2024-2025 Brenau University Catalog 
    
    Dec 02, 2024  
2024-2025 Brenau University Catalog

Biology (B.S.)


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The biology program at Brenau University has been developed to provide students with a broad based curriculum in general biology. The mixture of liberal arts and biology courses will enable students to apply their knowledge to careers in biology or to pursue graduate or professional degree work.

Students in nursing and occupational therapy will take specific biology courses to establish the scientific base for their degrees.

Career Opportunities  With biomedical science concentration: science education, graduate studies, research, medical and paramedical training, clinical laboratory work, industrial product and agricultural development, chemical and pharmaceutical sales. With an ecology & biodiversity concentration: graduate studies, veterinary medicine, marine biology, environmental science education, environmental research, environmental policy development, nature centers, environmental consulting, industries and regulatory agencies in local, state and federal government.

Orientation, Gold Curriculum and Liberal Education Requirements


Orientation

If the student transfers fewer than 24 post-secondary school hours to Brenau, one of the following courses is required to graduate:

Gold Curriculum

Women’s College must complete the GOLD Program Curriculum in order to graduate with a bachelor’s degree. Gold Curriculum courses are designated by a “W” as the last character in the course number. Please see the table below for the required course hours. The number of required hours are prorated based on the number of transfer hours. Students are encouraged to take as many “W” courses as possible. This requirement can not be waived based on a previous degree.

These courses have a W as the ending character in the course number.

W courses can be searched by clicking on “Courses” in the catalog dashboard

and typing *W in the “Code or Number” box and then clicking the “filter” button.

W courses would replace the “standard” version in the students program. (ex. EH 101W would replace EH 101). W courses emphasize the experience and expertise of women throughout course design and delivery. Students will identify and analyze the contributions and experiences of women. More than 50% of course activities, readings, and assessments emphasize and explore female experience, perspective, or expertise.

Undergraduate students not enrolled in the Women’s College do not complete in the Gold Curriculum.

Hours transferred: “W” course hours required for graduation:
0-24 30
25-44 18
45-59 15
60-74 12
75-89 9
90+ 6

Liberal Education Requirements:

Brenau University and its faculty are dedicated to the goal of providing students with a thorough background in the liberal arts, as well as academic and professional skills which will help them become enlightened and productive members of society. To that end, the faculty developed a liberal education curriculum based on expectations and learning outcomes.

This liberal education curriculum is divided into four learning portals: World Understanding, Scientific and Analytic Curiosity, Artistic and Creative Imagination and Communication and Language Fluency.

  • World Understanding Learning
  • Scientific and Analytic Curiosity
  • Artistic and Creative Imagination
  • Communication and Language Fluency

Courses applied in one portal may not be applied in another portal. However, courses applied in the Liberal Education may be applied toward a student’s major or minor.

Students with an A.A., A.S. or a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution are exempt from Liberal Education requirements for Brenau’s bachelor degree programsThis exemption does not extend to any other associate’s degree (ex. A.A.S., A.A.T.). This exemption does not affect transfer credit. All college-level credit that conforms to Brenau’s transfer credit policy will be recorded on the student’s Brenau transcript. This exemption does not affect any major courses required or any major foundation courses required.

Note: If an LE course has a “W” course version, that course can be used in place of the standard course version for the student’s LE requirement. (ex. EH 101 or EH 101W satisfy the LE writing requirement.

World Understanding Learning Portal


Historical Perspective - 3 hours


Demonstrate knowledge of major events and movements in history and use this knowledge to generate a more sophisticated understanding of current events.

Scientific & Analytic Curiosity Portal


Mathematics - 3 hours


Demonstrate quantitative reasoning through numeric, symbolic or geometric means.

Course taken will depend upon math placement of the student.

Artistic & Creative Imagination Portal


Lifetime Fitness - 3 hours


Appreciate one’s health status and implement a plan for health and fitness.

  • Women’s College students must have one hour of Lifetime Fitness (LF) or Leisure Sports (LS) or Dance (DA); one hour of Women’s Health (WH); and one hour of any P.E. (LS/LF/DA/or WH).
  • Non-Women’s College students may transfer in the above or take HS 105 (3 hours) while at Brenau.
  • Nursing and Dance majors have specific Lifetime Fitness requirements. Please see those major sections for information.

Communication & Language Fluency Portal


Writing - 6 hours


Compose effective and logical written communication.

Modern Language - 0-3 hours


Communicate in a modern language other than English.

  • Students must have modern language competency through the high beginner (102 or 115) level. It is possible for a student to place out of part or all of modern language via placement or CLEP. Please see the placement information section for specific guidelines. If the student takes 101, that course may be applied as the communication requirement, if needed, or as a general elective.
  • International Students will exempt the Modern Language requirement with a minimum TOEFL score of 527 (paper based) or its equivalent.

Communication - 3 hours


Apply communication skills in a given context.

Choose from any course in the Communication and Language Fluency portal not already applied in the Liberal Education, or choose from the courses below. If a student takes 101 and 102 of the same language to satisfy the modern language requirement, the 101 course may satisfy the communication elective.

Major Core (26-31)


Note: Must earn a grade of “C” or better in all major classes. See the program plan for courses that can be cross/dual used between the liberal education and the major.

Concentrations


Students will either choose a Non-Concentration option, or a concentration in Biomedical Science, Pre-Physical Therapy, or Pre-Professional Healthcare.

Note: In instances where students must choose a specific number of courses from a list of courses, the lecture and lab count as one course.

Total Required Hours


A minimum of 120 hours is required to graduate with this major. It is possible that the student may graduate with more than 120 hours based on placement and transfer credit.

Note: Courses marked with an * are Liberal Education courses.

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