As one of the most popular majors on campus, the Biology Department offers students opportunities to learn about all levels of biology, as well as modern methods of research and investigation. The study of biology prepares students for a wide range of career options as students can choose to concentrate their studies in General Biology (GB), Integrative Biology (IB), Environment, Ecology, and Behavior (EEB), and Biomedical Sciences (BMS).

Professors

Michael D. Collins. 2010. B.S., University of Arizona; M.S., Florida State University; Ph.D., University of Tennessee. (Ecology, ornithology, wildlife biology) 
Terry W. Hill. 1978. B.A., University of South Florida; M.S., Ph.D., University of Florida. (Cell biology, microbiology, biology of fungi.)
David Kabelik. 2009. H.B.Sc., University of Toronto; Ph.D., Arizona State University. (Neuroscience, endocrinology, physiology, animal behavior.)
Mary E. Miller. 2001. B.A., University of Tennessee at Knoxville; Ph.D., University of Virginia. (Genetics, microbiology, cancer biology, cell biology.)

Associate Professors

Sarah Boyle. 2009. B.A., College of William and Mary; Ph.D., Arizona State University. (Ecology, conservation biology, tropical field biology.)
Kelly A. Dougherty. 2014. B.S., West Chester University; Ph.D., Thomas Jefferson University. (Neuroscience, biophysics, neurophysiology.)
Jonathan Fitz Gerald. 2007. B.S., University of California at Irvine; Ph.D., University of Chicago. (Plant biology, development.)
Elaine R. Frawley. 2016. B.A., Ph.D., Washington University in St. Louis. (Microbiology, metabolism, bacterial physiology.)
Bayly S. Wheeler. 2015. B.S.E., University of Michigan; Ph.D., Duke University. (Molecular biology, genetics, genomics, microbiology.)

Assistant Professors

Kelly Diamond. 2022. B.S., University of Central Florida; M.S., Ph.D. Clemson University. (morphology, machine learning, biomechanics)
Liam Hunt. 2022. B.S., Ph.D. The University of Melbourne, Australia. (Molecular Biology, Skeletal Muscle Disease)
Kathryn A. LeCroy. 2023. B.S., Birmingham-Southern College; M.S. University of Pittsburgh; Ph.D. University of Virginia. (Conservation Biology, wild bee diversity, disease ecology, community science)
Sydney Moyo. 2020. B.S., Africa University; M.S. University of Zimbabwe; Rhodes University, Ph.D. (Zoology, invertebrate biology, entomology.)
Tanushree Pandit. 2019. B.S., M.S., RTM Nagpur University; Ph.D., Umea University. (Developmental neuroscience.)
Qian Shen. 2020. B.E, China Agricultural University; M.S., Mississippi State University; Ph.D. Ohio State University (Microbiology, Fungal pathogenesis.)
 

Visiting Assistant Professors

James Engman. 2023. B.S. Kent State University; B.S., M.S., Western Illinois University; Ph.D. University of Cincinnati. 
Alix Matthews. 2023. B.S. Rhodes College; M.S., Ph.D. Arkansas State University.

Staff

Tangela Allgood. 2022. Biology Department Administrative Assistant.
Jordy Gentry. 2021. Biology Department Lab Supervisor for The Frazier Jelke Science Center. B.S., University of Memphis.
Justin A. Porter. 2017. Biology Department Lab Manager for Robertson Hall. B.S., M.S., University of Georgia.

 

Requirements for Major in Biology Leading to the B.S. Degree

A total of fifty-six to fifty-nine (56-59) credits as follows:

1. BIOL 130-131L (Biology I with laboratory) and BIOL 140-141L (Biology II with laboratory).
2. CHEM 120-125L (Foundations of Chemistry with laboratory) and CHEM 211 (Organic Chemistry I).
3. One statistics course from the following list:
   ECON 290 (Statistical Analysis for Economics and Business)
   MATH 111 (Applied Statistics for Liberal Arts)
   MATH 211 (Applied Statistics for the Formal and Natural Sciences)
   PSYC 211 (Statistical Methods).
4. One computational course from the following list:
   COMP 141 (Computer Science I: Programming Fundamentals) or above
   INTD 225 (Geographic Information Systems [GIS])
   MATH 115 (Applied Calculus)
   MATH 122 (Integral Calculus)
   MATH 214 (Discrete Mathematical Modeling with Biological Applications).
5. BIOL 485 or 486 (Senior Seminar).
6. Six upper-level courses defined by concentration areas. At least four of the six upper level courses required must have an associated lab experience.  Of the four required lab experiences, three of them must be chosen from the appropriate designated concentration courses. Four credits of BIOL 451 or 452 (Research in Biology) combined can satisfy one upper-level course with lab requirement. 

