Curriculum
Dr. Christina Mortellaro, Chairperson
The Biology Department offers two majors and a minor in Biology. Students may choose a B.S degree with a concentration in Biology or Forensic Science or a B.A. degree with a concentration in Biology or Secondary Education.
Requirements for Biology Major
Degree of Bachelor of Science
Biology Concentration
Twelve of the required credits for the major count towards the Core Curriculum Requirements.
| BI-183 | General Biology I 1 | 3 |
| BI-185 | General Biology I Lab | 1 |
| BI-184 | General Biology II 1 | 3 |
| BI-186 | General Biology II Lab | 1 |
| BI-215 | Principles of Anatomy and Physiology | 4 |
| BI-215L | Principles of Anatomy and Physiology Lab | 0 |
| BI-240 | Cell and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BI-240L | Cell & Molecular Bio Lab | 0 |
| BI-350 | Genetics | 4 |
| BI-350L | Genetics Lab | 0 |
| BI-310 | Ecology (WI) | 4 |
| BI-310L | Ecology Lab | 0 |
| BI- | Biology Electives (300-level or above) | 11 |
| BI-485 | Current Issues in Biology (Capstone) | 3 |
| CH-131 | General Chem and Qualitative Analysis 1 | 3 |
| CH-131L | Gen Chem and Qualitative Analysis 1 Lab | 1 |
| CH-132 | General Chem and Qualitative Analysis 2 | 3 |
| CH-132L | Gen Chem and Qualitative Analysis 2 Lab | 1 |
| MA-132 | Statistics for Life Sciences 2 | 3 |
| MA-133 | Calculus for the Life Sciences 2 | 4 |
| PC-185 | General Physics I | 3 |
| PC-187 | General Physics Laboratory I | 1 |
| PC-186 | General Physics II | 3 |
| PC-188 | General Physics Laboratory II | 1 |
| Total Credits | 61 | |
| 1 | May count towards the Core Natural Science Requirement. |
| 2 | May count towards the Core Mathematics Requirement. |
Forensic Science Concentration
Twelve of the required credits for the major count towards the Core Curriculum Requirements.
| BI-183 | General Biology I 1 | 3 |
| BI-185 | General Biology I Lab | 1 |
| BI-184 | General Biology II 1 | 3 |
| BI-186 | General Biology II Lab | 1 |
| BI-215 | Principles of Anatomy and Physiology | 4 |
| BI-215L | Principles of Anatomy and Physiology Lab | 0 |
| BI-240 | Cell and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BI-240L | Cell & Molecular Bio Lab | 0 |
| BI-350 | Genetics | 4 |
| BI-350L | Genetics Lab | 0 |
| BI-361 | Criminalistics & Forensic Science | 3 |
| BI-450 | Microbiology | 4 |
| BI-450L | Microbiology Lab | 0 |
| BI-485 | Current Issues in Biology (Capstone) | 3 |
| CH-131 | General Chem and Qualitative Analysis 1 | 3 |
| CH-131L | Gen Chem and Qualitative Analysis 1 Lab | 1 |
| CH-132 | General Chem and Qualitative Analysis 2 | 3 |
| CH-132L | Gen Chem and Qualitative Analysis 2 Lab | 1 |
| CH-251 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CH-251L | Organic Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| CH-252 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CH-252L | Organic Chemistry II Lab | 1 |
| CH-442 | Biochemistry I | 3 |
| MA-132 | Statistics for Life Sciences 2 | 3 |
| MA-133 | Calculus for the Life Sciences 2 | 4 |
| PC-185 | General Physics I | 3 |
| PC-187 | General Physics Laboratory I | 1 |
| PC-186 | General Physics II | 3 |
| PC-188 | General Physics Laboratory II | 1 |
| CJ-170 | Intro to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CJ-316 | Criminal Evidence | 3 |
| CJ-405 | Crime Investigation | 3 |
| CJ-406 | Homicide: Investigation & Prosecution | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 1 | |
CJ-486 | Internship I (Capstone Experience) | |
CJ-487 | Internship II (Capstone Experience) | |
| Total Credits | 77 | |
| 1 | May count towards the Core Natural Science Requirement. |
| 2 | May count towards the Core Mathematics Requirement. |
Bachelor of Arts
Biology Concentration
Twelve of the required credits for the major count towards the Core Curriculum Requirements.
