Biochemistry (BS)

Overview

Viterbo's biochemistry program prepares students for healthcare and STEM-related careers by integrating foundational and humanistic knowledge with collaborative skills. This blended approach is critical as the problems in our world continue to increase in complexity and diversity. This integration is achieved through a curriculum that invites students to use knowledge in applied settings such as course-embedded research, service-learning, and community building both on and off-campus. Students will participate in an annual biochemistry symposium and related seminar course that showcase the complexity of science-related issues within our world.

Policy

Because a biochemistry major program intrinsically contains significant work in both biology and chemistry, declared minors in biology and chemistry will not be granted.

Learning Outcomes
  • Problem Solving: Apply theory, laws, and experimental information to solve biochemical problems
  • Communication: Demonstrate effective written and oral scientific communication including situations requiring collaborative teamwork
  • Techniques: Demonstrate a basic understanding of the laboratory techniques used in biochemistry and related areas           
  • Data Analysis: Correctly analyze and interpret scientific data based on sound scientific reasoning      
  • Literature: Ability to understand and appreciate the primary literature in biochemistry and be able to extract the salient features and advances from journal articles
Addendum

Those students interested in graduate work in biochemistry should follow the recommendations of the American Chemical Society which requires specifically MATH 220, 221, and 320; PHYS 260 and 261.

Biology (BS)

Overview

Viterbo’s biology program provides students with a breadth of knowledge within the biological sciences, including cellular and molecular biology, anatomy and physiology, ecology, behavior, and evolution; as well as the opportunity to gain a greater depth of knowledge in specialized areas of interest. The biology program at Viterbo offers a student-centered learning environment including hands-on experiences, career exploration, research, and internships within the curriculum.

Policy
  • Students majoring in biology must maintain a biology grade point average (GPA) of 2.25 to continue in and graduate from this program. The biology GPA is based on all grades earned in the required and elective courses taken in biology and required support courses. Any student whose biology GPA falls below 2.25 will be placed on probation for one semester. If the biology GPA is not raised during that semester, the student may not enroll in further biology courses. An earned grade of a D or lower in any biology or support course will not be credited toward the biology major.
  • Directed research must be faculty-approved, but may be conducted at an institution other than Viterbo University with prior approval. Special topics are offered periodically. Credit for these courses may substitute for one or more of the listed courses with faculty approval.
Learning Outcomes
  • Understand importance of interrelationships and unifying themes of major biological concepts
  • Understand the elements of the scientific method, design and implement experiments independently, and analyze and present data to the faculty and peers in a competent and professional manner
  • Students should be familiar with the principles, operation, and problems of common laboratory procedures and instrumentation
  • Students should understand the complexity of ethical issues surrounding science
Addendum

Viterbo University Degree in Three Program for Biology Majors

This accelerated degree program provides an opportunity for outstanding, highly motivated students to complete their bachelor’s degree in three years rather than the traditional four. This program is available to students who wish to major in biology.

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