biology

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BIOLOGY B.S./M.S.

Faculty Gary Butler, Nada Chang, Jeffrey Chesky, David Jenkins, Ann M. Larson, Michael Lemke, Malcolm Levin, Roy Mosher

Associated Faculty Keenan Dungey, Eric Fisher, Gary Trammell, James Veselenak

Adjunct Faculty Everett D. Cashatt, Donald M. Caspary, Maria Lemke, Stewart Jacobson





Degrees offered: Bachelor of Science, Master of The foundational B.S. and the more-specialized and college algebra. Before graduation, a student

Science, Undergraduate Minor M.S. curricula prepare biology students for many ca- must complete one semester of organic chemistry with

reer options, including technicians, scientific sales, laboratory, which may be taken before or after the stu-

The bachelor of science degree is designed to build a project managers in life science and allied health pro- dent has entered the biology program. During the two

strong foundation in the skills and content of modern fessions, and teaching at the secondary, community years at UIS, up to 12 semester hours of approved

biology, improve students’ learning skills, and aid stu- college, and university levels. Recent biology gradu- lower-division courses may be transferred from an ac-

dents in applying problem-solving skills to scientific ates have successfully continued their careers in re- credited institution of higher education to make up

and public issues. It is the first professional degree in search, medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine. deficiencies.

the discipline and prepares students for careers in bi-

ological sciences and/or further training, including Contact: Information about the biology program is ADVISING

Ph.D. programs and professional schools. The degree available at (217) 206-6630. Information can also be Students should consult a program faculty member

offers a balanced biology curriculum and a research requested at bio@uis.edu, or visit the website at before initial registration. If this is not possible, stu-

experience centered around faculty research interests www.uis.edu/~biology. dents must contact a program representative at regis-

in molecular, cellular, and organismal biology. tration. During the first semester at UIS, the program

A central emphasis of the biology program is THE BACHELOR’S DEGREE will assist the student in selecting an adviser from

mastery of scientific skills and knowledge. Scientific ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS among the biology faculty.

facilities available to students include a new, well- Students entering the program must have completed The student should prepare a plan to ensure that

equipped building with research laboratories. Both eight to ten semester hours in general chemistry with all requirements are being met. The program recom-

undergraduate and graduate students use these facil- laboratory, five to eight semester hours of biology mends that students take the general seminar, organ-

ities under the supervision of faculty. courses (including general biology with laboratory), ismal botany, and organic chemistry in the fall of their





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junior year. Students are expected to complete organ- BIO 345 & 346 General Microbiology UIS Requirements 12 Hrs.

ic chemistry before taking cell biology. Cell biology (suggested fall, senior year) 4 Hrs. Total 60 Hrs.

and comparative vertebrate biology are usually taken BIO 351 Organismal Botany

in the spring of the junior year. In the fall of the sen- (suggested fall, junior year) 4 Hrs. *Pre-professional students and students planning to

ior year, students typically take ecology and microbi- BIO 361 Comparative Vertebrate Biology go to graduate school should take a year of physics

ology. Genetics is used as the capstone course. It is as- (suggested spring, junior year) 4 Hrs. with laboratory.

sumed that students will have completed most of the BIO 371 Principles of Ecology

required biology sequence before enrolling in this (suggested fall, senior year) 4 Hrs. In addition to satisfying general requirements for

course. BIO 381 Genetics (suggested spring, the B.S., the biology program assesses for learning

senior year) 4 Hrs. outcomes in both disciplinary communication and

UIS REQUIREMENTS Biology elective (suggested senior year) 4 Hrs. content skills. The process begins in the general sem-

Students are required to complete a minimum of 12 Total Biology 31 Hrs. inar, which should be taken the first semester of the

semester hours of UIS requirements in the areas of lib- junior year. Students must earn at least a C to receive

eral studies colloquia, public affairs colloquia, and Other Possible Requirements credit by demonstrating at least a beginning mastery

applied study. At least four hours in each of at least two CHE 367 Fundamental Organic Reactions of the ability to write in the profession. Students’ work

of these areas must be completed. (suggested fall, junior year) 3 Hrs. will be collected in a portfolio to document progress.

