Click here for Master Course List PDF:
Organized by semester, includes pre-requisites
Below you will find a complete list of courses offered by the Department of Biological Sciences and past syllabi (if available).
Consult the pages on individual majors for guidance on which courses are appropriate for each major.
Students must earn a grade of C or higher in the prerequisite courses for any upper-level BIOSC courses and in any BIOSC courses required for a major.
Additional Course Information
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Course descriptions can be found here
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First Year course information can be found here
Lab Requirement Notes
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All sections of BIOSC 0057 & 0058 fulfill the BIOSC 0050 requirement.
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All sections of BIOSC 0067 & 0068 fulfill the BIOSC 0060 requirement.
Abbreviations
- Term Codes
- F = Fall
- Sp = Spring
- Sm = Summer
- Sm-pym = offered at the Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology
- -e = offered on even-numbered years
- Ex: Sp-e = runs in even-numbered spring semesters
- -o = offered on odd-numbered years
- Ex: F-o = runs in odd-numbered fall semesters
- Var = offered on a variable basis (not every year)
- HL = Higher Level
- IP = Instructor's permission
- FHC = Fredrick Honors College
- Writing Add On = writing option for certain majors; consult pages on individual majors for additional information
Sample Syllabi
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Exact syllabus may vary from semester to semester and year to year
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See Master Course List, above, for course offering information. Some courses may not be running or may be running on different schedules than those listed below.
| Course | Description | Credits | Syllabi | Term(s) | Pre- or Co-(C)-requisites |
| 0041 | Anatomy for the Health Professions | 3 |  |
F,Sm | BIOSC 0042c |
| 0042 | Anatomy for the Health Professions Lab | 1 | |
F,Sm | BIOSC 0041c |
| 0050 | Foundations of Biology Lab 1 | 1 | |
Last offered Sm 2019. See 0057 instead. | BIOSC 0150 |
| 0057 | Foundations of Biology Research Lab 1 | 1 | |
F, Sp, Sm | BIOSC 0150 |
| 0058 | Foundations of Biology SEA-PHAGES Lab 1 |
1 |
|
F | None |
| 0060 | Foundations of Biology Lab 2 | 1 | Last offered Sm 2017. See 0067 instead. | BIOSC 0050, BIOSC 0160 | |
| 0067 | Foundations of Biology Research Lab 2 - DNA Regulation | 1 | |
Var | BIOSC 005X, BIOSC 0160 |
| 0067 | Foundations of Biology Research Lab 2 - Neural Defects | 1 | |
Var | BIOSC 005X, BIOSC 0160 |
| 0067 | Foundations of Biology Research Lab 2 - Water Channels | 1 | |
Var | BIOSC 005X, BIOSC 0160 |
| 0067 | Foundations of Biology Research Lab 2 - Viral Genomes | 1 | |
Var | BIOSC 005X, BIOSC 0160 |
| 0068 | Foundations of Biology SEA-PHAGES Lab 2 | 1 | |