Normally, at least four of the six upper level courses used to satisfy these requirements must be taken within the Biology Department at Rhodes.  Courses taught outside the department that can satisfy upper level course requirements for the Biology major, subject to the limit indicated above, include certain courses approved by the Department Chair for transfer credit and the following:
CHEM 315 (Biochemistry); with BMB 310 (Methods in Biochemistry and Cell Biology) may satisfy a course with lab requirement, CHEM 416 (Mechanisms of Drug Action), and NEUR 270 (Neuroscience). 

Courses taught outside the Department may also be available through the Woods Hole Semester in Environmental Sciences Program: ENVS 260 (Aquatic Ecosystem Analysis), ENVS 270 (Terrestrial Ecosystem Analysis), and BIOL 280 (Microbial Methods in Ecology). 

Additional courses can be taken through our partnership with the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory including Marine Biology, Barrier Island Ecology, Marine Ichthyology, Marine Mammalogy, Marine Invertebrate Zoology, Coastal Herpetology, and Parasites of Marine Animals. Offerings change each year. In addition to month-long summer courses, some are available as mini-courses during January and May. Students interested in either program should contact the Biology Department for details.
 

7. Each student will choose only one of the following four concentrations in the Biology major: ‘General Biology’, ‘Integrative Biology’, ‘Ecology, Evolution, Behavior’ or ‘Biomedical Sciences’.  

The Biology concentrations and associated class options:

General Biology (BIOL:GB) 

Upper level Biology course requirements: Six upper level Biology courses; at least four must have an associated lab.

Integrative Biology (BIOL:IB)

Upper level Biology course requirements: Six of the following upper level Biology courses including four courses with lab; at least one course must be taken from each of the following three categories; at least one lab requirement must come from each category.

1. Genetics, Cells, and Molecules

BIOL 304: Genetics with Lab

BIOL 301: Microbiology with Lab

BIOL 305: Population Genomics with Lab

BIOL 307: Cell Biology

BIOL 325: Molecular Biology with Lab

BIOL 330: Virology/Immunology

BIOL 365: Advanced Topics in Biology (depends on topic)

BIOL 376: Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience with Lab

BIOL 380: Topics in Biomedical Science

CHEM 315: Biochemistry

CHEM 416: Mechanisms of Drug Action

2. Development, Physiology, Anatomy

BIOL 302: Parasitology

BIOL 308: Mycology with Lab

BIOL 350: Comparative Vertebrate Morphology with Lab

BIOL 340: Animal Physiology with Lab

BIOL 355: Animal Development with Lab

BIOL 360: Histology with Lab

BIOL 365: Advanced Topics in Biology (depends on topic)

BIOL 375: Neuroendocrinology with Lab

BIOL 377: Developmental Neuroscience with Lab

NEUR 270: Neuroscience

3. Ecology and Evolution

BIOL 300: Evolution with Lab

BIOL 309: The Science of Climate Change

BIOL 311: Invertebrate Biology with lab

BIOL 312: Environmental Issues in Southern Africa

BIOL 314: Environmental Field Study in Namibia

BIOL 315: Ecology with Lab

BIOL 316: Freshwater Ecology with Lab

BIOL 318: Entomology with Lab

BIOL 320: Conservation Biology with Lab

BIOL 321: Animal Behavior with Lab

BIOL 322: Plant Diversity & Evolution with Lab

BIOL 345: Ornithology with Lab

BIOL 348: Wildlife Biology with Lab

BIOL 365: Advanced Topics in Biology (depends on topic)

ENVS 260: Aquatic Ecosystem (Woods Hole)

ENVS 270: Terrestrial Ecosystem (Woods Hole)
 

Ecology, Evolution, Behavior (BIOL:EEB)

Upper level Biology course requirements: Six upper level Biology courses; at least four must come from the following list.  At least three of the four lab requirements must come from this category. Up to two courses may be taken from additional upper level Biology course offerings.
 

