Department: Biology

Code Name Description
BIOL 108 Environmental Biology Basic ecological principles and selected topics in environmental science, including worldwide impact of growing human population, patterns of energy consumption, and issues of water quality, water management, land use, and biological resources. Appli...
BIOL 109 Introduction to Ecology Introduction to causes and consequences of ecological patterns at all scales: individuals, species, communities, and ecosystems. Terrestrial, aquatic, and marine systems are studied, as well as theories and the mathematical and graphical models used...
BIOL 111 Marine Biology of the Chesapeake Bay Introduction to the ecology and biological diversity of the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. Environmental issues facing the bay will be explored through direct data collection, observation, and hands-on activities. This is a service-learning course...
BIOL 120 Modern Concepts in Biology Scientific reasoning as applied in biology. Different sections may address different topics, but each one will study the nature of evidence and how knowledge is gained in biology through diligent observation or controlled experimentation. Assumes com...
BIOL 192 Science, Math, and Research Training I year-long course provides an, interdisciplinary, integrated introduction to biology and chemistry, with an accompanying integrated lab. Based on the material in the first course of the major in each of these disciplines, this course will focus on cur...
BIOL 199 Introduction to Biological Thinking An introduction to how biologists pose questions, design experiments, analyze data, evaluate evidence, and communicate scientific information. Individual sections will have different topics and formats, but all sections will involve intensive student...
BIOL 200 Integrated Biological Principles I First of two-part series on the fundamental principles of biology. Examines genetics, cellular and molecular biology, and physiology within the context of biological evolution. Builds upon the competencies and skills learned in BIOL 199. Serves as pr...
BIOL 202 Integrated Biological Principles II Second of two-part series on the fundamental principles of biology. Examines organismal physiology and homeostasis, micro- and macroevolutionary processes, and ecological interactions on a range of spatial and temporal scales. Builds upon the compete...
BIOL 206 Cell Biology SA Introduction to general aspects of animal cell structure and associated physiology. Overview of cell shape and form, and cell and tissue types, along with intracellular organelles. Investigates the function cell membranes in maintaining homeostasis....
BIOL 207 Ecology Examines forces that shape the patterns of species interactions, abundance and distribution. Three lecture and three laboratory hours a week plus overnight field trips.
BIOL 216 Botany Diversity, structure, growth, physiology, and reproduction of photosynthetic organisms. Three lecture and three laboratory hours a week.
BIOL 219 Human Anatomy with Lab Survey of basic human anatomy, with an emphasis on the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and nervous systems. For students in allied health fields. Does not count toward the Biology major or minor. Students may not receive credit for both BIOL 219 and...
BIOL 220 Human Physiology with Lab A study of the human nervous, sensory, skeletal muscle, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, gastrointestinal, endocrine, and reproductive systems. Emphasis will be placed on forging conceptual links between biology at the molecular, cellular, tissue,...
BIOL 225 Evolution with Lab Introduction to biological evolution, including history of field and mechanisms of evolution that result in biological diversification, speciation, extinction, and the fossil record. Three lecture and three laboratory hours per week.
BIOL 229 Microbiology Microorganisms are everywhere and an integral part of our world. This course introduces a broad range of topics in the field, including microbial cell structure and function, microbial growth and nutrition, unique aspects of microbial metabolism, vir...
BIOL 303 Biodiversity of Plants, Algae, and Fungi with Lab Structure, life histories, and phylogeny of major divisions of algae, fungi, and terrestrial plants. Three lecture and three laboratory hours per week.
BIOL 304 Medical Botany Medically significant plants, the biologically active compounds that they make, and how plant-derived drugs and poisons modulate human biochemistry, cell biology, and/or physiology.
BIOL 306 Systematic Botany with Lab Identification and classification of vascular plants; emphasis on local flora, principles of systematics. Two lecture and four laboratory hours per week.
BIOL 307 Advanced Cell and Molecular Biology Analysis of molecular mechanisms by which cells interact with each other and the environment. Topics include signal transduction, cell cycle regulation, and molecular models of cancer and microbial pathogenesis. Three lecture hours per week.
BIOL 308 Compartive Vertebrate Anatomy with Lab Comparative anatomy and biology of several systems of organs of representative vertebrates in an evolutionary context. Two lecture and four laboratory hours per week.
BIOL 310 The Science of Poisoning Introduction to the basic concepts of toxicology as they apply to the effects of environmental agents (i.e. chemicals, metals, and biological molecules) on public health. Discussion of the distribution, metabolism, and elimination of toxic agents, as...