CHE 368 Experimental Organic Chemistry

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS (suggested fall, junior year) 1 Hr. ASSESSMENT

Core Requirements The biology program assesses all students for commu-

One semester of organic chemistry is a prerequisite for

BIO 301 General Seminar nication skills and for knowledge of biology. This as-

some BIO core courses. Transfer students with credit

(suggested fall, junior year) 2 Hrs. sessment begins when students enter UIS and contin-

equivalent to CHE 367 and 368 can substitute general

CHE 322 Laboratory Techniques ues until graduation. Assessment tools include a writ-

electives.

(suggested fall/spring, junior year) 1 Hr. ten evaluation and the development of a portfolio of

BIO 311 Cell Biology *General Electives 13-17 Hrs. laboratory reports and papers. The written evaluation

(suggested spring, junior year) 4 Hrs. Total 17 Hrs. is given both at the beginning of a student’s study at





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UIS and just before graduation. This assessment is in- semester residency at UIS may elect to participate in at the University of Illinois at Springfield. Electives

tended to help students in their academic planning the biology honors option. In addition to biology pro- should be selected in consultation with a biology fac-

and to help the program in curriculum development. gram and UIS requirements, honors students must ulty member. Some upper-division courses have par-

Assessment in the major and in general education maintain a minimum GPA of 3.25, successfully com- ticular prerequisites other than general biology. The

skills is included in BIO 301 General Seminar, a re- plete BIO 302 Honors Seminar, BIO 402 Biometrics, faculty adviser will ensure that each student is proper-

quired course for all biology majors that uses the BIO 400 Undergraduate Research (4 hours), and ly prepared.

learning skills assessment scores to assist the student in present their findings in a formal paper and public

developing specific learning skills in biology. Students seminar. Students must apply for participation in the Core Courses

in general seminar must earn at least a C to receive honors program to the program convener and obtain Two semesters of general biology with

credit. Those performing below this level are required the approval of their faculty research adviser before laboratory or its equivalent 8 Hrs.

to complete a learning skills development program. beginning the program. Elective Courses

(A minimum of eight hours in biology

APPLIED STUDY BIOLOGY MINOR must be taken at the University of Illinois

Students can gain practical professional experience by A minor in biology is designed for students who wish at Springfield) 16 Hrs.

participating in an applied study term. Placements to increase their knowledge of biology, increase their Total 24 Hrs.

have included state agencies such as the Illinois State biological literacy, and acquire a foundation in biolog-

Museum, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, ical sciences and critical thinking. Students may plan THE MASTER’S DEGREE

Illinois Department of Transportation, SIU School of a broad-based minor, containing courses from each of ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

Medicine, and Lincoln Memorial Gardens. Students the major organizational divisions of living things: Applicants are expected to have completed a program

may also conduct research with biology faculty mem- cells, organisms, and communities. The minor may of study similar to that required for a bachelor of sci-

bers for their AST. also focus on a particular aspect of biology such as ence in biology at UIS. They are also expected to have

botany, ecology, or physiology. a GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale and to submit a letter of

UNDERGRADUATE HONORS IN BIOLOGY To earn a minor in biology, students must com- application that discusses academic and vocational

Select students can graduate with honors in biology. plete a minimum of 24 hours in biology, of which at goals, as well as GRE scores in both the general and

Biology majors with a GPA greater than 3.25 and one least eight hours must be upper-division courses taken biological sciences. Conditional admission may be





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granted to students who have not completed their GRE BIO 402 Biometrics (or equivalent) 4 Hrs. faculty, students, and guests – of the written master’s

examinations or who have deficiencies in their aca- BIO 502 Biological Research and Policy I 2 Hrs. project or thesis. Each thesis/project begins with a

demic backgrounds. BIO 503 Biological Research and Policy II 2 Hrs. proposal approved by the student’s master’s commit-

