Biology

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Contact Information

Phone: 401.865.2585
Fax: 401.865.1438
Location: Sowa Hall 236

The Faculty

Professors

John H. Costello, Ph.D.
Robert I. Krasner, Ph.D., Emeritus
Craig B. Wood, Ph.D.

Associate Professors

Elisabeth Arévalo, Ph.D.
Carol B. Crafts, Ph.D.
Patrick W. Ewanchuk, Ph.D.
Rev. Mark D. Nowel, O.P., Ph.D.
Charles R.Toth, Ph.D., Chairperson
Yinsheng Wan, Ph.D.
Robert M. Zarcaro, Ph.D.

Assistant Professors

Rev. Nicanor Austriaco, O.P., Ph.D.
Maia F. Bailey, Ph.D.
Joseph A. DeGiorgis, Ph.D.

The Program

The goal of the biology curriculum is to make students aware of the structure, function, and evolution of life as manifested on the cellular, organismic, and population levels through lecture, formal laboratories, and experiential education (e.g. research and internship).

The faculty of the Department of Biology stress the conceptual approach in course content. A core program is required for all biology majors, which relates the content of the biology courses to the scientific background obtained in chemistry, mathematics, and physics, and provides the opportunity for a wide choice of biology and other elective courses.

Completion of the core meets the usual science requirements demanded for admission to both medical and other professional schools specializing in the health sciences (i.e. veterinary, physical therapy, etc.) and to graduate schools offering advanced degrees in the various research-oriented biological specialties.

The Department of Biology offers a combined degree program with the New England College of Optometry. This program allows completion of the B.A. or B.S. degree in biology and the doctor of optometry degree in seven years. Students may prepare for careers in teaching at the secondary level by taking additional courses elected from the offerings in the Department of Education and upon completion, will meet the requirements of the Rhode Island Department of Education and 47 other states for certification for secondary school biology teachers.

The Department of Biology offers supporting courses for the Health Policy and Management Program.

Also, students have ample opportunity for experiential learning through faculty-directed laboratory and field research and internships. One such opportunity is our affiliation with the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS).

Organization for Tropical Studies

The Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS) is a nonprofit consortium that includes 63 universities and research institutions from the United States, Latin America, and Australia, in collaboration with the Universidad de Costa Rica. The main interest of the OTS is to strengthen education and research in tropical biology. Founded in 1963, the organization provides leadership in education, research, and the responsible use of natural resources in the tropics. To address this mission, OTS conducts graduate and undergraduate education, facilitates research, participates in tropical forest conservation, maintains three biological stations in Costa Rica (La Selva, Palo Verde, and Las Cruces), and conducts environmental education programs.

The OTS, in partnership with Duke University, offers semester and summer programs for undergraduate students interested in field biology. The Costa Rica semester and summer programs utilize all three OTS field stations as well as other Costa Rican sites, allowing direct study of a wide range of tropical ecosystems and habitats. Graduates of an OTS undergraduate program will be well prepared for advanced studies in tropical biology and resource management.

The program is administered by Duke University and enrollment is limited. Further details are available by calling the Department of Biology or the OTS Web site at www.ots.duke.edu/en/education/undergraduate.shtml.

Biology electives may be from any of the following:

BIO 201 - Comparative Anatomy  4 Credits

BIO 205 - Human Anatomy  4 Credits

BIO 209 - Introductory Botany  4 Credits

BIO 210 - Field Botany  4 Credits

BIO 215 - Histology and Cytology  4 Credits

BIO 220 - An Introduction to Tropical Biology  4 Credits

BIO 230 - Invertebrate Zoology  4 Credits

BIO 240 - Marine Biology  4 Credits

BIO 308 - Modern Genetics  4 Credits

BIO 310 - Evolution  3 Credits

BIO 320 - Developmental Biology  4 Credits

BIO 350 - Animal Behavior  4 Credits

BIO 360 - Neurobiology  4 Credits

BIO 395 - Research  3 Credits *

BIO 396 - Research  3 Credits *

BIO 401 - Ecology  4 Credits

BIO 403 - Plant Physiology  4 Credits

BIO 405 - Physiology  4 Credits

BIO 407 - Microbiology  4 Credits

BIO 410 - Electron Microscopy  4 Credits

BIO 412 - Microbial Physiology  4 Credits

BIO 413 - Cell Signaling  3 Credits

BIO 416 - Immunology  4 Credits

BIO 418 - Biotechnology  4 Credits

BIO 450 - Internship  3 Credits *

BIO 495 - Research  3 Credits *

BIO 496 - Research  3 Credits *

CHM 309 - Biochemistry I  3 Credits (B.S. program only)

PSY 315 - Human Neuropsychology  3 Credits

All biology majors must successfully complete at least three courses, which include a lab component. Students pursuing the B.S. degree must complete an additional two courses from this list.

* Only one of these courses will count as a biology elective, but additional courses under these numbers will count as free electives.

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