The Biology Major
Students majoring in Biology at Hiram College participate in a curriculum that culminates in the APEX capstone experience. APEX is defined as "the highest point" and our curriculum is designed to provide each student with the foundation and depth necessary to advance to the highest levels of any career path they pursue, whether they begin with graduate education, professional school, or a first job. The curriculum does this by ensuring a broad background in biology as well as allowing the student significant flexibility and choice as he or she matures within the discipline. All students practice problem solving, critical thinking, and the scientific method within a dynamic, challenging, and supportive scholarly environment.
Students who are interested in the life sciences and have yet to declare a major may consider Biology or one of its closely related programs.
Major Requirements for Biology and Related Programs (PDF files):
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Any student, regardless of major, aspiring to enter a professional program may consult their advisor for recomended courses to take while at Hiram.
Recommendations for various professional programs to help get you started in your course selection (PDF files):
Below is a listing of the requirements for a major in biology. Please refer to the Academic Course Catalog and your advisor for the most current requirements.
Core Courses
All students are required to have a foundation in biology which is provided by the core curriculum.
The core curriculum consists of two different introductory courses:
and two upper level courses:
The two introductory courses (151, 152) must be taken prior to all of the upper level courses. Additionally, Biology 230 is a prerequisite for 365 and a number of other upper-level courses.
Upper Level Courses
The upper level courses build on the core curriculum and provide the student with both breadth and specialization in biology. This combination is achieved through required categories that allow choice among courses to accommodate the individual interests and goals of the student. A total of five upper-level courses are required among the following categories:
- Category I. Organismal Biology – one course required in each category, A and B. One course must be an animal biology course (Biology 223, 320, 326, or 327) and one must be a plant biology course (Biology 213, 315/316, 331, or 332). Students may choose from option 1 or option 2.
Option 1
A. Biodiversity and phylogeny
BIOL 213 (Systematics of Non-Vascular Plants) OR
BIOL 315/316 (Systematics of Vascular Plants I and II)
B. Structure and function
BIOL 326 (Animal Physiology) OR
BIOL 327 (Neuroscience)
Option 2
A. Biodiversity and phylogeny
BIOL 223 (Vertebrate Biology) OR
BIOL 320 (Invertebrate Zoology)
B. Structure and function
BIOL 331 (Plant Anatomy) OR
BIOL 332 (Plant Physiology)
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Category II. Integration and synthesis - one course required from among:
| BIOL 328 (Animal Behavior) | BIOL 335 (Evolution) |
| BIOL 338 (Microbiology) | BIOL 340 (Developmental Biology) |
| BIOL 341 (General Ecology) | BIOL 366 (Basic Biochemistry) |
| BIOL 378 (Immunology) | BIOL 380 (Biomes of the World) |
| BIOL 430 (Behavioral Endocrinology) | Ind 388 (Bioinformatics) |
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Category III. Electives - two courses are required from the following list:
| BIOL 215 (Experimental Methods) | |
| BIOL 250 (Intro. to Wildlife Man.) | BIOL 280 (Seminar) |
| BIOL 300 (Field Biology) | BIOL 310 (Fisheries Biology) |
| BIOL 342 (Marine Ecology) | BIOL 344 (Conservation Biology) |
| BIOL 345 (Forest Ecology Methods) | BIOL 347 (Primate Behavior and Ecology) |
| BIOL 368 (Inter. Biochemistry) | BIOL 380 (Seminar) |
| BIOL 415 (Adv. Molecular Biology) |
Courses may also be selected from the upper level courses listed in category I and II from above.
Apprenticeship Experience
The apprenticeship experience, or APEX, is designed as the culmination of a student’s program in biology. The APEX allows each student to apply his or her expertise in a variety of contexts. This concrete experience can be achieved through an independent or collaborative research project on campus, a research techniques course and project, an internship off campus, or student teaching of biology in middle or secondary school. All students prepare and submit a scientific paper to the faculty supervisor and present a public lecture based upon the apprenticeship experience. Majors are required to meet with their biology faculty advisor no later than the advising period in the fall semester of the junior year to discuss options for the apprenticeship experience. One course is necessary from the following list to fulfill the apprenticeship experience requirement: Biology 481, 482, 498, or Education 423.