Sp | BIOSC 0058 |
| 0100 | Preparation for Biology | 3 | |
F | None |
| 0150 | Foundations of Biology 1 | 3 | |
F,Sp,Sm | None |
| 0155 | Honors Foundations of Biology 1 (FHC) | 3 | |
F | Min. 3.25 CUM GPA, min. AP Bio score of 4 or 5 |
| 0160 | Foundations of Biology 2 | 3 | |
F,Sp,Sm | BIOSC 0150 |
| 0165 | Honors Foundations of Biology 2 (FHC) | 3 | |
Sp | Min. 3.25 CUM GPA, BIOSC 0715 or AP Bio score of 5 |
| 0350 | Genetics | 3 | |
F,Sp,Sm | BIOSC 0160, CHEM 0120 |
| 0351 | Genetics Lab | 1 | |
Sp | BIOSC 006X, 0350c |
| 0352 | Intro to Molecular Genetics Lab | 1 | |
Sp | BIOSC 006X, 0350 |
| 0370 | Ecology | 4 | |
F,Sp,Sm-pym | BIOSC 0160 |
| 0390 | Ecology Lab (0391 Writing add on) | 1 | |
F,Sm-pym no Writing in Summer |
BIOSC 006X, 0370c |
| 0805 | The Human Body (Non-Majors) | 3 | |
F | None |
| 0815 | Genes and Diseases (Non-Majors) | 3 | |
Sp | None |
| 0835 | Our Changing World (Non-Majors) | 3 | |
F | None |
| 1000 | Biochemistry* | 3 | |
F,Sp,Sm | BIOSC 0160, CHEM 0310 |
| *Course repeat warning: Students who need biochemistry should either take BIOSC 1000 or 1810+1820. BIOSC 1000 and 1810 are considered course repeats, and you cannot take both for credit. BIOSC 1000 is a one-semester biochemistry course, whereas BIOSC 1810+1820 is a two-semester biochemistry sequence that goes into more depth. If you are a Biochemistry major or old Molecular Biology major, you must take BIOSC 1810+1820. If you are a Biological Sciences, Computational Biology, Microbiology, or revised Molecular Biology major, typically you will take BIOSC 1000. However, if you elect to take BIOSC 1810+1820 instead of BIOSC 1000, then BIOSC 1820 can count as an elective for your major. | |||||
| 1005 | Introduction to Biochemistry Lab | 1 | |
Sp | BIOSC 006X, 1000c |
| 1010 | Communicating in the Biological Sciences (Writing) | 2 | |
F,Sp, Sm | BIOSC 0350 or 0370 or 1000 or 1810 or 1130, ENGCMP 0200, Jr or Sr Level |
| 1050 | Cell and Molecular Biology of Disease* | 3 | |
Sp | BIOSC 0160, CHEM 0120 |
| *BIOSC 1050 is intended to provide a basic background in Cell Biology and Molecular Biology for Biological Sciences majors. If you want or need in depth background, we recommend that you take BIOSC 1500 Cell Biology and/or BIOSC 1940 Molecular Biology instead. | |||||
| 1070 | Human Physiology (FHC) | 4 | |
Sp | BIOSC 0160, CHEM 0120, NROSCI 1000 |
| 1120 | Biostatistics (HL) | 3 | |
F | BIOSC 0160, BIOSC 0350 or 0370 or 1000 or 1810, STAT 1000 |
| 1130 | Evolution (HL) | 3 | |
Sp | BIOSC 0350 |
| 1140 | Behavioral Ecology* | 3 |
|
Sm-pym | BIOSC 0160 or 835 or GEOL 1641 |
| *Course repeat warning: BIOSC 1440 Animal Behavior and BIOSC 1140 Behavioral Ecology are considered course repeats, and you cannot take both for credit. Although BIOSC 1140 is a field course with an experimental component, both courses cover much of the same material. | |||||
| 1160 | Forest Ecology | 3 | |
Sm-pym | BIOSC 0160 or 835 or GEOL 1641 |
