Biology Course Description:
All Offered Courses

BI 101 - Principles of Biology: (5 credits)
    An introduction to the basic principles of biology and a structure/function analysis of the cell. Topics include: chemical principles, cell structure and function, energy, cellular metabolism and growth and an introduction to Mendelian genetics. A weekly lab complements lecture material with appropriate experiments and demonstrations. (Fall and Spring Group III)

BI 102 - Evolution and Biodiversity:
    Examines the processes of evolution and the sequence of events that lead to the introduction of new forms of life. The course starts with a review of basic information about genes, Mendelian inheritance, the general structure of DNA/genes and control of gene expression. Further topics include the theories of Darwin, adaptation, the emergence of populations, speciation, biodiversity, the origin of life on earth (prokaryotes, eukaryotes and multi cellular organisms.) The course will cover the evolution of plants and fungi, the move of life from aqueous environments to land, the evolution of animals and human evolution. Novel techniques and initiatives such as the Genographic Project will be discussed. The text will be supplemented with readings from the lay and research literature.
Spring Prerequisite: BI 101 or permission Group III

BI 205 - Anatomy and Physiology I: (5 credits)
    Students make a systematic study of the human body, its structures, functions and malfunctions. Allows the student to observe physiological processes in her own body, as well as in living and preserved laboratory specimens.
Fall Prerequisite: BI 101 or permission Group III

BI 206 - Anatomy and Physiology II: (5 credits)
    A continuation of BI 205.
Spring Prerequisite: BI 205 or permission Group III

BI 211 - Environmental Issues:
    Global problems, local solutions Students learn to relate important environmental issues such as global warming, overpopulation, resource use and the consequences of industrialization to current positions of scientists, educators, politicians and the general public. Emphasis is placed on issues of global concern and local actions proposed to address them. A background of ecological principles begins the course which concludes with students presenting a portfolio on a local grassroots movement. (Fall 2007 and alternate years Group III )

BI 215 - New England Coastal Marine Ecology: (5 credits)
    This course introduces the basic principles and methods of oceanography and marine biology in intensive, two-week classroom and field courses. Field work includes trips to salt marshes, sandy beaches, and rocky intertidal habitats, visits to the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University, the New England Aquarium, the Kendall Whaling Museum in the Gulf of Maine, and a day aboard a research vessel, where students collect and analyze water and plankton samples. Students pay entry fees where appropriate. (Summer Group III)

BI 225 - Nutrition:
    The study of the science of foods, their components, and the human body’s needs, including evaluation of diet and nutritional status using a life span approach. Also included are issues such as women’s health research, diet, heart disease, and malnutrition. (Fall 2008 and alternate years Group III)

BI 240 - The Biology of Women:
    This course focuses on the biology of women over their life span. Major topics include normal development from conception to death in women; wellness and illness; life span decision making; problems, process, and solution(s); and the current status of research on women. (Spring 2009 and alternate years Group III BI 250)

BI 250 - The Biology of HIV and AIDS:
    The Biology of HIV and AIDS Explores the biological aspects of AIDS and HIV (the human immunodeficiency virus). Topics include origins of the virus and the disease, perturbation of the human immune system, pathogenesis of the virus, methods of transmission, current and future epidemiology. (Spring Group III)

BI 255 - Animal Behavior:
    Students explore various aspects of species-specific animal behavior with emphasis on the relationship of these behaviors to the animal’s environment and circumstances. Topics include causes, types, and controls of behavior, as well as abnormal behavior. (Spring 2010 Group III)

BI 280 - Ethical Issues in Science and Technology:
    America’s Moral Dilemmas Ethics is the disciplined reflection on the moral intuitions and the moral choices that people make. Bioethics is the analysis of these choices in science and medicine. This course uses a case method of instruction and focuses on the major ethical dilemmas of twenty first century medicine and the natural sciences. (Spring 2008 and alternate years Group III )

BI 289 - Biostatistics:
    This course is an introduction to the fundamentals of descriptive and inferential statistical analysis for students in the biological and health sciences. Topics covered will include data measurement, frequency distribution and graphic presentation, probability, hypothesis testing, analysis of variance, chi square tests and correlation and regression. Additional topics will include relative risk, odds ratio, rates of fatality, rates of morbidity and life tables. The course will have particular focus on the design of experiments, probability theory and alternative methods of analysis.
Fall and Spring Prerequisite: MA 102 or equivalent Group III

BI 301 - Cell Biology:
    This course will focus on the structure and function of eukaryotic cells. The course begins with a very brief review of cell composition and metabolism, and continues to the fundamentals of molecular biology. Further topics include the organization of the genome, DNA replication, RNA transcription, translation, and protein processing, cell signaling and communication, the cell cycle, cell death and renewal, cellular transformation/cancer induction. The text will be supplemented with readings from the lay and research literature. (Fall 2008 and alternate years)
Prerequisite: BI 102, CH 110 or permission Group III

