department-of-biological-sciences

Biological Sciences

Chairperson: Michelle Mynlieff, Ph.D.
Department of Biological Sciences website

The Department of Biological Sciences offers or participates in seven different majors, six which lead to a B.S. degree and one which leads to a B.A. degree. The purpose of all of these degree programs is to provide instruction in the diverse disciplines that make up modern biology. A major emphasis of these degree programs is to familiarize students with the practice of designing, performing and analyzing biological experiments; toward this goal, stand-alone laboratory courses taught by faculty are a central component of the curriculum for each major. The degree programs teach students critical thinking skills and prepare them for a wide variety of careers including medicine, dentistry, research, biotechnology, pharmacy/pharmacology, public health, and environmental and sustainability studies.

Majors in the Department

Biological Sciences

The major in Biological Sciences (BSCI) provides a comprehensive education in biology, including courses in cell biology, genetics, evolutionary biology, physiology, neurobiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, immunobiology, ecology, microbiology and plant biology. Students majoring in Biological Sciences can apply for the Disciplinary Honors Program in Biological Sciences which provides experiential learning opportunities such as independent research, internships, research-based laboratory courses and accompanying seminars.

Physiological Sciences

The Physiological Sciences major (PHSC) offers students a course of study that is more focused on human and animal structure and function. After introductory courses in cell biology and genetics, students in this major concentrate on physiology, neurobiology and anatomy. Students majoring in Physiological Sciences can apply for the Disciplinary Honors Program in Biological Sciences which provides experiential learning opportunities such as independent research, internships, research-based laboratory courses and accompanying seminars.

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

The major in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BIMB) is offered jointly with the Department of Chemistry. Courses in biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, physical chemistry and quantitative analysis allow students to understand both complex biological phenomena and the underlying chemical mechanisms. Students majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology can apply for the Disciplinary Honors Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, which provides experiential learning opportunities such as independent research, internships, research-based laboratory courses and accompanying seminars.

Biological Sciences for Education

Students in the College of Education with a desire to teach high school biology can earn a B.S. degree with a second major, Biological Sciences for Education.

Interdisciplinary Majors

Bioinformatics

Bioinformatics is a field that lies at the intersection of biology, statistics and computer science and focuses on the generation and analysis of large biological data sets. The interdisciplinary Bioinformatics major (INBI), offered jointly with the Department of Computer Science, provides sufficient depth in both biology and computer science to approach problems in bioinformatics from the perspective of both parent fields, Biology and Computer Science. The program is designed to prepare individuals to use the computational tools of bioinformatics to solve problems or analyze data sets in biological sciences.

Environmental Science

The interdisciplinary major in Environmental Science (ENSC) leads to a B.S. degree and integrates a fundamental understanding of the ecology of natural ecosystems and the processes by which humans influence, exploit, evaluate, conserve and restore their environment. The main goals for this major are to develop new knowledge in environmental science, educate students in the fundamental ecological and physical processes that govern the environment, train leaders who can identify and solve complex environmental problems and to educate students to help restore and sustain a healthy planet using an evidence-based approach.

Environmental Studies

The interdisciplinary major in Environmental Studies (INES) leads to a B.A. degree and prepares students to address pressing environmental issues using an interdisciplinary approach. The curriculum of this major allows students to understand the science of the environment and the political, social, economic, philosophical and ethical issues related to restoring and protecting the environment. This is an ideal major for students who intend to pursue a career that focuses on the environment (e.g., environmental management, restoration, mitigation, consulting, policy, economics), or who intend to pursue graduate or professional school in environmental science, law, business, policy, economics, philosophy, theology or ethics.

Direct Admit Program to Physical Therapy

Undergraduate students who have been admitted directly into the six year doctor of physical therapy degree program may complete a B.S. in Physiological Sciences with physical therapy courses taken in the fourth year counting towards the B.S. in Physiological Sciences.

Pre-dental Scholars

Students are directly admitted to the Pre-dental Scholars Program or accepted into the program after their freshman year. In this program, students complete three years of courses in the College of Arts and Sciences for a minimum of 96-97 credits (depending on courses) by the end of the third year. The fourth year of the program consists of Dental School course requirements, which typically consist of approximately 44 credit hours and are counted toward the B.S. in Biological Sciences or Physiological Sciences.

Early Assurance PharmD Program with a Major in Biological Sciences

The Department of Biological Sciences has partnered with the Medical College of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy to offer a 3+3 program allowing students to obtain a B.S. in Biological Sciences and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, spending three years on each campus. Students apply to the program in the freshman or sophomore year and courses taken in the first year of the pharmacy program count towards the B.S. in Biological Sciences.

B.S./M.B.A. Accelerated Degree Programs

The Department of Biological Sciences together with the Graduate School of Management offers an accelerated degree program which allow students to earn their B.S. in Biological Sciences, Physiological Sciences or Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and a master of business administration (M.B.A.), all within a five-year time period.

Notes

  • With recent changes to the MCAT exam, pre-health majors are advised to take the following courses as part of their undergraduate program: BIOL 3101 Biochemistry and the Molecular Basis of Biology, MATH 4740 Biostatistical Methods and Models, PSYC 1001 General Psychology and SOCI 1001 Principles of Sociology.