BIOL 312 Developmental Biology with Lab Development of animals, concentrating on fertilization and early embryonic development. Emphasizes mechanisms of cell differentiation and pattern formation. Three lecture and three laboratory hours per week.
BIOL 313 Microbial Pathogenesis with Lab Exploration of the general mechanisms used by pathogens to cause disease. Topics include entry into the host, attachment to and invasion of host cells, cell and tissue damage, and microbial elimination/dissemination, as well as the techniques used to...
BIOL 314 Molecular Biology with Lab Exploration of the molecular mechanism of genome maintenance, expression, and evolution in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Mechanisms of gene regulation will be emphasized, using primary literature to introduce new discoveries in the field. Topics includ...
BIOL 315 Landscape Ecology (See Geography 315.)
BIOL 316 Biogeography and Global Change Study of the Earth’s biological diversity, the spatial distribution of species, and how these distributions change over time. Combining basic concepts in ecology and geography, this course provides a foundational understanding of biogeography and cri...
BIOL 317 Mechanochemical Cell Biology with Lab Focuses on the chemical and physical nature of cellular function, and the approaches used to study cells. Topics include biophysical principles, kinetics, macromolecular self-assembly, and the impact of regulatory mechanisms on cellular properties. L...
BIOL 320 Experimental Design and Biostatistics Introductory course in designing, analyzing, and interpreting biological experiments. This course is structured to develop students understanding of when to apply different quantitative methods, how to implement those methods using statistical softwa...
BIOL 322 Cancer Biology and Tumorigenesis with Lab Examination of the past, present, and future of cancer biology. This course will survey the molecular/cellular mechanisms that drive cancer and tumor formation through analysis of primary literature and student-led discussions.
BIOL 324 Molecular Virology with Lab Exploration of the molecular biology of viruses. Topics include virus entry, viral gene expression, genome replication, assembly, and exit. Each step of the viral life cycle will be illustrated through examples of well-studied viruses, accompanied by...
BIOL 327 Genetics of Biodiversity This course will explore how changes at the genetic level lead to organismal adaptation and diversity using recent primary literature to study how modern revolutions in genetic technology have led to a deeper understanding of the diversity of life on...
BIOL 328 Aquatic Ecology Introduction to the study of aquatic environments, including their ecology, evolution, and relevant conservation considerations. This is a hands-on, field-lab based class, where each week integrates classroom material on core concepts with field samp...
BIOL 330 Urban Ecology and Evolution Introduction to arguably the most interesting biodiversity shift of our time. Surveys the ecological and evolutionary patterns and processes experienced by organisms in cities. Exploration of the patterns across Richmonds urban core, using species su...
BIOL 331 Molecular Ecology with Lab Examines how molecular genetic techniques are used to study ecological and evolutionary processes in natural populations. Relying heavily on the primary literature, explores methods for evaluating population genetic structure, studying the adaptation...
BIOL 333 Microbial Ecology with Lab Community dynamics play an important role in organismal interactions. Examines the role of microorganisms in terrestrial, freshwater, and marine habitats, as well as animal-plant systems. The laboratory will emphasize molecular techniques used to stu...
BIOL 334 Oceanography with Lab Integrated introduction to biological, geological, chemical, and physical oceanography. Multidisciplinary approach to ocean processes. Three lecture and three laboratory hours per week, plus field trips.
BIOL 335 Structural Biology Introduction to the study of molecular structures of macromolecules using techniques such as X-ray crystallography, molecular dynamics simulations, and electron microscopy. Covers mathematical theory behind X-ray and electron diffraction phenomena an...
BIOL 336 Eco-Epidemiology with Lab Explores various ways environmental heterogeneity influences disease risk in humans, with specific emphasis on diseases harbored by wildlife species and transmitted by arthropod vectors. Molecular, field-based, computational, and geospatial approache...
BIOL 338 Comparative Animal Physiology with Lab Introduction to major characteristics of animal function at level of whole organism and component structures and organ systems. Emphasis on physiological function and processes related to survival in natural environment. Three lecture and three labor...
BIOL 340 Introduction to Immunology with Lab Overview of immunology. Current theories and their explanation of pertinent contemporary issues included. Three lecture and three laboratory hours per week.
BIOL 341 Animal Physiological Ecology with Lab Introduction to animal physiological adaptation to the natural environment. Emphasis will be on physiological responses of animals to both biotic and abiotic factors and interaction with ecology and population dynamics of species. Three lecture and t...
