Biological & Environmental Sciences (Undergraduate)

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Faculty

Anthony S. Overton, Chair, Professor
Kristin A. Bakkegard, Paul Propst Professor of Natural Sciences
Lawrence J. Davenport, Professor
Elizabeth G. Dobbins, Professor
Brad C. Bennett, Associate Professor
Rita Malia Fincher, Associate Professor
Grant L. Gentry, Associate Professor
R. Andrew Hataway, Associate Professor
Katelynn Corder, Assistant Professor
Kevin M. Drace, Assistant Professor
Jennifer E. Layton, Assistant Professor
Riley T. Lovejoy, Assistant Professor

Undergraduate Programs and Requirements

Majors
Biology Major (B.S.) 
Environmental Science Major (B.S.) 
Marine Science Major (B.S.)  

Interdisciplinary Major
Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Major (B.S.)  

Minors
Biology Minor 
Marine Science Minor 
Neuroscience Minor  

Interdisciplinary Minor
Bioinformatics Minor for Biology or Biochemistry Majors 
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The Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences offers majors in biology, environmental science, and marine science, each leading to a bachelor of science degree. Additionally, in cooperation with the Department of Psychology, the department offers an interdisciplinary major in neuroscience, leading to a bachelor of science degree. Preparation is also provided for professional programs in the allied health sciences.

The department also offers minors in biology, marine science, and neuroscience, plus an interdisciplinary minor in bioinformatics, offered in cooperation with the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science . The bioinformatics minor is available in three variations, depending on the student’s major. See the mathematics and computer science department for information on the other variations.

General Education: University Core Curriculum and Distribution Requirements

General Education Distribution Requirements are noted in the individual degree tables. In those cases where a requirement is not specified, see General Education Overview  in the Howard College of Arts and Sciences introductory pages for a list of required and applicable courses.

Programs

• Biology Major (B.S.)
• Environmental Science Major (B.S.)
• Marine Science Major (B.S.)

• Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Major (B.S.)

• Bioinformatics Minor for Biology or Biochemistry Majors
• Biology Minor
• Marine Science Minor
• Neuroscience Minor

• Biology Electives - Upper-Level
• Marine Science Electives

Courses

Of related interest: IDSC 201 - Scientific Methods (4) .

• BIOL 105 - Principles of Biology (4)
• BIOL 106 - Principles of Biology II (4)
• BIOL 107 - Contemporary Biology (4)
• BIOL 110 - Human Biology (4)
• BIOL 111 - Animal Biology (4)
• BIOL 112 - Plant Biology (4)
• BIOL 203 - Foundations of Biology I (4)
• BIOL 204 - Foundations of Biology II (4)
• BIOL 205 - Biology in Great Britain (4)
• BIOL 217 - Human Anatomy for Allied Health Sciences (4)
• BIOL 218 - Human Physiology for Allied Health Sciences (4)
• BIOL 225 - Microbiology for Allied Health Sciences (4)
• BIOL 300 - Neurobiology of Mental Health and Disorders (4)
• BIOL 301 - Mammalian Anatomy (4)
• BIOL 302 - Mammalian Physiology (4)
• BIOL 306 - Principles of Bioinformatics (4)
• BIOL 311 - Biomedical Techniques (4)
• BIOL 314 - Developmental Biology (4)
• BIOL 319 - Island Ecology (4)
• BIOL 320 - Introduction to Neuroscience (4)
• BIOL 324 - Introduction to Toxicology (4)
• BIOL 325 - General Microbiology (4)
• BIOL 326 - Environmental Science (4)
• BIOL 327 - Introduction to Marine Biology (4)
• BIOL 333 - Genetics (4)
• BIOL 334 - Experimental Genetics (4)
• BIOL 335 - Biological and Environmental Perspectives in Community Health (4)
• BIOL 337 - Infectious Diseases (4)
• BIOL 340 - Amazon Rain Forest (4)
• BIOL 344 - Principles of Immunology (4)
• BIOL 350 - Population Biology (4)
• BIOL 353 - Special Topics in Neuroscience (4)
• BIOL 361 - Hospital Internship (2-4)
• BIOL 399 - Special Topics in Biology (4)
• BIOL 402 - Challenge to Sustainability: Conserving East Africa’s Biodiversity (4)
• BIOL 403 - Invertebrate Field Zoology (4)
• BIOL 405 - Cell and Molecular Biology (4)
• BIOL 406 - Experimental Cell Biology (4)
• BIOL 407 - Advanced Bioinformatics (4)
• BIOL 416 - Vertebrate Field Zoology (4)
• BIOL 422 - Plant Taxonomy and Local Flora (4)
• BIOL 425 - Basic Pathology (4)
• BIOL 432 - Internship in Biological or Environmental Science (4)
• BIOL 436 - Ecology (4)
• BIOL 438 - Biology Seminar (4)
• BIOL 439 - Research (1)
• BIOL 440 - Research (2)
• BIOL 441 - Research (3)
• BIOL 448 - Biology Research Capstone (4)

Courses are offered only at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab operated by the Marine Environmental Sciences Consortium of which Samford University is an active member. A minimum of at least one year of biology (preferably more) is required before any upper-level course in marine science may be attempted. Admission into all courses is subject to ultimate approval by the instructor. Unless otherwise indicated, marine science courses (MARS) are offered during the Summer.

• MARS 203 - Oceanographic Experience (1-3)
• MARS 204 - Biology and Conservation of Marine Turtles (2)
• MARS 205 - Marine Biology (4)
• MARS 350 - Environmental Applications of GIS (2)
• MARS 351 - Coastal and Marine Geography: Modern Marine Science (4)
• MARS 403 - Marine Invertebrate Zoology (4)
• MARS 406 - Coral Reef Ecology (4)
• MARS 407 - Marine Behavioral Ecology (4)
• MARS 411 - Marine Vertebrate Zoology (4)
• MARS 412 - Marine Botany (4)
• MARS 435 - Coastal Wetlands Ecology (4)
• MARS 436 - Marine Ecology (4)
• MARS 439 - Directed Research (2)

• NSCI 300 - Neurobiology of Mental Health and Disorders (4)
• NSCI 400 - Research in Neuroscience (4)
• NSCI 405 - Capstone: Neuroscience Senior Thesis (4)