Undergraduate Programs — information

Program Description Requirements for Biology Major [pdf] Academic Minor Requirements
Pre-Medical and Pre-Dental Studies Pre-Nursing Studies Pre-Physical Therapy Studies

Freshman and Sophomore Advising Syllabus [pdf] Planning sheet, B.A. or B.S. [pdf]
Undergraduate Research Grants [pdf] Phi Sigma Society Graduating Seniors

The Department of Biological Sciences

Joseph G. Cloud, Department Chair
Life Sciences South 252
+01 (208) 885-6388

Faculty
Matthew D. Anway, Onesmo Balemba, Celeste Brown, John A. Byers, Michael A. Cantrell, Joseph G. Cloud, Larry J. Forney, James A. Foster, Luke J. Harmon, Rolf L. Ingermann, Kevin R. Kelliher, James J. Nagler, Scott L. Nuismer, Nils O. Pellmyr, Barrie D. Robison, Erica Bree Rosenblum, Deborah L. Stenkamp, John M. Sullivan, Eva M. Top, Holly A. Wichman

Lecturers
Lisa Harmon, Candi K. Heimgartner, Denim Jochimsen, Bruce Mobarry, Kristin Simokat

Adjunct and Affiliate Faculty
James R. Blackman, Henry Charlier, Jennifer Chase, Michael Doebeli, Sara Heggland, Patricia J. Heglund, Cheryl Jorcyk, Kathy Magnusson, R. Francis Rosenzweig, Irvin R. Schultz, Chris I. Smith, Ronald Strohmeyer, Tim Teyler.

The biological sciences deal with the basic biological principles of all living things. Courses in the Department of Biological Sciences reflect the increased awareness that sub-disciplines within biology are merging into a broad principles-based discipline that recognizes the similarities among living organisms. Students will be presented with approaches that are based on unifying biological principles. This will provide them with information that can then be applied to a vast array of novel situations. The B.A. and B.S. degrees in biology offered by the department reflect this integrated view of biology. The Biology Core curriculum involves exposure to concepts fundamental to all living things at several levels of organization. Upper division electives allow students to emphasize natural history, anatomy/physiology, molecular/cellular/developmental biology, or quantitative/integrative biology. Courses are available to students majoring in other disciplines, who wish to increase their knowledge of science, or who wish to obtain a minor in biology. The department offers both Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in biology. A non-thesis graduate degree, the Master's of Natural Sciences, which is designed to increase the breadth and depth of understanding of biology and is designed primarily for secondary teachers, is also offered with a major in Biological Sciences.

Graduates from the department may enter a variety of fields and many continue their education. Recent graduates have entered allied and public health professions, primary and secondary teaching, agribusiness, medical school, veterinary school, graduate school, law school, state and national agencies that deal with biology (e.g., forestry and fish and game departments, EPA), as well as a variety of environmental consulting agencies and biotechnology companies.

Graduate and undergraduate research concentrations are available in evolution and ecology (animal behavior, genetics, microbial ecology, systematics), neurobiology and aging, and fish reproductive biology (development, endocrinology, fertility). Possibilities for multidisciplinary research are further enhanced by interdepartmental graduate programs offered in Neuroscience and Bioinformatics.

A wide variety of ongoing projects have produced a stimulating environment for graduate and undergraduate research. These projects include areas such as:

For more complete information on research concentrations, please see the faculty profiles and the faculty research labs.

Admission to graduate programs in the department is based upon an estimate of probable success in work leading to a specific degree. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (aptitude only) is required of all applicants.

Prospective students, or students desiring more information, may write, call +01 (208) 885-6329 or email the department
biosci [at] uidaho.edu

 

Academic Minors

Biology Minor

• Biol 115   Cells and the Evolution of Life (4 cr)
• Biol 116   Organisms & Environments (4 cr)
• Biol 210   Genetics (4 cr)
• Biol 212   Molecular and Cellular Biology (4 cr)
• Biol 213   Principles of Biological Structure and Function (4 cr)
• Biol 314   Ecology and Population Biology (4 cr)

 

Pre-Medical and Pre-Dental Studies

Admission to schools of medicine or dentistry involves satisfactorily fulfilling prerequisite course work, obtaining a sufficiently high score on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) or Dental Admission Test (DAT), submitting completed applications, and having a successful interview. The allied health advisor in the Department of Biological Sciences advises students in all areas of the application process and maintains MCAT and DAT study materials through the Reserve Desk in the University Library. A committee of three faculty members interviews pre-med students (and pre-dental students on request), writes a letter of evaluation, and provides guidance to students in the interview process. A video recording of the interview is reviewed by the student with the allied health advisor to better prepare the student for formal interviews elsewhere.