BI 310 - Classical and Current Techniques in Modern Biology:
    This upper-level interdisciplinary course utilizes a combined lecture/laboratory format and is designed to emphasize the application and theory of a variety of techniques used in biochemistry, genetics, cell biology, and molecular biology laboratories. These methods will be presented in a fashion representative of how research is conducted in the modern laboratory. (Spring 2009 and alternate years)
Prerequisites: CH 301, BI 301 or permission Group III

BI 330 - Microbiology and Human Infectious Disease: (5 credits)
    Lectures and laboratory provide basic knowledge of the handling and understanding of microorganisms, including their characteristics, activities, distribution, and effects on the human body. Includes study of specific pathogenic organisms and diseases, as well as the body’s natural defense mechanisms and methods of disease prevention and treatment.
Fall Prerequisite: BI 101 or permission Group III

BI - 345 Psychopharmacology:
    Drugs and Behavior Students are introduced to the biological effects of drugs on humans. All major drug classes are studied, with emphasis on those affecting the central nervous system and behavior. Students examine the actions, uses, limitations, and side effects of drugs. Prescription and over-the-counter, as well as illegal drugs, are included. Spring 2008 and alternate years.
Prerequisite: BI 101 or PY 101 or permission Group III

BI 360 - Introduction to Epidemiology:
    This course introduces the basic principles and methods of epidemiology and the basic skills needed to interpret the epidemiological literature of medicine and public health. The course includes both lecture and seminar instructions; in the seminars, class discussion of cases illustrate the principles covered in the lectures. (Fall 2008 and alternate years)
Prerequisites: BI289 Group III

BI 375 - Human Genetics:
    Continues the study of genetic concepts begun in BI 101. Students examine examples of current applications of human genetics, such as population genetics, genetic intervention, genetic engineering, genomics, and such genetic testing as amniocentesis and genetic counseling.
Spring Prerequisite: BI 206 or equivalent or permission Group III

BI 380 - Pathophysiology:
    The Biologic Basis of Disease This upper-level course uses a case method of instruction and focuses on the disease process and on the structural and functional change inherent in the pathology of specific human diseases.
Spring Prerequisite: BI 205 and BI 206 Group III

BI 490 - Senior Seminar in Biology:
    The capstone of the major in Biology, the seminar explores a variety of current research topics, such as advances in the ultrastructure of cells, the current status of the immunoglobins, human pathophysiology, the genetics of behavior, and the biology of antiviral agents. Topics vary to include areas of student interest and new research. Students make oral and written presentations to the class on specific topics.
Spring Prerequisite: Senior status

BI 495 - Senior Internship in Biology: (6 credits)
    For full course credit, each student works 16 hours per week at a site (e.g., research facility, zoo, health facility) chosen with regard to career intentions and the content of the Biology Program. Students keep a journal to examine experiences and their relationship to the program. Interns meet weekly to discuss common problems, experiences, and individual perceptions.
Fall Prerequisite: Senior status

BI 496 - Senior Internship in Biology II:
    Extends and expands a Senior Internship, taking newly learned experience and implementing it at another site. Students work 16 hours per week at their site, keep a journal, meet weekly with their faculty sponsor, do relevant scholarly reading, and write a final paper integrating their internship, their readings, and classroom experience.
Spring Prerequisites: BI 495 and permission of the B.A. Coordinator

BI/ED 498 - Biology Secondary Education Practicum: (12 credits)
    This course is required for Massachusetts initial teacher licensure as a Secondary Biology Teacher, grades 8-12. See the full description in the section for Education courses.

Marine Studies Consortium:
    The following Consortium courses are available to PMC students with sophomore status or higher. Courses are taught at the institutions participating in the Consortium. For locations and times, refer to Brandeis Marine Consortium. Enrollment in these courses is limited to four students each semester. Students choosing to withdraw from a Marine Studies Consortium course must do so by the third class meeting of that course. Students interested in the Consortium courses must consult with Dr. Elizabeth Gardner for permission to register.

BI 292 - Introduction to Marine Mammals:
    This course explores the biology and natural history of marine mammals in the North Atlantic, including whales, dolphins and seals. Topics include evolution, behavior, field identification, the history of whaling, and contemporary whaling issues. Demonstration laboratory work focuses on a small marine animal. One field trip on Massachusetts Bay is required.
Fall Prerequisite: BI101 or permission Group III

BI 294 - Marine Biology:
    This lecture/lab course surveys the basic biology, behavior, and life history of marine biota, and reviews the physical aspects of various marine habitats from polar to tropical latitudes. The course focuses on the evolution of adaptive responses to the oceanic environment and the roles of the physical environment and species interactions in structuring marine communities. Laboratory activities include field trips and examination of specimens.
Fall Prerequisites: One year of biology and one year of chemistry or permission. Group III

BI 391 - Biology of Whales:
    This upper-level course examines the biology and conservation of cetaceans, whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Topics include physiology, population biology and life history analysis, molecular genetics, morphology, distributional ecology, and social behavior. Early lectures focus on the biology of cetaceans and how they are adapted to the marine environment. Later lectures use case studies to review how biological principles can be applied to the conservation of a wide range of cetacean species.
Spring Prerequisites: One year of general biology and two upper-level biology courses. Group III

