2023-2024 Academic Catalog

May 08, 2024

2023-2024 Academic Catalog

Combined Biological Sciences, B.S. & Biological Sciences, M.S.

Program Description

The Department of Biological Sciences offers a combined degree program leading to a Bachelor of Science (BS) and Master of Science (MS) degree within a five-year plan of study. Students can focus their studies in health professions (e.g., medicine, dentistry, optometry), molecular and cellular biology, microbiology, conservation biology, and ecology. Students additionally have the option of choosing a program concentration: Cell and Molecular Biology; Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology; Enviromental Biology; and Science Education. The program allows 9 credit hours of courses counting towards both the undergraduate (UG) and graduate (GR) level.

Admission Requirements

A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.2 based on a minimum of 90 credit hours of complete undergraduate coursework (including transfer credits).
A program of study (POS) for the Biological Sciences MS program
A two-page research proposal (required for applicants interested in a thesis-based MS degree)
Agreement of a Biological Sciences Faculty member to serve as a Graduate Advisor.
Admission to combined program by the graduate committee

Students admitted to a combined degree program will be admitted as provisional graduate students to the Graduate School, pending completion of the requirements for their bachelor’s degree. Students admitted into an approved combined degree program do not have to formally apply to the master’s program in question.

If students have studies in progress at the time they apply to a combined degree program, any approval of the application is provisional and may be revoked if the student fails to meet all required standards at the end of the term.

Program Learning Objectives

Students in the combined program in Biological Sciences will learn:

To master essential concepts of biology at molecular, organismal, and ecosystem scales, through lectures, interactive exercises, and hands-on experience with scientific research.
Concepts in chemistry and physics and apply those concepts to biology.
To use mathematics and statistics to solve biological problems.
To interpret quantitative biological data from graphs and tables.
To construct graphical representations and quantitative summaries of biological data.
To read and interpret scientific literature and other sources to make observations, formulate testable hypotheses, and design experiments with appropriate controls and variables.
To engage in scientific research and lab exercises to build problem solving skills and to trouble-shoot procedures.
To design and deliver oral presentations and write scientific reports to communicate biological concepts and interpretations of data.
To examine the ethical implications of acquiring biological understanding and discoveries.
To write a literature review or background information for a research paper that synthesizes the primary literature within a particular field of biology.
In addition, students pursuing a thesis-based M.S. will learn to design and carry out a scientific study, analyze and interpret data, relate the results to broader scientific knowledge, and communicate the study orally and in writing.

Program Learning Outcomes

As a result of their learning experiences, students who complete the combined program in Biological Sciences can:

Demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge of essential concepts of biology at molecular, organismal, and ecosystem scales.
Demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge of concepts in chemistry and physics necessary to understand the foundations of biology.
Utilize mathematics and statistics to apply quantitative reasoning to biological concepts.
Evaluate data using quantitative analysis and graphical representation.
Apply observational strategies, formulate testable hypotheses, and design experiments with appropriate controls and variables.
Exhibit problem solving skills and trouble-shoot procedures.
Effectively communicate biological concepts and interpretations to varied audiences orally and in writing.
Discuss the ethical implications of biological understanding and discoveries.
Read and synthesize primary literature within the field of biology.
Demonstrate expertise within a particular field of biology.
In addition, students completing an M.S. thesis can demonstrate the ability to design and carry out a scientific study and analyze, interpret, and communicate results of experiments.

For More Information

College of Science and Mathematics Advising Center

106 Oelman Hall

937-775-3180

cosm-advisors@wright.edu

Department Chair: Dr. Lynn Hartzler

Biological Sciences, BS Program Requirements:

Note: For graduation credit, all CoSM courses require a grade of C or better.

l. Wright State Core: 43 Hours

Element 1: Communication: 6 Hours

Element 2: Mathematics: 4 Hours

MTH 2240 - Applied Calculus Credit Hour(s): 4 or
MTH 2300 - Calculus I Credit Hour(s): 4

Element 3: Global Traditions: 6 Hours

Element 4: Arts and Humanities: 3 Hours

Element 5: Social Sciences: 6 Hours

III. Departmental Requirements and Electives: 31 Hours

Select 31 credits from approved 3000- and 4000- level courses. Among those selected:

