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Administration

Degree, Minors and Certificates Offered

General Information

Advising

Undergraduate Programs

Requirements for Undergraduate Degrees from the Colleges of Arts and Sciences

Professional Programs

Departments

Biology

College of Natural Sciences
Dean 2
2450 Campus Road
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-8303
Fax: (808) 956-4745
Email: biology@hawaii.edu; mbiology@hawaii.edu
Advising Email: bioadvis@hawaii.edu
Web: manoa.hawaii.edu/biology/

Faculty

C. Womersley, PhD (Chair)—environmental physiology, biochemical adaptation, parasitology
C. L. Hunter, PhD (Director of B.S. Marine Biology and Marine Option Programs)—marine biology, coral reef ecology
H. Ako, PhD—aquaculture, environmental biochemistry and biotechnology
M. Alam, PhD—microbial physiology and biotechnology
W. W. L. Au, PhD—marine bioacoustics and echolation
M. Berry, PhD—Selenoprotein synthesis
J. P. Bingham, PhD—peptide synthesis, marine neurotoxins
C. Birkeland, PhD—coral reef biology, fisheries
D. Borthakur, PhD—plant-microbe interaction, plant biotechnology
J. H. Brock, PhD—invertebrate zoology, reef ecology, polychaetes
S. M. Callahan, PhD—bacterial genetics
R. L. Cann, PhD—evolutionary genetics, MtDNA, molecular phylogenetics
D. Carlon, PhD—evolution, population biology, invertebrate biology
D. A. Christopher, PhD—photosynthesis, photosensory signal transduction, gene regulation, genomics
S. Conant, PhD—ornithology, ecology, behavior, conservation biology
K. Cole, PhD—ichthyology, behavioral ecology, reproductive biology, morphology and morphogenesis, space biology
C. C. Daehler, PhD—population biology, invasive plants, plant herbivore interactions
H. G. de Couet, PhD—molecular genetics and cytoskeleton
S. P. Donachie, PhD—marine microbiology and microbial diversity
D. C. Duffy, PhD—conservation, restoration ecology
L. A. Freed, PhD—evolutionary and behavioral ecology, ornithology, conservation biology
E. G. Grau, PhD—comparative endocrinology, environmental physiology
M. G. Hadfield, PhD—reproduction and development of invertebrates
D. S. Haymer, PhD—molecular genetics of Diptera
K. N. Holland, PhD—physiology, behavior, ecology of aquatic organisms
P. J. Jokiel, PhD—coral reef biology, biogeography and ecology
S. C. Keeley, PhD—molecular systematics, evolution in island systems
C. M. Kinoshita, PhD—process engineering, bioenergy, bioremediation
T. W. Lyttle, PhD—structure of Drosophila heterochromatin, evolution of chromosomal rearrangements
M. Merlin, PhD—biogeography, natural history of the Pacific
C. W. Morden, PhD—molecular systematics and evolution of plants and algae
P. E. Nachtigal, PhD—behavior and sensory processes of marine mammals
P. Nerurkar, PhD—carcinogen-induced metabolic disorders and biochemical mechanisms of environmental carcinogenesis
P. Q. Patek, PhD—cellular immunology
G. Presting, PhD—molecular biosciences and bioengineering
F. A. Reed, PhD—population genetics
S. Robinow, PhD—neurogenetics
A. R. Sherwood, PhD—algal biology
C. M. Smith, PhD—physiological ecology of marine macrophytes, marine ecology, cell biology
A. Teramura, PhD—global climate change, ozone depletion, physiiological ecology
R. Thomson, PhD—evolutionary biology and phylogenetics
T. Tricas, PhD—marine animal behavior
G. J. Wong, PhD—mating systems and biosystematics of basidiomycetes

Degrees Offered: Undergraduate Certificate in Mathematical Biology, BA (including minor) in biology, BS in biology, BS in marine biology

The Academic Program

The Department of Biology (BIOL) is a cooperative program whose faculty members are from Biology and the Departments of Botany; Cell and Molecular Biology; Microbiology and Molecular Biosciences; and Engineering. It provides an academic home to students who wish to pursue a broad training in the biological sciences. It offers a BA degree for pre-professional students, a BS degree with five specializations: cell and molecular biology, ecology/evolution/conservation biology, marine/aquatic biology, organismic biology and general biology, a BS degree in marine biology, and a minor in biology.

Biology is of fundamental importance in a science or liberal arts education, as it provides students with a keener insight into and a deeper appreciation of the many facets of living systems. Most students plan to use their training as preparation for professional work, such as aquaculture, biotechnology, biological research, dentistry, marine biology, medicine, optometry, park services, pharmacy, and teaching. Our graduates have an outstanding record of acceptance in advanced degree programs at dental, medical, pharmacy, and graduate schools. Many of our graduates also become teachers after obtaining a post-baccalaureate teaching certificate at the College of Education.

The biology curricula are designed to provide students with a strong background in the principles of biology and with rigorous upper-division instruction in a number of basic areas. This combination of breadth and in-depth instruction allows students to develop the intellectual foundations and the skills necessary to deal with the specific biological concerns of today and the flexibility to meet the needs of the various professions. From this base, our graduates can pursue future specialization with confidence.

Advising

Student advising is mandatory. Prospective majors should come to Dean 2 for advising immediately, to design a curriculum that satisfies program requirements.