Required Correlative Courses
Modern biologists need background in other disciplines to enhance their insight into biological phenomena and to understand the role of biology in society. The following correlative courses are required: Chemistry 120 and 121; Chemistry 220; Physics 113 or 213; Mathematics 108 or 198.
One course addressing the ethical and historical aspects of science, chosen in consultation with the student's advisor in the biology department is strongly recommended. Examples include: Interdisciplinary 301, 302, 306, 307, 309, 311, 317, 318, 321, 344, 360, 361, 362, 370, 374, 375; Philosophy 265, 270.
Further courses in chemistry, mathematics, and physics are required for admission to most professional and graduate programs. Biology students planning to attend professional or graduate schools should investigate the specific requirements for these programs, including the possible need of a reading knowledge of a foreign language (French, German, or Spanish) or facility in a computer programming language.
Requirements for Honors in Biology
To be a candidate for honors in the APEX program in biology, a student must satisfy the College requirements for honors and must initiate and complete a high quality apprenticeship. The student must conduct himself/herself in a professional manner from inception to culmination of the apprenticeship experience.
Requirements for Minors
The minor requires a minimum of six courses including Biology 151, 152, 230, and three additional courses chosen in consultation with, and with the approval of, the student's Biology faculty advisor who serves in addition to an advisor in the student's major department.
Course Descriptions
*for complete departmental offerings please see the current course catalog
131 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
4 hours
This is the first of a two course sequence that covers the form and function of all of the systems of the human body. This course covers cell and membrane structure, membrane transport, cell homeostasis, basic Mendelian genetics, as well as the integumentary, musculoskeletal and nervous systems. Corequisite: Chemistry 161 or permission. Offered yearly.
132 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
4 hours
This is the second of the two course sequence on the form and function of the human body. This course covers the endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, excretory, reproductive, and immune systems, as well as basic developmental biology and stem cell biology. Prerequisite: Biology 131 or permission. Corequisite: Chemistry 162 or permission. Offered yearly.
151 Introductory Biology I: How Science Works (SM)
4 hours
One, we will work together to explore the scientific process – how scientists make progress in understanding nature works and how science differs from other ways of human understanding. Two, we will focus specifically on evolution, how organisms change and adapt to their surroundings over time, and ecology, the sum of the interactions of organisms with their living and nonliving environment. We will study these processes using examples from all kinds of organisms – animals, plants, fungi, other organisms with nuclei (eukaryotes) that you may have never heard of, and prokaryotes (cells with nuclei) from two groups that are as different from each other as they are from the eukaryotes. Offered yearly.
152 Introductory Biology II: How Life Works (SM)
4 hours
The purpose of this course is to explore the myriad ways organisms function to reproduce, develop, gain nutrition and energy, manage waste, respond to the environment, and exhibit distinctive adaptations that have resulted from evolution. One key concept we will emphasize throughout all that we cover is the conservative nature of all of life’s processes in all organisms. This is evident in the similarities we see in primary energy metabolism (i.e., cellular respiration and photosynthesis), other aspects of metabolism (biomolecular building blocks and the macromolecules they form), reproduction, protein synthesis, energy flow and nutrient cycling, and managing/regulating water intake and retention. All organisms also detect and respond to their environment on many levels (organismal, organ, cellular, and subcellular), and we see both similarities and differences among all of life in these respects. Offered yearly.
213 Systematics of Non-Vascular Plants
4 hours
Classification, identification, ecology, evolution, and comparative morphology of non vascular plants, including algae, fungi, lichens and bryophytes. Emphasis on the evolutionary development in complexity of structure and of reproductive patterns. Current concepts of kingdoms of organisms are also covered. Field work includes identification of mushrooms appearing here in early fall and bryophytes. Individual projects combine basic ecological principles with the study of the local flora as well as lab work on the biodiversity of these major groups. Prerequisites: Biology 141, 142, or permission. Offered in alternate years.
215 Experimental Methods
4 hours
Topics covered include types of experimental design and control, problems of definition, measurement, reliability and validity, descriptive statistics, statistical inference and ethics in experimentation. Laboratories provide experience in biobehavioral research, with an emphasis on methodology, analysis, and interpretation of data. Prerequisite: Psychology 101. Also listed as Psychology 215. Offered yearly.
