Biology Minor

This course is a survey of the important topics in environmental science. Concepts of energy flow and nutrient cycling are explored in the context of human impacts upon these processes. Sources of pollution and their total effect on ecosystem and biosphere function are also explored. Management of material wastes and energy efficiency is an integral theme of the class. This class satisfies the laboratory science requirement with a series on in-class lab experiences and field trips.

This course emphasizes conservation by providing students an experiential setting that illuminates various aspects of the precarious balance between people's effect on the environment and the natural order of things. Educational goals focus on the conservation and restoration of our natural heritage so that biodiversity is not depleted.

Marine Biology: Oceans cover more than 70% of the earth's surface and support all life on the planet. This course follows an ecological approach to consider the adaptations and interactions of plants and animals with their marine habitats, with particular emphasis on the ecosystems and organisms in the Gulf of Maine. Communities discussed include the open ocean, the deep-sea, subtidal and intertidal zones, and estuaries, as well as habitats found exclusively in tropical and polar regions.

Marine Biology Laboratory: Marine Biology Laboratory must be taken concurrently with Marine Biology. Laboratory activities focus on the organisms and ecosystems in the Gulf of Maine and include field trips to local marine habitats as well as laboratory investigations of local flora and fauna.: : : :

Ecology: This course explores the interaction of biotic and abiotic components in functioning ecosystems. It will examine topics in population distribution and dynamics, major terrestrial and aquatic habitats, community interactions such as competition and predation, nutrient cycling, energy flow, and ecosystem succession. The concurrently run lab will train students in identifying local flora and fauna, as well as collection and analysis of field data.

Ecology Lab: This lab focuses on ecological research principles and is designed to complement and reinforce the topics discussed in SC 240. The labs will include reading primary literature, case-studies, identification of local flora and fauna, and field and laboratory data collection and analysis.: : : :

This course explores the structural and functional relationships within plants and animals that make them adapted to their environment. This course uses numerous examples to illustrate how plants and animals survive given the constraints of their environment. Examples will be taken from temperate, arctic, alpine, tropical, desert, and aquatic ecosystems.

The emphasis of this course is on the nursing assessment of the healthy adult. The student will learn to gather subjective and objective data about a client's health status and to perform a systematic physical assessment. The clinical laboratory setting will be utilized to practice the techniques of assessment and the identification of normal findings.

This course examines the reaction of the body to disease throughout the lifespan. Using a conceptual approach that is designed to integrate knowledge from basic and clinical sciences, it focuses on alterations in biological processes which affect the body's dynamic equilibrium. Alterations at the cellular and organ level are presented and include genetic, metabolic, infectious, immunologic, degenerative, and neoplastic processes. Clinical problems will be developed and explored to facilitate the acquisition of critical thinking, problem-solving and evaluation skills needed by practitioners in the management of clients with chronic and acute health problems.

This course focuses on the study of brain, mind and behavior and examines the neuroanatomical, neurophysiological, and biochemical foundations of cognition, mood, emotion, affect, and behavior and the interactions among them. It takes into consideration both internal and external influences across a person's life span. Included is an overview of brain functioning and mechanisms of neurotransmission, genetics, the effects of other body systems such as the endocrine and immune systems, temperament, and the environment.

Exercise Physiology: This course examines human physiologic responses to physical activity. The first three units of the course address acute responses to physical activity, with a focus on metabolic, muscular, cardiovascular, and neuroendocrine homeostatic control mechanisms, as well as the influence of environmental factors on acute responses. The final unit of the course involves a discussion of factors that contribute to fatigue, and examines the evidence regarding adaptations to chronic physical activity and exercise. Students will learn how the principles of frequency, intensity, duration, specificity, and reversibility affect the benefits of physical activity for health and human performance. In addition, performance benefits attributable to the use of ergogenic aids will be discussed.

Exercise Physiology: This course examines changes within the human body due to the effects of acute and chronic exercise. The student is challenged to expand both their knowledge of and appreciation of human physiological reaction, regulation, and adaptation to exercise.: : : :

This course will give students a basic understanding of the neuroanatomical and neurophysiological substrates underlying human perception, movement, cognition and language. The course will pay particular attention to the sensory and motor systems that contribute to the control of posture and movement. Both normal and pathological functioning of the nervous system will be discussed. Common dysfunctions of the neuromuscular system will be addressed through lectures, student literature reviews, and classroom discussion. Students will be required to review recent neuroscience research investigating commonly encountered neural pathologies. Clinical illustrations will be discussed throughout the course. This discussion will include etiology, pathology and therapeutic and pharmacological treatment options where applicable. The course will enable students to apply neuroanatomical knowledge in analyzing a collection of patient signs and symptoms to determine the location and type of CNS lesion.