| 1170 | Freshwater Ecology (Limnology) | 3 |
|
Sm-pym | BIOSC 0160 or 835 or GEOL 1641 |
| 1180 | Ecology of Amphibians and Reptiles | 3 | |
Sm-pym | BIOSC 0160 or 835 or GEOL 1641 |
| 1200 | Vertebrate Morphology | 3 | |
F | BIOSC 0160 |
| 1205 | Vertebrate Morphology Lab | 1 | |
F | BIOSC 006X, 1200c |
| 1221 | Urban Ecological Field Studies | 1 | |
F | BIOSC 0370, 006X |
| 1230 | Ornithology | 3 | |
Sm-pym | BIOSC 0160 or 835 or GEOL 1641 |
| 1250 | Human Physiology | 3 | |
F,Sp,Sm | BIOSC 0160, CHEM 0120 |
| 1255 | Physiology Lab | 1 | |
Sp,Sm | BIOSC 006X, 1250c |
| 1270 | Ecology of Fish | 3 | |
Sm-pym | BIOSC 0160 or 835 or GEOL 1641 |
| 1275 | Genomics (HL) | 3 | |
S | BIOSC 0350 |
| 1280 | Microbial Genetics (HL) | 3 | |
Sp | BIOSC 0350, 1850 |
| 1285 | Genomics Lab | 1 | |
Sp | BIOSC 006X, 0350 |
| 1290 | Microbial Genetics Lab | 1 | sample syllabus to come | Sp | BIOSC 006X, 1850c |
| 1310 | Wetland Ecology and Management | 3 | |
Sm-pym | BIOSC 0160 or 835 or GEOL 1641 |
| 1320 | Population Biology (HL) | 3 | |
F-o | BIOSC 0370, 1130c |
| 1330 | Field Botany | 3 | |
Sm-pym | BIOSC 0160 or 835 or GEOL 1641 |
| 1340 | Field Entomology | 3 | Sm-pym | BIOSC 0160 or 835 or GEOL 1641 | |
| 1350 | Plant Biology | 3 | |
F-o | BIOSC 0160 |
| 1360 | Ecology of Fungi | 3 | |
Sm-pym | BIOSC 0160 or 835 or GEOL 1641 |
| 1375 | Tropical Biology | 3 | |
F-e | BIOSC 0160 |
| 1390 | Field Techniques in Ecology and Conservation | 3 | |
Sm-pym | BIOSC 0160 or 835 or GEOL 1641 |
| 1400 | Disease Ecology (HL) | 3 | |
Sm-pym | BIOSC 0370 |
| 1415 | Field Mammology | 3 | |
Sm-pym | BIOSC 0160 or 835 or GEOL 1641 |
| 1420 | Wildlife Management | 3 | |
Sm-pym | BIOSC 0160 or 835 or GEOL 1641 |
| 1435 | Environmental Physiology of Animals (HL) | 3 | |
Sp | BIOSC 0370 |
| 1440 | Animal Behavior (HL)* | 3 | |
Sp | BIOSC 0370 |
| *Course repeat warning: BIOSC 1440 Animal Behavior and BIOSC 1140 Behavioral Ecology are considered course repeats, and you cannot take both for credit. Although BIOSC 1140 is a field course with an experimental component, both courses cover much of the same material. | |||||
| 1445 |
Animal Communication (HL) |
3 | |
F | BIOSC 0370 |
| 1455 |
Human Endocrinology (HL) |
3 | |
Sp | BIOSC 1070 or 1080 or 1250 |
| 1470 | Biophysical Chemistry | 3 | |
Sp | BIOSC 1000 or 1810 |
| 1500 | Cell Biology (HL) | 3 | |
F | BIOSC 1000 or 1810 |
| 1510 | Cell Biology Lab (1511 Writing add on) | 1 | |
F | BIOSC 006X, 1500c |
| 1520 | Developmental Biology (HL) | 3 | |
Sp | BIOSC 0350 |
| 1530 | Developmental Biology Lab (1531 Writing add on) | 1 | |
Sp | BIOSC 006X, 1520c |
| 1540 | Computational Biology | 3 | |
F | BIOSC 0160 |
| 1542 | Computational Genomics | 3 | |
Sp-e | BIOSC 1540, CS 0011 |
| 1544 | Simulation and Modeling | 3 | |
Sp-o | BIOSC 1540, CS 0011 |
| 1550 | Ecology/Evolution Seminar (1551 Writing add on) | 1 | |
Sp | BIOSC 0350, 0370, 1130 |