BI 392 - Biology of Fishes:
    This upper-level survey course covers the evolution, systematics, anatomy, physiology, and behavior of freshwater, marine, and anadromous fishes from temperate to tropical environments. The course also examines the diversity of fish interactions in aquatic communities: predator/prey relationships, host/symbiont interactions, and the various roles of fishes as herbivores. Study of inter- and intra-specific predatory-prey relationships among fish populations in aquatic communities integrates principles of ecology.
Spring Prerequisites: One year of general biology and two upper-level biology courses. Group III

BI 393 - Water Resources Policy and Management:
    This course is a comprehensive introduction to the economics and ecology of water supply and water pollution control. Topics include watershed management, groundwater and wetlands protection, wastewater treatment, and coastal zone management. The inherent difficulty in applying static laws and regulations to a dynamic natural resource such as water is a recurring theme in the course. (Fall Group III)

BI 394 - Coastal Zone Management:
    This course presents a survey of the coastal environment, its physical characteristics, natural system economic uses, and development pressures. Lectures examine strategies formulated in the United States for land and water management in the coastal zone. The roles of federal, state, and local government, environmental groups, and resource users are also explored. Finally, by comparing coastal zone management problems in the United States with those elsewhere in the world, students gain a global perspective. (Spring Group III)

BI 395 - Wetlands: Ecology, Hydrology, Restoration:
    This course examines the vital role of wetlands in the hydrology and ecology of global landscapes. The function of inland and coastal marshes, swamps, and bogs, and their role in water and nutrient cycles will be examined. We will also survey the biodiversity of wetlands habitats, from microbes to vertebrates. The biological links between wetlands and human activities, such as agriculture, coastal development, and fisheries will be considered, as well as the legal framework for the protection and restoration of endangered wetlands.
Fall Prerequisites: One year of an introductory science (geology, chemistry, biology, physics or engineering, or economics); and two semesters of upper–level (elective) science courses. Group III

HI 391 - Maritime History of New England:
    The sea has shaped New England. This course surveys the sea’s legacy, from the earliest Indian fishery to the shipbuilding and commerce of today. Course themes include historical, political, and economic developments, with particular attention to insights gleaned from shipwrecks, time capsules of discrete moments from New England’s past. Classes include museum visits, a field session at a marine archeology site, and guest lectures on current research projects.
Spring Prerequisite: One course each in American History and in the Social Sciences, or permission. Group: II

Chemistry:

CH 110 - Principles of Chemistry I: (5 credits)
    This course introduces the standards for measurements, energy, and matter, the Periodic Table, atomic theory and structure, chemical bonds, mole concept, stoichiometry, and balancing chemical equations. Problem-solving is stressed. A 3-hour laboratory complements lecture material with appropriate demonstrations and experiments.
Fall Prerequisite: MA 102 concurrently or the equivalent Group III

CH 120 - Principles of Chemistry II: (5 credits)
    A continuation of CH 110, this course covers topics such as chemical equilibrium, oxidation-reduction, properties of solutions, acids and bases, and gases, electrochemistry, and thermodynamics. The course also includes nuclear chemistry and organic chemistry. Problem solving is stressed. A 3-hour laboratory complements lecture material with appropriate demonstrations and experiments.
Spring Prerequisite: CH 110 or permission Group III

CH 161 - Life Sciences Chemistry: (5 credits)
    This course introduces the standards for measurements, energy and matter, the periodic table, chemical bonds, mole concepts, stoichiometry and balancing chemical equations. It also includes the structure and chemical properties of organic compounds. Topics include alkanes, alkenes, benzene derivatives, aldehydes , ketones and carboxylic acids. Biochemistry component of this course includes structure and function of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and nucleic acids. It also focuses on the metabolism of above macromolecules and the role of enzymes in biological systems.
Spring Prerequisite: MA 102 or the equivalent Group III

CH 200 - Organic Chemistry I: (5 credits)
    This course offers an introduction to the structure and chemical properties of organic compounds. Topics include stereochemistry, the structure, synthesis and reactions of alkanes, alkyl halides, alcohols, alkenes, alkynes, benzene and derivatives, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids. A 3-hour laboratory complements lecture material.
Fall Prerequisite: CH 110 or permission Group III

CH 201 - Organic Chemistry II: (5 credits)
    A continuation of CH 200, this course focuses on spectroscopy and the structure and reactions of, amines, phenols, carbanions, heterycyclic compounds, lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins A 3-hour laboratory complements lecture material.
Spring Prerequisite: CH 200 Group III

CH 301 Biochemistry of Macromolecules:
    This course focuses on the structure and function of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and nucleic acids. It also focuses on the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, and the role of enzymes in biological systems, as well as replication, transcription and translation, a recombinant DNA technology.
Spring Prerequisite: BI 101, CH 110, and CH 201 Group III