This course uses a mix of lectures, labs and small group sessions as well as independent study to help the student develop competencies in assessment and treatment of cardiopulmonary impairments and associated disabilities so that they can provide safe and effective patient interventions. Students will develop assessment skills that will enable them to identify acute and chronic cardiopulmonary/cardiovascular impairments across the lifespan and to choose and apply treatment strategies appropriate to the problems identified during their assessment.

This course serves as an introduction to nutritional concepts and to the interconnections of health, nutrition, weight, and physical activity. This course is particularly appropriate for students with no science background.

This course is designed to cover basic anatomy and physiology as it relates to sports and sports management. Anatomy and physiology of systems involved with movement, exercise, health and physical fitness will be discusses. The course will include sections on general nutrition, inflammation and repair of injuries, and kinesiology (muscles and the mechanics of movement).

Functional Anatomy and Physiology: Functional Anatomy and Physiology is a one semester, 3 credit lecture with a separate laboratory course designed to give the non-science major knowledge of the human body and its relationship with the environment. Topics covered include: the chemical basis of life, the anatomy & physiology of all organ systems, growth, development, heredity and biotechnology issues.

Functional Anatomy and Physiology Lab: Functional Anatomy and Physiology Lab is a 1-credit lab that students take at the same time as taking the lecture part of the course, Sc 120. It is laboratory designed to give the non-science major knowledge of the human body and its relationship with the environment. Topics covered parallel the lecture topics in Sc 120 and include: the chemical basis of life, the anatomy & physiology of all organ systems, growth, development, heredity and biotechnology issues.: : : :

Anatomy and Physiology I: This course provides an in-depth understanding of the structures and functions of the human body and its parts. The course begins with the organization of the human body and descriptive terminology relating to various segments of the body. Cellular anatomy and physiology and study of tissues lead to the study of the organ systems. Topics included in the course are skin, the skeletal system, joints, the nervous system, and muscle.

Anat/Physiology Lab I: This is a laboratory class.: : : :

Anatomy and Physiology I I: This course is a continuation of Anatomy and Physiology I. The course will provide a thorough understanding of structure-function relationships down to the molecular level. The semester will cover the special senses, blood, the cardiovascular system, lymphatics, the respiratory system, the digestive system, the urinary system, the endocrine system, and reproduction.

Anatomy/Physiology Lab I I: This is a laboratory class.: : : :

This course is designed for non-science majors to support the natural interest of most people in those human physical, behavioral, and social characteristics that have a hereditary basis. Lectures, discussions and the solving of simple genetic and statistical problems are used to form a basis for the consideration of current social issues with genetic implications.

Pathophysiology is the study of abnormal, diseased physiological processes. The course begins with an examination of altered cell functioning, injury and death. The course continues with pathophysiology of the body systems and inability of diseased systems to maintain homeostasis. Also included are topics in inflammation, immunity, neoplasia, and adaptations of the body to stress. Although aging is not considered a disease, some aspects of aging will be discussed.

This course examines the basic nutritional principles (biological, chemical and regulatory mechanisms); the changing nutritional requirements throughout the life cycle; the relationship between nutrition and disease; the principles of therapeutic nutrition (diet therapy) and the assessment of nutritional status.

This course provides a broad understanding of both beneficial and harmful microorganisms and their roles in human welfare. Emphasis is placed on the structure, physiology, and control of human pathogens, particularly bacteria and viruses. The lab provides experience in important techniques of culturing, identifying, and controlling microorganisms.

This course is a detailed exploration of cell structure and function with an emphasis on the cytoplasm and extracellular matrix. Topics in membrane structure, transmembrane transport, vesicle trafficking, cytoskeletal organization, and macromolecular assembly processes are considered. Cell to cell communications and the role of the extracellular matrix in tissue level processes are also explored. Superficial examination is given to the structure and organization of the nucleus, chromosomes and gene expression to prepare students for the companion course entitled Genomic Biology.

Basic concepts of epidemiology and methods for identification of factors influencing health and disease in human populations. Considerations are centered on physical, biological, psychosocial and cultural factors in relation to infectious and noninfectious diseases; interactions between agent, host, and environmental factors as determinants of health and disease; application of the epidemiologic approach to health services; and retrospective and prospective analysis of morbidity data. Instruction is by lecture, laboratory exercises and seminars.

