The Biology Department also participates in the inter-disciplinary major and minor in environmental studies, which is open to all students in the College of Arts and Sciences. Biology faculty teach the science portion of the environmental studies curriculum, which includes either Human Ecology (BIOL 123), Ecology-for Biology majors (BIOL 102), Field Botany (BIOL 140, ENVS 110), Field Studies in Biodiversity (BIOL 159, ENVS 111), or approved sections of Core Topics (BIOL 199), followed by Case Studies in Environmental Science (ENVS 200). Members of the Biology Department also advise environmental studies students, and collaborate in teaching the concentration's capstone course, Symposium in Environmental Studies (ENVS 499).
The biology curriculum is designed to provide students with a broad background in biology. During the first two years, all students receive a foundation the Diversity of Life (BIOL 101), Ecology (BIOL 102), Cell Biology (BIOL 201) and Genetics & Evolution (BIOL 202). At the same time, students learn the principles of chemistry, in General Chemistry (CHEM 101) and Organic Chemistry I (CHEM 230), that are essential for understanding the structure and function of biological molecules and how these molecules interact in living systems. Students earning the B.S. Major in Biology are also required to take a year of Physics, and Organic Chemistry II (CHEM 331) and Intro. to Bioanalytical Chemistry (CHEM 240). 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), Field Studies in Biodiversity (BIOL 159, ENVS 111), 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).
B.S. Major in Biology: 62 Credits | |
| Lower Division | |
| BIOL 101, BIOL 101L Diversity of Life | 4 credits |
| BIOL 102, BIOL 102L Introduction to Ecology | 4 credits |
| BIOL 201, BIOL 201L Cellular Biology | 4 credits |
| BIOL 202, BIOL 202L Genetics and Evolution | 4 credits |
| PHYS 101, PHYS 101L (or PHYS 103, PHYS 103L) | 4 credits |
| PHYS 102, PHYS 102L (or PHYS 204, PHYS 204L) | 4 credits |
| CHEM 101, CHEM 101L General Chemistry | 4 credits |
| CHEM 230, CHEM 230L Organic Chemistry I | 5 credits |
| CHEM 240, CHEM 240L Intro. to Bioanalytical Chemistry | 4 credits |
| Upper Division* | |
| CHEM 331, CHEM 331L Organic Chemistry II | 4 credits |
| BIOL 399 Advanced Topics | 2 credits |
| BIOL Upper Division Electives | 18 credits |
| BIOL 499 Senior Colloquium | 1 credit |
B.A. Major in Biology: 40 credits | |
| Lower Division | |
| BIOL 101, BIOL 101L Diversity of Life | 4 credits |
| BIOL 102, BIOL 102L Introduction to Ecology | 4 credits |
| BIOL 201, BIOL 201L Cellular Biology | 4 credits |
| BIOL 202, BIOL 202L Genetics and Evolution | 4 credits |
| CHEM 101, CHEM 101L General Chemistry | 4 credits |
| CHEM 230, CHEM 230L Organic Chemistry I | 5 credits |
| Upper Division* | |
| BIOL 399 Advanced. Topics | 2 credits |
| BIOL Upper Division Electives | 12 credits |
| BIOL 499 Senior Colloquium | 1 credit |
Minor in Biology: 33 credits | |
| Lower Division | |
| BIOL 101, BIOL 101L Diversity of Life | 4 credits |
| BIOL 102, BIOL 102L Introduction to Ecology | 4 credits |
| BIOL 201, BIOL 201L Cellular Biology | 4 credits |
| BIOL 202, BIOL 202L Genetics and Evolution | 4 credits |
| CHEM 101, CHEM 101L General Chemistry | 4 credits |
| CHEM 230, CHEM 230L Organic Chemistry I | 5 credits |
| Upper Division* | |
| BIOL Upper Division Electives | 8 credits |
* The prerequisite for all upper division Biology classes is a cumulative GPA ≥ 2.20 in BIOL 101, BIOL 102, BIOL 201, BIOL 202, CHEM 101 and CHEM 230, and the associated labs, or permission of the Chairperson of Biology. Note: courses taken at other institutions will not be used to calculate the cumulative GPA ≥ 2.20. For 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 for 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 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 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. We encourage students to do research for 7-8 months if possible (e.g., summer followed by fall semester). Students may receive academic credit for their work, may be paid from a faculty's grant, or by Gonzaga Summer Research Program (GSRP) in the summer). With prior permission, this requirement can be fulfilled at a different institution.
- 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 (Survey of Calculus (MATH 148) or Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (MATH 157)). 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.