Department of Biology

Chairperson: Professor Matthews; Professors: Barden, Edwards, Leamy, Menhinick, Oliver, Reynolds, Thomas; Professors Emeritus: Hechenbleikner, Hildreth; Associate Professors: Langsam, Mellichamp, Ostrowski, Peters, Schneider, Travis; Assistant Professors: Bashor, de Silva, HuetHudson, Hudson, Steck; Lecturer: Simpson

The biological sciences are important in many areas of human endeavor encompassing wideranging career opportunities in medicine and allied health professions, education, research and industry. The Department of Biology offers undergraduate programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree and the Bachelor of Science degree. Both provide a firm foundation in the basic principles of biology as background to understanding the biological world, and as preparation for many technical careers, careers in education, or for advanced studies in academic or professional programs. The minor in biology is offered for students who desire a background in biology as an adjunct to their major.

Biology programs can be tailored to fit the individual student's needs and interests. Through course selection, the student can emphasize many areas within biology: plant sciences, including horticulture, systematics, and plant physiology and ecology; animal sciences, that include behavior, morphology and physiology; microbial science, including virology and microbial physiology; cellular/molecular studies, such as genetics, development, immunology and biotechnology; and environmental sciences, including ecology and evolution. Opportunities for individual activity occur at every level from undergraduate research and tutorials with faculty in the junior and senior courses to honors research projects in the senior year.

A program in medical technology is offered in cooperation with other institutions.

BACHELOR OF ARTS

A major in biology leading to the B.A. degree consists of 32 semester hours of biology including: (1) a core sequence of Plant (BIOL 1222), Animal (BIOL 1233), and Cell (BIOL 2111); (2) three area courses: Genetics (BIOL 3166), Ecology (BIOL 3144), and Physiology (BIOL 3272 or 3273); and (3) seminar (BIOL 4600). The B.A. degree requires five biology laboratories. Additional requirements are CHEM 1251 (formerly CHEM 1101), 1252 (formerly CHEM 1102), and 2131, with associated labs, and six semester hours of mathematics (including STAT 1221). Care should be taken in selecting electives to ensure completion of University requirements.

BACHELOR OF ARTS WITH AN OPTION IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY

Upon satisfactory completion of training at Schools of Medical Technology at Carolinas Medical Center or other regional hospitals that are affiliated with UNC Charlotte in the medical technology program, a student may receive a B.A. degree in biology from UNC Charlotte. (It is possible to obtain a B.S. degree by careful planning with the adviser, although a B.S. degree will typically require a longer period of time than will the B.A. degree). The student must take Animal (BIOL 1233), Cell (BIOL 2111), Genetics (BIOL 3166), Microbiology (BIOL 4250), Immunology (BIOL 4251), Animal Physiology (BIOL 3273), Seminar (BIOL 4600), and 16 hours of chemistry [CHEM 1251, 1251L (formerly CHEM 1101, 1101L), 1252, 1252L (formerly CHEM 1102, 1102L), 2131, 2131L, and chemistry elective]; have a total of 24 hours of biology and a total of four laboratories in biology at UNC Charlotte; and have a 2.0 grade point average overall and in the major at the end of the junior year. The student must have a total of 90 hours including 24 hours of biology at UNC Charlotte; the remaining 30 hours and eight hours of biology will be accepted from the school of medical technology. The final 30 hours counted toward the degree and the last eight hours counted toward the major prior to entering a school of medical technology must be taken at UNC Charlotte. Gaining admission to the school of medical technology is the responsibility of the student. Additional information is available from the Department of Biology.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

In addition to the 32 hours of biology required for the B.A. degree, a student working toward the B.S. degree is required to take 12 additional hours in biology for a total of 44 hours, two additional laboratories for a total of seven, CHEM 2132 with associated laboratory, PHYS 1101, 1102 and associated labs, and three additional hours of mathematics (including STAT 1221) or computer science (excluding CSCI 1101) for a total of nine hours.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE WITH AN OPTION IN ECOLOGY/ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY

A B.S. degree in biology with an option in ecology/environmental biology consists of 50 hours of biology including all required courses for a B.S. degree in biology plus Ecology Laboratory (BIOL 3144L), Biometry (BIOL 4121), and Environmental Problems (BIOL 4000) or The Environmental Dilemma (ESCI 2101). Each student must take at least four courses in one of the following subareas of environmental biology: Plant Ecology, Animal Ecology, Environmental Assessment, Aquatic Ecology, and General. The student should consult the biology department for the list of appropriate courses within each subarea. Students are also recommended to take ESCI 1101 or 1200 and Investigations in Biology (BIOL 3900) under the direction of one of the environmental biology faculty. Students are responsible for all Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics requirements for a B.S. in biology.

