2016-2017 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Biology
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Roy M. Ventullo, Chair; Michael D. Bechtel; Doug Brusich; Samantha Larimer Bousquet; Michaeleen Golay; J. Keith McClung; David A. McCullough; Jose Reyes-Tomassini; Lorinda Sheeler; Stephanie Toering-Peters; Edward 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.
Intended Student Learning Outcomes
Students will:
- demonstrate knowledge of biological concepts from molecular to ecological levels.
- utilize appropriate scientific tools and methods in the completion of biological research.
- communicate scientific information clearly in both written and oral forms.
- analyze examples of problems associated with the social and ethical aspects of the biological sciences.
- evaluate scientific literature and data critically, and draw conclusions.
- integrate multiple levels of complexity in their explanation of biological processes.
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.
Intended Student Learning Outcomes
Neuroscience Major
Students will:
- understand neuroscience concepts from molecular to behavioral levels.
- identify, justify, and utilize appropriate scientific tools and methods in the completion of scientific research.
- evaluate scientific literature and data and draw conclusions.
- clearly communicate scientific information in written and oral presentations.
- recognize and articulate examples of, and devise possible solutions to, problems associated with the social and ethical aspects of behavioral sciences.
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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