Jim Yoder, Douglas Graber Neufeld, and Laurie Yoder, advisors
The EMU biology program is dedicated to the investigation of life with our students, from molecules to ecosystems, and emphasizes the skills and content knowledge required for careers in health care and biological professions. The biology major includes a set of biology core courses that teach the breadth of biological science, an apprenticeship experience that allows for professional exploration, and three separate tracks plus the option to pursue a teaching endorsement that students can select from.
Students who major in biology will select one of the tracks listed below:
General Biology Track: Students in the General Biology track are trained in all aspects of biology, from molecular analysis to ecological field studies, and including supporting courses in the physical sciences and math. Students completing this track have a lot of freedom to explore different aspects of natural science while completing their requirements, leading to a preparation for careers in various biological fields or to further graduate study in animal physiology, botany, ecology or molecular and cellular biology. Students in this track are also well-prepared for professional health programs including medical, veterinary, dental, or physician’s assistant programs.
Neuroscience Track: Students in the Neuroscience track are interested in exploring how biology and psychology intersect - how genes and anatomy determine emotion, behavior, and disorders. Students completing this track are well prepared for careers or further graduate study in biomedical neuroscience, and also for professional health programs including medical, veterinary, dental, or physician’s assistant programs.
Pre-Physical Therapy Track: Students in the Pre-PT track are interested in how the human body works, how health is restored after injury, and in gaining the specific skills and knowledge required for becoming a physical therapist. These students take the exact courses required to enter any Doctor of Physical Therapy program in the US.
Biology with Teaching Endorsement in Grades 6-12: Students in the General Biology track may also pursue this endorsement that will prepare them to teach biology in grades 6-12 by instructing them in the standards of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA).
All three tracks include the following required Biology Core courses (27 SH)
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Additional course requirements for the General Biology Track (22-23SH23 SH):
- BIOL 235 Ecology: Adaptation and Environment - 4
And choose Choose one of the following lab courses:
- BIOCH 318 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Lab - 2
- *BIOL 327 Advanced Microbiology - 3
- BIOL 437 Advanced Human Anatomy - 4
- BIOL 447 Advanced Human Physiology - 4
And choose Choose one of the following field courses:
- *BIOL 368 Blue Ridge Botany - 3
- *BIOL 358 Natural History of the Shenandoah Valley - 4
- *BIOL 388 Entomology - 3
- *BIOL 397 Field Biology and Techniques in Environmental Monitoring - 1
- *ENVS 465 Topics in Advanced Ecology - 2
- *ENVS 385 Conservation Biology - 4
And select Select additional coursework in biology or biochemistry to reach a total of 15 SH of 300+ level BIOL or BIOCH coursework in addition to the Biology Core.
And choose Choose two of the following supporting science and math courses:
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Additional Course requirements in the Neuroscience Track (25-27SH27 SH)
- *BIOL 451 Neuropsychology - 3
- *BIOL 478 Advanced Neurobiology - 3
- PSYC 101 General Psychology - 3
- PSYC 341/2 Cognitive Psychology - 3
And choose Choose two of the following biomedical courses:
- *BIOCH 398 Advanced Cellular Biology - 3
- *BIOCH 438 Molecular Genetics - 3
- BIOL 437 Advanced Human Anatomy - 4
- BIOL 447 Advanced Human Physiology - 4
And choose Choose two of the following supporting science and math courses:
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Additional course requirements of the Pre-Physical Therapy Track (22-23 SH):
- BIOL 437 Advanced Human Anatomy - 4
- BIOL 447 Advanced Human Physiology - 4
- MATH 150 OR 185, Elements of Calculus OR Calculus I - 3-4
- PHYS 252&253 Physics I with lab - 4
- PHYS 262&263 Physics II with lab - 4
- PSYC 101 General Psychology - 3
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