Biology Department

Chair: Nancy Jo Pokrywka;

Professors: Kelli A. Duncan, John H. Long, Jr., Nancy Jo Pokrywka, Margaret Ronsheim, Kathleen M. Susman;

Associate Professors: Lynn Christenson, Leroy Cooper, David Justin Esteban, Megan D. Gall, Jennifer Kennell, Jodi Schwarz, J. William Straus^a, Justin Touchon^b;

Assistant Professors: Colin Echeverría Aitken^a, Myra Hughey^b, Dianne Pater;

Senior Lecturer: Mary Ellen Czesak;

Visiting Assistant Professors: Timothy Lampasona, Alaina Richard;

Adjunct Assistant Professor: Jean-Nicolas Audet.

^aOn leave 2023/24, first semester

^bOn leave 2023/24, second semester

Early Advising: Those students considering a concentration in biology should consult a departmental adviser early in their first year to discuss appropriate course sequences. After declaration of the major, no NRO work is permissible in the major.

Postgraduate Work: Students considering graduate school or other professional schools should be aware that such schools usually require courses beyond the minimum biology major requirements. In general, students should have at least a full year of organic chemistry, a year of physics, computer science, statistics and calculus. Students are urged to begin their chemistry and other correlated sciences coursework as soon as possible, since this will assist them in successful completion of the biology major. Students should consult with the chair of biology or the pre-medical adviser at their earliest opportunity.

Further Information: For additional information on research opportunities, honors requirements, etc., please see the biology department. http://biology.vassar.edu/

Advisers: Any of the faculty members of the Biology Department can serve as Major Advisors. Students who have a preference for a particular faculty adviser may ask that individual whether s/he would be willing to serve as adviser. Students who have no preference should make an appointment to see the Chair of the Department to be assigned an adviser.

Programs

Major

• Biology Major

Correlate Sequences in Biology

Courses

Biology: I. Introductory

Biology: II. Intermediate

• BIOL 202 - Plant Physiology and Development
• BIOL 205 - Microbiology
• BIOL 208 - Plants and Fungi
• BIOL 217 - Human Physiology
• BIOL 218 - Cellular Structure and Function
• BIOL 226 - Animal Structure and Diversity
• BIOL 228 - Animal Physiology
• BIOL 232 - Developmental Biology
• BIOL 238 - Molecular Genetics
• BIOL 241 - Ecology
• BIOL 244 - Genetics and Genomics
• BIOL 246 - Epidemiology
• BIOL 248 - Evolutionary Genetics
• BIOL 272 - Biochemistry
• BIOL 290 - Community-Engaged Learning
• BIOL 293 - Special Topics in Biology
• BIOL 298 - Independent Work

Biology: III. Advanced

Two units of 200-level biology are prerequisites for entry into 300-level courses; see each course for specific courses required or exceptions.