Biology Courses
This course is designed to assist students in preparing for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), the standardized exam required as part of the admissions process to most US medical schools. The course includes a review of the basic sciences (Biology, Chemistry and Physics), with attention to the three sections of the MCAT: Physical Science, Biological Sciences and Verbal Reasoning. Both content and cognitive skills will be addressed, along with how to be successful in the MCAT testing format. This course does NOT count toward credit for requirements in any major, minor, emphasis or certificate program at USF. Letter grades will not be assigned, the course is Pass/Fail only. Four hours of lecture each week. Prerequisite: Permission of department.
A survey of selected biological concepts, including the chemical basis of life, cell structure, organismal physiology, genetics, evolution, and ecology. This course should provide the non-biologist with a working knowledge of life science that will be useful in making informed decisions on health and the environment. Two lectures and one laboratory weekly. Offered Fall and Spring.
A course for non-majors surveying the major systems of the human body and introducing concepts of human health and disease. Two lectures and one laboratory weekly. Offered Fall and Spring.
Introduction to the principles and concepts of biology with emphasis on molecular biology and cell physiology. Intended for science majors and pre-med students. Not recommended for non-science students. Three hours lecture and one laboratory session each week. Offered every Fall and Spring.
Introduction to the principles and concepts of biology with emphasis on biological diversity, organismal biology and ecology. Intended for science majors and pre-med students. Nor recommended for non-science students. Three hours lecture and one laboratory session each week. Offered every Fall and Spring.
A course for non-majors surveying basic human biology, biological theories of aging, aging-related changes in physiological and anatomical systems, and medical conditions associated with aging. Three hours lecture each week. Offered every Fall.
Laboratory exercises illustrating and examining topics covered in lecture. One laboratory session per week. Offered every Fall.
Corequisite: BIOL - 114. A survey of the structure of the tissues and organs in the human. Three hours lecture each week. Offered every Fall and Spring. Intended for Nursing, Exercise and Sport Science students and related fields. Does not satisfy Biology major requirements. Offered every Fall and Spring. Majors restricted to Chemistry, Nursing, and Exercise and Sport Science.
Corequisite: BIOL - 113. One laboratory session each week.
Corequisite: BIOL - 116. Survey of the functions of tissues, organs and organ systems in the human with an emphasis on the mechanisms involved. Three hours lecture each week. Offered every Fall and Spring. Intended for Nursing, Exercise and Sport Science students and related fields. Does not satisfy Biology major requirements. Offered every Fall and Spring. Majors restricted to Chemistry, Neuroscience, Nursing, and Exercise and Sport Science.
Corequisite: BIOL - 115. One laboratory session each week.
Corequisite: BIOL - 135. An elementary study of bacteria and other microorganisms causing disease and immunity. Three hours lecture each week. Offered every Fall and Spring. Intended for Nursing, Exercise and Sport Science students and related fields. Does not satisfy Biology major requirements. Offered every Fall and Spring. Majors restricted to Chemistry, Nursing, and Exercise and Sport Science.
Corequisite: BIOL - 134. One laboratory session each week.
An interesting introduction to a topic in the field of Biology.
This Emergency Medical Technician Training Course is designed to prepare and qualify a student to take the National Registry of EMTs (NREMT) written and practical exams for certification as an EMT.
Study of cellular activities, with emphasis on the fundamental relationships between structure and function at the cellular and molecular levels. Four hours lecture each week. Offered every Fall and Spring. Prerequisites: BIOL - 105 with a minimum grade of C-; and BIOL - 106
with a minimum grade of C-; Pre- or corequisite: CHEM - 236 or CHEM - 230.
Basic principles of Mendelian and molecular genetics covering both prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Three hours lecture and one hour recitation each week. Offered every Fall and Spring. Prerequisites: BIOL - 212 with a minimum grade of C; Pre- or corequisite: CHEM 231 or CHEM 236.
The principles of the structure and function of ecosystems and types of data/analyses utilized in order to study, e.g., energy flow, biogeochemical cycling, and population dynamics. Four hours lecture each week. Offered intermittently. Prerequisites: Concurrent CHEM 231 or concurrent CHEM 236 and BIOL 310 with minimum grade of C or concurrent BIOL 310.
Survey of the function of the tissues, organs and organ systems in the human, with an emphasis on the mechanisms involved. Three hours lecture each week. Offered every Spring. Prerequisites: CHEM 231 or CHEM 236 and BIOL 310 with minimum grade of C or concurrent BIOL 310.
Corequisite: BIOL - 320. One laboratory session each week.
