Dec 10, 2024

2024-2025 Academic Catalog

Biology: Environmental Biological Sciences Specialization, BS

Contact Information

S. Elizabeth Rácz, PhD MPH
Biology Program Coordinator, Senior Lecturer
Department of Chemistry, Biology and Health Sciences
Chemical and Biological Engineering/Chemistry 3316
Office Phone: (605) 394-2260
Email: Sara.Racz@sdsmt.edu

Department Website

Students are responsible for checking with their advisors for any program modifications that may occur after the publication of this catalog.

BIOL-ENV Flowchart

Curriculum Checklist

A specialization is considered a separate major in South Dakota Mines’ student record system. In order to pursue this specialization, please request a change of major even if you are currently pursuing a major in the non-specialized version of Biology .

Freshman Year

First Semester

BIOL 111 Introduction to Chemistry, Biology, and Health Sciences Credits: (1-0) 1
BIOL 151 General Biology I Credits: (3-0) 3 ¹
BIOL 151L General Biology I Lab Credits: (0-1) 1 ¹
CHEM 112 General Chemistry I Credits: (3-0) 3 ¹
CHEM 112L General Chemistry I Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
ENGL 101 Composition I Credits: (3-0) 3 ¹
MATH 123 Calculus I Credits: (4-0) 4 ¹

Total: 16

Second Semester

BIOL 153 General Biology II Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 153L General Biology II Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
CHEM 114 General Chemistry II Credits: (3-0) 3
CHEM 114L General Chemistry II Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
MATH 125 Calculus II Credits: (4-0) 4
General Education Goal 3 or 4 Elective(s) Credits: 3 ¹

Total: 15

Sophomore Year

First Semester

BIOL 331 Microbiology Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 331L Microbiology Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
CHEM 326 Organic Chemistry I Credits: (3-0) 3
CHEM 326L Organic Chemistry I Lab Credits: (0-2) 2
Physics Requirement Credits: 3 to 4 ²
General Education Goal 3 or 4 Elective(s) Credits: 3 ¹

Total: 15 to 16

Second Semester

BIOL 371 Genetics Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 371L Genetics Lab Credits: (0-1) 1
ENGL 279 Communication in the STEM Workplace Credits: (3-0) 3 ¹
Physics Requirement Credits: 3 to 4 ²
Free Electives or Specialization Electives Credits: 3 ^4,5
General Education Goal 3 or 4 Elective(s) Credits: 3 ¹

Total: 16 to 17

Junior Year

First Semester

BIOL 311 Principles of Ecology Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 311L Principles of Ecology Laboratory Credits: (0-1) 1
BIOL 446/546 Molecular Cell Biology Credits: (3-0) 3
Free Electives or Specialization Electives Credits: 7 ^4,5

Total: 14

Second Semester

BIOL 375 Current Bioethical Issues Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 412/412L/512/512L Freshwater Ecology/Lab Credits: (2-1) 3 ⁶
BIOL 480/580 Bioinformatics Credits: (3-0) 3
Free Electives or Specialization Electives Credits: 3 ^4,5

Select one course from the following:

MATH 321 Differential Equations Credits: (3-0) 3
MATH 381 Introduction to Probability and Statistics Credits: (3-0) 3

Total: 15

Senior Year

First Semester

BIOL 427/527 Plant Physiology Credits: (3-0) 3 ⁶
ENGL 289 STEM Communication for Technical and Public Audiences Credits: (3-0) 3
Free Electives or Specialization Electives Credits: 6 ^4,5
General Education Goal 3 or 4 Elective(s) Credits: 3 ¹

Total: 15

Second Semester

BIOL 406/506 Global Environmental Change Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 451/551 Applications of Environmental Microbiology Credits: (3-0) 3 ⁶
BIOL 490 Seminar Credits: 1 to 3 ³
Specialization Electives Credits: 3
Free and Specialization Electives Credits: 6 ^4,5

Total: 13

Total credits: 120

Notes:

¹ Fulfills General Education requirement. Students should consult the General Education Requirements section of this catalog for a complete listing of all general education requirements.

² The Physics requirement must include two lectures and at least one lab, for a total of seven credits. Courses must be selected from: (PHYS 111 , PHYS 111L , PHYS 113 , PHYS 113L ) or (PHYS 207 , PHYS 207L , PHYS 209 , PHYS 209L ) or (PHYS 211/211L , PHYS 213/213L ).

³ Only one credit required for major.

⁴Thirteen credits, or as needed to meet 120 credits total, of free electives are required for the degree.

⁵ Twelve credits of specialization electives are required for the degree.

⁶ Course is offered on a rotational basis. Contact department for questions on course offerings.

Specialization Electives:

Select 12 credits from the list below:

BIOL 403/503 Biogeochemistry Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 438/538 Industrial Microbiology Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 447/547 Emerging and Re-emerging Diseases Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 487/587 Diagnostic Parasitology Credits: (3-0) 3
BIOL 492 Topics Credits: 1 to 5
BIOL 498 Research Credits: 1 to 12
CHEM 332 Analytical Chemistry Credits: 2 or 3
CHEM 434 Instrumental Analysis Credits: (3-0) 3
CHEM 434L Instrumental Analysis Lab Credits: (0-2) 2
CHEM 462/562 Green Chemistry and Processes Credits: 2 to 3
CHEM 482/582 Environmental Chemistry Credits: (3-0) 3
CHEM 483/583 Toxicology Credits: (3-0) 3
CP 297/397/497 Cooperative Education Credits: 1 to 3
GEOE 475/475L/575/575L Groundwater/Lab Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOL 416/416L/516/516L Introduction to GIS/Lab Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOL 419/519 Advanced Geospatial Analysis Credits: (3-0) 3
GEOL 435/535 Geomicrobiology Credits: (3-0) 3
POLS 407 Environmental Law & Policy Credits: (3-0) 3

Objectives and Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes:

Graduates will understand Biology based on principles of basic sciences and mathematics, preparing them for professional careers and graduate or professional school.
Graduates will acquire laboratory and data analysis skills required for careers in biology, graduate or professional school through laboratory courses and independent research experiences.
Graduates will communicate effectively and professionally through written and oral means on aspects of biology.
Graduates will master problem-solving skills in biology.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Graduates will demonstrate understanding of mathematics and basic sciences, including chemistry and physics.
Graduates will demonstrate understanding of principles of biology.
Graduates will demonstrate laboratory and data analysis skills commensurate with entry-level positions in graduate and professional schools.
Graduates can give effective oral presentations on an aspect of biology learned from coursework, the literature, or laboratory research.
Graduates can compose effective written presentations on an aspect of applied biological sciences learned from coursework, the literature, or laboratory research.
Graduates will demonstrate mastery of problem-solving skills in biology.
Graduates will demonstrate the ability to integrate problem-solving skills into research-related problems.