Courses

• BY170 Introduction to Organisms (4) NL

  This course will introduce the evolutionary processes that shape variation within populations and generate species diversity. It will examine the diversity in organismal morphology, physiology, behavior and ecology, and describe the interactions between species and their environments. The overarching goal of the course is to illustrate fundamental concepts in evolution, ecology and diversity via examples of species adaptations and interactions. An additional goal is to develop critical analytical skills through case studies, interactive lab protocols, and hands-on observations of plant and animal specimens. Three (3) hours lecture, three (3) hours lab. Offered every fall. BY170L, weekly lab.

• BY171 Introduction to Cells (Formerly BY160 Principles of Biology) (4)

  Introduction to the structure and function of cells, including basic chemistry, metabolism, mitosis, genetics, protein synthesis, and cell regulation. Three (3) hours lecture, three (3) hours lab. Offered every semester.

• BY328 Genetics (5) WI

  (Open to declared biology or health science majors.) Mendelian, population, and molecular genetics, with an emphasis on recent advances. Four (4) hours lecture, three (3) hours lab. Offered every spring. Prerequisites: completion of the introductory biology sequence and CY112 with minimum grades of C. This course is not accepted for the Natural World Biological Science requirement.

• BY350 Evolution (4)

  (Open to declared biology majors) The course will focus on developing a deeper understanding of two key concepts in biological evolution: how natural selection operates and how evolutionary lineages change and diversify. Particular emphasis will be placed on interpretation of data and development of communication skills using both scholarly and popular press literature. Proficiency with algebra will be assumed. Prerequisites: completion of the introductory biology sequence and BY-228 Genetics with minimum grades of C and one upper-level course in Biology. Offered every spring.  

• BY499 Biology Seminar (3) SC

  Concentrated study of a single topic. Library research and oral presentation required of all participants. Students will be expected to attend all presentations of their seminar topic and twelve additional science division presentations throughout their Aquinas experience. Prerequisite: Senior status and instructor permission. Offered every semester. This course is not accepted for the Natural World Biological Science requirement.

• CY111 General Chemistry (4) NL

  A first college course in chemistry designed primarily for science majors. Topics include atomic structure, chemical bonding, molecular structure, properties of gases, solids, and liquids, stoichiometry, and thermochemistry. Three (3) hours of lecture and one 3-hour laboratory period per week. Prerequisites: CY100 or high school chemistry; math placement score of 18 or higher, co-registration in MS114, or completion of MS114 with a C or better. High school physics strongly recommended.

• CY112 General Chemistry (4)

  A continuation of CY111. Topics include coordination chemistry, descriptive inorganic and organic chemistry, electrochemistry, equilibria, kinetics, and thermodynamics. Three (3) hours of lecture and one three-hour laboratory period per week. Prerequisites: CY111 and CS152 with grades of C- or better. Co-enrollment in CY112 and CS152 is allowed with approval of the chemistry department chairperson. This course is not accepted for the Natural World Physical Science requirement.

• CY211 Organic Chemistry (4)

  This is the first semester of a year-long course in organic chemistry for science majors. Topics include bonding, reaction mechanisms, structure, stereochemistry, and synthesis and reactions of aliphatic hydrocarbons and their derivatives. The correlation of molecular structure to physical properties and instrumentation is introduced. Three (3) hours of lecture and one three-hour laboratory period per week. Prerequisite: CY112, with a grade of C- or better, or its equivalent. This course is not accepted for the Natural World Physical Science requirement.

• CY212 Organic Chemistry (4)

  Continuation of CY211. Topics include carbonyl compounds and reactions, aromatic hydrocarbons, the application of instrumental methods (e.g. UV-vis, IR, NMR, MS) in the identification of the molecular structure, heterocyclic compounds. Multistep synthesis will be introduced. Three (3) hours of lecture and one three-hour laboratory period per week. Prerequisite: CY211, with a grade of C– or better, or its equivalent. This course is not accepted for the Natural World Physical Science requirement.

• MS114 Precalculus (4) MS

  Linear and quadratic functions; equations and inequalities; transformations; systems of linear equations and inequalities; polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions, and graphing; conic sections. Prerequisite: Three (3) years of college-preparatory math or MS111.