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Nov 26, 2024
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2015-2016 HillBook (Class of 2019) [ARCHIVED HILL BOOK]
Biology, B.A.
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Department Chair:
The B.A. in Biology is designed for a student who seeks entry into a professional program or to teach at the primary or secondary level. The B.A. in Biology may also be combined with another major to create an interdisciplinary degree appropriate for direct employment in biotechnology, government, or other industry positions. Combined with Journalism or English, it makes it possible to pursue a career in science writing or editing; with Computer Information Systems, technical and development work for biotechnology and pharmaceuticals; with Public Administration or Political Science, a career in environmental non-profit or governmental sectors; or with Business, a career in marketing or the patent office with biotechnology or pharmaceutical companies. The B.A. in Biology is also recommended for those seeking entry into post-baccalaureate training/certification courses or interdisciplinary graduate programs such as those in Public Health or Natural Resources. Students enrolled in the major are encouraged to strengthen their career preparation by completing an internship, directed study, or research project.
The B.A. in Biology requires the completion of fourteen courses.
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Complete Five Core Courses
Complete One Environmental/Ecological Course
Complete One Molecular/Cellular Course
Complete One Organismal Course
Complete Five Additional Courses
Complete a Capstone 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.
The Senior Capstone course (400-level) must be pre-approved by the Chair of the Biology Department at registration and before the first day of classes.
Options 2-4 below require written approval from the faculty member supervising the Capstone project and the department chair.
- Enroll as a senior in BIO 406 - Seminar in Behavioral Ecology , BIO 409 - Immunology , BIO 407 - Ornithology , BIO 423 - Virology , , or BIO 498 - Senior Honors Thesis I & BIO 499 - Senior Honors Thesis II .
- Petition to have any 300 or 400-level Biology class (taken in the senior year) fulfill the capstone requirement. This option will probably result in additional work in that class.
- Complete a BIO 490 - Directed Study , BIO 496 - Independent Research , a research-based BIO 475 - Internship in Biological Sciences , or S.U.R.E. project, write a research paper based on this work, and present this in an open seminar format.
- 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.
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:
- score within the top 10% of Stonehill students on the Major Field Test in Biology (MFT; Educational Testing Service, Princeton, NJ); or
- 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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