Life Sciences

This course is required for all life science majors as part of a 2-semester sequence with Principles of Biology II, which should be taken during the same year. The first semester emphasizes foundational biological principles and integrates cellular-level processes such as metabolism, cell division, gene regulation, and inheritance with global processes such as energy and nutrient exchange and natural selection. Includes a three-hour weekly lab. Offered every fall.

This course is a continuation of Principles of Biology I. The second semester emphasizes the diversity of life across kingdoms. Emphasis will be on understanding how cellular processes contribute to organismal-level physiology across multiple kingdoms, including growth and reproduction processes. Ecological concepts such as interaction within and between populations and the abiotic environment will also be introduced. Includes a three-hour weekly lab. Offered every spring.

Topics include a history of cell biology, orientation to organic chemistry and biomolecules, cell boundary, cell physiology (including energy metabolism), cell division, mitosis, and an introduction to genetic regulation of physiological processes. Labs will introduce students to historical and current techniques in microscopy, cytology, and molecular extraction, purification, and analysis. Includes a three-hour weekly lab. Offered every fall.

Lecture topics include principles of gene expression and heredity, including statistics and probability related to heredity. Human health considerations related to genetic background are also introduced. Students will be asked to apply theological principles to ethical and moral considerations that arise as a result of genetic knowledge, research avenues, and therapeutic applications. Includes a three-hour weekly lab. Offered odd-numbered fall terms.

This course explores interactions between living organisms and between living things and their environment. Principles of population and community dynamics, nutrient cycling and management, and restoration biology will be introduced and discussed in the context of case studies. A variety of ecological systems will be introduced, including human-created and natural systems. Historical land management philosophies in the United States and ethical considerations for the future as Christian stewards of our physical resources will be considered.

Topics include discussions of the nature of science and faith, bioethics, and science-informed public policy. Students will use historical perspective, theological frameworks, and scientific literature to evaluate chosen topics and case studies. Students will employ metacognition in their writing and in creating a presentation for peer teaching during the class period.

This course is an introduction to chemistry, including chemical formulas, periodic law, equations, stoichiometry, structure of the atom, chemical bonding, thermodynamics, and other related topics. The laboratory portion emphasizes proper technique in measuring, making calculations, and the collection and interpretation of data. Includes a three-hour weekly lab.

An introduction to probability and statistics without calculus. Students learn to use statistical reasoning and apply statistical techniques to problems in various health and life science contexts. Topics include probability distribution functions, sampling distributions, estimation, hypothesis testing, and linear regression.

Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab
Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab
Animal Biology
Plant Biology
Anatomy & Human Body Systems with Lab

Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab
Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab
Fundamentals of Microbiology with Lab
Animal Biology
Plant Biology
Biodiversity: Concepts and Methods
Human Development for Health Sciences