Mar 28, 2024  
2014-2015 HillBook (Class of 2018) 
    
2014-2015 HillBook (Class of 2018) [ARCHIVED HILL BOOK]

Biology, B.S.


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Major


The Biology major curriculum fulfills entrance requirements for medical, dental and graduate schools and for medical technology programs. It is also recommended for careers in research, academia, allied health fields, private enterprise, or government service. Students completing the major sequence and their General Education courses will graduate with a solid foundation in biological science and a broad educational background. Students enrolled in the major are encouraged to strengthen their career preparation by completing an internship, directed study, or research project before graduation.

Capstone Requirement in Biology


Several options fulfill this requirement. All must integrate sub-disciplines within biology, connect this work within biology to a broader view of academics and society, and present that work in oral and written form.

Capstone Options:


Options 2-4 below require written approval from the faculty member supervising the Capstone project and the department chair.

  1. Enroll as a senior in BIO 406 - Seminar in Behavioral Ecology , BIO 409 - Immunology , BIO 423 - Virology ,  , or BIO 498 - Senior Honors Thesis I  & BIO 499 - Senior Honors Thesis II .
     
  2. Petition to have any 3-400 level Biology class (taken in the senior year) fulfill the capstone requirement. This option will probably result in additional work in that class.
     
  3. Perform a directed study, independent research, a research-based internship or S.U.R.E. project, write a research paper based on this work, and present this in an open seminar format.
     
  4. Present work done in a non-biology course to fulfill the Capstone requirement. This work must contain a very strong biology component and deal with larger societal issues associated with the project.

Note


The Senior capstone course (400-level) must be pre-approved byt the Chair of the Biology Department at registration and before the first day of classes.

Major Field Test in Biology


All juniors and seniors majoring in Biology must take the Major Field Test in Biology.

Biology Honors


Students who complete the honors requirements in Biology below will be awarded a degree “with honors in Biology.” Departmental Honor Scholars must satisfy the following criteria:

  • Overall GPA of 3.50;
  • GPA of 3.20 in science courses (Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Neuroscience, Physics);
  • Meet either of the following criteria on a national standardized achievement test in biology:
    1. score within the top 10% of Stonehill students on the Major Field Test in Biology (MFT; Educational Testing Service, Princeton, NJ); or
    2. score within the top 30% of students nationally who have taken either the MFT in Biology, or Graduate Record Examination either in Biology or in Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology (Educational Testing Service, Princeton, NJ); and
  • Submit, and present orally, an acceptable (“B” or better) senior honors thesis, which is evaluated by a panel of three science faculty. Ordinarily, this thesis will be based on a directed study, research internship, S.U.R.E. project, or other college-level research experience.

Contact Professor Magdalena Pederson, Chair of the Biology Department for additional details and deadlines.

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