| 1560 | Cell & Devel. Biol. Seminar (1561 Writing add on) | 1 | |
Sp | BIOSC 1500, 1520c |
| 1562 |
Molecular Biology Seminar (1563 Writing add on) |
1 | New AY23 | Sp | BIOSC 1940, 1945c |
| 1570 | Microbiology Seminar (1571 Writing add on) | 1 | |
Sp | BIOSC 1865 |
| 1580 | Biochemistry Seminar (1581 Writing add on) | 1 | |
Sp | BIOSC 1810, 1820 |
| 1610 | Conservation Biology | 3 | |
Sm-pym | BIOSC 0160 or 835 or GEOL 1641 |
| 1630 | Computational Biology Seminar | 2 | |
F | BIOSC 1540, ENGCMP 0200, Jr or Sr Level |
| 1640 | Computational Biology Research | 3 | |
Sp | BIOSC 1540, CS 0011, CS 0445 |
| 1690 | Experience in Undergraduate Teaching | 1-3 var | - | F,Sp,Sm | IP |
| 1730 | Virology (HL) | 3 | |
Sp-e | BIOSC 0350, 1000, 1850 (or IP) |
| 1740 | Virology Lab (1741 Writing add on) | 1 | |
Sp | BIOSC 0350,1855 or 1860 |
| 1760 | Immunology (HL) | 3 | |
Sp | BIOSC 0350, suggest 1000 |
| 1810 | Macromolecular Structure and Function* | 3 | |
F | BIOSC 0160, CHEM 0320 |
| *Course repeat warning: Students who need biochemistry should either take BIOSC 1000 or 1810+1820. BIOSC 1000 and 1810 are considered course repeats, and you cannot take both for credit. BIOSC 1000 is a one-semester biochemistry course, whereas BIOSC 1810+1820 is a two-semester biochemistry sequence that goes into more depth. If you are a Biochemistry major or old Molecular Biology major, you must take BIOSC 1810+1820. If you are a Biological Sciences, Computational Biology, Microbiology, or revised Molecular Biology major, typically you will take BIOSC 1000. However, if you elect to take BIOSC 1810+1820 instead of BIOSC 1000, then BIOSC 1820 can count as an elective for your major. | |||||
| 1820 | Metabolic Pathways and Regulation (HL) | 3 | |
Sp | BIOSC 1810 |
| 1830 | Biochemistry Lab (1831 Writing add on) | 2 | |
Sp | BIOSC 006X, 1820c |
| 1850 | Microbiology | 3 | |
F, Sp, Sm | BIOSC 0160, CHEM 0120 |
| 1855 | Introduction to Microbiology Lab | 1 | |
F, Sp, Sm | BIOSC 006X, 1850c |
| 1860 | Microbiology Lab (1861 Writing add on) | 2 | |
F | BIOSC 006X, 1850 |
| 1865 | Microbial Physiology (HL) | 3 | |
F | BIOSC 1850, 1000 or 1810 |
| 1901 | Independent Study | 1-6 var | - | F, Sp | BIOSC 0160 |
| 1903 | Undergraduate Research | 1-6 var | - | F, Sp | IP |
| 1904 | Undergraduate Honors Research | 1-6 var | - | F, Sp | IP |
| 1905 | Honors Research Writing Practicum | 1 | |
Sp | Departmental Honors students |
| 1909 | ASBMB Degree Certification Exam Preparation | 1 | - | Sp | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology seniors |
| 1940 | Molecular Biology (HL) | 3 | |
F | BIOSC 1000 or 1810; 0350 |
| 1945 | Advanced Molecular Biology (HL) | 3 | |
Sp | BIOSC 1940 |
| 1950 | Molecular Genetics Lab (1951 Writing add on) | 2 | |
F | BIOSC 006X, 1940c If 1000: grade B or better |
| 1998 | Beneficial Microbes, Symbiosis, and the Microbiome (HL) | 3 | |
F AY23 | BIOSC 1850 |
| 1999 | Medical Microbiology (HL) | 3 | |
F | BIOSC 1850 |