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Concentrations
Concentration in Biology. This concentration program develops an appreciation of the levels of organization of life, its diversity, and the processes by which life has achieved its present forms. The program is recommended for those who wish to study biology as part of a liberal education, to prepare for a teaching career in secondary schools, or to prepare for graduate study in biology or the health professions.
Concentration in General Biology. General Biology has many of the same aims as Biology, but it is not recommended for students who wish to pursue graduate work in biology. It is an appropriate preprofessional concentration. It differs from Biology in that it requires fewer credits, less laboratory work, and has more breadth, particularly in the form of a non-science cognate course.
Concentration in Cell and Molecular Biology. The curriculum in Cellular and Molecular Biology offers students an integrated program of study and training in the biological and physical sciences. It is a pathway to graduate study in areas of biology and medicine that emphasize a quantitative and analytical approach to the life sciences.
Concentration in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. The Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) concentration provides a comprehensive foundation in the biological sciences, places an emphasis on undergraduate research experience, and provides an integrated perspective on the origins and complex interactions of the earth's biodiversity and ecosystems. It focuses on numerous levels of biological organization over multiple time scales, including studies of genes and genomes, individual organisms, populations, communities and ecosystems. The concentration is highly suitable for students who wish to pursue career pathways in a wide variety of disciplines. These include graduate studies in the biological, public health and medical, dental, and veterinary professions, conservation and natural resource management, teaching at the K-12 level, positions in the local, state and federal governments, non-profit/non-governmental organizations, and private sector opportunities such as environmental consulting agencies.
Concentration in Neuroscience. Understanding how brains process information and generate behavior is one of the most challenging questions in the life sciences. The neuroscience concentration, sponsored by the Departments of MCDB and Psychology, provides training that integrates studies in cell and molecular biology, physiology and behavior. An undergraduate degree in neuroscience provides the background for a career in brain research, and also serves as excellent training for students interested in medicine or other health professions.
Concentration in Microbiology. Microbiology includes the study of viruses, algae, bacteria, protozoa, and fungi. Immunobiology is also included within the science of microbiology. A concentration in microbiology prepares students for graduate study in microbiology, biochemistry, agricultural science, and food science as well as for study in other areas of biology which emphasize cellular structures and their function. A bachelor's degree in microbiology may qualify students for entry-level positions in medical, industrial, or governmental laboratories.
Concentration in Plant Biology. The Plant Biology concentration provides undergraduates with training in those areas of science that are essential to an understanding of modern plant sciences. Like the biology concentration, this concentration deals with all of the major levels of biological organization (molecular, cellular, organismal, ecological, and evolutionary), but differs from the Biology concentration by its greater emphasis on the biology of plants. This program is well suited for those who wish to study biology as part of a liberal education, or to prepare for a teaching career in secondary schools. It also provides excellent preparation for graduate study in basic and applied areas of the plant sciences and related fields, such as ecology, genetics, microbiology, and biochemistry.
