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COURSE CATALOGUE
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Biological Sciences
1203 Altschul Hall
Introductory Laboratory Office: 911 Altschul Hall
854-2437
www.barnard.edu/biology
Professors: Elizabeth S. Boylan (Provost), John Glendinning, Paul E. Hertz (Ann Whitney Olin Professor), Brian Morton (Chair),
Associate Professors: Hilary S. Callahan
Assistant Professors: Jennifer H. Mansfield, Kristen A. Shepard, Matthew Wallenfang, Elizabeth Bauer, Krista McGuire
Lecturer: Jessica Goldstein
Professors Emeritus: Philip V. Ammirato, Jeanne S. Poindexter
Department Administrator: Maria Minino
Biology is a field that explores the structure, function, interactions, and evolution of living organisms. Some of the most exciting issues of our era-such as those relating to biotechnology, genetic engineering, environmental problems, and health-require a strong background in biology. Biology courses at Barnard cover a broad range of topics, including molecular and cellular biology, genetics, development, physiology, evolution, and ecology.
Many students specialize in biology in preparation for a career in medicine, dentistry, public health, nutrition, or law. Others anticipate graduate work in one of the many subfields of biology leading to a teaching and/or research career. Still others plan futures as scientific writers, illustrators, photographers, industry or government researchers, or in areas such as environmental policy and law.
The biology major is designed to provide a student with a broad education in the field as well as an opportunity to cover a specific aspect of biology in depth if she desires. The major has a strong research component, with all lab sections at both the introductory and advanced levels limited to 16 students, ensuring ample opportunity for interaction with faculty. Students also have the option of conducting individual research projects under the guidance of a faculty member, as described below. The senior requirement for the biology major can be completed either by enrolling in a senior seminar that involves reading and discussing the current literature in a specific area of biology or by completing a guided research project.
Research
Students are strongly encouraged to engage in research at Barnard. Guided Research and Seminar (BIOL BC 3591-3592) and Senior Thesis Research (BIOL BC 3593-3594) may be used to fulfill major requirements as described below while BIOL BC 3597 Guided Research may be used for degree credit.
In addition to conducting research during the academic year, students are encouraged to pursue summer research internships. Barnard faculty engage many students in paid research projects during the summer. The departmental office also has information about summer internships outside Barnard. In addition, the department awards funds on a competitive basis to support summer research not otherwise funded by internships.
Introductory Course
Selection
The Biology Department offers several options at the introductory level; students should select courses on the basis of their preparation and background in biology. Students who took advanced biology in high school should enroll in the 1500-level sequence (BIOL BC 1500, BC 1502, and the lab courses BC 1501 and BC 1503). This sequence can be started either in the fall (BIOL BC 1500 and BC 1501) or the spring (BIOL BC 1502 and BC 1503) and fulfills the laboratory science portion of the General Education Requirement as well as the premedical requirement in biology.
Students with little or no experience in biology should enroll in the 1000-level sequence, which provides an appropriate introduction to important concepts in the field. Both BC 1001 and BC 1002 include a laboratory component and together fulfill the laboratory science portion of the General Education Requirement. Students who wish to move on to the 1500-level courses, which are prerequisites for advanced classes in biology, are eligible to do so upon completion of BC 1001.
AP Course Credit
Students who have passed the Advanced Placement examination in biology with a grade of 4 or 5 are exempt from BIOL BC 1001 and receive 3 points of credit. Students with an AP biology score of 4 or 5 may complete the Barnard lab science requirement with (a) BIOL BC 1002, (b) BIOL BC 1500 and BC 1501, or (c) BIOL BC 1502 and BC 1503. However, students must complete the entire 1500-level sequence (BC 1500, 1501, 1502, and 1503) for the Biology major or minor and for the biology premedical requirements. AP credit is granted regardless of which introductory courses are completed at Barnard.