The biological science major takes a broad, molecular and classical approach to biology and attempts to develop students' skills in order to prepare them for careers in the health sciences, medicine and secondary teaching. The major includes two areas of concentration--biological science and pre-medical.

History of the Department

See the first-person narratives of Rafe Payne Oral History and Ruth Ebeling Oral History for more on the history of the biological sciences department and its faculty.

Faculty

Matt Cruzen, Ph.D.; Department chair, teaches General Biology I, Cell & Molecular Biology (lecture and lab), and Biochemistry I and II.

Ruth Ebeling, M.S.; teaches Neurobiology, Human Anatomy (lecture and lab), Vertebrate Physiology (lecture and lab), and Prosection. She is also the Laboratory Coordinator of the biological sciences department.

Harvey Havoonjian, M.D.; teaches Human Anatomy Lab and Parasitology Lab. As the Chairman of the Biola Office of Health Professions Advising (BOHPA), Dr Havoonjian is responsible for coordinating BIOS 460, the clinical practicum for pre-medical students, as well as guiding and directing pre-med students in their application processes. He also serves as the advisor for the Health Careers Club on Biola's campus.

Jason Tresser, Ph.D.; teaches General Biology I (lecture and lab), Genetics (lecture and lab), Directed Research in Biology (on tunicates), Advanced Seminar in Biology, and Biochemistry lab.

Wendy Billock, Ph.D.; teaches General Principles of Biology, General Biology II (lecture and lab), Ecology (lecture and lab), and Marine Biology (lecture and lab).

Albert Lin, Ph.D.; teaches Physiology (lecture and lab), Microbiology (lecture and lab), Immunology, and Advanced Seminar in Biology.

Raphael Payne, M.S., Ph.D.; teaches Parasitology (lecture and lab). Dr. Payne developed the BIOLA - BAJA program, which is offered during Biola's Interterm; it is an extended field trip to Baja California, Mexico to study plants, marine mammals, birds, and intertidal marine organisms at the Vermilion Sea Field Station.

Past Faculty

Paul Kuld, Associate Professor;

Requirements

Current Requirements

Biology

BIOS 111, 112 - General Biology I and II

BIOS 111L, 112L - General Biology Lab I and II

BIOS 222 - Botany

BIOS 281 or 282 or 382 - Physiology or Microbiology or Vertebrate Physiology (4 units w/ lab)

BIOS 312 - Cell & Molecular Biology

BIOS 322 - Cell & Molecular Biology Lab

BIOS 332 - Genetics

BIOS 401 - General Ecology

BIOS 450 or 470 - Directed Research or Seminar in Advanced Biology

Chemistry

CHEM 105, 106 - General Chemistry I and II (lecture and lab)

CHEM 301, 302 - Organic Chemistry I and II

CHEM 311, 312 - Organic Chemistry Lab I and II

Physics

PHSC 111, 112 - Physics I and II for non-physics majors

PHSC 111L, 112L - Physics Lab I and II for non-physics majors

Other requirements

11 units of upper division biology electives:

BIOS 310 - Prosection

BIOS 311 - Neurobiology

BIOS 352, 352L - Marine Biology (lecture and lab)

BIOS 402, 402L - Parasitology (lecture and lab)

BIOS 411, 412 - Biochemistry I and II

Math or Statistics:

MATH 101 or 105 or 210 or 318 - Precalculus, Calculus I, Intro to Probability & Statistics, or Biostatistics

NOTE: The pre-med concentration does not require General Ecology; instead it requires 15 units of upper division electives.

Past Requirements

From 2007-2009: Vertebrate physiology was not offered before 2008.

From 2003-2005: 2 units of supporting science (chemistry, math, physical science) were required.

From 1999-2003: Same requirements as '03-'05.