Biology
These are thrilling times to study biology. Advances in molecular biology, epigenetics, and bioinformatics are leading to extraordinary new insights in every field, from evolution and ecology to development, cell biology, genetics/genomics, and neuroscience. These research areas are providing essential information as we address the urgent challenges of biodiversity conservation, global climate change, epidemiology, and human health and well-being. Biology is also at the heart of new ways of understanding ourselves as human beings in relation to other living things. Connections between biological disciplines are raising key questions in new ways, while biological knowledge has become fundamentally integrated with social and medical ethics, public policy, and journalism.
The Biology Department offers a broad range of courses that emphasize the process of scientific inquiry and current experimental approaches. Our courses also consider real-world implications of biological issues: the ethics of embryonic stem cell research, gender issues and reproductive technologies, the AIDS epidemic, and the impact of human activity on natural communities. Biology courses can be the start of a dedicated career in research, medicine, conservation, public health, bioethics, sustainable resource use, and many other areas. They can also bring the intellectual excitement of these investigations to students whose major focus is in the arts, humanities, or social sciences. We welcome students of all backgrounds and interests to join us.
Biology Department Covid - 19 Update
The Wesleyan Biology Department is fully committed to providing a high quality educational experience for our students that is consistent with maintaining the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff. For Fall 2020 we are offering a full curriculum of courses in a variety of teaching modes. A list of courses with brief descriptions of modifications for Fall 2020 is below. For more information on specific courses, please contact the instructor. General questions may be sent to the department: dmeredith@wesleyan.edu
|
COURSE |
INSTRUCTOR |
INSTRUCTION MODE |
ADDITIONAL NOTES |
GRADING OPTION |
|
BIOL173 Global Change and Infectious Disease Sections 01-14 |
Fred Cohan |
online |
The main lectures will have numerous breakout opportunities for discussion. Students will discuss solutions to public health problems in small discussion sections for 30 minutes each week, led by the prof and the TAs. |
Student option |
|
BIOL181: Principles of Biology I _ Section 01-02 |
Michelle Murolo |
online |
Student option |
|
|
BIOL181: Principles of Biology I _ Section 03-04 |
Michael Weir |
online |
Partial flipped classroom with short pre-recorded lectures that introduce synchronous (Zoom) class sessions to discuss concepts |
Student option |
|
BIOL181: Principles of Biology I _ Section 05-06 |
Scott Holmes |
In person and remote students |
Student option |
|
|
BIOL181: Principles of Biology I _ Section 07-08 |
Bob Lane |
online |
Student option |
|
|
BIOL181: Principles of Biology I _ Section 09-12 |
Cori Anderson |
online |
Student option |
|
|
BIOL191 Laboratory: Principles of Biology I _ Section 01-04 |
Michelle Murolo |
Hybrid in person only |
C/U |
|
|
BIOL193: Laboratory Principles of Biology I _ Section 01 |
Michelle Murolo |
online |
C/U |
|
|
BIOL208:Molecular Biology |
Amy MacQueen Rich Olson |
In person with remote students |
graded |
|
|
BIOL213: Behavioral Neurobiology |
Gloster Aaron Matthew Kurtz |
Hybrid with remote students |
Student option |
|
|
BIOL216: Ecology |
Mike Singer |
online |
Partial flipped classroom with short pre-recorded lectures that introduce synchronous (Zoom) class sessions to discuss concepts |
Student option |
|
BIOL218: Developmental Biology |
Stephen Devoto |
online |
Student option |
|
|
BIOL223: The Molecular Basis of Cancer |
Cori Anderson |
online |
graded |
|
|
BIOL239: Functional Anatomy of the Human Brain_ Section 01-02 |
Nihal deLanerolle |
online |
Student option |
|
|
BIOL241: Cell-Cell Interactions in Development |
Jim Mulrooney |
online |
Student option |
|
|
BIOL252: Cell Biology of the Neuron |
Helen Treloar |
online |
Student option |
|
|
BIOL310: Genomics Analysis |
Joe Coolon |
online |
Student option |
|
|
BIOL332:Genomics Era Cell and Development |
Ruth Johnson |
online |
Student option |
|
|
BIOL338: Biology and MB&B Symposium I |
Teresita Padilla-Benavides |
online |
Cr/U |
|
|
BIOL353: Neurobiology of Neurological Disorders _ Section 01-03 |
Helen Treloar |
online |
Student option |
|
|
BIOL357: Sex and Gender: From Synapse to Society |
Laverne Melon |
online |
Student option |
|
|
BIOL505: Cell and Development Journal Club (POI) |
Ruth Johnson, Joe Coolon, Michael Weir, Stephen Devoto |
online |
Cr/U |
|
|
BIOL507: Evolution Journal Club (POI) |
Mike Singer, Sonia Sultan, Fred Cohan |
online |
Student option |
|
|
BIOL509: Neuroscience Journal Club (POI) |
Jan Naegele, Gloster Aaron, Laverne Melon |
online |
Student option |
|
|
BIOL547: Environmental Biology Journal Club |
Fred Cohan, Tim Ku, Barry Chernoff |
online |
Cr/U |
|
|
BIOL571: Teaching Techniques and Theory |
Michelle Murolo |
Hybrid in person only |
Cr/U |
