Learning Outcomes for MCD Biology Degrees

Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology (MCD) Major
Students who successfully complete the MCD major will be able to:
•    Demonstrate knowledge of how biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology are used to elucidate both the function of cells and their organization into tissues.
•    Recognize that biology has a basis in chemistry, physics, and mathematics.
•    Describe how scientific method is used to explain natural phenomena.
•    Use effective oral and written language skills to communicate scientific data and ideas.
•    Understand safe laboratory practices and perform basic molecular biology techniques.
•    Generate hypotheses, evaluate data, and design experiments to investigate a scientific problem.  
•    Present advanced knowledge in the specialized fields of molecular and cell biology.

Human Biology Major
Students who successfully complete the Human Biology major will be able to:
•    Demonstrate knowledge of how biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology are used to elucidate both the function of cells and their organization into tissues.
•    Recognize that biology has a basis in chemistry, physics, and mathematics.
•    Describe how scientific method is used to explain natural phenomena.
•    Use effective oral and written language skills to communicate scientific data and ideas.
•    Understand safe laboratory practices, perform basic molecular biology techniques, generate hypotheses, and evaluate data.
•    Achieve fluency in Spanish and an understanding of how cultural differences can affect health care delivery.
•    Refine a career-related and/or postgraduate goal through internship experience.
•    Present advanced knowledge in the specialized field of human physiology.

Biology Major
Students who successfully complete the Biology major will be able to:
•    Demonstrate knowledge of how biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology are used to elucidate both the function of cells and their organization into tissues.
•    Recognize that biology has a basis in chemistry, physics, and mathematics.
•    Describe how scientific method is used to explain natural phenomena.
•    Use effective oral and written language skills to communicate scientific data and ideas.
•    Understand safe laboratory practices and perform basic molecular biology techniques.
•    Generate hypotheses, evaluate data, and design experiments to investigate a scientific problem.
•    Present broad knowledge in biochemistry, genetics, evolutionary biology, cell biology, developmental biology, physiology, and ecology.

Neuroscience Major
Students who successfully complete the Neuroscience major will be able to:
•    Demonstrate knowledge of how biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology are used to elucidate both the function of cells and their organization into tissues.
•    Recognize that biology has a basis in chemistry, physics, and mathematics.
•    Describe how scientific method is used to explain natural phenomena.
•    Use effective oral and written language skills to communicate scientific data and ideas.
•    Understand safe laboratory practices and perform basic molecular biology techniques.
•    Generate hypotheses, evaluate data, and design experiments to investigate a scientific problem.
•    Present advanced knowledge in the specialized field of neuroscience.