BIOL 300: Evolution with Lab

BIOL 302: Parasitology

BIOL 304: Genetics with Lab

BIOL 308: Mycology with Lab

BIOL 309: The Science of Climate Change

BIOL 311: Invertebrate Biology with Lab

BIOL 312: Environmental Issues in Southern Africa

BIOL 314: Environmental Field Study in Namibia

BIOL 315: Ecology with Lab

BIOL 316: Freshwater Ecology with Lab

BIOL 318: Entomology with Lab

BIOL 320: Conservation Biology with Lab

BIOL 321: Animal Behavior with Lab

BIOL 322: Plant Diversity & Evolution with Lab

BIOL 345: Ornithology with Lab

BIOL 348: Wildlife Biology with Lab

BIOL 350: Comparative Vertebrate Morphology with Lab

BIOL 365: Advanced Topics in Biology (depends on topic)

ENVS 260: Aquatic Ecosystem (Woods Hole)

ENVS 270: Terrestrial Ecosystem (Woods Hole)

Biomedical Science (BIOL:BMS)

Upper level Biology course requirements: Six upper level Biology courses; at least four must come from the following list.  At least three of the four lab requirements must come from this category. Up to two courses may be taken from additional upper level Biology course offerings.

BIOL 300: Evolution with Lab

BIOL 301: Microbiology with Lab

BIOL 302: Parasitology

BIOL 304: Genetics with Lab

BIOL 305: Population Genomics with Lab

BIOL 307: Cell Biology

BIOL 308: Mycology with Lab

BIOL 325: Molecular Biology with Lab

BIOL 330: Virology/Immunology

BIOL 340: Animal Physiology with Lab

BIOL 350: Comparative Vertebrate Morphology with Lab

BIOL 355: Animal Development with Lab

BIOL 360: Histology with Lab

BIOL 365: Advanced Topics in Biology (depends on topic)

BIOL 375: Neuroendocrinology with Lab

BIOL 376: Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience with Lab

BIOL 377: Developmental Neuroscience with Lab

BIOL 380: Topics in Biomedical Science

NEUR 270: Neuroscience

CHEM 315: Biochemistry

CHEM 416: Mechanisms of Drug Action

Satisfying the prerequisites for courses is the student’s responsibility; however, in special circumstances, students with advance permission of the instructor may enroll in a course without meeting prerequisites.

Courses and accompanying laboratories of the same name are linked co-requisites and must be taken together unless approved by petition to the department. Unless otherwise noted, courses meet under the standard class schedule and laboratories meet for a three-hour period; laboratories also often require further project work outside the scheduled lab time.

Students seeking a double major must have at least four upper-level courses for the Biology major that are not used to satisfy requirements for the other major.

When declaring a major in Biology, students must submit an essay electronically for approval by their major advisor.  This essay should be 300 words or less and should include:

1. a statement of your goals in pursuing a biology major

2. a statement of your goals in pursuing a specific concentration in biology

3. what areas of biology represent your greatest interests

4. possible links between biology coursework and other courses taken or to be taken

5. what other areas of biology will help you to become more well-rounded in the field of biology.

1. Courses required: those listed for the B. S. degree with a major in Biology as well as the Biology Honors Tutorial (BIOL 495 and 496).

2. Students seeking to do Honors research must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 (cumulative and in the major) at the time of application and be on track to graduate at the end of the academic year in which the Honors research is carried out.

3. An original investigation of some problem in the area of biology, usually related to research being carried out by a member of the Biology Department, is required. The Honors research may be conducted outside of the department, with department approval and the careful guidance of a Biology faculty member liaison for the project.

4. A creditable thesis must be presented at the end of the project. The honors project and thesis must be approved by the student’s Honors committee and the project must follow the department and college guidelines and schedule for Honors work. In addition, the Honors candidate should present the work publically at a scientific meeting on- or off-campus.

Students interested in Honors research should consult with their faculty research supervisor at Rhodes.