Biology Major

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students will demonstrate:

1. competence in general biological knowledge, including but not limited to –
   1. vocabulary critical to biological discourse;
   2. relationships (e.g., structure/function, genetics, taxonomy, etc.) and processes (evolution, metabolism, development etc.) on a variety of scales; and
   3. history/philosophy of biological science.
2. understanding of the characteristics of life, including, but not limited to – evolutionary adaptation, responsiveness, homeostasis, inheritance, reproduction, energy processing, growth and development.
3. understanding of the levels of organization of the biological world (from molecules to the biosphere), complexity of interactions between the levels, and how properties emerge at successive levels of complexity.
4. understanding of the construction of biological knowledge, including but not limited to:
   1. understanding of, and ability to access, sources of biological knowledge
   2. understanding of the need for multiple scientific methods in answering biological questions;
   3. familiarity with scientific processes of investigation;
   4. the ability to review, critique, and synthesize scientific literature.
5. technical competence with respect to the selection and use of appropriate instrumentation to address biological questions.

April 2008