Biology

Overview

Biology is a rapidly expanding, multifaceted discipline, full of possibilities for undergraduate research and for stimulating graduate study and employment after Occidental. Within an evolutionary framework, our program investigates the interactions between molecules, cells, organisms, populations, and ecosystems that constitute life on earth. Interdisciplinary and integrative by nature, the biology program at Occidental engages both majors and non-majors in a curriculum that emphasizes laboratory and field investigation. Our students are encouraged to collaborate with faculty mentors, whose research employs current methods in addressing questions from the molecular to the global in scale. Students acquire skills from careful observation through hypothesis formulation and experimental design to formal oral and written presentations of results. After participating in the biology program at Occidental College, students are prepared for rewarding work and lifelong learning, armed with the tools necessary to understand large complex data sets and help explain the intricacies of living systems. This rigorous program provides our students with the training to enter the work force after graduation and/or transition to an advanced degree program. After completing the major, many students elect to take graduate training toward the PhD. in biological sciences or doctorates of medicine, veterinary medicine, pharmacy or dentistry. Many of our students complete Masters programs in Biological Sciences, teaching, environmental health and safety, and resource management. Receiving a degree in Biology at Occidental College enables our students to excel in any post-baccalaureate professional pursuit.

The Department of Biology is housed within the Bioscience building which is contiguous with the Moore Laboratory of Zoology. Facilities include the bird and mammal collections (70,000 specimens) of Moore Laboratory, greenhouses, facilities for microscopy (scanning and transmission electron and fluorescence), a tissue culture suite and fluorescence-activated cell sorter, fully-equipped molecular biology laboratories, field vehicles, and three research vessels for nearshore marine studies and SCUBA diving. Because of its proximity to the Mojave Desert, the Santa Monica, San Gabriel, and San Bernardino Mountains, and seacoast, Occidental College is ideally suited for field and laboratory studies of environmental biology.

Major Requirements

Students are required to complete all major requirements and supporting coursework as detailed below in order to earn their degree in Biology. Those students looking to complete a concentration in the following fields should familiarize themselves with the additional requirements by clicking the link below.

Cell and Molecular Biology

Environmental Science

Marine Biology

COURSEWORK

Introductory Biology

Select one course from the list below:

BIO 105	Marine Biology	4 units
BIO 106	Biology of California	4 units
BIO 110	Organisms on Earth	4 units
BIO 115	General Zoology	4 units

Cellular and Molecular Biology (2 courses)

BIO 130	Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology	4 units
And one course from:
BIO 221	Molecular Biology	4 units
BIO 224	Genetic Analysis	4 units
BIO 226	Cell Biology	4 units

Environmental Biology

Select one course from the list below:

BIO 106	Biology of California	4 units
BIO 260	Biodiversity and Organization of Marine Ecosystems	4 units
BIO 270	Ecology	4 units
BIO 275	Flora of Southern California	4 units

Evolutionary Biology

BIO 280

Evolutionary Biology

4 units

Organismal Biology

Select one course from the list below:

BIO 240	Vertebrate Physiology	4 units
BIO 250	Plant Form and Function	4 units
BIO 275	Flora of Southern California	4 units

Upper-division Biology

Students must select three 300-level Biology courses. At least two of these must be Occidental College Biology laboratory courses.

Senior Seminar

BIO 490

Senior Seminar

4 units

Supporting Coursework

Students are required to complete five additional courses. Two must be in chemistry as detailed below and three additional quantitative courses.

Chemistry

CHEM 120	Foundations of General Chemistry	4 units
Or
CHEM 130	Advanced Placement General Chemistry	4 units
And
CHEM 220	Organic Chemistry I	4 units

Quantitative Coursework

Three 4-5 unit courses are required to satisfy the quantitative requirement. These courses include a Mathematics/Calculus, Data Analysis, and an elective Quantitative Course. Two 2-unit courses taken at Occidental College may be combined to satisfy one quantitative elective requirement.

Students are required to take one of five classes (Calculus 1, Calculus 2, MATH 210, MATH 212, or MATH 214) to satisfy the math requirement for the Biology major. Students who pass out of Calculus 2 may take MATH 210, MATH 212, MATH 214 or an additional Data Analysis course to satisfy the math requirement for the Biology major. 

Mathematics/Calulus

 Select one course from the list below:

Calculus 1	Scientific Modeling and Differential Calculus	4 units
Calculus 2	Scientific Modeling and Integral Calculus	4 units
MATH 210	Discrete Mathematics	4 units
MATH 212	Multivariable Calculus	4 units
MATH 214	Linear Algebra	4 units

Data Analysis

Select one course from the list below:

BIO 260	Biodiversity and Organization of Marine Ecosystems	4 units
BIO 268	Biostatistics	4 units
COGS 255	Data Analysis and Visualization	4 units
GEO 255	Spatial Analysis with Geographic Information Science	4 units
MATH 150	Statistical Data Analysis	4 units
PSYC 201	Statistics in Psychological Science	4 units

Additional Quantitative Elective

Select an additional course from the math or data analysis lists above or one course from the list below.