BIOL 342 Neurodevelopment Interdisciplinary and integrative area of biology that studies the cellular, molecular and physiological processes by which a field of (ectodermal) cells give rise to a multicellular, three-dimensional nervous system with specialized cell types that...
BIOL 343 Neurobiology with lab Broad course focusing on study of neurons and neuronal systems. Topics to be explored include the neuron and its mechanisms for the transmission of signals, neuronal organization, sensory perception, integration, behavioral output, development, and b...
BIOL 344 Behavioral Ecology with Lab Introduction to analysis of behavior of organisms, including humans, by study of how behavior affects survival and reproduction. Behaviors studied include foraging, aggression, cooperation, and reproduction. Verbal, graphical, and mathematical models...
BIOL 346 Medical Entomology with Lab Introduces students to biology of medically important arthropods, life cycles of transmitted pathogens, disease symptoms and epidemiology. Discusses the economic and social impact of these arthropods and strategies for their control; covers unorthodo...
BIOL 348 Drugs & Genetics: An Introduction to Personalized Medicine In Drugs & Genetics you’ll learn about the core principles of pharmacology and pharmacogenomics. We’ll discuss topics such as the mechanisms of drug action, drug metabolism, polymorphisms and genome-wide association studies. We’ll examine how genetic...
BIOL 351 Special Topics Special course areas covered when sufficient interest exists. Considers subject matter not covered in other biology courses.
BIOL 354 Biological Basis of Neurodegenerative Diseases w/ Lab Examines the biological mechanisms that underlie human neurodegenerative diseases. Also examines the genetic, molecular, and cellular mechanisms of diseases like Alzheimer, Huntington, and Parkinson diseases by discovering how normal biological proce...
BIOL 360 Human Evolutionary Genomics with Lab Focus on how genomic tools have helped to elucidate human migration patterns, reveal admixture with closely related populations (i.e. Neanderthals), uncover selective pressures, and clarify our place within the Primate order. Covers some basic popula...
BIOL 380 Philosophical Issues in Evolutionary Biology Philosophical problems within evolutionary biology and its influence on society. Issues studied include how natural selection works, evolution and human behaviors, and the influence of evolutionary theory on our ethical and legal codes. Lecture/semin...
BIOL 381 Advanced Topics in Ecology Discussion-based course exploring the development of ecological theories in scientific literature from the foundations of the discipline through contemporary research and cutting-edge approaches. Readings draw from contemporary and foundational scien...
BIOL 382 Conservation Biology Study of biological diversity (species, habitats, ecosystems) and efforts to conserve it. Specific topics may include ecological models of population regulation, coexistence, maximum sustainable harvest rates and minimum viable population size. Study...
BIOL 383 Tropical Biology and Conservation Introduction to principles of tropical biology and conservation, including historical and economic components. Three lecture and three laboratory hours per week.
BIOL 385 The Biology of Memory and Forgetting Explores groundbreaking scientific discoveries about the complex biological mechanisms of memory and forgetting. Focuses on the physiology of synapses and neural circuits to understand how memories form, how some are forgotten, and how scientists can...
BIOL 387 Biology Seminar Regular attendance in program seminars and written analysis of presentations. May be repeated for credit, normally taken in junior year. Meets one hour per week.
BIOL 388 Internship Supervised independent work under field conditions. Designed to give student applied experience in biological specialty. No more than 1.5 units of internship in any one department and 3.5 units of internship overall may be counted toward required deg...
BIOL 389 Independent Study in Biology An in-depth study of biological topics not included in other courses. Students work independently, but under the supervision of a faculty member. Must be approved by department chair and instructor.
BIOL 390 Advances in Biology Engages students with discoveries at the boundaries of traditional biology disciplines and examine the kinds of questions researchers ask about living systems. The course builds upon foundational concepts in introductory biology courses and studies r...
BIOL 391 Honors Seminar I Special topics for junior and senior students with emphasis on topics presented in the Biology Seminar Series. One lecture hour per week.
BIOL 392 Honors Seminar II Special topics for junior and senior honors candidates. One lecture hour per week.
BIOL 394 Undergraduate Research Independent research conducted with faculty supervision. May be repeated eight times for credit.
BIOL 395 Undergraduate Research Laboratory or field-centered independent study. May be taken twice for credit.
BIOL 406 Summer Undergraduate Research Documentation of the work of students who receive summer fellowships to conduct research [or produce a creative arts project] in the summer. The work must take place over a minimum of 6 weeks, the student must engage in the project full-time (at leas...