All POEs using the words Biology, Biological Science(s) or Zoology must meet the course requirements of this Biology designated POE.

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BIOLOGY CORE

Take the following courses:

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CHEMISTRY CORE

Take the following courses:

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PHYSICS CORE

Complete one of the following options below (8 credits):

OPTION 1:

PC-200L  General Physics Lab I

1 CreditNCorequisites: PC200.

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OPTION 2:

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STATISTICS CORE

Take one of the following courses:

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UPPER-LEVEL BIOLOGY REQUIREMENT

Students must complete a minimum of 18 credits of 300/400 level courses. At least one course must be taken from each core group below. Of these four courses, two must have an associated laboratory. Three credits of research (BI 489) on the same project may count as a core laboratory course. The core classification will be determined by the research advisor. BI-380CW and special topics courses at the 300 level or higher can also count towards the Biology distribution requirements; classification will be determined by the Biology advisor or Chair of the Biology Department. 

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EVOLUTION/ECOLOGY

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CELLULAR & MOLECULAR

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ORGANISMAL

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BIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS

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CAPSTONE

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NOTE: The student must have an advisor who is a member of the Biology Department Faculty.

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POE Credit Total = 52

Students must complete at least 18 credits at the 300/400-level.  Any course exception must be approved by the advisor and/or department chair.

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To achieve distinction in the POE, a student must:

• Complete an honors integrative experience, which is approved by two faculty members and presented in a public forum.
• Have completed the requirements for a biology POE
• Prior to the senior year, preferably by the Fall semester of the Senior year, get consent from a faculty member to participate in research with that faculty member. The student and the faculty member must submit to the department chair the student's intention to take the BI499W: Senior Thesis course along with an agreement of the faculty member to mentor the writing of the thesis. The student must then engage in a research project with the faculty mentor for a minimum of 6 credit hours.
• The student must complete BI499W (Senior thesis) under the direction of the research mentor as it pertains to their research project.
• A student may wish to pursue the honors integrative experience based on a summer research experience or internship. The internship or summer research experience must run a minimum of ten-weeks and the student must arrange to complete Senior thesis, with the writing under the direct supervision of the research or internship mentor. In this case, as above, the student must have the approval of the Biology department that they wish to pursue distinction in the POE. Approval is in the form of a letter or email from the internship mentor, agreeing to supervise the thesis writing.
• The student is required to present their research on campus at the annual departmental "Senior theses night".  The Biology department faculty may opt in any given year to substitute with a presentation at the Juniata Liberal Arts Symposium.
• The student must have their thesis evaluated and passed by their Honors Committee and subsequently confirmed by the Biology department that the research and thesis are of sufficient quality to merit distinction.
• The student must complete the registrar's application for distinction form (available on the BI499W course moodle site), obtain required signatures, and submit it to the Biology department chair before spring break.

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NOTE: The Health Professions Program provides advising for career tracks and as such, does not offer POEs. However, students aspiring to careers in the health professions may attain distinction in POEs in their respective departments.