Requirements for the Major in Biology (back)

All students in either the Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts programs in Biology (exceptions listed below) are offered a required core sequence of courses. These core biology courses all involve student laboratory work to develop the skills of scientific inquiry. Students are introduced to computer applications for biological research in General Biology I and II, as part of their Computer Literacy requirement. These skills are utilized and expanded upon in their upper level biology courses. Students also develop scientific literacy through reading, writing, and talking about scientific concepts in these courses. In Developmental biology, the capstone course of the Biology core, students demonstrate their mastery of these skills as part of their Listening and Speaking and Jr./Sr. Senior Writing requirements.

BIOL 1800 General Biology I
BIOL 1900 General Biology II
BIOL 2300 Ecology
BIOL 2800 Genetics
BIOL 3250 Cell Biology
BIOL 3550 Developmental Biology

In addition, 12 semester hours of additional biology electives at or above the 2000 level are required of biology majors. Electives may be chosen in an area of specialization in consultation with a faculty advisor.  Please visit the Fitchburg State College Biology course description page for a complete list of biology courses.

Finally, BA and BS students are required to take courses in related sciences and two courses in mathematics at or above the level of MATH 1250. BA students are required to have foreign language proficiency at the Intermediate level.

Required Courses in Related Sciences

CHEM 1300 General Chemistry I
CHEM 1400 General Chemistry II
CHEM 2000 Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 2100 Organic Chemistry II
PHYS 2300 General Physics I
PHYS 2400 General Physics II

Exceptions: The requirements are slightly modified for the BS in Biology/Environmental Biology and the BS in Biology/Exercise Science programs.

BS in Biology/Biotechnology (back)

One of the most rapidly growing fields of industry is in the area of Biotechnology.
Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Biology/Biotechnology must satisfy all of the core requirements for the BS in Biology. The 12 semester hours of Biology electives are replaced by Biochemistry, General Microbiology and Molecular Biology.
 

BA/BS in Biology with Initial Teacher Licensure (back)

We are currently faced with an alarming shortage of high school Biology teachers. Our program seeks to prepare outstanding educators with a strong foundation in Biological content. Students pursuing Initial Teacher Licensure in Biology must apply for formal admission to the Teacher Preparation Program. In addition to the required courses for the major, students in the program must take a core sequence of teacher preparation courses. Three of these courses, Introduction to Secondary School Teaching, Teaching Writing in Secondary Schools and Biology Teaching Methods each involve a 25 hour pre-practicum observation and training experience in a local Secondary School. Introduction to Secondary School Teaching, Teaching Writing in Secondary Schools, and a third course, Secondary Programs for Adolescents are interdisciplinary courses that involve students from all of the Secondary disciplines. Biology Teaching Methods and the Biology Practicum in a Secondary School are each supervised by a professor within the Biology Department in collaboration with a cooperating Biology teacher from the Secondary school where the pre-practicum or practicum is taking place.

BIOL 2860 Introduction to Secondary Education
SPED 3800 Secondary Programs for Adolescents with Special Needs
ENGL 4700 Teaching Writing Across the Curriculum 
BIOL 4850 Biology Teaching Methods 
BIOL 4860/4870 Biology Practicum in a Secondary School (300 hrs.)

               Catalog Requirements for Teacher Licensure

                Educator Licensure website
 

BS in Biology/Environmental Biology (back)

Environmental Biology is a growing field offering employment opportunities in government enforcement and oversight, private testing, research and consulting, nonprofit administration advocacy and research, as well as public and private education.
The Bachelor of Science in Biology/Environmental Biology includes all of the requirements of the BS in Biology with the exception that Organic Chemistry I and II are replaced by Elements of Physical Chemistry and Environmental Analysis, and the required four Biology electives are replaced by Field Techniques in Environmental Science I and II and Internship. Furthermore, students must take additional courses in Introduction to Environmental Science, Geology, Environmental Hydrology, and Seminar in Environmental Science.

ENSC 1000 Introduction to Environmental Science
ENSC 2000 Field Techniques in Environmental Science I
ENSC 2001 Field Techniques in Environmental Science II
ENSC 3000 Elements of Physical Chemistry
ENSC 4000 Environmental Analysis
ENSC 4100 Seminar in Environmental Science
ENSC 4950 Internship in Environmental Science
GEOG 2100 Geology
GEOG 4600 Environmental Hydrology
 

BS in Biology/Exercise Science (back)

The health and fitness industry, like most service industries is experiencing rapid growth. The Bachelor of Science in Biology/Exercise Science includes all of the requirements of the BS in Biology with the exception that students must take Anatomy and Physiology I and II, but need not take General Biology II or Ecology. In addition students must take courses in Nutrition, Biochemistry, Exercise Physiology, Motor Learning, the Biomechanics of Sport and an Internship.

BIOL 1200 Anatomy and Physiology I
BIOL 1300 Anatomy and Physiology II
BIOL 1650 Nutrition
BIOL 3450 Biochemistry
EXSS 3070 Exercise Physiology
EXSS 4040 Motor Learning
EXSS 4120 Biomechanics of Sport
BIOL 4950 Internship or
EXSS 4950 Internship
 

Requirements for the Minor in Biology (back)

The minor in Biology enables students to demonstrate a substantial and coordinated subsidiary expertise in biological sciences. The minor in Biology requires a minimum of 18 semester hours of course work as follows:

One year (6 or 8 semester hours) of any of the entry-level Biology sequences:

BIOL 1000 Life Science I and
BIOL 1100 Life Science II or
BIOL 1200 Anatomy and Physiology I and
BIOL 1300 Anatomy and Physiology II or
BIOL 1800 General Biology I and
BIOL 1900 General Biology II
     

  Ten semester hours of 2000, 3000, 4000-level courses selected after consultation with a minors advisor in the Biology Department. Please visit the Fitchburg State College Biology course description page for a complete list of biology courses.

Requirements for the Minor in Chemistry (back)

A Minor in Chemistry consists of:

CHEM 1300 General Chemistry I
CHEM 1400 General Chemistry II
CHEM 2000 Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 2100 Organic Chemistry II
CHEM 3000 Analytical Chemistry I

One course selected from Analytical Chemistry II, Physical Chemistry I, Physical Chemistry II, Advanced Inorganic Chemistry, Radiation Chemistry, Forensic Chemistry, or Natural Products.

Please visit the Fitchburg State College Chemistry course description page for a complete list of Chemistry courses.

Pre-Medical and Pre-Health Professional Curriculum (back)
 
While Fitchburg State College gives a very good knowledge and information about the Pre-Medical and Pre-Health Professional but does not offer a major in pre-medical studies, it
does have many students pursuing a pre-medical curriculum.  In order to apply to
medical school, students may major in any field of study as long as they
successfully complete the pre-medical courses:

CHEM 1300 General Chemistry I
CHEM 1400 General Chemistry II
CHEM 2000 Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 2100 Organic Chemistry II
BIOL 1800 General Biology I
BIOL 1900 General Biology II
PHYS 2300 General Physics I
PHYS 2400 General Physics II

and mathematics through calculus.  Most pre-medical students major
in biology, chemistry or related science fields because these courses are often
requirements for such majors and they would have already completed a significant
portion of their major requirements.