| BI-183 | General Biology I 1 | 3 |
| BI-185 | General Biology I Lab | 1 |
| BI-184 | General Biology II 1 | 3 |
| BI-186 | General Biology II Lab | 1 |
| BI-240 | Cell and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BI-240L | Cell & Molecular Bio Lab | 0 |
| BI-350 | Genetics | 4 |
| BI-350L | Genetics Lab | 0 |
| BI-485 | Current Issues in Biology | 3 |
| MA-132 | Statistics for Life Sciences 2 | 3 |
| MA-133 | Calculus for the Life Sciences 2 | 4 |
| CH-131 | General Chem and Qualitative Analysis 1 | 3 |
| CH-131L | Gen Chem and Qualitative Analysis 1 Lab | 1 |
| BI- | Electives (A minimum of one 4 credit laboratory course, one in organismic biology, and one in evolution/global issues/environmental health field must be taken) | 11-12 |
| Select three cognate courses with at least one additional lab: | 10 | |
CH-132 | General Chem and Qualitative Analysis 2 | |
CH-132L | Gen Chem and Qualitative Analysis 2 Lab | |
CH-251 | Organic Chemistry I | |
CH-251L | Organic Chemistry I Lab | |
CH-252 | Organic Chemistry II | |
CH-252L | Organic Chemistry II Lab | |
PC-185 | General Physics I | |
PC-187 | General Physics Laboratory I | |
PC-186 | General Physics II | |
PC-188 | General Physics Laboratory II | |
| Total Credits | 51-52 | |
| 1 | May count towards the Core Natural Science Requirement. |
| 2 | May count towards the Core Mathematics Requirement. |
Secondary Education Concentration
Twelve of the required credits for the major count towards the Core Curriculum Requirements.
| BI-183 | General Biology I 1 | 3 |
| BI-185 | General Biology I Lab | 1 |
| BI-184 | General Biology II 1 | 3 |
| BI-186 | General Biology II Lab | 1 |
| BI-240 | Cell and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BI-240L | Cell & Molecular Bio Lab | 0 |
| BI-350 | Genetics | 4 |
| BI-350L | Genetics Lab | 0 |
| BI-485 | Current Issues in Biology (Capstone) | 3 |
| MA-132 | Statistics for Life Sciences 2 | 3 |
| MA-133 | Calculus for the Life Sciences 2 | 4 |
| CH-131 | General Chem and Qualitative Analysis 1 | 3 |
| CH-131L | Gen Chem and Qualitative Analysis 1 Lab | 1 |
| BI- | Electives (A minimum of two 4 credit laboratory courses, and one course n organismic biology.) 3 | 11 |
| Select three courses with one additional lab: | 10 | |
CH-132 | General Chem and Qualitative Analysis 2 | |
CH-132L | Gen Chem and Qualitative Analysis 2 Lab | |
PC-185 | General Physics I | |
PC-187 | General Physics Laboratory I | |
PC-186 | General Physics II | |
PC-188 | General Physics Laboratory II | |
CH-251 | Organic Chemistry I | |
CH-251L | Organic Chemistry I Lab | |
CH-252 | Organic Chemistry II | |
CH-252L | Organic Chemistry II Lab | |
| Total Credits | 51 | |
| 1 | May count towards the Core Natural Science Requirement. |
| 2 | May count towards the Core Mathematics Requirement. |
| 3 | Must fulfill the Core Writing Intensive, Pluralism and Values Requirements. |
Special Note on Core Curriculum Requirements for all Biology Majors—All Concentrations
While CH-251-CH-252, Organic Chemistry I and II and the associated labs CH-251L and CH-252L, are not required for Biology (Biology Concentration) majors, these courses are strongly recommended since they are required for many post-graduate programs (health careers and/or graduate school).
Requirements for a Minor in Biology
| BI-183 | General Biology I | 3 |
| BI-185 | General Biology I Lab | 1 |
| BI-184 | General Biology II | 3 |
| BI-186 | General Biology II Lab | 1 |
| Select two of the following courses and associated labs: | 8 | |
BI-215 & 215L | Principles of Anatomy and Physiology and Principles of Anatomy and Physiology Lab | |
BI-240 & 240L | Cell and Molecular Biology and Cell & Molecular Bio Lab | |
BI-350 & 350L | Genetics and Genetics Lab | |
BI-310 & 310L | Ecology and Ecology Lab | |
| BI- | Biology Electives | 4 |
| Total Credits | 20 | |
Articulations with Professional Schools
Saint Peter’s University has entered into a series of formal agreements with several Professional Schools to enhance the opportunities of students majoring in the sciences. See the separate listing for Pre-Professional Programs for details.
Core Courses Offered for Non-science Majors
The 100-level courses are offered for non-science majors to satisfy the Core Natural Science Requirements and are not open to majors in Biology or the Natural Sciences. Most include lectures and demonstrations only; some, such as BI-130, may include a laboratory component as well.
| BI-122 | Nutrition in Health and Disease | 3 |
| BI-123 | Concepts of Biology | 3 |
| BI-124 | Human Structure and Function | 3 |
| BI-125 | Heredity | 3 |
| BI-126 | The Human Environment | 3 |
| BI-130 | 3 | |
| BI-140 | 3 | |
| BI-161 | Basic Microbiology | 4 |
| BI-171 | Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| BI-172 | Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |