Mar 29, 2024  
Mansfield University 2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
Mansfield University 2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Biology, Bachelor of Science


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Colleges & Departments

Offered by the Department of Natural Sciences


The Department of Natural Sciences offers the B.S. degree with five concentrations within the major in Biology: General, Molecular/Cellular, Environmental, Fisheries, and Medical Laboratory Sciences. The department also offers a minor in Biology. The Department promotes, encourages and assists with the broader university-wide outcomes of Leadership and Global Consciousness. Mansfield has 3+4, 4+4 medical, pharmacy and dentistry applications with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, Pa. Similar application agreements are in preparation with several other institutions.

A feature of all Biology curricula is the requirement to complete an undergraduate research project. All concentrations meet the minimum requirements for medical schools. The Biology program is excellent preparation for graduate school. Many Biology graduates become technicians in hospitals and research laboratories. Others go into sales positions with medical and pharmaceutical supply companies, while still others find employment in the environmental and ecological fields.

Those students preparing for a career in medicine may meet the minimum requirements for medical, dental, chiropractic, veterinary, physician assistant, optometry, pharmacy, and physical therapy schools with proper course selection under the B.S. degree.

Department Mission

Biology’s mission is to provide high quality undergraduate instruction through which students explore biology and develop as scientists by applying the scientific method and principles of scientific investigation, including a capstone independent research project required of majors. Through instruction, research, and outreach the Biology Department will serve the University, community, and region.

Department Goals

  • Quality Undergraduate Instruction
    Biology strives to provide high quality undergraduate instruction through a rigorous curriculum which fosters opportunities for students to learn and apply basic biological concepts, make connections between those concepts and real-world situations, and critically evaluate information for its biological validity. 
  • Integration of Scientific Investigation
    Every Biology major, except Medical Laboratory Sciences, will design and complete an independent research project in collaboration with a faculty advisor.
  • Service to the University, Community, and Region
    Biology is committed to helping students recognize opportunities to apply their biological knowledge and skills to serve the community. 

Program Outcomes

After completing their biology degree, students will be able to:

1.       Demonstrate knowledge and comprehension in five core concepts of biology at varying scales (molecules to ecosystems).  Core concepts include 1) Evolution,  2) Structure and function, 3) Information flow, exchange, and storage, 4) Pathways and transformations of energy and matter, and 5) Systems.

2.       Demonstrate the ability to apply critical, analytical and integrative thinking to biological problems.

3.       Apply the scientific method to design and conduct biological research, including analyzing and interpreting biological data.

4.       Clearly communicate biological ideas with scientists and the general public in both

written and oral form.

5.     Concentration Specific Outcomes (see individual concentrations)

5.1    Environmental Biology Concentration
5.2    Fisheries Concentration
5.3    Cell and Molecular Concentration
5.4    Medical Technology Concentration

Department Policies and Procedures

Biology Electives - All upper level Biology elective transfer credits (after becoming a Mansfield student) must be taken from 4-year institutions.

Cell Phones - Visible cell phones can lead to a grade of zero on graded activities.  Cell phone use during lecture and lab can cause deductions in course grades.

CPUB Membership - All students upon enrollment as a major in any Biology program automatically become a member of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania University Biologists (CPUB) which encompasses students and faculties from the 14 Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education institutions.

Internships - Internships cannot be taken for more than 3 credits; BI 4450 (Internship), 6 and 12 credits, has been replaced by BI 4451 (Practicum in Biology), 1-3 credits.

Lab - Lab and lecture must be taken together for all Biology courses (BI, BSC) having both components.  Lab must be passed to pass the course.  A minimum of 75% of labs must be attended to pass lab.  If lecture or lab is failed, both components must be repeated.

Pass/Fail - No courses required in Biology programs can be taken as Pass/Fail.

Research - Proposals from research projects must be approved by a departmental research committee, and if appropriate, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and Institutional Research Committee, if using animal or human subjects, respectively.

Capstone Courses - Both BI 4492 (Research in Biological Systems I) and BI 4493 (Research in Biological Systems II will be offered each Fall and Spring semester. Students beginning research will take BI 4492, and students continuing research (with previous collected data) will take BI 4493. CAP 4999 is incorporated in BI 4493.

 

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Colleges & Departments