Students with interests in either the M.D., D.D.S., or D.M.D. degree are urged to contact Professor Rolf Ingermann, Gibb 237, as early as possible.

NOTE: Pre-medical and pre-dental students are strongly encouraged to take Chem 277/278.

For more information please read the UI Pre-Medical Student Manual [pdf], and the check the UI Allied Health Web site.

 

Pre-Nursing Studies

The University of Idaho does not offer a degree in nursing. However, student advising for pre-nursing is available on campus. Please refer to the Allied Health website for more information about pre-health studies at the UI.

In general, admission to a school of nursing is competitive and involves satisfactorily meeting the program's entrance requirements. Entrance requirements vary but typically include achieving an acceptable scholastic record, completing a science based curriculum, achieving a satisfactory score on a nursing entrance test, and possession of personal qualifications (including experience in health care) essential for effective nursing.

Prerequisite courses differ among schools of nursing and students should investigate the requirements of their school of choice.

The following are suggested courses for students who plan to transfer to a school of nursing.

• BIOL 120 Human Anatomy (4 cr)
• BIOL 121 Human Physiology (4 cr)
• CHEM 101 Introduction to Chem I, or 111 Principles of Chem I (4 cr)
• CHEM 275 Carbon Compounds and CHEM 276 Carbon Compounds Lab (4 cr)
• FCS 205 Concepts in Human Nutrition (3 cr)
• MMBB 154 Introductory Microbiology and MMBB 155 Introductory Microbiology Laboratory or MMBB 250 General Microbiology and MMBB 255: (General Microbiology Laboratory (4 to 5 cr)
• PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology (3 cr), or PSYC 305 Developmental Psychology (3 cr)
• SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology (3 cr)
• STAT 251 Principles of Statistics (3 cr)
• Humanities and social sciences electives (at least 6 cr in each field) (21 cr)
• Communications electives (3 cr must be in written communication) (6 cr)

NOTE: Pre-nursing students are strongly encouraged to take Math 143.

For information about the BSN program at Lewis-Clark State College visit their Division of Nursing and Health Sciences website.

 

Pre-Physical Therapy Studies

UI does not have a professional program in physical therapy and does not offer a degree program in pre-physical therapy. Students can, however, take courses that are prerequisites for admission into master's or doctoral degree programs in physical therapy at other institutions. Since a B.S. or B.A. degree is also required for admission into these programs, we strongly urge students to pursue a B.S. or B.A. degree in a related area (such as biology, psychology, or sport science) while completing the prerequisites for admission to a physical therapy degree program. UI students designating pre-physical therapy as a major will be temporarily placed in the biology major. The pre-physical therapy advisor in the Department of Biological Sciences advises students interested in preparing to enter into a professional program at another institution.

Recommended Preparation
The doctoral program in physical therapy at Idaho State University, Idaho‘s only physical therapy program, is required by law to fill most of its program with Idaho residents. Consequently, Idaho residents have a competitive advantage in applying to this program. In addition to completing an undergraduate degree, the successful applicant must have completed the following list of prerequisite courses for the Idaho State University program. Students interested in the prerequisite courses for other programs should contact Professor Rolf Ingermann.

Prerequisite Courses (with a GPA of 3.0 in each category):

• Biology (3 courses)
  Courses 1 & 2: Biol 120 Human Anatomy and Biol 121 Human Physiology Course 3: Upper-division course, 3 cr minimum (Lab-only course will NOT be accepted. Courses in plant biology or evolution will NOT be accepted)
• Chemistry (2 courses)
  Chem 111 and Chem 112 Introductory Chemistry with laboratory
• Physics (2 courses)
  Phys 111 and Phys 112 Introductory Physics with laboratory
• Math/Statistics (1 course) Stat 251 Principles of Statistics
• Psychology and Sociology or Anthropology or Health Science (2 courses)
  Course 1: Psych 101 Introductory Psychology
  Course 2: Sociology or Anthropology or Health Science or Psychology.
  (This course must be relevant to health care, rural societies, cultural diversity, aging, health care administration, abnormal psychology or epidemiology. Marriage/family, religion or history courses will not meet this requirement.)

Please refer to the Allied Health website for more information about pre-health studies at the UI.