Guidelines 
The Major
The Biology major prepares students for professional work in the life and health sciences. Students receive laboratory training in molecular biology and have the opportunity to do "hands on" research or an internship in their senior year. During the first two years of the program, the department requires General Biology I, II, and III (BI 170-171-172)*, and two semesters each of inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and calculus. General Physics is also required and can be taken in either the second or third year. During the last two years, a minimum of six additional biology courses and successful completion of a capstone experience is required. At least one of the six courses must be taken from each of the three blocks of courses, which represent basic areas of biology. One elective from each of the following blocks is required.
The three remaining Biology course electives may be any 200 or 300 level courses. Four of the six elective courses during the junior and senior years must include a laboratory component.
Various upper level courses may also be double-counted towards a departmental minor in Marine Science, or the departmental concentration in Molecular Biology.
* To learn more about the redesign of our three-semester General Biology series, please visit the National Center for Academic Transition.
The capstone experience presents students with the opportunity to pull together the diverse experiences and knowledge they have acquired as biology majors and to focus these newly acquired skills on a specific problem or current area of biological research. At the heart of the capstone experience is the idea that learning requires participation. In the field, in the lab, through an internship, or in an upper-level seminar course, biology majors will be exposed to the way that science is done. Capstone experiences are academically challenging and requires Biology students to think critically and creatively.
To satisfy this requirement, students may opt to work with a faculty member on a research project (BI 391, BI 392, BI 395 and/or BI 396), arrange an internship (BI 393, BI 394, BI 397 and/or BI 398), enroll in an advanced seminar course* (BI 382, BI 383, BI 384, BI 385, BI 386, BI 387, or BI 388), or write a scholarly review paper on a current topic in biology (BI 296). To maximize its value, the capstone experience normally will be completed during the senior year. Students intending to continue their studies in graduate school should consider participating in two or more terms of research. All on-campus capstone experiences require an on-campus faculty mentor or advisor. Off-campus capstone experiences require an on-campus faculty mentor and approval from the department chair. Prior consultation is required to assure that the particular activity is acceptable and earns credit for the capstone experience.
*Advanced seminars cannot be double-counted for the capstone experience and the six required courses in the junior/senior years.
The biology department also offers areas of specialization beyond the normal biology major. They are a minor in marine science and a concentration in molecular biology. All require a minimum of four courses in the area of specialization. The special requirements of each program are found below.
The Blocks
Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology (10 courses):
Genetics (BI 261), Cell Biology (BI 327), Developmental Biology (BI 342), Microbiology (352), Molecular Biology (BI 354), Immunology (BI 356), General Virology (BI 357), Recombinant DNA Technology (BI 358), and Molecular Mechanisms of Human Disease Seminar (BI 385), and Bacterial Pathogenesis Seminar (BI 386).
Back to the electives
Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Science (13 courses):
Ecology (BI 260), Animal Behavior (BI 321), Marine Invertebrate Zoology (BI 362), Freshwater Ecology (BI 364), Evolutionary Biology (BI 365), Ornithology (BI 366), Plant Biology: Evolution, Diversity, and Environment (BI 368), Environmental Health and Safety (BI 370), Biochemical Ecology (BI 375), Principles of Aquaculture Seminar (BI 382), Coral Reef Ecology Seminar (BI 383), Experimental Design Seminar (BI 387), and Ecology of the North Atlantic Coast Seminar (BI 388).
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Physiology and Morphology (9 courses):
Endocrinology (BI 213), Nutrition and Metabolism (BI 217), Human Physiology (BI 312), Comparative Physiology (BI 313), Biochemistry (BI 326), Histology (BI 331), Parasitology (BI 340), Plant Biology: Morphology, Biochemistry and Physiology (BI 369), and Parasitology Seminar (BI 384).
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Minor in Biology
An 18-20-credit minor in biology requires completion of:
- BI 170-171-172, (12 credits) and
- Any two biology courses numbered 200 or higher. Double counting is not allowed.
Marine Science Minor
Director: Diane Brousseau (Biology)
Liaison Faculty: Raymond Poincelot (Biology), Jen Klug (Biology) Kraig Steffen (Chemistry) and Jack Beal (Physics)
As with all areas of science, study of the marine environment has become increasingly interdisciplinary in nature. This program provides interested students with the opportunity to explore the interface between their discipline and the study of marine science through coursework, internship and research experiences. Fairfield University's geographic location, minutes from Long Island Sound, provides a unique opportunity for students to study marine science in a "natural laboratory" and many of the courses listed below integrate field trips into their curriculum.
The Marine Science minor is open to students of any major but probably appeals primarily to science students interested in pursuing some area of marine or environmental science in graduate school or as a career in research, consulting or education.
For a 17-credit minor in marine science, students complete BI 78 Introduction to Marine Science, complete three three-credit elective courses, complete one four-credit elective course. Students are encouraged to include up to six credits of research and/or internship experience as part of the program of electives by participating in programs such as MUSE (Marine Undergraduate Soundwaters Experience). The program also allows credit for approved courses at off-campus institutions during the summer or in a semester exchange program such as the SeaSemester Program.
Faculty-directed research projects include topics in marine shellfish pathology; marine invasion ecology; molecular biology of marine sponges, marine product biostimulant research, and ecosystem structure and function in aquatic systems. Marine internships are available in Connecticut through the Maritime Aquarium, Norwalk; Bridgeport Regional Vocational Aquaculture School, Bridgeport; Westport Nature Center, Westport; National Marine Fisheries Laboratory, Milford; Mystic Marinelife Aquarium, Mystic; Audubon Coastal Center, Milford; and SoundWaters, Stamford.
Students interested in the Marine Science minor should consult with the Program Director, Dr. Diane Brousseau.
Required Courses:
- BI 78 - Introduction to Marine Science
Elective Courses*
- BI 80 - Tropical Marine Biology
- BI 100 - Marine Biology (offered summers only)
- BI 362 - Marine Invertebrate Zoology
- BI 382 - Principles of Aquaculture Seminar
- BI 383 - Coral Reef Ecology Seminar
- BI 388 - Ecology of the North Atlantic Coast Seminar
- BI 391-392 - MUSE Research
- BI 393-394 - MUSE Internship
- BI 395-396 - Independent Research I and II
- BI 397-398 - Internships
- PS 220 - Pollution in the Environment
*Note: Students interested in Marine Science often take credit-approved courses through off-campus institutions, either during the summer (e.g., School for Field Studies) or as a semester exchange program (e.g., SeaSemester Program). Students may receive credit toward the elective portion of the Marine Science Minor for such courses having a significant marine component.
Marine Undergraduate SoundWaters Experience (MUSE)
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Biology Major with a Concentration in Molecular Biology
In addition to the requirements noted above, students will be required to take four courses from the molecular, cell, and developmental biology block: Genetics (BI 261), Cell Biology (BI 327), Developmental Biology (BI 342), Microbiology (352), Molecular Biology (BI 354), Immunology (BI 356), General Virology (BI 357), Recombinant DNA Technology (BI 358), and Molecular Mechanisms of Human Disease Seminar (BI 385), and Bacterial Pathogenesis Seminar (BI 386). One of these courses may be used to satisfy the Molecular Biology block requirement. BI 326 Biochemistry, may also be accepted. Interested students should consult with Dr. Phyllis Braun for advisement and completion of appropriate paperwork.
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