The academic requirements for accounting and biology represent a specialized course of study within the larger context of a diverse liberal arts education. Not only are these requirements designed to provide a focused and rigorous approach to the core concepts of the discipline, but they also allow ample opportunities for exploration in other subjects and departments throughout the university. By studying biology at DePauw, you will develop comprehensive expertise in your field while enjoying the benefits of a well-rounded education.
9.5 BIO + CHEM 120 + 1.0 allied course credit
BIO 101, BIO 102, BIO 450
Seven upper level Biology courses. At least one course from each upper level cluster (Cellular/Molecular Biology, Organismal Biology, Ecology/Evolution). The remaining four Biology courses can be selected from any of the approved courses for the major. CHEM 120 and an additional allied course are also required.
Cellular/Molecular Biology: Courses in this cluster emphasize processes of cells and/or unicellular organisms including cellular processes such as metabolism/bioenergetics and the maintenance and expression of DNA, RNA and/or proteins. Courses that fulfill this cluster are BIO 241, BIO 250, BIO 314, BIO 315, BIO 325, BIO 361, BIO 381.
Organismal Biology: Courses in this cluster emphasize biological diversity and adaptive characteristics of multicellular organisms such as physiology, anatomy, development, and reproduction. Courses that fulfill this cluster are BIO 230, BIO 234, BIO 235, BIO 285, BIO 334, BIO 335.
Evolution/Ecology: Courses in this cluster emphasize the consequences of interactions of organisms with each other and their (abiotic and biotic) environment and the processes which shape these interactions at the population, community and ecosystem levels. Courses that fulfill this cluster are BIO 342, BIO 343, BIO 344, BIO 345, BIO 346, BIO 348.
Students will take one course from the following list of allied courses: CHEM 240, CHEM 260, CSC 121, GEOS 110, PHYS 120
Three (not including BIO 450)
The senior requirement consists of the completion of BIO 450 with a grade of C- or better.
No more than two courses from off-campus programs can count toward the major. It is recommended that biology majors take a minimum of two courses in chemistry, a year of physics and a semester of calculus or statistics. Course work in computer science is also desirable.
Biologists must write clear, compelling prose to describe and explain complex patterns and processes. They must also present data graphically and verbally to inform and engage other scientists and the public. Good writing in biology is usually concise and precise, conveying information effectively without relying on emotion. Drafts, revisions, and peer reviews are important steps in the process of writing polished prose in biology. Biological inquiry and writing are both collaborative endeavors. Writing collaboratively requires practice, so in many of our courses, students work together to produce co-authored reports describing their experimental results. While collaborative writing is important, students will be increasingly responsible for their own writing with the goal of achieving effective technical writing in the mode of professional biologists.
The Biology major scaffolds writing assignments from parts of lab reports or proposals in the introductory courses to full lab reports and review papers in upper level courses. Students will experience many different forms of writing in Biology throughout their major coursework.
To fulfill the Writing in the Major certification, Biology majors must either take a course that has been designated by the department as writing intensive or submit a portfolio with three pieces of graded writing to their senior seminar instructor prior to the end of their senior year. The following courses have been designated as writing intensive:
Six
BIO 101, BIO 102
Three BIO courses, with at least one at the 300-level, and CHEM 120.
One
Leveraging the resources of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the biology major and minor at DePauw are housed in the Department of Biology. This department introduces students to the methodology of science while providing a broad exposure to the diversity of life at all levels.