At least two courses must include a lab component.
At least 21 credits must have a BIO or MLB prefix. (Up to 5 credit hours of Independent Study can be used. Independent Study is to be arranged by the student and the professor and can include BIO 4880 - Indpendent Reading, BIO 4900 - Internship, BIO 4990 - Research, BIO 4950 - Honors Research. Up to 8 hours of Honors Research can be used. Up to 3 hours of BIO 3990 - Undergrad Teaching Assistant can be used. 3.0 required for BIO 3990.)
At most 10 credits may have a prefix of ANT, BMB, EES, PPH, CHM, MI, MTH, NEU, STT, PHY, PSY.
Maximum of 10 cr hrs of online courses
Maximum of 5 cr hrs of MLB course
Must include 1 of the following capstone or department approved courses: BIO 3920 ( Honors only), 4020, 4110, 4240, 4460, 4730, 4800, 4880, 4920.
During their senior year, students may take up to nine (9) credit hours of approved 6000-level graduate courses that will apply toward completion of both their undergraduate and graduate degrees. (see approved 6000-level graduate courses)
Following completion of their undergraduate degree, students will take additional graduate course work (6000-level or above) to complete a minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate courses, including all required courses for the Biological Sciences MS program.

Approved 6000-level graduate courses
BIO 6010 - Topics in Biology Credit Hour(s): 1 to 5
BIO 6020 - Current Literature in Biology Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 6060 - Evolutionary Biology Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 6070 - Wetlands Biology Credit Hour(s): 5
BIO 6080 - Writing in the Biological Sciences Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 6110 - The Aquatic Environment Credit Hour(s): 5
BIO 6110L - The Aquatic Environment Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
BIO 6200 - Designing Biological Experiments Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 6240 - Disease Ecology and Evolution Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 6410 - Behavioral Ecology Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 6420 - Advanced Molecular Biology Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 6440 - Plant Physiology Credit Hour(s): 4
BIO 6440L - Plant Physiology Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
BIO 6450 - Field Expedition Credit Hour(s): 1 to 5
BIO 6460 - Advanced Cell Biology Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 6480 - Advanced Cell Techniques Credit Hour(s): 4
BIO 6600 - Population Genetics Credit Hour(s): 4
BIO 6600L - Population Genetics Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
BIO 6670 - Neuromuscular Physiology Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 6700 - General Entomology Credit Hour(s): 4
BIO 6700L - General Entomology Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
BIO 6720 - Ornithology Credit Hour(s): 4
BIO 6720L - Ornithology Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
BIO 6730 - Marine Biology Credit Hour(s): 5
BIO 6750 - Ichthyology Credit Hour(s): 4
BIO 6750L - Ichthyology Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 0
BIO 6800 - Conservation Biology Credit Hour(s): 3
BIO 6920 - Graduate Seminar Credit Hour(s): 1
BIO 6990 - Special Problems in Biology Credit Hour(s): 1 to 15

IV. Related Course Requirements: 24 Hours

CHM 2110 - Organic Chemistry I Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 2110L - Organic Chemistry Laboratory I Credit Hour(s): 2
CHM 2120 - Organic Chemistry II Credit Hour(s): 3
CHM 2120L - Organic Chemistry II Laboratory Credit Hour(s): 2
PHY 1110 - Principles of Physics I Credit Hour(s): 4
PHY 1110L - Principles of Physics Lab I Credit Hour(s): 1
PHY 1120 - Principles of Physics II Credit Hour(s): 4
PHY 1120L - Principles of Physics Lab II Credit Hour(s): 1
STT 1600 - Statistical Concepts Credit Hour(s): 4 or
STT 2640 - Elementary Statistics Credit Hour(s): 4

V. General Electives: 5 Hours

Total: 120 Hours

Graduate Requirements - 30 credit hours

Following completion of the undergraduate degree, additional graduate course work (6000-level or above) up to the minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate courses, including all required courses for the Biological Sciences MS program, must be taken. This can be either the thesis-based or a non-thesis Biological Sciences MS degree.

One course in scientific/technical writing: BIO6080 or ENG5610
Once course in scientific design: BIO6200 or BIO7020
Complete 3 graduate seminars, 2 must be offered in the Biology Department: BIO6920.

Combined Program Total: 141 Hours

Graduation Planning Strategy

The Graduation Planning Strategy (GPS) has been created to illustrate one option to complete degree requirements within a particular time frame. Students are encouraged to meet with their academic advisor to adjust this plan based on credit already earned, individual needs or curricular changes that may not be reflected in this year’s catalog.