Austin Peay State University

|Search|Directories|APSU Index   

APSU Science Building Biology Dept Center for Field Biology

   
 |Click Here for
Graduate Course Descriptions
 

 

Undergraduate
Course Descriptions


BIOL 1010 Principles of Life
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory (4)
A course for non-science majors.  Topics covered include scientific methodology, the nature of living organisms, cell structure and function, cell chemistry and division, nature of heredity and gene action, the theory of evolution and principles of ecology.  BIOL 1010 will not serve as a prerequisite of upper level biology courses.

BIOL 1020 Diversity of Life
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory (4)
A course for non-science majors. The course reviews basic scientific methodology and surveys the kingdoms of life with particular attention to the evolution and ecology of these forms.  The portion of the course involving the study of vertebrate animals will include discussions of selected human systems.  BIOL 1020 will not serve as a prerequisite of upper level biology courses.

BIOL 1040 Human Biology
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory (4)
A course for non-science majors.  A survey of human structure, function, evolution, and ecology.  Topics covered include scientific methodology, biological chemistry, cells, tissues, organ systems, genetics and human development, evolution and ecology.  BIOL 1030 will not serve as a prerequisite of upper level biology courses.

BIOL 1110 Principles of Biology
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory (4)
A principles course for students majoring or minoring in biology or other sciences.  Topics include scientific methodology, an overview of the physiological processes of living organisms including metabolism and energy transfer, concepts of inheritance and the nature of genes, and foundational concepts of evolution and ecology.  A brief overview of the kingdoms of life and the rudiments of classification will be presented.

BIOL 2010 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory (4)
Designed for students in health and human performance, psychology, nursing, and allied health programs. Structure and function of the human body ,with emphasis on cellular structure and function, tissues, integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, and endocrine systems.

BIOL 2020 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory (4)
Prerequisite: BIOL 2010
Continuation of BIOL 2010. Treats the cardiovascular, lymphatic, immune, respiratory, digestive, and excretory systems, water and electrolyte balance, human reproduction, growth and development, and human genetics.

BIOL 2300 Principles of Microbiology
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory (4)
Prerequisite: Eight hours of biology
An introductory study of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoans with particular emphasis on their relationship to infection and disease. Asepsis, immunity, sterilization, and special problems related to patients and hospitals. Completion of BIOL 2300 does not substitute for BIOL 3050 for a Biology major or minor.

BIOL 3050 Microbial Diversity
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory (4)
Prerequisite: BIOL 1110
AThe evolutionary process will provide an overarching theme in a comparative study of the morphology, physiology, and ecology of representative microorganisms.  The coevolution of hosts and pathogens will also be discussed.  The term microorganism includes subcellular viruses, bacteria, protistans and microscopic fungi.

BIOL 3060 Zoological Diversity
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory (4)
Prerequisite: BIOL 1110 or 2020
A comparative study of the taxonomy, functional morphology, development, ecology, and evolution of representative invertebrate and vertebrate groups.

BIOL 3070 Botanical Diversity
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory (4)
Prerequisite: BIOL 1110
An evolutionary survey of the plant kingdom (including fungi), involving a comparative study of the structure, reproduction, life cycle, and importance of representatives from the various groups.

BIOL 3330 Principles of Evolution
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory (4)
Prerequisite: BIOL 1110
Designed to impart an understanding of the core concepts in modern evolutionary theory, and an appreciation of the central position that theory holds as a theme unifying all sub disciplines of biology.

BIOL 3760 Immunology and Serology
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory (4)
Prerequisite: BIOL 2300 or BIOL 3050
Fundamentals of antigen-antibody reactions, and serologic procedures performed in the clinical laboratory.

BIOL 3910 Fundamentals of Hematology
Three hours lecture, six hours laboratory (5)
Prerequisite: BIOL 2020
Study of formed elements of the blood and the mechanism of coagulation with, an emphasis on normal development and routine evaluation of material together with development of basic laboratory skills. The use of statistics in the analysis and interpretation of laboratory data.

BIOL 4040 Histology
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory (4)
Prerequisite: BIOL 1110
Principal mammalian tissues. Primary emphasis is placed on the recognition of cells and the
relationships within the organs.

BIOL 4050 Field Botany
Two hours lecture, four hours laboratory (4)
Prerequisite: Eight hours of Biology
A study of local vascular plants with emphasis on identification, the use of manuals, preparation of collections, and distinguishing features of the major groups.

BIOL 4070 Animal Behavior
Four hours lecture (4)
Prerequisite: BIOL 1110 or equivalent and one upper division BIOL course
The course will instruct the student in major topics of animal behavior.  The instructional material will focus on the three main areas of animal behavior research, categories of animal behavior, evolution of animal behavior, and neuro-analysis of animal behavior.

BIOL 4080 General Ecology
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory (4)
Prerequisite: Eight hours of Biology
A survey of basic ecological principles and processes and their application of the welfare of humans and their environment. Lecture and laboratory activities focus on understanding ecosystem dynamics. Includes statistical analysis of field-collected data.