A comparative survey of invertebrate animals focusing on the evolution of morphological diversity and behavior. Emphasis will be on invertebrate taxa occupying habitats in the San Francisco Bay region. Prerequisites: BIOL 310 with minimum grade of C.
One laboratory or field trip each week to observe and experiment on living invertebrates. Corequisite: BIOL 328.
Focuses on topics specific to females, including health issues, reproduction, genetics, evolution, sexuality, anatomy, physiology, neurobiology and behavior. Four hours lecture each week. Offered every other Fall. Prerequisite: BIOL - 310 with a minimum grade of C.
A study of the reptiles and amphibians of North America, with an emphasis placed on northern California species. Three lecture hours each week. Offered every Fall. Prerequisites: Concurrent CHEM 231 or concurrent CHEM 236 and BIOL 310 with a minimum grade of C or concurrent BIOL 310.
Corequisite: BIOL - 331. One laboratory session or field trip each week. (May be some weekend field trips). Offered every Fall.
A study of basic endocrine function, hormonal mechanisms, endocrine disorders, and contemporary isuses in endocrinology. Three hours of lecture each week. Offered every Spring. Prerequisites: CHEM 231 or CHEM 236 and BIOL 310 with minimum grade of C or concurrent BIOL 310.
Corequisite: BIOL - 333. One laboratory session each week.
Mechanisms of uptake, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity of selected chemicals in animals. Emphasis will be on toxicity to cells and organ systems. Offered every Spring. Prerequisites: CHEM 231 or CHEM 236 and BIOL 310 with a minumum grade of C or concurrent BIOL 310.
An introduction to microbiology and survey of microbial pathogens, mechanisms of pathogenicity, and host responses. The emphasis is on microbes that cause disease in humans. Three hours of lecture each week. Offered every Spring. Prerequisite: BIOL - 310 with a minimum grade of C. Corequisite: BIOL - 342.
Corequisite: BIOL - 341. One laboratory session each week.
Structure, replication, and genetics of viruses with emphasis on viruses that infect vertebrates and dynamics of host-virus interactions. Four hours lecture each week. Offered intermittently. Prerequisite: BIOL - 310 with a minimum grade of C.
An introduction to microorganisms: structure, metabolism, and biological properties. Three hours lecture each week. Offered every Spring. Prerequisite: BIOL - 310 with a minimum grade of C. Corequisite: BIOL - 347.
Corequisite: BIOL - 346. One laboratory session each week.
Animal physiology, from invertebrates to mammals, emphasizing basic physiological principles. Four hours lecture each week. Offered intermittently. Prerequisites: BIOL 310 with a minimum grade of C.
An introduction to the processes of organismal development in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Prerequisite: BIOL 310 with a minimum grade of C.
Laboratory exercises on cell, tissue and organ differentiation.
A study of the microscopic anatomy of cells, tissues, and organs of the human body. Three hours lecture each week. Offered every Spring. Prerequisites: BIOL 310 with a minimum grade of C or concurrent BIOL 310.
Corequisite: BIOL - 362. One laboratory session each week.
A survey of the structure of the tissues and organs in the human. Two hours lecture each week. Offered every Fall. Prerequisites: BIOL 310 with a minimum grade of C or concurrent BIOL 310.
Corequisite: BIOL - 365. Two laboratory sessions each week.
A study of basic neural function, neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, disorders of the nervous system, and contemporary issues in neurobiology. Four hours lecture each week. Offered intermittently. Prerequisites: CHEM 231 or CHEM 236 and BIOL 310 with a minimum grade of C or concurrent BIOL 310.
An introduction to cancer biology, including molecular mechanisms for cancer initiation and progression, cancer diagnosis and treatment, and contemporary issues related to cancer. Four hours lecture each week. Offered every Spring. Prerequisite: BIOL - 310 with a minimum grade of C.
A study of conservation biology, examining ecological methods for monitoring and maintaining biodiversity on the planet. Three hours lecture. Offered every Spring. Prerequisites: Concurrent CHEM 231 or concurrent CHEM 236 and BIOL 310 with a minimum grade of C or concurrent BIOL 310.
Corequisite: BIOL - 379. One laboratory session or field trip each week. Some weekend trips are required.
A study of the natural history, phylogeny and ecology of the vertebrates, especially California species. Three hours lecture each week. Offered every Spring. Prerequisites: Concurrent CHEM 231 or concurrent CHEM 236 and BIOL 310 with a minimum grade of C or concurrent BIOL 310.
Corequisite: BIOL - 381. One laboratory session or field trip each week. (This class may be scheduled on Saturdays.)
An introduction to insects, including their morphology, physiology, systematics, natural history, and relationships with humans. Three hours of lecture each week. Offered intermittently. Prerequisites: Concurrent CHEM 231 or CHEM 236, and BIOL 310 with a minimum grade of C or concurrent BIOL 310. Corerequisite: BIOL 384.
