Degree: B.S.

Coordinator: Alan D. Antoine (antoine@aesop.rutgers.edu)

The biological sciences curriculum at Cook College is offered in cooperation with the Division of Life Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS). The curriculum is designed to be in conformance with the current mission of Cook College while fulfilling the requirements for the FAS major, described in detail in the Life Sciences section of this catalog. Completion of the program prepares students for graduate study; for careers in government, industry, or secondary-school teaching; and also satisfies the entrance requirements for medical and dental schools.

Students interested in further concentrations within the biological sciences (animal science, biochemistry, biotechnology, cell biology, ecology and evolution, entomology, environmental biology, genetics, marine biology, microbiology, neurobiology, nutrition, physiology, plant biology, or plant pathology) should contact the curriculum coordinator for the appropriate adviser assignment.

Entry Requirements for the Major

To declare a major in biological sciences, students must have a minimum grade-point average of 2.0 and must have completed 01:119:101-102 General Biology (4,4) or equivalent courses, including laboratory, with grades of C or higher in both courses, or have the permission of the Director of Undergraduate Instruction, Division of Life Sciences.

Degree Requirements for the Major

To graduate with a degree in biological sciences, students must achieve a cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 in all biological sciences courses.

Please see the Programs of Study Summary on page 272 for information regarding changes in degree requirements.

I. Interdisciplinary/Ethical Analysis (5 credits)

   11:015:101  Perspectives on Agriculture and the Environment (2)

   11:015:400  Junior/Senior Colloquium (3) (11:015: 405Ethics in Science (3) satisfies both this requirement and the professional requirement below.)

II. Introductory Life and Physical Sciences

Specific courses to meet the introductory life and physical sciences requirements are listed under VIII A, required courses for competence in the biological sciences.

III. The Arts (6 credits)

See suggested courses in the Degree Requirements chapter.

IV. Human Diversity (6 credits)

See suggested courses in the Degree Requirements chapter.

V. Economic and Political Systems (6 credits)

See suggested courses in the Degree Requirements chapter.

VI. Oral and Written Communication (6 credits)

See suggested courses in the Degree Requirements chapter.

VII. Experience-Based Education (0-3 credits)

This requirement may be fulfilled by an independent study, a research project, student teaching credits, or a cooperative education placement of at least 3 credits. Student-organized education placements presented to meet this requirement must be approved in advance by the curriculum coordinator.

VIII. Competence in the Biological Sciences (76-77 credits)

A. REQUIRED COURSES (52-53)

Quantitative Methods (7-8)

   01:640:135  Calculus I (4) and 01:640:138 Calculus II for the Biological Sciences (4); or equivalent. Note: 01:960:379 Basic Probability and Statistics (3) or 01:960:401 Basic Statistics for Research (3) may be substituted for the second term of calculus.

Computer Competence (3)

   01:198:110  Introduction to Computers and Their Application (3) or 01:146:302 Computers in Biology (3) or equivalent

Professional Ethics (3)

One course in bioethics, such as:

  11:015:405  Ethics in Science (3)

  01:119:150  Biology, Society, and Biomedical Issues (3)

  01:119:152  Biomedical Issues of AIDS (3)

  01:119:154  Genetics, Law, and Social Policy (3)

  01:119:160  Biology, Society, and Ecological Issues (3)

  01:730:249  Medical Ethics (3)

  01:730:250  Environmental Ethics (3)

Other Required Courses (39)

  01:119:101-102  General Biology (4,4)

  01:160:161-162  General Chemistry (4,4)

  01:160:171  Introduction to Experimentation (1)

  01:160:307-308  Organic Chemistry (4,4) or 01:160: 315-316 Organic Chemistry (4,4)

  01:160:311  Organic Chemistry Laboratory (2) or equivalent

  01:447:380  Genetics (4) or 11:776:305 Plant Genetics (4)

  01:750:193-194  Physics for the Sciences (4,4) or equivalent

B. ELECTIVES (24)

The electives courses must include at least one approved course of 3 credits from each of the following subject areas:

Cell Biology and Neuroscience 146

Genetics and Microbiology 447

Molecular Biology and Biochemistry 694 (11:115:301 Introductory Biochemistry (3) or 11:115:403 or 404 General Biochemistry (4,4) may be substituted)

Natural Resource Management 704

A list of approved courses in these subject areas is published by the Office of Undergraduate Instruction, Division of Life Sciences. Approved courses generally require 01:119:101-102 as a prerequisite; students are urged to consult the list of approved courses prior to registration. Cooperative education and nonbiological sciences research and independent study credits are not eligible as elective credits, without prior approval from the Office of Undergraduate Instruction.

Electives must include a minimum of three laboratory courses of at least 1 credit. Only one of these laboratory courses may be satisfied by Independent Study or Research in Biology credits. General Biology and library research do not satisfy this requirement.

A minimum of six courses (18 credits) must be at the 300 or 400 level, including at least three laboratory courses. The latter may be separate laboratory courses, for example, 01:447:382 Genetics Laboratory (1); courses that include a laboratory component, for example, 01:447:390 General Microbiology (4). A maximum of 6 credits of independent research may be included in the 24 elective credits, but satisfies only one of the laboratory course requirements.

Courses at the 100 level or courses taken on a P/NC basis may not be used to satisfy elective requirements.

Students should refer to the Life Sciences section of this catalog for additional information concerning limits on biology credits transferred from other institutions, requirements and procedures for Independent Study or Research in Biology, and for information about a minor program in biological sciences.

IX. Unspecified Electives (21-25 credits)