Category Archives: Biology

Other State Assessments The New Jersey Biology Competency Test (NJBCT) The New Jersey Biology Competency Test (NJBCT) is a state test given to students to measure whether they have gained the knowledge and skills identified in the Biology section of the Science Core Curriculum Content Standards (CCCS). The CCCS adopted by the State Board of Education, identify what students should know and be able to do at the end of various benchmark years. In May 2008, all New Jersey public high school students enrolled in a requisite Biology course were required to participate in the End of Course Biology Test, which replaced HSPA Science. In 2010, the End of Course Biology test was renamed New Jersey Biology Competency Test (NJBCT). For the NJBCT, all New Jersey public high school students, regardless of grade level, who are enrolled in a Biology course or content equivalent during the school year must take the test, regardless of prior testing exposure and experience. Further information about the NJBCT and questions and answers can be found in "Your Guide to the New Jersey Biology Competency Test, May 2015." Sample test items can also be found in the May 2015 New Jersey Biology Competency Test (NJBCT) … Continue reading →

We desire to instill in our students the belief that we are uniquely called by God to be stewards of His creation and to glorify Him through all aspects of our work. The goals of our program are to teach students scientific principals and research techniques, learn how to think critically and analytically, become skilled at communicating, use knowledge and skills in a variety of settings, and understand how to apply a Christian worldview to science. Bethel provides an atmosphere for growth. Our skilled and experienced faculty challenge and engage students from their freshman through senior years. In addition, our facilities, which include a cadaver teaching lab, research lab, and two additional biology teaching labs, give students the spaces they need to practice what they learn. We recognize that Christians handle the relationship between Gods revelation in the scriptures and His revelation in the creation in different ways. Furthermore, we value this variety of Christian interpretations, believing that studying them helps us better understand the underlying issues and our own views. Therefore, students are likely to encounter more than one perspective regarding Christianity and our understanding of the sciences, though in ways that are always respectful of our supporting denominational … Continue reading →

Effective Beginning Catalog Term: Fall 2015 (505) The requirements shown below are valid beginning Fall 2015 (505), and may not reflect degree requirements for current students. Current students should visit My SPC and view My Learning Plan to see specific degree requirements for their effective term. John Chapin, Dean, (727) 394-6995 Program Summary The Bachelor of Science in Biology degree serves primarily to educate students for laboratory and field-related careers in the Biological sciences and as a transfer curriculum for graduate and professional schools. The Academic Pathway is a tool for students that lists the following items: o the recommended order in which to take the program courses o suggested course when more than one option exists o which semester each course is typically offered o if the course has a prerequisite o courses that may lead to a certificate (if offered in the program) If you are starting the program this term, click here to access the recommended Academic Pathway. If you have already started the program, click here for the archived Academic Pathways. Please verify the Academic Pathway lists your correct starting semester. Job Related Opportunities Admission Rules Admission requires completion of sixty (60) college-level credits in a … Continue reading →

The undergraduate curriculum in biology is constructed to complement a liberal arts education. Majoring in biology can enhance any future career, as it emphasizes inquiry, problem solving, collaborative learning, and independent learning. The mission of the Department of Biology is to provide an outstanding and supportive educational environment in which students and faculty flourish as they seek to better understand the biological sciences and their practical applications. The Department of Biology is committed to excellence in teaching, advising, undergraduate research, and service. We will provide challenging and innovative curricula that promote experiential learning opportunities such as internships, student-faculty collaborative research, and access to advanced technology. Our programs will prepare students for life-long learning and for a diverse array of advanced studies and careers in the life sciences, including the health professions and teaching, making them competitive for positions in top graduate and professional schools, secondary schools, and industry. We will contribute to the holistic education of all Marist students by fostering scientific literacy and critical thinking skills that enhance their scientifically-informed decisions. Faculty are committed to continual development as teacher-scholars, and being active in research involving Marist students, with the goal of disseminating their findings to the scientific community. We … Continue reading →

This course can help prepare students who wish to continue their scientific education after high school, as well as students who wish to prepare for the SAT exam. The level of aptitude in this subject will assist students wishing to excel on the SAT and in college courses. According to the College Boards website, AP Biology courses are designed to be the equivalent of a college introductory course, usually taken during a biology majors first year of college. Students who choose to take AP Biology may be allowed to skip over introductory biology courses and enroll in courses in which biology is a prerequisite. Because universities grant college credit for this course, they require that the textbooks, labs, and coursework used by AP courses be equivalent to those used in actual college courses. This course is offered to highly motivated students who wish to pursue their interests in the biological sciences. Enrollment requirements for the AP Biology course depend on policies established by each high school offering the course, but AP Biology is usually preceded by a less rigorous entry level Biology course, and sometimes by Chemistry as well. While some schools may have selective acceptance into the course, determined … Continue reading →