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE WITH AN OPTION IN MICROBIOLOGY

A major in biology leading to a B.S. degree with an option in microbiology consists of 46 hours of biology including: (1) a core sequence of Plant (BIOL 1222 and 1222L), Animal (BIOL 1233 and 1233L), and Cell (BIOL 2111 and 2111L); (2) three area courses: Genetics (BIOL 4166), Ecology (BIOL 3144), and Physiology (BIOL 3272 or 3273); (3) seminar (BIOL 4600); (4) core microbiology courses: Microbiology (BIOL 4250 and 4250L), Microbial Physiology and Metabolism (BIOL 4257), Immunology (BIOL 4251 and 4251L), and either Microbial Genetics (BIOL 5000) or Molecular Biology (BIOL 4199); (5) 9 credit hours from the following list of electives (at least one of which must include a laboratory): Microbial Genetics Lab (BIOL 5000L), Pathogenic Bacteriology (BIOL 4256), Mycology (BIOL 5000), Virology (BIOL 4259), Parasitology (BIOL 4233), Marine Microbiology (BIOL 4253), Advanced Immunology (BIOL 5291), Microbial Genetics or Molecular Biology if not taken as part of the "core", Monoclonal Antibodies (BIOL 4252), Recombinant DNA (BIOL 5000), Plant Biotechnology (BIOL 5000), Honors Research (Microbiology) (BIOL 4700/4701), and Undergraduate Research (Microbiology) (BIOL 3900); and (6) CHEM 2132 with associated lab, PHYS 1101, 1102 and associated labs, and three additional hours of mathematics (including STAT 1221) or computer science (excluding CSCI 1101) for a total of nine hours.

BIOLOGY MINOR

A minor in biology requires 18 hours including BIOL 1222 and 1233 (or BIOL 1110 and 1115); 10 hours of biology electives; one laboratory beyond the introductory sequence; and a GPA of at least 2.0 in the minor. Students pursuing a biology minor are responsible for meeting all course prerequisites and corequisites.

HONORS PROGRAM IN BIOLOGY

The Honors Program is a research program for students majoring in biology. Contact the Biology Department for additional information.

Admission. Students are invited to participate in the program during their junior year by the Department Honors Committee. To qualify, a student must have completed 60 semester hours, including at least 15 hours at UNC Charlotte. At least 36 of the completed hours must be in science and mathematics. Students must have a 3.2 overall grade point average, as well as a 3.2 GPA in biology. An honors adviser and a supervisory committee are appointed for each student.

Courses. To graduate with honors, a student must complete BIOL 4700 (Honors Research I) and BIOL 4701 (Honors Research II) with a 3.5 average or better.

Certification Requirements. A cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or greater must be maintained. An honors thesis is required and the student must present a seminar on the project.

COOPERATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM

Students majoring in biology may obtain practical work experience while pursuing their degrees. The Cooperative Education Program allows qualified students either to alternate semesters of academic study with semesters of work experience or to combine academic study and work during the same semester. The work experience is arranged by the Office of Experiential Learning and must be approved by the Department of Biology. Placements are based on a student's academic interests and on the availability of appropriate positions and are carried out under the supervision of a biology faculty member who serves as Coop adviser. Work semesters are followed by participation in the Biology Cooperative Education Seminar.

SUGGESTED SCHEDULE: B.A. or B.S. in BIOLOGY

Following is the sequence in which required courses should be taken, even if they are not taken during the year indicated:

Freshman year: BIOL 1222 + L and 1233 + L; CHEM 1251 +L and 1252 + L
Sophomore year: CHEM 2131 + L; BIOL 2111; then BIOL 3166, 3144
Junior year: BIOL 3272 or 3273, then advanced electives of any number
Senior year: BIOL 4600 (seminar) and advanced electives of any number

Please see the Department of Biology for a more detailed schedule for the four-year program leading to the B.A. or B.S. including schedules for the options in Biotechnology, Medical Technology, Microbiology, Ecology and Environmental Science, and Cellular and Biomedical Science.

MINOR IN BIOTECHNOLOGY Interdisciplinary

The Minor in Biotechnology requires a total of 24 hours in designated "core courses," with an overall GPA of 2.5 in those courses. For graduate study in Civil Engineering, graduate students are required to complete the same set of core courses, as well as additional graduate level engineering coursework. The core courses, offered through the three academic departments, are:

Course                                        Semester Hours 
Biology: 
BIOL 4250 Microbiology (with lab)                     4
BIOL 40001 Recombinant DNA                            3
BIOL 4252 Monoclinal
  Antibody/Protein Analysis                           3

Chemistry: 
CHEM 4165 Biochemistry (with lab)                     4
CHEM 4171 Biochemical Instrumentation                 4

Engineering: 
CEGR 4141 Process Engineering                         3
CEGR 5141 Bioprocess Technology
  (with lab)                                          3 

                                                     24

In the Department of Chemistry, the substitution of CHEM 4111 for CHEM 4171 is permitted. Any other substitutions to the above core courses must be approved both by the originating department and the Biotechnology Advisory Committee.

Additional coursework in the student's individual academic unit may be required. Any such courses require the approval only of the originating department. Currently, the Department of Biology intends that the following courses be completed to obtain a B.S. in Biology with a minor in biotechnology:

Molecular Biology (BIOL 4199) or Microbial
Genetics (BIOL 5000)
Plant Biotechnology (BIOL 4184)
Investigations (BIOL 3900)

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