223 Vertebrate Biology
4 hours
An introduction to the vertebrates. Five representative vertebrate dissections with major emphasis on mammalian anatomy in comparison with other forms. The ethology and life cycles, significance in evolution, comparative morphology and taxonomy of the vertebrates are studied in the laboratory, zoological gardens, museums, and James H. Barrow Field Station. Local field trips in the spring. Prerequisites: Biology 141, 142, or permission. Offered yearly.
230 Molecular and Cellular Biology
4 hours
A study of the structure and function of cells. Topics include: research techniques in cell biology; prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell structure; structure and function of biological macromolecules; conserved aspects of metabolism and energetics; flow of genetic information; cellular compartments and organization; signal transduction pathways; and control of cell growth and death. The laboratory emphasizes experimental techniques with a focus on conducting a research project. Prerequisites: Biology 151 and 152 (or 153), Chemistry 121 completed or taken concurrently. Offered yearly.
241 Principles of Ecology
4 hours
This introductory course covers fundamental aspects of climatology, biomes, distribution and abundance of plants and animals, energy flow through ecosystems, nutrient cycling, population dynamics, interspecific interactions, niche theory, community structure and dynamics, as well as methodologies to study these phenomena. A significant portion of the course will entail field work at the James H. Barrow Field Station. Also listed as Environmental Studies 241. Offered yearly, alternating in traditional and weekend college formats.
280 Seminar
1 - 4 hours
An introduction to selected topics of current interest in biology. Prerequisites: Biology 151, 152, or permission. Offered irregularly.
300 Field Biology
4 hours
Study of various ecosystems in temperate, tropical, desert, montane, and marine environments covering the diversity of plant and animal species and their structural and functional adaptations. Each time the course is offered it concentrates on a particular geographic area and its distinctive habitats and organisms, interactions and interrelationships among the organisms, and the abiotic factors that constrain populations. May be taken more than once for credit if taken in different geographic areas, but may serve only once toward a biology major. Prerequisites: Biology 151, 152, or permission. Offered irregularly as part of a study abroad program.
310 Fisheries Biology
4 hours
A study of factors that determine the health of world fisheries including: biological factors (population cycles, ocean regime changes, competition and predation), land use factors (on-shore development, pollution, estuarine influences, oil spills, water use), political factors (economic and cultural issues, nutritional and fish resource fads and use, recreational issues, international, state and federal issues) and conservation factors (animal rights and resource use issues). Prerequisites: Biology 151 or Interdisciplinary 225. Offered irregularly with a major field trip component.
315 Systematics of Vascular Plants I
1 hour
Survey of vascular plant diversity, morphology, life history, and evolution including fern allies, ferns, gymnosperms, and angiosperms. Some topics on principles and methods of classification are introduced. Laboratory work on each of the divisions of vascular plants complements and illustrates lecture material. This course is linked with Biology 316. Prerequisites: Biology 151, 152, or permission. Offered in alternate years.
316 Systematics of Vascular Plants II
3 hours
A continuation of Biology 315 with emphasis on diversity, evolution, and classification of the families of flowering plants. Principles and methods of classification also are covered and continued from Biology 315. Laboratory work is on recognition, identification, and keying vascular plants in the field and laboratory. Most of this course is done off campus in the southeastern U.S. or another destination during the spring 3 week term or the summer. Prerequisites: Biology 315. Offered in alternate years with a major field trip component.
320 Invertebrate Zoology
4 hours
The rise of animal multicellularity is traced from the Precambrian through the various evolutionary radiations of the Cambrian explosion to produce a survey of phylogeny, paleobiology, morphology, physiology, development, behavior, and ecology of invertebrates conducted in a comparative manner. Recent advances in our understanding of invertebrate evolution from current primary literature are incorporated into the class. Terrestrial, freshwater and marine forms are studied in lecture, laboratory, and field trip experiences. Evolution of phylum and class adaptive radiations are emphasized. Prerequisites: Biology 151, 152 or permission. Offered irregulary with a major field trip component.
326 Animal Physiology
4 hours
Life processes of animals, including locomotion, metabolism, nutrition and digestion, water balance, excretion, reproduction, endocrine function, circulation, respiration and temperature regulation. Laboratory experiments illustrate these topics with emphasis on physiological techniques, experimental design and analysis and computer simulation and data analysis. Prerequisite: Biology 230. Offered yearly.
