Mar 19, 2024  
2019-20 Catalog 
    
2019-20 Catalog FINAL VERSION - Closed for Revisions

Biology


Karin Bodensteiner, Chair
Room 302, Chemistry Biology Building (CBB)
Phone: 715-346-4524
Email: biology@uwsp.edu
Web: www.uwsp.edu/biology

This department is in the College of Letters and Science .


Stevens Point Faculty and Staff: S Alger, B Barringer, T Barta, R Bell, K Bodensteiner, J Bray, D Caporale, L Dresang, A Driver, D Graf, J Hardy, C Hartleb, J Hubbard, T Huspeni, A Impullitti, L Lee, S Pimm Lyon, S Majernik, S Orlofske, K Prahl, M Rogge, R Rosenfield, N Shefferly, J Sipiorski, K Slemmons, M Steury, Q Sun, P Whitaker, C Yahnke, P Zani.

Definition: Biology is the scientific study of life. From simple, single-celled bacteria to complex, multicellular plants, animals, and fungi, biologists study how life works. Genetics, anatomy, physiology, development, ecology, evolution, and behavior of organisms fall within the work of the biologist as does the study of populations and communities of organisms.

Notes for Biology:

  1. The biology major offers a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of Letters and Science. However, if you are accepted in the Education program, you may graduate from either the College of Letters and Science or from the College of Professional Studies. If you have a double major, such as biology and natural resources, you may graduate from the College of Letters and Science or the College of Natural Resources.
  2. Courses in biology are open to all students who meet the prerequisites.

Academic Standards and Policies for Biology

Admittance and status as a biology major depends on the following factors:

  1. To be admitted, retained, and approved for graduation as a biology major, you must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.50 for all courses taken within the major (2.75 to student teach in biology), including collateral courses and regardless of a declaration of academic bankruptcy.
  2. When you apply for the biology major, you are conditionally admitted with an ‘intended’ status. BIOL 130  and BIOL 160 ; and CHEM 105  or CHEM 117  must be completed within three semesters of application to the major, with no less than a 2.50 GPA in the major (including UWSP and transferred biology and collateral chemistry and math credits). Advising for intended majors will be conducted through the Biology Advising Office. When the introductory biology courses (BIOL 130  and BIOL 160 ) and the first semester of general chemistry (CHEM 105  or CHEM 117 ) are completed, and the minimum Biology GPA has been met, the status will be changed to ‘accepted’.
  3. Accepted majors with a GPA in biology of less than 2.50 are changed to ‘provisional’ and are allowed two semesters in which to reach the minimum GPA or be dropped from the major. If you are dropped from the major, you may reapply only once.

NOTE: No more than six credits of D work in biology courses will be counted toward the completion of the biology major or minor. All grades of D or F in biology and required collateral courses are used to compute the cumulative GPA in the major or minor. If you repeat a course, the last grade earned is the grade used in your GPA calculation. Courses with grades of D or F may be repeated (only if a seat is available after the regular registration period) only with approval of the department chair and your adviser.

Teacher Certification: Enrollment caps are in effect for those seeking teacher certification. Please contact the School of Education early for entrance requirements and application procedures. Also see information about the Professional Education Program and the secondary education curriculum for teacher certification in the Education  section of this catalog.

Advanced Placement (AP) Exams: If you wish, you may use a score of 5 on the biology AP exam as a substitute for either BIOL 130  or BIOL 160 . See the chair or advising coordinator to exercise this option. If you score 3 or 4 on the AP exam, you will receive five credits toward graduation, but NOT toward biology major. Majors and minors must complete BIOL 130  AND BIOL 160 .

Aquaculture/Fish Culture Minor

Chris Hartleb, Coordinator
Room 442, Trainer Natural Resources Building
Phone: 715-346-3228
Email: chartleb@uwsp.edu

Description: Aquaculture is the discipline that studies the culture of finfish, methods of production, environmental and ecological manipulation and assessment, selective breeding, nutrition, diseases, processing, marketing and operation of culture facilities. The importance of aquaculture has increased as natural stocks of fish have declined and human consumption has continued to rise.

Aquaponic Certificate Program

Chris Hartleb, Coordinator
Room 442, Trainer Natural Resources Building
Phone: 715-346-3228
Email: chartleb@uwsp.edu

Description: The Aquaponic Certificate is awarded upon successful culmination of a series of courses that center on professional and scientific competence and proficiency in the field of aquaponics. Valued by hobbyists, home food producers, farmer’s market growers, educators, social organizers and commercial producers, it substantiates your expertise in aquaponics to address a broad range of production and application issues. Program participants will acquire abilities to scientifically understand the roles of water, bacteria, plants and fish in a sustainable, integrated, controlled environment, food production system. Participants such as college students, life-long learners, and those seeking workforce training may complete the course requirements.

Brewing Science Certificate

Terese Barta, Coordinator
Room 346, Chemistry Biology Building
Phone: 715-346-4241
Email: tbarta@uwsp.edu

Description:  The craft brewing industry is a rapidly growing sector of the economy, with over 1,000 breweries across Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, and Illinois. Breweries are in need of employees with knowledge in biology, chemistry, and business. This certificate program can be completed concurrently with the student’s undergraduate degree in biology or biochemistry, or can be completed with a completed degree in biology or a related field.

Summer Field Program

Marine Biology

NOTE: The University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Coast Research in Ocean Springs, Mississippi is an affiliate of the University Of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. You may transfer the credits to UW-Stevens Point. Contact the Biology Office for more information, or visit the GCRL website.

Programs

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