Biology (BL)

Professors:  C. H. Wideman, M. M. Coburn, V. R. Flechtner. J. R. Johansen (Chair);
Associate Professors: J. L. Lissemore, G. M. Kinebrew, C. D. Anthony; Assistant Professors:  M. P. Martin, C. A. Shiel, R. Drenovsky

Biology Major
Students must achieve a minimum 2.5 GPA in BL 155-160 to be considered for formal acceptance as biology majors.  Also required for the biology major are specific courses in chemistry and mathematics.  Students should be aware that many post-baccalaureate degree programs require calculus and/or physics for admission.  Students should discuss options with their advisors before making course decisions.

BL 155-160 is the normal first-and-second-year sequence for biology majors.  If, for some reason acceptable to the department, BL 157, 158, and 160 are taken separately from BL 155, 156, and 159, the student is expected to take BL 155, 156, and 159 or their equivalents before taking the laboratory courses.  Entering freshmen will receive advanced placement and/or advanced standing in accord with scores listed on pages 18-19.

Pre-Medical and Pre-Dental Students
Students majoring in biology and planning to apply to medical school, dental school, or other health-care professional schools are strongly advised to take genetics, biochemistry, biostatistics, calculus, and physics in order to prepare best for these highly competitive programs.  Medical schools require a year of physics for admission.
Pre-health professions students are strongly urged to contact the coordinator of the Pre-Health Professions Studies at John Carroll for other information and for assistance in planning educational programs and application to professional schools.  Students are also advised to consult current publications relevant to their proposed area of study and preferred colleges, including Medical School Admission Requirements of U.S. and Canada, Admission Requirements of U.S. and Canadian Dental Schools, similar publications for osteopathy, chiropractic, podiatry, veterinary medicine, and optometry, as well as other profession-specific publications.

Teacher Licensure
Students planning on obtaining licensure to teach Adolescent/Young Adult (AYA) Life Science at the secondary school level should consider taking ED 100 as soon as possible and should contact the Department of Education and Allied Studies by the end of their freshman year for guidance on requirements.

Doctor of Nursing Program
Biology majors interested in nursing as a career may choose to enter a seven-year 3/4 cooperative program in pre-nursing/nursing and earn the bachelor of science degree from John Carroll University and the doctor of nursing practice degree from the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University.  Students in this program normally attend John Carroll for three academic years and complete all university Core and major requirements including cognates, except two upper-level electives in biology (NUND 342 and NUND 412).  After successful completion of one year at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, the student will be awarded the bachelor of science degree with a biology major by John Carroll University.  To be eligible for this program students must complete at least 60 semester hours of credit at John Carroll, apply in writing to the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences by the end of the first semester of the junior year, and be accepted by the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing in the usual manner.  Students planning to follow this course of study should contact the department chair during the first semester of their sophomore year.  A list of suggested courses is available from the department.

Pre-Veterinary Students
Biology majors who plan to apply to veterinary colleges should visit http://www.avma.org/careforanimals/animatedjourneys/aboutvets/vetschools.asp for up-to-date information on course and experience requirements at veterinary schools accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education.  A list of JCU courses required for admission to the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine is available in the Biology Department.  A minimum of 80 hours’ work with a veterinarian is required by OSU and most schools of veterinary medicine.  Pre-vet students should contact the Biology Department chair during their freshman year for assistance in planning and for information about specific requirements and application procedures.

Minor and Interdisciplinary Concentrations
An optional minor in biology is available to students majoring in any other department.
Biology majors may elect the interdisciplinary concentrations in neuroscience, environmental studies, or life science/molecular biology.  It is strongly recommended that students interested in these programs investigate them as early as possible in their academic careers.  Interested students should refer to the section on “Interdisciplinary Concentrations” in this Bulletin (pages 82-88) for more information.

