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Organismal Biology

This major provides a research-and-field-oriented background for students interested in research careers in either physiology or ecology/evolution and their allied fields.

Major Requirements

Claremont McKenna College

Pitzer College

Scripps College

Keck Science Common Learning Outcomes

Students completing a major in the Keck Science Department should demonstrate the ability to:

  1. Use foundational principles to analyze problems in nature.
  2. Develop hypotheses and test them using quantitative techniques.
  3. Articulate applications of science in the modern world.
  4. Effectively communicate scientific concepts both verbally and in writing.

Student Learning Outcomes

The Organismal Biology major of the Keck Science Department provides students with the skills and knowledge to effectively engage and evaluate biological science issues and innovations in the wider world, and to take leadership roles in fields including research, health and veterinary professions, and environmental management.

An Organismal Biology Major should be able to:

  • Articulate the foundational scientific principles and findings in physiology, ecology, and evolutionary biology.
  • Apply foundational principles, especially evolution, in different biological subdisciplines.
  • Refine critical, analytical, and scientific thinking skills by developing scientific questions and using a variety of research tools and methods towards answering them.
  • Read, understand and critique original research articles.
  • Use appropriate quantitative approaches for data analysis, data presentation, and modeling.
  • Articulate how science relates to current problems in the modern world, especially contemporary concerns such as conservation biology, climate change, and ecosystem degradation.