General Catalog 2007-2009

Department of Biological Sciences

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The Department of Biological Sciences offers Baccalaureate degree programs in Biology, Secondary Education-Biology, and the Allied Health fields of Nuclear Medicine Technology, Respiratory Care and Healthcare Coding. The Biology program is broad-based, and designed to prepare students for graduate studies or for professional programs in a variety of fields, including medicine or other health-related career. Graduates may seek employment immediately in biology-related areas such as environmental science or biotechnology. The Secondary Education-Biology program prepares students for certification as secondary education biology teachers. The Allied Health programs are professionally accredited, and prepare students for careers as nuclear medicine technologists or respiratory therapists. The Department also offers Associate degree programs in Biology, Respiratory Care, and Healthcare Coding. A Healthcare Coding Specialist certificate and a minor in Biology are also available.

Allied Health Programs

York College offers a number of programs for students interested in the health fields, and these majors are offered through different departments of the College. All these programs provide students with the training to obtain employment in their respective medical fields immediately upon graduation or, in some cases, following their completion of certification examinations required in certain specialties. Four-year Baccalaureate programs include Respiratory Care and Nuclear Medicine Technology in the Biological Sciences Department, and Clinical Laboratory Science in the Physical Sciences Department. The Nursing program is housed in its own department. Associate degree programs are offered through Biology in Respiratory Care and Healthcare Coding, as well as a certificate program in Healthcare Coding. Information concerning these programs can be found within each department.

Students interested in health careers requiring postgraduate work (i.e., medicine, physical therapy, etc.) typically major in biology or chemistry and are advised by the Health Professions Committee of the college. Consult the respective departments and/or the Health Professions Committee at the College for more information.

Bachelor of Science Degree in Biological Sciences

The Biology program provides the student with a solid and rigorous foundation in biology, emphasizing a balance between the molecular/cellular and organismal/population areas of the field. Recognizing the many sub-specialties in biology, the curriculum is also flexible, allowing the student to design an area of emphasis that matches their unique interests and goals. Students are given numerous opportunities to expand their writing and speaking abilities, not only through their laboratory and classroom experiences, but also in selected courses such as Introduction to Scientific Research and Senior Thesis. The Biology program has a strong chemistry and physics component, and many biology majors acquire a minor in chemistry by taking an additional chemistry course such as Instrumental Analysis. This allows graduates to qualify for jobs that require skills in both biology and chemistry.

While mastery of subject matter is of prime importance, the curriculum also emphasizes the process of scientific inquiry through laboratory experimentation. Students design and conduct experiments both within their courses and outside of the classroom. Students are encouraged either to participate in undergraduate research projects with York College faculty or to arrange a summer research experience with faculty at other institutions around the country. York College faculty offer a wide range of research opportunities for the student. Students, with their faculty mentors, may present their research findings at state and national scientific meetings. Papers have recently been presented by student-faculty teams in the areas of neurophysiology, exercise physiology, ornamental horticulture, plant development, animal behavior, microbial physiology and environmental microbiology. Additional research opportunities are available for students in molecular and cellular biology, genetics, toxicology, oncology, biochemistry, marine and terrestrial ecology, and reproductive physiology.

Many students earn credit through an internship or independent study by working in a learning environment off-campus. Examples include biotechnology companies, local hospitals, environmental firms, nature centers or pharmaceutical laboratories. The skills and attitudes acquired in the workplace not only enhance the educational process at the college, but also provide a potential place of employment after graduation.

A college-wide, Health Professions Committee exists on campus specifically to advise students interested in Medicine, Veterinary Science, Optometry, Physical Therapy and other professional careers based in the sciences. There is no pre-professional major at the college since professional schools prefer that applicants major in a traditional undergraduate discipline, such as biology or chemistry, rather than follow a specific program geared to one profession, such as pre-med. The committee forms a second tier of advisors for pre-professional students in addition to their major advisor. Committee members assist students in designing a course sequence and in choosing other related activities that will strengthen their professional school applications. They work closely with students from their freshman year until the application process is completed.

In addition to supportive advising, students who wish to pursue clinical careers may also choose to participate in courses offered through the Department of Biological Sciences in collaboration with York Hospital. These courses permit students to gain first-hand experience in a clinical setting by allowing them to shadow physicians in various departments, take part in weekly hospital grand rounds, participate in clinical research, and pursue an advanced study of human anatomy and disease.

The Department of Biological Sciences is a member of the Marine Science Consortium at Wallops Island, Virginia. This consortium of colleges in Pennsylvania was formed to provide a field station for students to study and conduct research in the marine sciences. The Marine Biology and Oceanography courses conduct their laboratory component at this site. York College students may also choose from a wide array of courses offered at the station during the summer. Biology majors may take these courses as upper division electives for the major. Some courses are designed for non-science majors as well. The student must apply for credit to both the college and the consortium in order to participate in these courses. Additional fees to the Consortium are required to cover food and lodging. A catalog describing the courses is available on the Consortium webpage.

Requirements for Graduation:

To be eligible for graduation, students majoring in Biology must complete a minimum of 124 credits, achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 in all Biology courses, satisfy the College’s residency requirements, and complete the General Education requirements of the College. Courses used to complete General Education requirements may not be taken on a pass/fail basis, and credits earned in WRT100 may not be applied to degree requirements.

Students transferring into Biology must complete at least four Biology courses at York College in order to graduate as a Biology major. Acceptable courses are determined by the major advisor and the department chair.

The required courses for the Biological Sciences major are:

Biology (suggested course sequence)

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