Courses

Course Descriptions

101. PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY (4 credit hours)
An introduction to the nature of science through a study of selected principles which characterize the nature of life. Three lecture and two laboratory hours per week.

102. PLANTS AND ANIMALS: UNITY AND DIVERSITY   (4 credit hours)
An introduction to the nature of science through a study of selected principles which characterize the nature of living organisms. Three lecture and two laboratory hours per week. (Does not count toward a major in Biology.)

120.  FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOLOGY (4 credit hours)
An in-depth introductory study of the biological sciences for science majors, emphasizing major principles of biology and the nature of scientific research.  Students will conduct an original research experiment during the semester.  Counts as General Education Natural Science requirement.  Three lecture and two laboratory hours per week.

205. GENERAL BOTANY (4 credit hours)
An introductory study of the development, structure, function, classification, evolution, and environmental relationships of plants. Laboratory exercises consist of microscopic and gross examination of plants. Six class hours per week. Prerequisite: BIOL 101. 

206. GENERAL ZOOLOGY (4 credit hours)
An introductory study of the animal kingdom emphasizing morphology, physiology, behavior, environmental relationships, development and evolutionary history. Laboratory exercises are used to investigate selected topics. Six class hours per week. Prerequisite: BIOL 101.

210. BASIC ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY (4 credit hours)
A basic systemic approach to the study of human anatomy and physiology. Laboratory experiences integrated with lecture enable students to examine anatomical and physiological phenomena of the human body.

301. CELL BIOLOGY (4 credit hours)
The cellular basis for the functional attributes of living systems, laboratory investigation of selected physiological phenomena. Six class hours per week. Prerequisites: BIOL 205 and 206; CHEM 201 or 205.

303. NUTRITION (3 credit hours)
Consideration of nutrient classification and functions and the relationship of nutritional status to health. Application of nutritional requirements to food patterns. (Does not count toward a major in Biology.)

305. GENERAL ECOLOGY (4 credit hours)
The relationship of plants and animals to their environment, with emphasis on habitat adaptation and the limiting factors which govern it, the ecosystem, population, community structure and succession. The laboratory work consists of field trips, the study of communities, life histories, and the identification of plants and animals. Six class hours per week. Prerequisites: BIOL 205 and 206.

320. ENTOMOLOGY (4 credit hours)
The taxonomy, anatomy, life history, and measures of control of some of the common insects. Emphasis is placed on field studies. Six class hours per week. Prerequisite: BIOL 206.

321. ANIMAL PARASITOLOGY (4 credit hours)
The common endoparasite and exoparasite of man and domestic animals. Six class hours per week, including laboratory. Prerequisite: BIOL 206.

325. INVERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY (4 credit hours)
The taxonomy, anatomy, and life history of selected invertebrate groups. Six class hours per week, including laboratory. Prerequisite: BIOL 206.

326. VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY (4 credit hours)
A study of vertebrate animals, with emphasis on their evolution, systematics, ecology, and behavior.  Six class hours per week, including laboratory. Prerequisite: BIOL 206.

330. VERTEBRATE HISTOLOGY (4 credit hours)
Microscopical study in detail of the structures, tissues and organs of vertebrate animals and a correlation of these structures with function. Six class hours per week. Prerequisite: BIOL 206.

331. HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I   (4 credit hours)
An in-depth systemic approach to the study of the human body emphasizing organizational structure, osteology, myology, lymphology, and the cardiovascular system. Prerequisite: BIOL 101.

332. HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II  (4 credit hours)
An in-depth systemic approach to the study of the human body emphasizing the nervous, endocrine, respiratory, digestive, urinary and reproductive systems. Prerequisite: BIOL 331.

335.  ESSENTIALS OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (3 credit hours)
Describes the fundamental chemical and physical features of DNA, RNA and proteins with emphasis on structure and function relevant to gene expression. Also provides an introduction to gene isolation procedures and recombinant DNA technology with emphasis on applications used in research and industry. Three class hours per week. Prerequisites: BIOL 205 and 206 or permission of the instructor, CHEM 106 and 108. 

340. GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY (4 credit hours)
An introduction to the morphology, cultivation, physiology, growth, and control of micro-organisms, with emphasis on laboratory techniques of culture and identification of bacteria. Six class hours per week. Prerequisite: BIOL 101.

342. MORPHOLOGY OF THE NONVASCULAR PLANTS   (4 credit hours)
The form, development, and life cycle of representatives of the algae, fungi, and bryophytes. Laboratory exercises will consist of microscopic and macroscopic examinations of the form and development of nonvascular plants. Six class hours per week. Prerequisite: BIOL 205.

343. MORPHOLOGY OF VASCULAR PLANTS  (4 credit hours)
The form, development and life cycle of representatives of the various groups of vascular plants. Laboratory exercises will consist of microscopic and macroscopic examinations of the form and the development of vascular plants. Six class hours per week. Prerequisite: BIOL 205. 