Undergraduate Study

BA Degree in Biology

Requirements (C [not C-] grade minimum)

  • BIOL 171, 172, 265, 275, and 375 plus laboratories
  • 20 credit hours in approved courses, including one each from botany, microbiology, physiology, and zoology, and one or more laboratory courses at the 300 level or above

Related Requirements (C [not C-] grade minimum)

  • CHEM 161, 162, 272 plus laboratories and 273
  • PHYS 151 and 152 or 170 and 272 plus laboratories
  • MATH 215 or 241 or 251A

For information on a Bachelor Degree Program Sheet, go to www.manoa.hawaii.edu/ovcaa/programsheets/. For more information on the major, go to www.advising.hawaii.edu/artsci/pages/resources/lib_art_degrees/majorskills/majorskills_biology.asp#BIOL_SCHED.

BS Degree in Biology

Requirements (C [not C-] grade minimum)

  • BIOL 171, 172, 265, 275, and 375 plus laboratories
  • One course each from morphology/systematics and physiology
  • BIOC 441 or BIOL 402
  • 15 credit hours in approved courses in one of the following tracks or concentrations
    • cell/molecular biology
    • ecology, evolution and conservation biology
    • general biology
    • marine/aquatic biology
    • organismic biology
  • 1 credit of directed research in approved disciplines
  • One or more laboratory courses at the 300 level or above
  • The above courses to include one or more courses at the 300 level or above each from botany, microbiology, and zoology

Related Requirements (C [not C-] grade minimum)

  • CHEM 161, 162, 272 plus laboratories and 273
  • PHYS 151 and 152 or 170 and 272 plus laboratories
  • MATH 215 and 216 or 241 and 242 or 251A and 252A
  • ECON 321 or NREM 310 or MATH 243

For information on a Bachelor Degree Program Sheet, go to www.manoa.hawaii.edu/ovcaa/programsheets/.

BS Degree in Marine Biology

Requirements (major of 2.5 GPA or higher)

  • BIOL 171, 172, 265, 275, and 375 plus laboratories
  • OCN 201
  • BIOL 301 plus laboratory
  • ZOOL 439
  • BOT 480
  • ZOOL 475 plus laboratory
  • BIOL 402 or BIOC 441
  • MICR 401 plus laboratory
  • BIOL 403 or 4 credits of directed research in approved disciplines
  • BIOL 404
  • 2 credits of directed research in approved discipline
  • 6 credit hours in approved courses

Related Requirements (major of 2.5 GPA or higher)

  • CHEM 161, 162, and 272 plus laboratories and 273
  • PHYS 151 and 152 or 170 and 272 plus laboratories
  • MATH 215 and 216 or 241 and 242 or 251A and 252A
  • ECON 321 or NREM 310

For information on a Bachelor Degree Program Sheet, go to www.manoa.hawaii.edu/ovcaa/programsheets/. For more information on the major, go to www.advising.hawaii.edu/artsci/pages/resources/lib_art_degrees/majorskills/majorskills_biology.asp#BIOL_SCHED.

Minor in Biology

Requirements (C [not C-] grade minimum)

Students must complete BIOL 265/265L, 275/275L, and 375/375L; and a minimum of 3 credits from the following:

  • BIOL 301/301L, 331, 363, 390, 395, 401, 402, 407, 408/408L, 425, and 499
  • Approved upper level botany, biochemistry, microbiology, physiology, and zoology courses

Undergraduate Certificate in Mathematical Biology

The purpose of the certificate is to induce students to pursue the interdisciplinary study of biology and mathematics together with research. The coursework will be similar to, but less than, that required to receive a minor in mathematics or biology. However, the students will also have to do a substantial amount of research in addition to the coursework. The emphasis in the certificate is different, however, in that the majority of the work is interdisciplinary.

Students will be considered accepted into the Mathematical Biology Certificate Program upon formal request for acceptance and completion of either MATH 304 or 305 with a grade of C or better. To receive the certificate, students must complete 15 credits of approved coursework with no grade below a C and attain a GPA of 2.5 in the collection of courses used to satisfy the certificate requirements. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the certificate, 6 credits of required electives will differ depending on a student's major. Courses used towards the certificate can only be double-dipped with focus requirements.

Prerequisites to the Certificate

  • BIOL 171 (lab not required)
  • CHEM 161 or 171 (lab not required)
  • year of calculus (MATH 215/216, MATH 241/242, MATH 251A/252A
  • electives may have additional prerequisites

Requirements for the Certificate (15 credits)

  • BIOL 490 (capstone)
  • math majors (6 credits): BIOL 172, and 265 or 275 (lab not required)
  • life science majors (6 credits): two courses selected from MATH 243/253A, 301, 302, 303, 307, 311, 371, 373, 402, 403, 407, 414, 416, 471, 472
  • other majors: completion of above required courses, and at least 6 credits of electives approved by the Committee

Participate in an interdisciplinary Mathematical Biology research project is required. These projects must be substantial, requiring at least the effort of a 5 credit 400-level course; examples include a senior honors research project, summer Research Experiences for Undergraduate programs, and the Undergraduate Biology and Mathematics Research Program; students are advised to discuss their projects with an advisor from the Mathematical Biology Certificate Coordinating Committee before commencing. A research paper based on this research project must be submitted to and approved by the Committee. Students are expected to present their research to an approved symposium or conference.

BIOL Courses