Additional Information
To receive a bachelor of science degree in biology, transfer students must complete a minimum of 17 credit hours in the department.
Many courses offered by the Department of Biology include a laboratory and/or field-work component; these are listed as separate entries, immediately following the listing for the corresponding lecture component of the course.
Dentistry, optometry, osteopathy, the doctorate of nursing program, and some veterinary medicine programs permit students to enroll prior to completion of the undergraduate degree program.  However, some dental schools and the doctorate of nursing program require the student to complete the undergraduate degree before completion of the professional school program.  Even those professional schools that do not formally require an undergraduate degree tend to give preference to degreed candidates.  In response to this trend John Carroll University has established a Senior Year In Absentia Program.  The program requires the student to complete the major (less two courses), and all cognate and Core courses.  The total number of hours taken at John Carroll will vary from 92 to 108 depending on the undergraduate major and the professional school requirements. Upon successful completion of the required number of hours, usually at the end of the first year of the professional school curriculum, John Carroll University will accept specified courses for transfer credit upon the presentation of documentation of successful completion.  The student is then awarded a John Carroll University bachelor’s degree.  This program is available to any student with the written consent of the dean of John Carroll University College of Arts and Sciences; formal admission to the professional school is required.

Graduate Studies in Biology
The department offers a program of studies leading to the degree of master of science or master of arts.  Degree requirements are specified and courses described in The Graduate School Bulletin.
Biology majors planning to continue studies leading to master’s or doctoral studies are strongly urged to consult current publications relevant to the proposed area of biological study, including Peterson’s Guide to Graduate Study, Graduate Programs and Admissions Manual of the Graduate Record Examination Board, and catalogs of schools to which admission will be sought.  Students should also consult their academic advisor in biology for definitive undergraduate program recommendations and can seek assistance from the department chair and the departmental coordinator of graduate studies.