One laboratory session or field trip each week. Corequisite: BIOL 383.
A study of the major protistan and helminth parasites causing disease in animals and humans. Three hours lecture each week. Offered every Fall. Prerequisites: Concurrent CHEM 231 or concurrent CHEM 236 and BIOL 310 with a minimum grade of C or concurrent BIOL 310.
Corequisite: BIOL - 385. One laboratory session each week.
A study of the natural history of marine organisms, exclusive of protozoa and insects, with emphasis on local intertidal invertebrates and fishes. Two hours lecture each week. (May be scheduled on Saturdays.) Offered every Spring. Prerequisites: Concurrent CHEM 231 or concurrent CHEM 236 and BIOL 310 with a minimum grade of C or concurrent BIOL 310.
Corequisite: BIOL - 390. Two laboratory sessions or field trips each week. (May be scheduled on Saturdays. Some weekend trips are required.)
An introduction to the major physical, chemical and biological factors in the marine environment. Special emphasis on the interaction of these variables in determining the ecology of the world's oceans. Three hours lecture each week. Offered every Fall. Prerequisite: BIOL - 310 with a minimum grade of C. Corequisite: BIOL - 393.
One laboratory session or field trip each week. (May be some weekend field trips.) Offered every Fall. Corequisite: BIOL - 392.
This course treats topics not covered in other Biology courses, but of interest to faculty and students. May be repeated for credit. Offered intermittently. Prerequisite: BIOL - 310 with a minimum grade of C, or corequisite.
Inquiry into a specific topic requiring a literature search for current information, supervised by a faculty member with credit to be fixed in each case. Designed for outstanding upper-division students. (Note: There are restrictions on the maximum number of credits for 0201-398 that can be applied to upper division credit. See BIOL 498). Offered every Fall and Spring. Prerequisite: Minimum science GPA of 3.0 and consent of instructor and department chair.
A study of the field of pharmacogenomics, which examines the genetic influence of drug responses in humans. Four hours lecture each week. Offered every other Fall.
A study of modern evolutionary theory, including processes and patterns of evolution. Four hours lecture each week. Offered every Fall and Spring. Prerequisites: BIOL - 310 with a minimum grade of C; Senior Standing; Minimum GPA of C.
Advanced study of the molecular basis of cell function, with an emphasis on the unifying principles and approaches that define the field of molecular biology. Four hours lecture each week. Offered intermittently. Prerequisite: BIOL - 310 with a minimum grade of C.
Introduction to humoral and cell-mediated immunity in health and disease, with a focus on cellular and molecular immunology and immunochemistry. Three hours lecture each week. Offered every Fall. Prerequisite: BIOL - 310 with a minimum grade of C. Corequisite: BIOL - 444.
Principles of immunological techniques. A survey of those techniques used widely in diagnostics and research. One laboratory session each week. Corequisite: BIOL - 443.
Theory of light and electron microscope operation and preparation of biological specimens for microscopy. Two hours of lecture. Offered every Fall. Prerequisites: CHEM 231 or CHEM 236 and BIOL 310 with a minimum grade of C or concurrent BIOL 310.
Corequisite: BIOL - 458. Preparation of biological specimens for light and electron microscopy. Two laboratory sessions each week.
A phylogenetic study of the anatomy of the vertebrate classes. Three hours lecture and one laboratory session each week. Offered intermittently. Prerequisites: BIOL 310 with a minimum grade of C or concurrent BIOL 310.
A study of the effects of solar radiation on biological systems. Four hours lecture each week. Offered intermittently. Prerequisites: Concurrent CHEM 231 or concurrent CHEM 236 and BIOL 310 with a minimum grade of C or concurrent BIOL 310.
Principles of animal physiology and adaptive mechanisms. Three hours lecture each week. Offered intermittently. Prerequisites: BIOL 310 with a minimum grade of C.
Corequisite: BIOL - 470. Project-oriented course with an emphasis on adaptive mechanisms and environmental toxicology. One laboratory session each week. Offered intermittently.
Principles and practices of laboratory techniques used in cell biology. Two hours lecture each week. Offered every Fall. Prerequisite: BIOL 310 with a minimum grade of C.
Corequisite: BIOL - 481. Two laboratory sessions each week.
Recombinant DNA techniques; methods of nucleic acid isolation and characterization. Two hours lecture each week. Offered every Spring. Prerequisite: BIOL - 310 with a minimum grade of C. Corequisite: BIOL - 486.
Corequisite: BIOL - 485. Two laboratory sessions each week.
