Biology Programmatic Goals
The Biology program at Muhlenberg College has goals for both Majors and non-Majors:
Knowledge Goals:
Students will understand the central theories and fundamental principles of the biological sciences. These comprise an understanding of…
- the interactions organisms and populations have with their biological and physical environments.
- structural and functional relationships from the cellular to the organism level of organization.
- structural and functional relationships from the molecular to cellular level of organization.
- evolutionary relationships and mechanisms.
- information storage, coding, and transmission.
Skills Goals:
Reading: Students can locate, read, and utilize both primary and secondary biological literature.
Communication: Students can employ multiple methods to convey scientific knowledge formally and informally.
- Writing: Students can write about scientific information in a formal and/or informal manner.
- Oral: Students can effectively communicate scientific information through speech.
- Symbolic: Students can effectively communicate scientific information through iconic, visual, and graphic means.
Reasoning: Students can think critically about biological science.
Students will…
- be able to synthesize and apply biological principles within classrooms, assignments or research experiences.
- interpret, review, analyze and apply data from observations, tables and figures, to understand causes, establish relationships, and support logical interpretations.
- be able to articulate the multiple contexts and potential biases within which science is conducted and communicated.
“Doing”: Students are capable of working in a laboratory or field environment, carrying out techniques and methods used to gain knowledge in the biological sciences.
- Students will achieve a certain level of mastery of quantitative and qualitative skills that are necessary for conducting, expressing, and interpreting biological research.
- Students will know how to properly design an experiment within a given context and body of literature.
Integration and Engagement Goals:
1. Students will be able to examine the connections between biology and other scientific and non-scientific subjects.
Students will…
- use their understanding of biological issues to make social, political and ethical decisions
- be able to examine the connections of biology with other scientific and non-scientific subjects.
- be capable of integrating information between different classes and disciplines in the major.
2. Students will be able to apply biological perspectives to other disciplines and broader societal discourse, in order to be engaged citizens.
Students will…
- be able to examine the connections of biology with other scientific and non-scientific subjects.
- use their understanding of biology to contribute towards solutions for social, political, and ethical issues.
3. Students will participate in the academic life of the biology department by: attending seminars, participating in research with faculty, attending and participating in research poster sessions, doing internships, working with Biology Club, tutoring, helping with open houses and tours of the science buildings, and working as learning assistants and/or laboratory assistants.
Biology Courses - Non-Major Curriculum
Biology Programmatic Goals for Non-Majors
Knowledge Goal: Students will understand the central theories and fundamental principles of the biological sciences in one or more of these three areas:
- structural and functional relationships from the molecular to cellular level of organization
- structural and functional relationships from the cellular to the organism level of organization
- interactions organisms and populations have with their biological and physical environments
Reasoning Goal: Students will interpret, analyze and apply data to understand causes, establish relationships, and support logical interpretations.
Integration Goal: Students will demonstrate how biology connects with other scientific and non-scientific disciplines.