101. SPECIAL TOPICS IN BIOLOGY 3 cr.  Lecture course for non-majors.  Offered on an irregular basis and based on a topic chosen by the instructor.  Used primarily for designation of courses transferred in from other universities.
102. SPECIAL TOPICS LECTURE IN BIOLOGY 4 cr.  Corequisite:   BL 102L.  Combined lecture-laboratory course for non-majors.  Offered on an irregular basis and based on a topic chosen by the instructor.  Must be accompanied by BL 102L.  Used primarily for designation of courses transferred in from other universities.
102L. SELECTED TOPICS LABORATORY IN BIOLOGY.  0 cr.  Corequisite:  BL 102.  Two hours of laboratory per week.   Must accompany BL 102.
109. ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY 4 cr.  Corequisite:  BL 109L.  Designed for the non-science major.  Three hours of lecture per week.  Relationship between human activity and the natural environment; food production, water supplies, air and water pollution, nuclear and non-nuclear energy, hazardous and toxic materials in the environment, and world population growth.  Economic implications of, and possible technological solutions to, these problems.
109L. ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY LABORATORY 0 cr.  Corequisite:  BL 109.  Two hours of laboratory per week.  Laboratory and field experiences intended to explore the scientific basis of environmental issues of the past, present, and future.  A general understanding of the impact of human activity on the world and strategies for managing human activity for the good of the human population and the planet.
111. FUNDAMENTALS OF ECOLOGY 4 cr.  Corequisite:  BL 111L.  Designed for the non-science major.  Three hours of lecture per week.  Characteristics of natural communities, their structure, distribution, and behavior.  Interrelationships of organisms, including humans, within natural ecosystems.
111L. FUNDAMENTALS OF ECOLOGY LABORATORY 0 cr.  Corequisite: BL 111.  Two hours of laboratory per week.  Emphasis on biomes and environmental adaptation, scientific method, and collection of data by observation.
112. HUMAN BIOLOGY 4 cr.  Corequisite:  BL 112L.  Designed for the non-science major.  Three hours of lecture per week.  Basic human anatomy and physiology in normal and diseased states.  Impact of technology on the environment.
112L. HUMAN BIOLOGY LABORATORY 0 cr.  Corequisite:  BL 112.  Two hours of laboratory per week.  Basic human anatomy and physiology in the normal state using model studies, hands-on experimental techniques, and some computer-based laboratory techniques.
115. HUMAN GENETICS AND RACE 4 cr. Corequisite:  BL 115L.  Basic principles of genetics, both at the transmission level and the molecular level.  Begins with an introduction to principles of cell division, inheritance, and human pedigree analysis.  DNA structure and chromosomal organization, gene expression, genetic variation, and population genetics and race.
115L. HUMAN GENETICS AND RACE LAB 0 cr.  Corequisite:  BL 115.  Basic principles of scientific method, the use of computers and the Internet in scientific research, basic principles of inheritance, molecular genetics and biotechnology.  Field trips and other activities when appropriate to the topic.
155, 156, 159. PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY I-II-III 1 cr. each.  Designed for the science major.  155 is prerequisite to 156 and 159.  Three hours of lecture per week.  155: basic chemical principles; cell structure, organization, metabolism of plants and animals.  156: plant and animal physiology.  159: plant and animal biodiversity and evolution.
157, 158, 160. PRINCIPLES OF BIOLOGY LABORATORY I-II-III 1 cr. each.  Corequisites:  BL 155, 156, and 159.  Three hours of laboratory per week.  157: laboratory study of the scientific method as applied to biology; cell division; development; functions of cell membranes and enzymes; reactions and products of photosynthesis.  158: laboratory study of plant and animal physiology.  160: taxonomy of bacteria, algae, protistis, fungi, and multicellular plants and animals.
206. TROPICAL BIOLOGY 3 cr.  For students participating in the JCU Costa Rica Study Abroad Program.  Intensive lecture/laboratory/field course in Costa Rica examining tropical biology and emphasizing ecology, evolution, conservation, and sustainable agriculture.
213. GENETICS 4 cr.  Prerequisites:  BL 155-156.  Four hours of lecture per week.  Principles of molecular, transmission, quantitative, and population genetics; social and ethical implications of genetics.
215. INTRODUCATION TO BIOTECHNOLOGY 3 cr.  Prerequisites:  BL 213 or a grade of at least B in both BL 155 and BL 157, plus instructor permission; corequisite:  BL 215L.  (May not be taken concurrently with BL/CH 470, and no credit will be given if BL/CH 470 has been completed.)  One hour of lecture per week.  Introduction to basic techniques of DNA analysis, including restriction mapping, DNA cloning, plasmid DNA isolation, polymerase chain reaction, and computer analysis of DNA and protein sequences.  No credit for Molecule to Cell division in Biology.