327 Neuroscience
4 hours
An examination of the physiological correlates of behavior with emphasis on the nervous and endocrine systems. Beginning with neuroanatomy, the course will examine vertebrate and invertebrate nervous systems, sensory and motor processes, mechanisms of arousal, and nervous system development. Laboratories focus on the relations between physiology and behavior, and will prepare students for further independent work. Prerequisites: Psychology 101, Biology/Psychology 215, and Biology 152. Also listed as Psychology 327. Offered yearly.
328 Animal Behavior
4 hours
A survey of the modern field of animal behavior, tracing its origins from European ethology and American comparative psychology. Extensive coverage will be given to the topic of vertebrate social behavior, including social organization, sexual behavior, aggressive behavior, and parent-offspring interactions. Efforts will be made to integrate results from field and laboratory research. Laboratories emphasize techniques for recording, quantifying, and analyzing behavior. Required field trip fee. Prerequisites: Psychology 101, Biology 151 and Biology/Psychology 215. Also listed as Psychology 328. Offered irregularly.
331 Plant Anatomy
4 hours
Structure, growth, and development of seed plants. Emphasis particularly on the microscopic structure of basic plant tissues and on the process of morphogenesis which determines the overall structure of plants. Laboratory work primarily on the histology of stems, leaves, and roots but also including study of embryonic development and practical work on the preparation of plant tissues for microscopic examination. Prerequisites: Biology 230, Biology 315 and 316 recommended. Offered in alternate years.
332 Plant Physiology
4 hours
A study of life processes of plants, including photosynthesis, respiration, translocation, responses to the environment, mineral nutrition, and effects of plant hormones. Laboratory experiments illustrate these topics and place special emphasis on long term projects and reports. Prerequisites: Biology 230 and Chemistry 220 completed or taken concurrently. Offered in alternate years.
335 Evolution
3 hours
Examination of the historical development and modern interpretation of evolution and the theories proposed to account for the change of organisms over time. Topics considered include origin and age of the earth; chemical evolution and the origin of life; population genetics, structure, variation, and distribution; adaptation and selection; speciation; evolution above the species level; hybridization; polyploidy; apomixis; homology; and phylogeny. Prerequisite: Biology 365 or permission. Offered in alternate years.
338 Microbiology
4 hours
An introduction to microorganisms, focusing on the domains Bacteria and Archaea. Topics include working with microbes, bacterial cell structure, motility and chemotaxis, microbial systematics, metabolic diversity, basics of microbial pathogenesis, and antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. Emphasis on hands-on experience in lab organized around a course-long project. Prerequisite: Biology 230. Offered yearly.
340 Developmental Biology
4 hours
A comparative study of invertebrate and vertebrate development, focusing on the chief model systems used by experimental embryologists: C. elegans (worm), Drosophila (fruitfly), Zebrafish, Xenopus (frog), chick and mouse. Topics covered will include gametogenesis and fertilization, early development, gastrulation, organogenesis as well as gene regulation and the function of genetic networks in development. Laboratory will offer hands-on experience with a variety of developmental model organisms in the context of a semester-long research project. Prerequisites: Biology 230, and 223 or 320. Offered in alternate years.
341 General Ecology
4 hours
The relationships of organisms to one another and their environment. Topics include climatology, biomes, biogeography, community structure and dynamics, population biology, competition, species, niche theory, energy flow and nutrient cycles, and terrestrial, lotic, lentic, and marine communities. Students are required to complete a field project and present recent ecological research papers to the class. Development of sampling and data interpretation skills are emphasized in the projects which are usually conducted at the James H. Barrow Field Station. Prerequisites: Junior standing and one of the following: Biology 213, 223, 315 and 316, or 320, or permission. Offered in alternate years.
342 Marine Ecology
4 hours
As an introduction to the ecology of the marine environment, this course will examine the relationships that occur among various marine organisms and their biotic and abiotic environments as well as the methodologies and thinking used to obtain this information. Readings from the text will be supplemented by primary literature. Field investigations may be conducted in a number of different local onshore and offshore environments. Prerequisites: Junior standing and one of the following: Biology 213, 223, 315 and 316, or 320, or permission. Offered in alternate years.
