Biology - Major in Biology Program

Citizenship Track:

Required courses:
ECN 101 Principles of Microeconomics

The course examines how individuals and firms make choices within the institution of free-market capitalism. Individuals decide how much of their time to spend working and what to buy with the earnings of their labor. Firms decide how much to produce and in some cases what price to charge for their goods. Together these choices determine what is produced, how it is produced, and for whom it is produced in our economic system. Fulfills requirement: Quantitative Reasoning. 3 credits.

ECN 102 Principles of Macroeconomics

This course extends the study of consumer and producer choices to discover how they affect the nation's economy. Macroeconomics deals with the economy as a whole as measured by the key variables of inflation, unemployment, and economic growth. Emphasis is on both Keynesian and classical theories and how they predict what monetary and fiscal policies can be used to affect these variables and reach national economic goals. Fulfills requirement: Quantitative Reasoning. 3 credits.

HIS 101 Foundations of History and Social Science

This course provides a foundation for the study of history and social science. Students will learn about the history and geography of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, with particular attention to its politics and culture. The class will also cover the career options for history majors. 3 credits.

HIS 103 World History I: From the Beginnings to the Early Modern Period

Survey of world history from the beginnings of human civilization to ca. 1500. The course is organized geographically and chronologically and examines the cultures and civilizations of Southwest Asia and the Mediterranean world; South Asia; and East Asia. It also examines regions influenced by major empires, including Western Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Americas. Major themes of the course include empire-building, cultural diffusion, and cross-cultural contact. Fulfills requirement: Intercultural Competence. 3 credits.

HIS 105 World History II: Formation of the Modern World

This survey of modern world history (ca. 1450 to the present) explores key developments in the formation of the modern world, from the knitting together of Afro-Eurasia and the Americas to the emergence of global capitalism, colonization, and the nation-state system to the world wars of the 20th century, the Cold War and its aftermath, the process of globalization, the rise of Islamic extremism, and the intensifying impacts of global climate change. Bringing past and present together into a coherent analytical framework, the course encourages students to analyze contemporary global and domestic issues from diverse cultural perspectives, and to engage in ongoing reflections about their own culture and other cultures. Fulfills requirement: Intercultural Competence. 3 credits.

HIS 125 United States History to 1865

The major developments in the US from European colonization to the Civil War. The course emphasizes the interaction of different cultures, groups, and ideas in the creation of the republic. Major themes include the ways that republican ideals and whiteness shaped the republican experiment and the market economy. The civil war as a test of the republic's ideals and durability is emphasized. Fulfills requirement: Intercultural Competence. 3 credits.

HIS 126 With Justice for All?

Since the end of the Civil War, Americans have changed their conception of who belongs to "We the People." Moreover, we have also reconsidered the appropriate role of government for citizens and the world. This course provides an introduction to those controversies in the past and present. Fulfills requirement: Intercultural Competence. 3 credits.

POL 110 American Politics and Government

This course provides students with a critical understanding of the U.S. political process and analytical tools to evaluate authority structures that exercise power and influence. Fulfills requirement: . 3 credits.

PSY 220 Lifespan Development

This course provides an overview of developmental phenomenon focusing heavily on the prenatal environment through adolescence and highlighting adulthood and aging. Further, we will go beyond a 'milestone approach' to developmental psychology - in other words, rather than just memorizing what ages and stages children acquire certain skills, we will strive to understand why and how those skills are developing. Students will learn to articulate the relationship between theory and data and synthesize information to critically evaluate current developmental theories and apply developmental concepts to real-world issues. This course cannot be completed by PSY majors/minors for credit toward PSY program requirements (effective Fall 2022). 3 credits.

One of the following:
HIS 253 Topics in Comparative History

This seminar will focus on topics in comparative history with a focus on European, Asian, and African history. Topics might include World War I, imperialism, nineteenth-century Europe, revolutions, or religion and violence. The comparisons might be within the context of European history, or might compare topics across the continents of Europe, Africa, and Asia. Fulfills requirement: Critical Thinking through Writing. This course may be repeated for credit as topic changes. Prerequisites: Sophomore standing, and at least two college level history courses; major or minor in history, politics or global studies; OR permission of the instructor. 3 credits.

POL 210 Topics in Comparative Politics

This is an introduction to the study of comparative politics: the comparison of political systems in order to understand how and why these systems function differently. The course is built around three fundamental questions: What is comparative politics? What kinds of phenomena do we compare? What are the major theoretical approaches that guide our studies? We also examine distinctions between the "developing" and the "developed" worlds, and between authoritarian and democratic political regimes. The last half of the semester is devoted to the study of individual country case studies, with an emphasis on those in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East. Fulfills requirement: Intercultural Competence. This course satisfies a requirement of the College Honors program. Enrollment is open to all majors. 3 credits.

One of the following:
GLB 101 Crossing Borders: Globalization

This course introduces students to the multiple dimensions of international issues, events, and structures from an array of perspectives by examining cultural, social, geographic, economic and political borders. Fulfills requirement: Intercultural Competence. 3 credits.

POL 245 International Relations

This course uses the levels of analysis approach to understand international politics and theories in international relations to draw connections between concepts and world issues. Fulfills requirement: Critical Thinking through Writing. 3 credits.

Secondary Education Courses:
SED 115 Introduction to Teaching and Learning

This course is designed to provide an introduction to secondary education majors about how people learn and how to successfully use that information in the classroom. It will cover the characteristics of secondary schools and students and the management of teaching and learning resources. 2 hours a week of fieldwork is required. 3 credits.

SED 363 Teaching of Social Sciences in the Secondary Schools

This course will offer comprehensive preparation for teaching social studies in secondary schools through discussing, reading, writing, and completing projects. As part of this course, students will establish and practice appropriate classroom management strategies; design lessons/units of study that meaningfully integrate different and varied aspects of social studies; develop appropriate assessment strategies for all students including those with disabilities; explore and utilize materials, techniques and methods of classroom instruction for a variety of populations including those with disabilities; synthesize, reconfigure, and connect what they have learned within the areas of social studies literacy, writing and education; evaluate student work by creating their own rubrics to assess learning; use technology effectively as an instructional tool. 4 hours a week of fieldwork is required. Prerequisite: Social Studies major or permission of the instructor. 3 credits.

SED 421 Content Area Literacy

This course will guide preservice students to develop competencies in teaching literacy strategies in their content area subject(s) in middle and high school. Emphasis will be placed on teaching activities, specialized skills, technology skills and study strategies for learning substantive content. 4 hours a week of fieldwork is required. Prerequisite: SED 115. 3 credits.

SED 431 Practicum and Methods II

This course is designed to provide preservice secondary education students with the skills to develop an integrated approach to teaching and learning. Students will create lesson and unit plans and develop integrated curricula. 4 hours a week of fieldwork is required. Prerequisites: SED 115, 421; secondary teacher certification candidate; junior or senior status; permission of the instructor; must be taken the semester prior to SED 440. 3 credits.

SED 440 Student Teaching

Students spend an entire semester in an area school under the supervision of a cooperating teacher. Fulfills requirement: Immersive Experience. Prerequisites: A cumulative grade point average at or above the minimum GPA specified by PDE for the secondary 7-12 certificate, SED 431 and the appropriate teaching of course for the content certification, completion of all Chapter 354 and Act 49-2 course requirements. 12 credits.