215L. INTRODUCTION TO BIOTECHNOLOGY LABORATORY 0 cr.  Corequisite:  BL 215.  Fours hours of laboratory per week.
222. GENERAL ECOLOGY 3 cr.  Prerequisites:  BL 155-160 or permission of instructor.  Three hours of lecture per week.  Interactions between plants, animals, and the physical environment.  Population ecology, community dynamics, biogeochemical cycles, and biomes.  (Course suitable for the environmental studies concentration.)
224. TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGY 3 cr.  Prerequisite or corequisite:  BL 222, MT 228, BL 224L.  Ecological data collection and analysis.  Students study model organisms to examine various aspects of terrestrial ecology, including animal behavior, food web dynamics, competition, and population dynamics.
224L. TERRESTRIAL ECOLOGY LABORATORY 0 cr.  Corequisite:  BL 224.  Four hours of laboratory per week.
230-231. HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY 4 cr. Prerequisites:  BL 155, 156, 157, 158; corequisites:  BL 230L, 231L.  BL 230 is a prerequisite for BL 231.  Three hours of lecture per week.  Integrated discussion of human anatomy and physiology.  Note:  Completion of only BL 230 and 230L means the single semester will not apply or count toward the BL major.  Further, completion of this two-semester sequence means students may not enroll in BL 360/360L.
230L-231L. HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY LABORATORY 0 cr.  Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week.
250. COMPARATIVE ANATOMY OF THE VERTEBRATES 5 cr.  Prerequisites:  BL 155-160; corequisite:  BL 250L.  Two hours of lecture per week.  Anatomy, development, evolution, and phylogeny of the vertebrates.
250L. COMPARATIVE ANATOMY LABORATORY 0 cr.  Corequisite:  BL 250.  Six hours of laboratory per week.
254. COMPARATIVE VERTEBRATES EMBRYOLOGY 4 cr. Prerequisites:  BL 155-156; corequisite:  BL 254L.  Two hours of lecture per week.  Study of sequential events in the development of vertebrates from gametogenesis to the neonate; discussion of induction and differentiation which lead to morphogenesis.
254L. COMPARATIVE VERTEBRATE EMBRYOLOGY LABORATORY 0 cr.  Corequisite:  BL 254.  Four hours of laboratory per week.
260. BIOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF POVERTY 3 cr.  Prerequisites:  BL 155-158.  Three hours of lecture/discussion per week.  Domestic public health issues, e.g., asthma, diabetes, obesity, HIV/AIDS; global public health issues, e.g., HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, malnutrition, water pollution; evolutionary factors in chronic and infectious disease; environmental issues, e.g., habitat destruction, sustainable development; ethical issues in public health research and treatment.
301. INTRODUCTION TO CELL BIOLOGY 4 cr. Prerequisites:  BL 155-156.  CH 141-144 (or 151, 153) and CH 221-224 are strongly recommended.  Three hours of lecture per week.  Structure and function of plant and animal cells and their organelles.  Emphasis on modern cell biology techniques.
308. VERTEBRATE HISTOLOGY 4 cr. Prerequisites:  BL 155-158; corequisite:  BL 308L.  Three hours of lecture per week.  Microscopic study of fundamental body tissues and the structural components of the organ systems.
308L. VERTEBRATE HISTOLOGY LABORATORY 0 cr.  Corequisite:  BL 308. Three hours of laboratory per week.
310. MICROBIOLOGY 4 cr.  Prerequisite:  BL 213; corequisite:  BL 310L.  Two hours of lecture per week.  Structure, physiology, and genetics of bacteria; ecological and medical importance emphasized.  Some discussion of viruses and eucaryotic microorganisms.
310L. MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY 0 cr. Corequisite:  BL 310.  Four hours of laboratory per week.
331. GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE 3 cr.  Prerequisites:  BL 155-160, or instructor permission for non-biology students in the Environmental Studies concentration.  Three hours of lecture/discussion per week.  Historical overview of climate change; global water and carbon cycles; effects of greenhouse gases, aerosols, and radiative forcing mechanisms on climate processes and feedbacks; effects of rapid climate change on selected ecosystems; human influences on climate; likely future changes.
360. HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY 4 cr. Prerequisites:  BL 155-158; corequisite: BL 360L.  Three hours of lecture per week.  Muscle physiology, circulation, respiration, excretion, and digestion in mammals as well as the neuronal and hormonal mechanisms regulating these processes.  Not open to students who have completed BL 230/230L, 231/231L.
360L. HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY LABORATORY 0 cr.  Corequisite: BL 360.  Three hours of laboratory per week.