344 Conservation Biology
3 hours
Conservation Biology is the study of species diversity in human-impacted landscapes. As human populations grow and the demand for natural resources increases human activities inevitably erode the integrity of natural ecosystems. This erosion leads to the loss of species, both locally and globally. In this course we will study what biodiversity is, how it arises and why it is important both for ecosystem functions and human well-being. We will also examine how human economic activities impact the natural world, the ecological mechanisms at work in the process of species extinction, and how research in conservation biology has led to the development of ways to halt or even reverse species loss. Prerequisites: One among Biology 151, 152 or Biology/Environmental Studies 241. This course is also listed as Environmental Studies 344. Offered irregulary.
347 Primate Behavior and Ecology
4 hours
This course is an introduction to the study of primate behavior and ecology. We will begin with an overview of the living primate species. Then we will consider the biological and social problems that primates face (e.g., finding a place to live, finding food, finding protection from predators, growing up within a complex social group, finding mates, and rearing young who can survive and reproduce), and the various solutions to these problems. Throughout the survey, we will examine the ways scientists have extracted general principles of behavior from the data, particularly those that are concerned with evolutionary processes. Methods of research used in the study of primate behavior will be emphasized. Prerequisites: Biology 151, Psychology 101, and Biology/Psychology 215. This course is also listed as Psychology 347. Offered irregularly.
365 Genetics
4 hours
A problem–based introduction to molecular, classical and population genetics. Key sections of the course are what genes are and how they work, how gene expression is regulated, how genes change, and how genes are transmitted between generations. Lab will provide hands-on experience with experimental approaches to these same questions and using those approaches to address a novel research project. Prerequisite: Biology 230. Offered yearly.
366 Basic Biochemistry
4 hours
Biochemistry studies the molecules and chemical reactions in living organisms. Topics include the structure and chemical properties of major macromolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, nucleotides, and lipids) of living organisms, the role of enzymes and enzyme pathways by which these molecules are synthesized and degraded, and the cellular mechanisms which regulate and integrate metabolic processes. The laboratory emphasizes tools of biochemical analysis (spectrophotometry, chromatography, electrophoresis, centrifugation) in an examination of physical, chemical, and biological properties of biologically important molecules. Prerequisites: Chemistry 320, Biology 230. Also listed as Chemistry 366. Offered yearly.
368 Intermediate Biochemistry
4 hours
This course will examine some topics introduced in Basic Biochemistry in greater detail, as well as selected topics in biochemistry such as biological information flow, biochemical studies in disease, and ecological biochemistry. The laboratory will extend the students’ opportunities in analysis of biomolecules and their properties. Prerequisite: Biology/Chemistry 366. Also listed as Chemistry 368. Offered in alternate years.
378 Immunology
3 hours
A problem solving approach to understanding the molecular and cellular basis of immunity in vertebrates, the differences and connections between innate and adaptive immunity, the range of innate immune functions outside of vertebrates, how self, non-self and altered self are distinguished, how immune functions deal with non-self and altered self, and disorders of the immune system. Prerequisite: Biology 230 and Biology 365 completed or taken concurrently. Offered irregularly.
380 Seminar
1 - 4 hours
Includes various topics for upper level specialty courses. Prerequisites: Junior standing and permission. Offered irregularly.
415 Advanced Molecular Biology
4 hours
This course is designed to deepen understanding of the molecular processes of cells. The material builds on that from previous courses with respect to a few selected topics. Lab focuses on using molecular techniques to address novel research projects. Prerequisite: Biology 365 or 366 or permission of instructor. Offered irregularly.
430 Behavioral Endocrinology
4 hours
Behavioral endocrinology is the study of the role hormones play in the physiology and behavior of animals. The interaction of behavior and endocrine system function is necessary to understand how psychological and biological systems express behavior. In this course, students will acquire an understanding of the feedback loop among behavior, endocrine and neurological function. Students will study how the endocrine system functions under normal conditions as well as under conditions of pathology. Topics include the influence of endocrine function on sexual behavior, social interaction, and physiological function. Students will gain laboratory experience in behavioral neuroendocrinology. Prerequisites: Biology 230, Biology/Psychology 215. Offered in alternate years.