345. GENERAL VIROLOGY (3 credit hours)
A consideration of selected prokaryote and eukaryote viruses, their structure, replication and interaction with host cells. Attention will be given to the contributions virology has made to the understanding of molecular mechanisms in Biology. Prerequisite: BIOL 360.

347. IMMUNOLOGY (4 credit hours)
The basic mechanisms of resistance in host-parasite interactions with emphasis on the molecular basis of immune system functions. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

350. EVOLUTION (3 credit hours)
A discussion of the earth, the origin, and progression of life with emphasis on the mechanisms of evolution; also, an analysis of plant and animal distributional patterns of the world, and especially in the United States, with discussion of the major geologic forces (e.g., Continental Drift; Pleistocene Glaciation) that influenced these distributions. Prerequisites: BIOL 205 and 206.

360. GENETICS (4 credit hours)
The nature, biosynthesis, and regulation of the genetic material in prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Mendelian principles will be covered and an introduction to recombinant DNA will be included. Laboratory investigation of selected phenomena. Prerequisites: BIOL 205 and 206, CHEM 201 or 205.

370.  PHARMACOLOGY  (4 credit hours)
An introduction to the basic pharmacological principles of drug administration, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics.  The therapeutic application of clinically useful drugs is emphasized including appropriate drug selection, toxicities, drug interactions, and side effects.  Prerequisites: BIOL 101, CHEM 101 and CHEM 201 or CHEM 105 and CHEM 106, or permission of the instructor.

395. PRACTICUM IN BIOLOGY (1 credit hour)
Experience in the preparation of materials and equipment for biology laboratory investigations and experience in practical instruction in the biology laboratory. Open only to Biology majors. May be repeated for a maximum of four hours credit. (Counts only as a free elective toward a major in the Department of Biology.) Four clock hours per week. Prerequisite: Junior standing and permission of the instructor and the department chair.

411. SENIOR SEMINAR (2 credit hours)
A research experience involving literature search, experimental design, written and oral presentation of project. Prerequisite: Completion of two of the following upper division core courses: BIOL 301, 305, 360.

430. EMBRYOLOGY AND ANIMAL DEVELOPMENT   (4 credit hours)
A study of the patterns and processes of animal development at the embryonic, cellular, and subcellular levels. Six class hours per week, including laboratory. Prerequisites: BIOL 206 and 360 or permission of the instructor.

435. COMPARATIVE VERTEBRATE MORPHOLOGY   (4 credit hours)
A comparative study of the basic architectural plans of the vertebrate body, emphasizing the function and evolution of major organ systems. Six class hours per week, including laboratory. Prerequisites: BIOL 206 and 326.

440. FIELD BOTANY (4 credit hours)
An integrated laboratory study of the taxonomy, ecology and geography of plants with emphasis on the flora of West Virginia. Six class hours per week. Prerequisite: BIOL 205.

441. ADVANCED BOTANY (4 credit hours)
The anatomy and physiology of selected vascular plants with emphasis on function in the context of structure. The laboratory work will consist of microscopic examination of selected plants, and a student research project consisting of the in-the-field collection and a laboratory investigation of selected genera. Six class hours per week. Prerequisites: BIOL 205 and 301.

442. PLANT GEOGRAPHY (3 credit hours)
Descriptive and interpretative plant geology, including a survey of the present distributions of major vegetational formations, discussion of the history, development, evolution and significance of their patterns, climatic regions, and composition of the major plant formations. Prerequisite: BIOL 205.

443. PLANT TISSUE CULTURE (4 credit hours)
The principles and techniques of culturing plant tissues in vitro for research and horticultural applications. Six class hours per week. Prerequisite: BIOL 205.

455. TECHNIQUES IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY   (4 credit hours)
Includes a broad scope of protein, RNA and DNA protocols providing experience in the manipulation of the macromolecules. Emphasis is on building the intellectual framework necessary to work on current biochemical and physiological problems with molecular biology techniques. Six class hours per week. Prerequisites: BIOL 205 and 206 or permission of the instructor, CHEM 106 and 108.

490. DIRECTED STUDENT RESEARCH (2-4 credit hours)
An independent research project designed by the student with assistance from the instructor, and acceptable to the instructor and chair. Prerequisites: 24 hours of Biology plus permission of the chair. Variable contact hours.

499. SPECIAL TOPICS IN BIOLOGY (1-4 credit hours)
An in-depth study of special topics proposed by members of the biology faculty. Open only to biology, chemistry, and psychology majors. May be repeated for a maximum of eight credit hours. (Counts only as a free elective toward a major in the Department of Biology.) Prerequisites: Junior standing and permission of the instructor and the department chairperson.