Mar 29, 2024  
2014-2015 Academic Catalog 
    
2014-2015 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Biology


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Roy M. Ventullo, Chair; Michael D. Bechtel; Johanna Foster; Ann L. Henninger; Samantha Larimer Bousquet; Jennifer Petzold Maxwell; J. Keith McClung; David A. McCullough; Eric Merten; Stephanie Toering-PetersEdward A. Westen

Biology

Biology majors have consistently gained admission into graduate schools and professional health programs, such as dentistry, medicine, optometry, physical therapy, and veterinary medicine. Biology majors also have entered careers in business, conservation, research, and teaching.

All biology majors conduct independent research under the guidance of a faculty member. Participation in May Term experiences, such as the ecology of Guyana, prairie vertebrate ecology, or island ecology, is encouraged.

Through Wartburg’s affiliation with the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, Ocean Springs, Miss., students can enroll in marine biology courses. These offerings include Marine Invertebrate Zoology, Coastal Herpetology, Marine Biology, Marine Mammals, and Oceanography.

Program goals:

  • To develop an understanding of the molecular, physiological, morphological, evolutionary, and ecological components of organisms.
  • To develop the ability to design and conduct research, analyze and interpret data, critically evaluate scientific literature, write scientific papers, and present posters and seminars.
  • To develop an awareness of the social, moral, and ethical aspects of the biological sciences.
  • To prepare students for acceptance into graduate or professional programs or for employment in a biology-related field.

Programs

Biology Teaching

For additional information on teaching majors and endorsements, see Education  Department listings.

Preprofessional Programs

Dentistry, Medical Science, Clinical Laboratory Science, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Physical Therapy, Veterinary Medicine

See Preprofessional Study .

Neuroscience

Samantha Larimer Bousquet, coordinator

Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary major that combines an introduction in biology, psychology, chemistry, and statistics with specific neuroscience courses and electives appropriate to a student’s interests.  All students complete several types of independent research experiences as part of the major, including a year of research under the guidance of a faculty member.

Neuroscience is a logical major for students interested in a career in research (e.g. molecular neuroscience, artificial intelligence, animal behavior, neuroeconomy). This major is also appropriate for students interested in nervous system-related health careers (e.g. physical therapy, occupational therapy, neurosurgery, psychiatry).

Program goals:

  • To demonstrate command of theory, concepts, and methods in the core content areas of neuroscience (molecular, cellular, cognitive, and systems-level neuroscience, healthy and diseased systems).
  • To develop the ability to design and conduct research, analyze and interpret data, critically evaluate scientific literature, write scientific papers, and present posters and seminars.
  • To develop an awareness of the social, moral, and ethical aspects of neuroscience.
  • To prepare students for acceptance into graduate or professional programs or for employment in a neuroscience-related field.

Department Recommendation

Neuroscience is a broad field.  A course sequence fitting the student’s career objectives should be planned in consultation with the student’s adviser.  Graduate schools and professional schools may require prerequisites beyond those satisfied by the major. 

Programs

 

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