This class will explore the structure of the nucleus, patterns of inheritance (traditional genetics), the molecular mechanisms of biological information management (molecular biology), and the technologies that are used to obtain and use the information contained within genomes (genomic science). The course will trace classical genetics, chromosome maps, the structure of DNA, gene expression and regulation, and the tools of molecular biology and genomic analysis.

In this offering, the student will be exposed to reductionism in the field of biology. Biochemistry overlaps and articulates with many fields of endeavor. The discipline embraces physiology, pharmacology, enzymatics, nutrition, immunology, structural biology, biotechnology, and molecular biology all at the same time. The course curriculum will focus upon the role of enzymes in guiding metabolic processes and pathways. The student will come to understand the details of biological functioning at these three levels of organization: Metabolism, metabolic pathways, enzymatic mechanisms and kinetics.

This course examines the application of anatomical and physiological principles of kinesiology and physical movement. Topics include the scientific study of human movement, analysis of motor skills, and programs of exercise and evaluation of human performance.

This course provides the student with a basic understanding of weather phenomenon and how weather is predicted. Students will master the terminology of weather prediction; explore the water cycle, and how the sun affects weather. The course will also treat atmospheric circulation, cloud formation and identification and students will learn how to make weather assumptions based on observations of temperature, pressure, humidity, wind direction, and sky cover. Students will also learn how weather data is collected and how forecasters make predictions based on previous and current weather observations.

This is an introductory astronomy course with a virtual observing component that is intended to give the students some basic knowledge about the world in which we live. The primary objective of this class is to help the students understand the solar system. The course will present an overview of the night sky, the constellations, light -telescope and the nature of stars and the galaxies but the emphasis will be on understanding our solar system. The Sun, Earth, Moon, planets and their satellites, asteroids and comets will be studied in some detail. No mathematics or physics background is assumed in this course.

Conceptual Physics is an introductory physics course with an integrated lab, intended primarily for non-science majors. In this course we will study motion, mechanics, gravity, heat, electricity, magnetism, optics, atomic, nuclear and molecular physics, and relativity. We will also learn about the process by which physicists attempt to understand the intriguing laws of nature. The course will be taught using a combination of lectures, classroom demonstrations and laboratory experiments. Understanding of the fundamental concepts rather than number crunching is emphasized in this course and the equations will serve to refine the concepts and facilitate student's thinking process. Ultimately, it is hoped that by taking this course the student will develop a better appreciation for the natural world.

Principles of Gen Chemistry: This course explores fundamental quantitative and qualitative principles of inorganic, organic and biological chemistry and provides a basic understanding of theoretical and applied aspects of general chemistry. Topics in inorganic chemistry include measurement, atomic theory and chemical bonding, chemical reactions and mass relationships, kinetic theory and gas laws, acids, bases, pH and buffers. Organic chemistry will provide an overview of the nomenclature, properties and reactivity of major groups of organic compounds, while biochemistry will focus on the chemistry of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and enzymes. An overview of biochemical energetics, nucleic acids and protein synthesis is also included.

Prin of Gen Chemistry Lab I: This is a laboratory class.: : : :

Chemistry I: This introduction to chemistry provides a basic understanding of theoretical and practical aspects of inorganic chemistry. The course includes the metric system, chemical elements and symbols, the structure of the atom, chemical bonds, molecules and compounds, and chemical reactions.

Chemistry Lab I: This is a laboratory class.: : : :

Chemistry II: This course is a continuation of Chemistry I. It focuses on organic chemistry and biochemistry and provides a background for understanding the chemical mechanisms of health and disease. Organic chemistry will emphasize the study of carbon, its special properties, and its compounds. Biochemistry will focus on the chemicals of living organisms, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Selected physiological topics such as energy metabolism, the genetic code, and protein synthesis are included.

Chemistry Lab I I: This is a laboratory class.: : : :

Physics I: Physics I is the first course in a two semester general physics sequence. The goal of this course is to introduce the student to the concepts of force and motion, work and energy, fluids and gases, heat and thermodynamics, and periodic motion. The class meets for three hours each week in lecture and recitation, and two hours each week in the lab. This course assumes no prior background in physics.

Physics Lab I: This is a laboratory class.: : : :

Physics II: This course continues the development of the basic physical concepts begun in Sc 271. Topics include electricity and magnetism, optics, atomic theory, relativity. Quantum mechanics, nuclear physics, and elementary particles. The class meets for three hours each week in lecture and recitation, and two hours each week in the lab.

Physics Lab I I: This is a laboratory class.: : : :