370. EVOLUTION 3 cr. Prerequisites: BL 159, 160, 213.  Three hours of lecture per week.  Introduction to modern evolutionary biology, including evolutionary processes and speciation, character evolution, and macroevolution.
399. SPECIAL PROBLEMS IN BIOLOGY 3 cr. Prerequisites:  junior status, 3.0 GPA in biology major, and written consent of instructor and chair.  Investigation of laboratory or field problems in one specific area of biology under faculty supervision.
405. SCIENTIFIC ILLUSTRATION 3 cr.  Prerequisites:  BL159/160 and instructor permission; experience in art not required.  Single three-hour lecture per week.  Developing skills of observation in biological sciences and learning how to produce publication-quality illustrations of measured accuracy and conceptualized drawings and diagrammatic images for dissemination of research results.  By the end of the course, students will have developed a concise but comprehensive portfolio showcasing various techniques and graphic styles.  An additional fee is required for personal illustration materials.  This course does not fulfill the 400-level biology course requirement for undergraduate majors.
410. INFECTION AND IMMUNITY 3 cr.  Prerequisite: BL 213. Bacterial and viral pathogens of humans and those aspects of the immune response important in resistance and immunity to infectious diseases.
415.  INTRODUCTION TO SYSTEMATIC BIOLOGY 3 cr.  Prerequisites:  BL 159/160, as well as BL 370 or BL 250/L and instructor permission.  Two 75-minute lectures per week.  The scientific discipline that deals with the identification, naming, description, classification, and organization of extant and extinct biological diversity.  Includes a discussion of philosophy and practice of methods of reconstructing evolutionary history.
420. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 3 cr.  Prerequisites:  BL 155-160.  BL 213 strongly recommended.  Three hours of lecture per week.  Detailed study of photosynthesis, water relations, mineral nutrition, and hormones in plants with emphasis on current research techniques.
424. AQUATIC RESOURCES 4 cr.  Corequisite:  BL 424L.  Study of aquatic organisms and their environment.  Study of algae, insects, and fish as biological indicators of water and habitat quality in stream, lake, and wetland ecosystems.  Impacts of water pollution, acidification, and other anthropogenic disturbance on aquatic systems will be studied.
424L. AQUATIC RESOURCES 0 cr.  Corequisite:  BL 424L.  Saturday laboratory consisting of field trips and laboratory analysis of aquatic life.
425. ICHTHYOLOGY 4 cr.  Prerequisites: BL 155-160; corequisite: BL 425L.  Two hours of lecture per week. Evolution, zoogeography, taxonomy, behavior, and ecology of North American fishes.
425L. ICHTHYOLOGY LABORATORY 0 cr.  Corequisite: BL 425. Four hours of laboratory per week. Two weekend field trips.
435. PLANT ECOLOGY 3 cr.  Prerequisites:  BL 155-160.  BL 222 strongly recommended.  Three hours of lecture per week.  Study of the distribution and abundance of plants from organismal, population, and community perspectives.  Both seminal and novel research in the discipline emphasized.
442. ORNITHOLOGY 4 cr.  Prerequisites: BL 155‑160; corequisite: BL 442L.  Three hours of lecture per week. Biology, taxonomy, ecology, and behavior of birds.
442L. ORNITHOLOGY LABORATORY 0 cr.  Corequisite: BL 442. Three hours of laboratory per week, plus field trips.
444. ADVANCED ECOLOGY 4 cr.  Prerequisites:  BL 222, MT 228; corequisite: BL 444L. BL 223 is recommended.  Three hours of lecture/discussion per week.  Topics include predator‑prey interactions, global change, niche theory, competition, null models, and community assembly rules.
444L. ADVANCED ECOLOGY LABORATORY 0 cr.   Corequisite: BL 444. Three hours of laboratory per week.  Students work in teams on a project of their own choosing.  Includes experimental design, data analysis, write‑up, and presentation.
447. PHYCOLOGY 4 cr.  Prerequisites: BL 159, 160; corequisite: BL 447L. Two hours of lecture per week. Systematics, taxonomy, and ecology of freshwater and marine algae with strong research‑learning component.
447L. PHYCOLOGY LABORATORY 0 cr.  Prerequisites: BL 159, 160; corequisite: BL 447. Four hours of laboratory per week. Two weekend field trips.  Laboratories based on field collections.  Projects included.
470. MOLECULAR METHODS LABORATORY 3 cr.  Prerequisite/corequisite: BL 465 or 565. Eight hours of laboratory per week. Methods used in analysis of proteins and nucleic acids. Students in Life Science/Molecular Biology concentration have priority admission.
478. BIOLOGY SEMINAR 1 cr.  Current topics presented by invited guests, faculty, and students.
479. SPECIAL TOPICS IN BIOLOGY 1‑4 cr.  Prerequisites: BL 155‑160 and consent of instructor. Offered on an irregular basis; topics chosen by instructor.  A lecture/discussion course; may include laboratories or field trips at discretion of instructor.  For student research see BL 579.