THE
FACULTY
SENATE
Senate
Document Number 6006S
Date
of Senate Approval
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Statement
of Faculty Senate Action:
APC Document 46:
Modification of
"Required courses outside the major" in Biology;
Changes in Biology prerequisites as a
result of curriculum changes in Chemistry
Effective Date:
Fall 2006
1. Delete: On pg 71, in
II. Required coursed outside the major"
17-20 hours, including: CHEM 111, 132 or placement, 144, 234;
Add: On pg 71, in place of deleted entry:
16-19 hours,
including CHEM 111, 132 or placement, 145,
231 and 236;
Impact: The Department of Chemistry has modified its
general chemistry offerings from two lectures and one lab (eight credit hours)
to two lectures and two labs (eight credit hours). There is no credit hour
impact associated with this change. However, they have also modified their
organic sequence from two four hour courses, which include a lab, to two three
hour courses, which do not include a lab, and a stand alone, two hour organic
laboratory course. This change results in a decrease of one credit hour in this
portion of the degree requirements.
Rationale: The Department of Chemistry has changed its
second semester general chemistry course from four hours to three hours to make
room for the CHEM 145 lab. This new approach is a more typical approach to
general chemistry, is consistent with the goals of this degree option, and
positively increases the fundamental laboratory experience of Biology majors
without increasing the credit hours required for the major. The Department of
Chemistry has also changed its organic chemistry sequence to enable students to
have more laboratory experience before entering the organic laboratory. This
change also requires students to have completed at least a semester of organic
lecture before entering the organic laboratory, which should improve student
performance in the laboratory course. Finally, this change allows students to
take the organic lectures and laboratories in separate semesters, something
students have been requesting because of the intensity and workload of these
courses.
2. Delete: On pg 71,
under Concentration in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology:
31–36 hours, including PHYS 131, 231; BIOL 443; one course from
either BIOL 338, 345, or 455; three courses from BIOL 321, 331-337, 340 or 348,
350, 351, 356, 360; ENVR 350, 360, 384, 443, 444; and either BIOL 444 or CHEM 235.
Add: On pg 71, in place of
deleted entry:
31–33 hours, including PHYS 131, 231; BIOL 443; one course from
either BIOL 338, 345, or 455; three courses from BIOL 321, 331-337, 340 or 348,
350, 351, 356, 360, ENVR 350, 360, 384; and either BIOL 444 or both CHEM 222 and 232.
Impact:
Although it appears this change increases the number of hours in the
concentration by one, depending on the courses chosen by the student, the
one-hour reduction in the required hours for all Biology majors may actually
reduce the number of required hours by one.
Rationale:
Students who elect to take CHEM 235 instead of BIOL 444 are usually doing so
because they intend to go to graduate school and eight credit hours of organic
chemistry is required. These changes have no negative impact on them and
positively impact them as mentioned above. Students who do not take CHEM 235
typically are interested in a future that does not necessitate them to have had
an organic laboratory experience. These changes fit their goals.
3. Delete: On pg 71,
under Concentration in Cell and Molecular Biology:
29-32 hours, including PHYS 131, 231; two courses from BIOL 344,
423, 443, 444; one
course
from BIOL 338, 339, 345, 346, or 455; two additional 300-400 level BIOL
electives; CHEM 235.
Add: On pg 71, in place of deleted entry:
30-33 hours, including PHYS 131, 231; two courses from BIOL 344,
423, 443, 444; one
course
from BIOL 338, 339, 345, 346, or 455; two additional 300-400 level BIOL
electives; CHEM 222 and 232.
Impact:
Although it appears this change increases the number of hours in the
concentration by one, the one-hour reduction in the required hours for all
Biology majors, negates the apparent increase.
Rationale:
Students in this concentration need eight credit hours of organic chemistry for
both their Biology courses and graduate school. These modifications do not
change this. However, they do provide the aforementioned benefits of having
organic lecture material before the laboratory and separating the work
associated with the lecture and laboratory into separate courses that can be
taken either in two or three semesters.
Changes in Biology prerequisites as a result of
curriculum changes in Chemistry
1. Change: On pg 72, in the BIOL 116 course description,
Pre-
or co-requisite: CHEM 144 to:
Prerequisites: CHEM 132 and 111.
2. Change: On pg 72, in the BIOL
211 description,
Prerequisites:
BIOL 115, 116 for biology majors; ENVR 241 for environmental studies majors to:
Prerequisites:
BIOL 115, 116 and 8 hours of chemistry for biology majors; ENVR 241 and 8 hours
of chemistry for environmental studies majors.
3. Change: On pg 75, in
the BIOL 423 description,
Prerequisites:
BIOL 116; CHEM 234 to:
Prerequisites:
BIOL 116; CHEM 231.
4. Change: On pg 75, in the BIOL 443 description,
Prerequisites:
BIOL 115, 116; CHEM 111, 144. CHEM 234 is recommended to:
Prerequisites:
BIOL 115, 116; CHEM 111, 145, 236. CHEM 231 is recommended.
5. Change: On pg 75, in
the BIOL 444 description,
Prerequisites:
BIOL 116; CHEM 111, 144, 234 to:
Prerequisites:
BIOL 116; CHEM 111, 145, 231, 236.
6. Change: On
pg 75, in the BIOL 455 description,
Prerequisites:
BIOL 116, 210; CHEM 111, 144 to:
Prerequisites:
BIOL 116, 210; CHEM 111, 145, 236.
Impact:
None
Rationale: Adoption
of the new Chemistry courses necessitates changes in prerequisites.