Accepted students will be assigned to an initial ac- BIO 551 Advance Cell Biology or tee, who will determine if the project/thesis meets the

ademic adviser who may change as a research focus is BIO 561 Advanced Microbiology or standards of the profession. Students must enroll for

decided. Before the completion of 10 hours of pro- BIO 571 Advanced Ecology 4 Hrs. either four hours of credit for the master’s project

gram-approved course work, students must develop a Total 16 Hrs. (BIO 575) or eight hours of credit for the master’s the-

thesis proposal and convene an advisory committee sis (BIO 585); however, the total may be accrued in in-

with the assistance of a faculty adviser. See the Biolo- Thesis Option crements of one hour for the project and two hours for

gy Graduate Student Handbook for additional in- BIO 585 Master’s Thesis 8 Hrs. the thesis. Campus policy requires that students be en-

formation and procedures for the M.S. experience. Biology approved electives 12 Hrs. rolled in at least one semester hour of closure exercise

Total 36 Hrs. credit for each semester after they have begun their

GRADING POLICY graduate closure exercises until the exercise is com-

A maximum of eight credit hours of C grades are appli- Project Option pleted. For biology students, this means that if the

cable to the degree, provided they are balanced by eight BIO 575 Master’s Project 4 Hrs. project is not completed by the end of four credit hours

hours of A. However, C grades will not be accepted for Biology approved electives 16 Hrs. of enrollment in BIO 575, students must register to

required courses, and C grades taken in program-ap- Total 36 Hrs. audit the course for one hour in all subsequent semes-

proved elective courses must be balanced by A grades in ters until the project is complete. Likewise, if the the-

program-approved courses only. Master’s candidates BIO 502 and 503 must be taken within the first 10 sis is not completed by the time eight hours in BIO 585

are expected to maintain a B average, and those students hours of graduate work, and BIO 402 must be com- is accrued, the student must enroll for one hour of

who fall below that level may lose their candidacy. pleted before the project or thesis proposal is ap- audit credit in BIO 585 in each semester until the the-

proved. sis is complete. Additional information and proce-

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS dures for completing the master’s closure exercise are

Core Requirements MASTER’S CLOSURE available in the Biology Graduate Student Hand-

CHE 415 Biochemistry I (or equivalent) 4 Hrs. The closure activity is an oral presentation – open to book in the program office.





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COURSE DESCRIPTIONS science majors with a review of the major principles of bacteria and an introduction to epidemiology. Prerequi-

ecology to broaden their expertise. The two-hour option site: BIO 345, or equivalent. Required of clinical labora-

is a non-laboratory science course for non-science ma- tory science students. Offered fall semester.

BIO 301 General Seminar (2 Hrs.)

jors. The four-hour option is a laboratory science course

Development of learning skills following self-assessment. BIO 351 Organismal Botany (4 Hrs.)

for non-science majors.

Mastery of library skills and ability to organize material Development of “higher’’ plants from seed to seed con-

are demonstrated by a paper on a topic of interest and a BIO 311 Cell Biology (4 Hrs.) sidering both the structure and function of plants. Con-

seminar based on the paper. Recommended for fall of Molecular basis of structure and function of cells, with an sideration of principles of plant systematics using repre-

junior year. See CHE 301. Prerequisite: Chemistry or bi- emphasis on the mechanisms of biological processes. sentatives from both the plant and fungus kingdoms as

ology major. Laboratory integrates study of cellular processes with in- examples. Recommended fall of junior year.

troduction to current research techniques and instru-

BIO 302 Honors Seminar (1 Hr.) mentation. Prerequisite: Organic chemistry. Recom- BIO 361 Comparative Vertebrate

Integrative seminar to share research methods and expe- mended spring of junior year. Biology (4 Hrs.)

riences and analyze procedures and protocols in re- Comparative study of the evolutionary origins, embry-

search. BIO 345 General Microbiology (3 Hrs.) ological development, and functional anatomy of the

Discussion of basic topics in microbial physiology, genet- various classes of vertebrates. Interrelatedness of form

BIO 305 Plants and Society (2 or 4 Hrs.) ics, and ecology, along with an introduction to virology, and function is stressed in both lecture and laboratory.