BIOL 4100 Biostatistics
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory (4)
Prerequisites: Completion of the mathematics core and senior status or permission of instructor
Statistical methods in biological research.  Basic descriptive and inferential statistics, frequency distributions and analyses, analysis of variance, linear regression, correlation, nonparametric analogues to parametric methods, relationships between experimental design and data analysis used in hypothesis testing.  Selected multi variate analysis, statistical resampling methods, and data reduction techniques discussed.  Computer use emphasized.

BIOL 4110 Animal Physiology
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory (4)
Prerequisites: BIOL 1110, BIOL 3060, and one eight-hour chemistry series
A survey of animal physiology with emphasis on mammalian systems. The molecular and cellular aspects of physiology as they relate to the function of the organisms are considered. All major systems are discussed.

BIOL 4120 Plant Physiology
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory (4)
Prerequisites: Eight hours of Biology including BIOL 1110 and one eight-hour Chemistry series
Principal physiological process of plants including mineral nutrition, photosynthesis, water relation, translocation, respiration, growth hormones, photo physiology, and biological function of nucleic acids and proteins.

BIOL 4130 Genetics
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory (4)
Prerequisite: BIOL 1110 or 2020
Consideration of the principles underlying inheritance in plants and animals. Application of these principles to population dynamics. Concepts are taught through problems based on experimental data.

BIOL 4160 Human Physiology
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory (4)
Prerequisite: BIOL 1110 or 2020, CHEM 1110
The molecular and cellular aspects of physiology as they relate to the regulation of homeostasis, cellular metabolism, the nervous system, muscle, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, gastrointestinal, and endocrine.

BIOL 4200 General Embryology
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory (4)
Prerequisite: BIOL 1110 or 2020 or permission of instructor
The morphology and physiology of vertebrate development.

BIOL 4300 Bacteriology
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory (4)
Prerequisites: Eight hours of Biology and eight hours of Chemistry
An introduction to each of the 10 groups of bacteria. Major emphasis will be placed on those groups that greatly affect humans through their beneficial or detrimental attributes.

BIOL 4340 Phycology
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory (4)
A study of the structure, evolution, ecology, and physiology of algae.  Students will conduct research to learn methodologies needed to use physiological and ecological characteristics of algae as indicators of environmental health.

BIOL 4350 Field Zoology
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory (4)
Prerequisite: BIOL 3060
A survey of the native vertebrate animals, with emphasis on collection, preservation, identification, and taxonomic relationships.

BIOL 4400 Teaching Science in High School
Three hours lecture (3)
Prerequisite: Provisional admission to Teacher Education and EDUC 3070
Objectives of high school courses, lesson plans, evaluations, supplies and equipment, problem solving, laboratory procedures, textbook evaluation, liability, visual aids, motivation, classroom organization, and problem prevention. Thirty hours of field experience are required.

BIOL 4440 Cell and Molecular Biology
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory (4)
Prerequisites: Eight hours of Biology including 1110 or 2020  and one eight-hour chemistry series, or permission of instructor.
The fundamental role of macro-molecules and cell ultrastructure in mediating such cellular activities as permeability, excitability, secretion, cell-cell communications, and energy transduction. The function of the cell at the molecular level will be emphasized.

BIOL 4450 Biotechnology
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory (4)
Prerequisites: Senior status and permission of instructor
Instruction of students in the isolation and manipulation of nucleic acids for the construction and characterization of recombinant DNA molecules either for the generation of genetic probes or the development of genetically engineered microorganisms. Emphasis will be placed on the uses of these tools in biological research, biotechnology, and diagnostics.

BIOL 4500 Research
Two to six hours laboratory (2-4)
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor, minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA, minimum 3.0 average in Biology; 16 hours of BIOL 3000-4999 level biology courses.
This course is offered for those who desire to pursue a special study of some biological problems beyond what is possible in regular courses. The student is expected to select and plan a research problem and pursue it to some state of completion. The data are to be written in acceptable scientific form and available for a seminar. Maximum of eight hours.

BIOL 4560 Aquatic Macroinvertebrates
Three hours lecture, three hours laboratory (4)
Prerequisites: Senior status or permission of instructor
An investigation of the diversity of aquatic macroinvertebrates through the study of their taxonomy, morphology, development, ecology and evolution of selected aquatic invertebrates.  Emphasis will be placed on freshwater aquatic macroinvertebrates of the Southeastern United States.

BIOL 4600 Parasitology
Three hour lecture, three hours laboratory (4)
Prerequisites: Eight hours of biology including 1110 or 2020, or permission of instructor
A survey of the parasitic protozoans, helminths, and arthropods affecting man and other animals. Emphasis is placed on morphology, life-cycles, host- parasite relationships, method of reproduction, transmission, and control.

BIOL 4810 Wildlife Management Internship (15)
Prerequisite: Junior or Senior status and permission of instructor
One semester of on-the-job experience in various phases of wildlife or fisheries management. Students are assigned as trainees to an APSU-approved agency.

BIOL 4820 Environmental Education Internship (15)
Prerequisite: Junior or Senior status and permission of instructor
One semester of on-the-job experience in planning and implementing environmental education programs. Students are assigned as trainees to an APSU-approved agency.


Austin Peay State University
Department of Biology
Sundquist Science Complex, D125
P. O. Box 4718
931.221.7781
Fax 931.221.6323