BIO 270	Ecology	4 units
BIO 326	Molecular Phylogenetics	4 units
BIO 340	Sensory Biology and Neurophysiology	4 units
BIO 369	Biological Oceanography	4 units
BIO 370	Field Ecology	4 units
BIO 373	Computational Biology	4 units
CHEM 221	Organic Chemistry II	4 units
CHEM 300	Physical Chemistry I	4 units
CHEM 301	Biophysical Chemistry	4 units
COGS 242	Computational Approaches to Cognition	4 units
COMP 131	Fundamentals of Computer Science	4 units
COMP 165	Mathematica	2 units
COMP 229	Data Structures	4 units
COMP 353	Information Theory	4 units
MATH 310	Real Analysis	4 units
MATH 312	Complex Analysis	4 units
MATH 322	Number Theory	4 units
MATH 330	Probability	4 units
MATH 332	Mathematical Statistics	4 units
MATH 340	Ordinary Differential Equations	4 units
MATH 342	Partial Differential Equations	4 units
MATH 350	Mathematical Logic	4 units
MATH 352/COMP 352	Computability and Complexity	4 units
MATH 354	Set Theory and Foundations of Mathematics	4 units
MATH 360	Axiomatic Geometry	4 units
MATH 362	Topology	4 units
MATH 370	Numerical Analysis	4 units
MATH 380	Combinatorics	4 units
MATH 382	Graph Theory	4 units
MATH 392	Mathematical Models in Biology	4 units
MATH 396	Topics in Applied Mathematics	2 units
PHYS 110	Introductory Mechanics	4 units
PHYS 115	General Physics I	4 units
PHYS 125	General Physics II	4 units
PHYS 230	Introductory Electricity and Magnetism	4 units

Second-Stage Writing Requirement

Students majoring in Biology will satisfy the second-stage writing requirement by successfully completing two courses at the 300-level (or appropriate course work). Students should familiarize themselves with the departmental requirement at the time of declaring the major. See the Writing Program and consult the department chair for additional information.

Comprehensive Requirement

The Senior Comprehensive in Biology provides an opportunity for every senior to demonstrate mastery of a topic of current importance and research interest in contemporary biology.

Seniors enroll in small, one-semester seminars (BIO 490) organized around current topics that are meant to span a number of scales in biology. The seminar includes extensive reading (both assigned and independently chosen), discussion and evaluation of primary literature, selection of an appropriate subtopic on which to focus, synthesis and writing of a précis or summary of research on the subtopic, and a major oral presentation by each student. The seminar also involves collaboration in that presenters partner with discussion leaders and work together throughout the semester to hone each other’s written and oral presentations.

College Honors

Requirements

• Student typically will have worked on a research project for 2 semesters (or 1 semester + summer session) minimum, before applying for honors
• Student must have an average GPA of 3.25 (college policy)

Application Process

• Student should discuss with their research mentor and submit an official Letter of Intent to the Biology Chairperson by the beginning of their senior year, or sooner.
• The letter of intent should include a summary of research results (realized and projected), as well as significance of the research and any projects in progress at the time of submission.
• Applications will be evaluated by the Biology faculty.
• Students nominated for honors will be notified by the Biology Chairperson.

Completion Process

• At the time of nomination, each candidate will be assigned an honors thesis committee of two Biology faculty members, in addition to their faculty mentor. This committee will be available for guidance and to help ensure that milestones are met in a timely manner.
• Milestones will include a thorough literature review, written drafts of the introduction, methods, and results sections, including draft figures, and a final discussion section, as well as preparation of a public seminar.
• The candidate must complete a written thesis of their work. It is expected that the student will spend part of their final semester or directed research writing the thesis.
• The written thesis will be due to the mentor by Monday in the 4th week of February.
• The revised honors thesis will be due to the committee by Monday in the 3rd week of February.
• The thesis will be reviewed by committee, and final revisions must be submitted by the last day of March.
• Honors candidates will also give a presentation on their research during the week of April 15. These presentations will last approximately 15 minutes, with 5 min for questions.
• Honors grades are Pass/Fail and reported to the registrar by the Chair. The chair will inform the students of their grade when it is decided upon by the committee.

Minor Requirements

COURSEWORK

Choose two introductory courses:

BIO 105	Marine Biology	4 units
BIO 106	Biology of California	4 units
BIO 110	Organisms on Earth	4 units
BIO 115	General Zoology	4 units
BIO 130	Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology	4 units

Additional Electives

Choose three additional courses at the 200- or 300-level, two of which must be taken in the Occidental College Biology Department. Independent Studies and Advanced Placement credit may not count toward the minor.

Transfer Credit Policies

The Biology Department policy on transfer credit conforms to College policy. Students should reference the Transfer Credit section for more details. IB or A-level examinations in Biology will not substitute for an Occidental course, place students into advanced courses, or allow a wider opportunity for choice of electives in the Department. For the major at most two 200-level courses and at most one 300-level course will be accepted in transfer. For the minor at most one course in transfer may be counted toward the 200- and 300-level requirement.

Graduate Study

Graduate study toward the degree of Master of Arts under the thesis plan may be undertaken in Biology by properly qualified students. Thesis projects may be elected in any of the following fields: cellular biology, developmental biology, immunology, microbiology, molecular biology, neurobiology, biochemistry, comparative physiology, animal behavior, environmental biology, ecology, systematics and evolutionary biology, and marine biology. Graduate courses, numbered 500 and above, are valued at five units unless otherwise noted. Consult the department chair for further information on graduate studies.

Courses

Biology Courses