/Institutions/Messiah-College/json/2024-2025/Undergraduate-Catalog-local.json
/Institutions/Messiah-College/json/2024-2025/Undergraduate-Catalog.json
Biology (B.S.) Organismal Concentration
Program Overview
The Biology major provides a strong and broad foundation in biological sciences, from the molecular to the ecological level. The Organismal Concentration explores the diversity and ecology of organisms and their interactions within dynamic communities. Study botany and zoology and prepare for graduate work or employment at zoos, conservation organizations, state and federal agencies, and more. As with all Biology concentrations, supporting courses in philosophy, chemistry, physics, calculus, and statistics equip students with a versatile foundation.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates from Messiah’s Biology program can:
- Describe the nature and process of science, and the fundamentals of organismal biology spanning molecular, cellular, organismal, and ecological subdisciplines.
- Articulate a rationally defensible integration of science and faith.
- Demonstrate proficiency in searching and evaluating published organismal biology literature.
- Demonstrate competence in applied skills required for organismal biology-related careers and post-graduate studies.
- Engage with the professional scientific community appropriate for vocational pursuits in organismal biology.
Major Requirements
Complete the following for your major:
All Organismal Biology students are encouraged to complete one course at Au Sable Institute. Au Sable courses can count only as ecological elective credit. Majors are encouraged to do an internship and/or research experience.
Three to four credits of the following:
Four credits from the following:
Organismal Concentration (17-19 credits)*
A minimum of one laboratory course or one discipline-specific travel course (BIOL 302 or BIOL 304) must be taken from the elective groupings.
Three to four credits from Oganismal and Biodiversity:
Six to seven credits from the following:
General Education Requirements
Experiential Learning requirement |
|
0 |
General Education requirements |
|
Credits |
First Year Seminar |
IDFY 101/102H |
3 |
Written Communication |
ENGL 110/110H |
3 |
Oral Communication |
COMM 105 |
3 |
Mathematical and Scientific Ways of Knowing |
Mathematics (MATH 108 or MATH 111, STAT 269) |
met/major |
Science with Lab (BIOL 170, 172, CHEM 105) |
met/major |
Social Scientific Ways of Knowing
|
Social Science |
3 |
Cultural/Humanistic Ways of Knowing |
24GE History |
3 |
Literary & Aesthetic Ways of Knowing
|
Literature or Arts |
3
|
Cultural/Humanistic Ways of Knowing
|
Philosophy (PHIL 101) or Religion |
met/major |
Cultural/Humanistic Ways of Knowing |
1st and 2nd Level Language |
6 |
Intercultural Perspectives |
Intercultural Global or International Cross-cultural or 3rd Level Language |
3 |
Bible
|
24GE Bible |
3 |
Christian Beliefs
|
24GE Christian Beliefs |
3 |
Holistic Wellness
|
WELL 1xx |
1 |
Ethics and the Common Good
|
24GE Ethics and the Common Good |
3 |
Intercultural Perspectives
|
Intercultural U.S. or Domestic Cross-cultural |
3 |
Common Learning
|
Experiential Learning |
|
General Education requirements |
|
40 |
Major requirements (inclusive of concentration) |
|
66-69 |
Free Electives |
|
14-17 |
Total credits |
|
123 |