Lecture and laboratory experiences about plants as used immunology, and applied microbiology. Prerequisite: Recommended spring of junior year.

by people and the importance of plants in human affairs. Concurrent enrollment in organic chemistry. Recom-

Includes an overview of the fundamentals of life and mended fall of senior year. BIO 371 Principles of Ecology (4 Hrs.)

flowering plant form, function, and reproduction. Plant Structure and function of ecological systems including

products such as fruits, grains, legumes, medicines, BIO 346 General Microbiology basic ecological principles and concepts. Applicable to

herbs and spices, drinks, textile fibers, lumber, poisonous Laboratory (1 Hr.) individuals, populations, communities, and ecosystems.

and psychoactive plants, and forages are studied. The Application of basic microbiological techniques to the Laboratory involves outdoor and lab experiments. Rec-

two-hour option is a non-laboratory science course for identification and classification of microorganisms. In- ommended fall of senior year.

non-science majors. The four-hour option is a laborato- troduction and application of molecular genetic and im-

ry science course for non-science majors. munological techniques to the study of various aspects of BIO 381 Genetics (4 Hrs.)

microbial physiology and ecology. Studies a range of topics including classical Mendelian

BIO 306 Environmental Biology (2 or 4 Hrs.) analysis, chromosome structure and mapping, molecular

Introduction to basic ecological concepts and relation- BIO 347 Medical Bacteriology (4 Hrs.) genetics and recombinant DNA technology, culminating

ships that tie our biotic and abiotic world together as they Concise overview of pathogenic bacteriology. Includes with an introduction to population genetics. Includes

relate to today’s threats to our biosphere. Provides non- discussion of techniques for culturing and identifying laboratory sessions to introduce students to problem-





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solving situations using the techniques of both classical docrine regulatory mechanisms. Prerequisite: Prior tion and development of behavior in individual animals

and molecular genetics. Prerequisite: Microbiology and chemistry required; anatomy recommended. and applications to understanding human behavior.

cell biology. Recommended spring of senior year. Laboratory and/or field research projects are empha-

BIO 435 Invertebrate Biology (4 Hrs.) sized.

BIO 400 Undergraduate Research (1 to 4 Hrs.) Comprehensive study of major and minor invertebrate

Independent investigation of specific problem of interest phyla. Emphasis on morphology and adaptations, evolu- BIO 479 Evolution (4 Hrs.)

to the student. Before enrolling, student must select a tionary relationships among groups. Laboratory includes Origin of life and history of development of living sys-

faculty member from the biology program to direct and field collections and study of specimens. tems. Analysis of classical Darwinism, the neo-Darwin-

review the project. Research paper, formal seminar, or ian synthesis, and mechanisms of evolution, with em-

both may be required for credit. Maximum of four se- BIO 439 Comparative Physiology (4 Hrs.) phasis on microevolutionary studies as an analytical tool.

mester hours may be earned. Offered each semester. Study of fundamental physiological mechanisms charac-

teristic of the animal kingdom. Examples of functional BIO 502 Biological Research and

diversity in adaptation to varied lifestyles and environ- Policy I (2 Hrs.)

BIO 402 Biometrics (4 Hrs.)

ments from insects to mammals. Weekly labs illustrate First part of a two-course sequence. Must be taken dur-

Statistical analytical tools in biology and their application

the principal physiological functions on animal models. ing the first fall semester of graduate enrollment. An in-

in developing strategies for experimental procedures and

troduction to graduate studies that emphasizes graduate

evaluating results. Introduction to statistics software.

