Biology Department

The Biology Department is one of eighteen academic departments at Knox. It offers one major and one minor. The department is located in the B wing of SMC.

Department Faculty

Current

• Stuart Allison, Department Chair, Associate Professor
• Linda Dybas, Watson Bartlett Professor
• D. James Mountjoy, Associate Professor
• Esther Penick, Assistant Professor
• Jennifer Templeton, Assistant Professor
• Judith Thorn, Assistant Professor

Former

• Christopher Thompson, Visiting Assistant Professor (2006-2007)

Cooperating Faculty From Other Programs

• Janet Kirkley, Associate Professor of Biochemistry, Pre-Med Advisor

Biology

See main page at Biology.

The department offers one biology major and one biology minor.

Biology (major)

This major allows advanced study in biology.

Courses Required for the Biology major

11 credits:

• All of the following:
  • BIOL 110 (Evolution, Ecology and Biodiversity)
  • BIOL 120 (Cell Biology and Physiology)
  • BIOL 130 (Molecular Biology and Genetics)
  • BIOL 210 (Introduction to Research)
  • CHEM 101 (General Chemistry I)
  • CHEM 102 (General Chemistry II)
• One of the following:
  • BIOL 312 (Animal Behavior)
  • BIOL 315 (Plant Ecology)
  • BIOL 316 (Field Biology of Higher Plants)
  • BIOL 317 (Principles of Ecology)
  • BIOL 318 (Evolution)
  • BIOL 319 (Conservation Biology)
• One of the following:
  • BIOL 320 (Ethnobotany)
  • BIOL 321 (Algae and Fungi)
  • BIOL 322 (Invertebrate Biology
  • BIOL 323 (Microbiology
  • BIOL 324 (Medical Microbiology
  • BIOL 325 (Anatomy
  • BIOL 328 (Physiology
  • BIOL 329 (Histology)
• One of the following:
  • BIOL 332 (Molecular Biology)
  • BIOL 336 (Physiology and Anatomy of Vascular Plants)
  • BIOL 338 (Developmental Biology)
  • BCHM 301 (Biochemistry I: Structure and Function)
  • BCHM 302 (Biochemistry II: Chemistry of Metabolism)
  • BCHM 334 (Proteins and Enzymes)
  • BCHM 335 (Immunology)
  • BCHM 340 (Pharmacology)
  • BCHM 345 (Molecular Medicine)
• One of the following:
  • BIOL 380 (Research: Library Project and Seminar)
  • BIOL 381 (Research: Populations)
  • BIOL 382 (Research: Organisms)
  • BIOL 383 (Research: Cells and Molecules)
  • BIOL 384 (Research: Education)
  • BIOL 400 (Advanced Studies)
• One additional 300-level credit

For students completing a double major in Biology and Biochemistry, no more than three courses may be double-counted.

Biology (minor)

This minor allows for intermediate study in biology.

Courses Required for the Biology minor

6 credits:

• CHEM 101 (General Chemistry I)
• Two of the following:
  • BIOL 110 (Evolution, Ecology and Biodiversity)
  • BIOL 120 (Cell Biology and Physiology)
  • BIOL 130 (Molecular Biology and Genetics)
• One of the following:
  • BIOL 210 (Introduction to Research)
  • STAT 200 (Introductory Statistics)
  • PHYS 241 (Introduction to Research)
  • ANSO 301 (Methodologies in Sociology and Anthropology)
  • PS 230 (Study of Politics)
• Two other 300-level biology courses, one of which may be independent research

For students completing a major-minor combination of Biology and Biochemistry, no more than two courses may be double-counted.

Meeting the Competency Requirements

• Writing Requirement: BIOL 210, BIOL 380, BIOL 381, BIOL 382, BIOL 383, BIOL 384
• Oral Requirement: BIOL 210
• Information Literacy Requirement: BIOL 210, 300-level courses