The WKU students studying with WKU Biology Departments Dr. Nancy Rice at Harlaxton College this semester visited Down House, home of Charles Darwin in Kent, England. Congratulations to Dr. Scott Grubbs on receiving the 2015 Ogden College of Science and Engineering Research/Creativity Award. 2015-2016 Biology Graduate Students-in-Residence: Front row (L-R) Richard Dawson, Chaise Gilbert, Chris Banotai, Mitchell, Schooler, Chris Fields, Dane Flinchum, Kenny Anderson, Mayank Kapadia Back row (L-R) Matt Buchholz, Meghan Parsley, Qianna Xu, Jesse Nugent, Amelia Smith, Laken Cooper, Chase Ladue (Not pictured: Aiste Dobrovolskaite) Congratulations to Dr. Mike Stokes on receiving the 2015 Ogden College of Science and Engineering Public Service Award. Tracking Elephants in Kenya, (Left to Right) Simon Kasaine (former MS Student at WKU), Simon (driver), Bruce Schulte (Biology Department Head), Ezra and son, Chase LaDue (Biology graduate student) (Photo provided by Chase LaDue) Dr. Rodney King and Dr. John Andersland were happy to collaborate with Morehead State University and Georgetown College as part of the Small Genome Discovery Project. (Shown in photo are visitors from Georgetown College). Please click on photo for more information. Biology graduate student Aiste Dobrovolskiate and Dr. Nancy Rice in Kenya WKU Biology in Harlaxton: In 2016, the WKU Biology … Continue reading →

The biology department seeks to inspire and enable students to grow in their scientific understanding. Our courses and curriculum present a dynamic approach to scientific investigation: posing problems for study, proposing and probing hypotheses, and persuading peers. Using evolution as the unifying theme of biology, we emphasize current biological methods and rigorous conceptual analyses at all scales of organization, from molecules to cells to organisms to ecological communities. We encourage biology majors to interact extensively with professors and with each other, and we use a variety of learning activities to illustrate the tools of the trade, to reinforce concepts, and to apply problem-solving techniques. We prepare our students to think critically about important biological issues and to apply their informed analyses as citizens and professionals. Send news items to yasukawa@beloit.edu. Alums-please include your major and graduation year. Others-please include information about your connection to the department. Note: EEBB=Ecology, Evolution and Behavioral Biology major; EBIO=Environmental Biology major; MCIB=Molecular, Integrative, and Cellular Biology major; BIOL=Biology major; and CMB=Cellular and Molecular Biology. If you would like other news, you may also join the Facebook group called "Beloit College Biology Department." Wolfe Wagman '82BIOL, PhD, a research assistant with the Marine Reserve Program, just … Continue reading →

Contemporary Examples Later that day, he went to his biology class and botched a test, because he was so distracted. They learned to measure and count in better ways, and cracked the codes of physics, chemistry, and biology. At the same time, advances in biology have expanded the definition of life. A recent article argued that biology and nature sway females away from science. Kenneth Miller wrote the biology textbook often targeted by creationists who want to toss it from public schools. Historical Examples It savours of impatience, and is in flat contradiction to the first principles of biology. "The History of Animals" is the largest and most important of Aristotle's works on biology. I did my biology at University College,getting out the ovary of the earthworm and the radula of the snail, and all that. Any dynamics, in biology or in culture, is due to differences. He had not discovered anything new in biology; but what biological creature could he have discovered more singular than himself? British Dictionary definitions for biology Expand the study of living organisms, including their structure, functioning, evolution, distribution, and interrelationships the structure, functioning, etc, of a particular organism or group of organisms the animal … Continue reading →

The mission of the Department of Biology at the University of West Georgia is to provide opportunities for professional and personal development to students, faculty, staff, and the broader university community through excellence in teaching, research, and service. * Teaching: The Department of Biology is committed to provide and maintain a rigorous curriculum which facilitates an understanding of the major principles and concepts in the biological sciences, promotes critical-thinking and communication skills, and fosters a continuous interest in learning. * Research: The Department of Biology is committed to provide and maintain student-oriented research opportunities which will facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of biology and the scientific process, enhance the quality of instruction, promote professional development, and further the state-of-knowledge in the biological sciences. * Service: The Department of Biology is committed to provide and maintain a broad range of services to promote the effective development and utilization of human and natural resources. The ultimate goal of this mission is to promote the growth and development of skilled professionals, effective teachers, competent scientists, and informed citizens to enhance the quality of life within the University of West Georgias scope of influence. Link: Biology | Biology Home … Continue reading →

What is Biology? Biology is the scientific study of life, which included all of its mechanisms and effects at all spatial and temporal scales here on Earth and throughout the known universe. What is a biologist and what do they do? A biologist is not merely someone who knows a lot of facts about living things. A biologist is a knowledgeable trained problem solver. A biologist is a skilled person capable of asking informed and discerning questions about biological phenomena and who can devise and execute well constructed studies to test those questions. A biologist is someone capable of analyzing, interpreting, and reporting new and existing data and who can use this information to solve problems and answer question concerning life and its effects. Biologists also find new ways to use their knowledge to solve problems in applied fields such as medicine, agriculture, environmental management, biodiversity and conservation, fish and wildlife management, water management and pollution control, renewable resources, and human population growth. Over the past 20 years biologists have even begun to extend their studies to other worlds, searching for signs of life on Mars and the moons of Jupiter. The search for life beyond Earth is, among other … Continue reading →