BIO 444 Aquatic Ecology (4 Hrs.) student responsibilities, introduction to faculty advisers

Fundamentals of freshwater ecology, including abiotic- and research topics, development of library research

BIO 422 Electron Microscopy (4 Hrs.) biotic interactions, aquatic ecosystems structure and skills, conceptualization of a topic and course of study for

Theory and procedures of electron microscopy integrat- function, and relationships among organisms. Lecture the M.S. thesis or project, completion of a professional

ed with an understanding of ultrastructural morphology. and laboratory. Prerequisite: Ecology. See ENS 444. presentation, and exploration of societal policy interac-

Students develop competencies within three broad areas: tions in science. Offered every fall. Prerequisite: Biology

material preparation, instrumentation, and information BIO 445 Biology of Water Pollution (4 Hrs.) graduate standing.

processing in both transmission and scanning electron Effects of organic wastes, industrial chemicals, and non-

microscopy. Emphasis on laboratory experience. point pollutants on aquatic fauna and flora and humans; BIO 503 Biological Research and

detection and measurement of water pollution. Labora- Policy II (2 Hrs.)

BIO 429 Human Physiology (4 Hrs.) tory involves detection and measurement of water pollu- Second part of a two-course sequence. Must be taken in

Systems approach to understanding fundamental mech- tion by toxicity tests and field sampling. See ENS 445. the spring semester immediately after enrollment in BIO

anisms of human physiology with emphasis on home- 502. Students complete introduction to graduate studies

ostasis: in-depth discussion of membranes and cellular BIO 468 Animal Behavior/Ethology (4 Hrs.) and extend their skills in library research, professional

mechanisms; nervous system; muscle; cardiovascular, Historical foundations of ethology, current methods, con- presentation, and research study design. Students select a

renal, respiratory, and digestive physiology; and en- cepts, and research problems; analysis of the organiza- research adviser and thesis/project advisory committee,





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as well as develop and present a draft proposal of their such as growth, metabolism, photosynthesis, and genet- with the permission of a biology faculty member.

theses/projects. Societal policy applications and implica- ics. Independent laboratory project required. Prerequi-

tions are addressed throughout. Offered every spring. site: BIO 345, or equivalent. BIO 585 Master’s Thesis (2 or 4 Hrs.)

Prerequisite: Biology graduate standing and BIO 502. A research effort involving collection and analysis of

BIO 571 Advanced Ecology (4 Hrs.) original data (e.g., field or laboratory experiments). Con-

BIO 510 Topics in Biology (1 to 4 Hrs.) Critical review of contemporary ecological concepts, ducted under supervision of a faculty adviser and adviso-

Intensive study of a topic under investigation by contem- mainly through analysis and discussion of primary refer- ry committee. Thesis must be approved by the graduate

porary biologists. Description of topic for a given semes- ences. Designed especially for M.A. students focusing on committee. Note: If the thesis is not complete by the time

ter will be stated in course schedule. Prerequisite: Depen- environmental biology. Independent laboratory project eight hours in BIO 585 is accrued, students must register

dent on topic. Course may be repeated for an indefinite required. Prerequisites: BIO 371, or equivalent. to audit BIO 585 for one hour in all subsequent semesters

number of credit hours, but topic must differ. Offered until the thesis is complete. Prerequisite: Permission of

every semester. BIO 575 Master’s Project (1 to 4 Hrs.) instructor.

An in-depth investigation of a biological topic that may

BIO 551 Advanced Cell Biology (4 Hrs.) analyze existing data and/or be related to science policy.

Critical analysis of selected concepts in eukaryote cell bi- Conducted under the supervision of a faculty adviser and The following courses are accepted for the program

ology, a subject of intense current scientific inquiry. Fo- advisory committee. Product must be approved by the major –

cuses on modern technology in the study of molecular graduate committee. Note: If the project is not complet-

mechanisms of eukaryote cell functions. Flexible format ed by the end of four hours of enrollment in BIO 575, stu-

accommodates individual student interests and needs. dents must register to audit the course for one hour in all CHE 421 Instrumental Analysis

Prerequisite: BIO 311, or equivalent. subsequent semesters until the project is complete. Pre- CHE 425 Interpretive Spectroscopy

requisite: Permission of instructor.

CHE 431 Environmental Chemistry

BIO 561 Advanced Microbiology (4 Hrs.)

Selected advanced topics that may vary in response to BIO 580 Independent Research (1 to 6 Hrs.) CHE 465 Environmental Toxicology

student need but include aspects of microbial physiology Student may enroll for 1-6 hours of graduate research, ENS 488 Environmental Law









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