Undergraduate Program Goals
The overall goal of the Biology Department at Duke University is to expand and strengthen training opportunities for undergraduates at the cutting edge of our discipline. We seek to foster undergraduate education that produces young scientists and citizens that understand the scope and perspective of modern biology. Our graduates receive excellent preparation for advanced work in the sciences, for professional careers in health, law and policy, and for good citizenship in asociety increasingly affected by and dependent on modern science and technology.
The specific learning outcomes of the undergraduate program include the following:
1. Because biology concerns itself with complex systems that are the result of historical processes, we expect students to develop a sophisticated appreciation of the nature of living organisms and biological processes. They can accomplish this goal through introductory courses that emphasize evolutionary perspective (Biology 26L) followed by advanced courses in organismal biology and evolution. Biology majors will complete at least one course with a focus on organismal diversity, emphasizing the evolutionary history of life on earth.
2. Because biology is a broad discipline, we expect students to acquire a broad foundation across the levels and subdisciplines within biology. To this end, biology majors will take both a introductory survey course reviewing all subdisciplines (Biology 25L), followed by at least three second-level ‘core’ courses in the major subdivisions of biology: molecular biology & genetics (Biology 118); cell & organismal biology; and population-level ecology and evolution (Biology 116).
3. Because biology has made enormous progress but is still confronted with major challenges, we seek to allow for in-depth exploration of specific fields, engaging students in the current thinking, discoveries and methodologies of the discipline. To this end, biology majors will take at least one ‘capstone’ course that builds on the core curriculum and exposes undergraduates to disciplinary scholarship at the graduate level.
4. Because biology is both an empirical and theoretical science, we seek to engage students in the practice of biology through research and scholarly investigation. In this way, students are expected to develop facility with the tools and methods of modern research. To this end, biology majors will take at least two laboratory based courses at the advanced level. They will be encouraged to engage in independent study in a biological science research laboratory.
5. Because biology is not just a collection of facts but rather a way of knowing, we expect students to develop analytical and critical thinking skills, including hypothesis generation and testing. To this end, biology students will be expected to write essays and critical analyses for their course examinations. They will participate in open-ended project courses as well as research experiences. A significant number of of biology majors will develop their skills in the preparation of an honors thesis that will be reviewed by the faculty for Graduation with Distinction.
6. Because biology is a highly collaborative endeavor with significant impact on the world, we expect students to develop high-level writing and communication skills. Biology studentswill have the opportunity to take special ‘writing-intensive’ and thesis preparation courses focused on the art of scientific writing. They will present research findings in poster symposia and in small seminar courses.
Duke Biology Box 90338 Durham, NC 27708 Phone: 919-660-7372 Fax: 919-660-7293