Academic Departments and Programs

Biology

The College of Idaho Biology program is an interactive, research-based curriculum that emphasizes the concepts and skills necessary for thinking critically about biological issues and problems.

Consistent with the liberal arts tradition, our objectives are to give students a strong foundation in the natural and biological sciences, to prepare them for science-based careers, and to enhance their appreciation and understanding of life on earth. The Biology Major emphasizes breadth of experience but it also allows students to pursue their own areas of interest within the field of biology. Small class sizes and the accessibility of the Biology Faculty provide opportunities not usually found at larger colleges and universities.

Fieldwork is an important part of The College of Idaho Biology program. The College is located near mountain and desert habitats that provide numerous study sites for student research. Longer field trips to Australia, Costa Rica, Florida and Hawaii offer opportunities for in-depth learning.

Students interested in health care or in laboratory research may study a variety of topics ranging from human anatomy to molecular biology. Students are encouraged to participate in internships in their areas of interest; these open doors for career opportunities after graduation.

Other resources available to College of Idaho biology students, in addition to the molecular, cellular, organismal, and ecological laboratories located in Boone Hall, are the Orma J. Smith Museum of Natural History and the Harold M. Tucker Herbarium.

The Department has a variety of cooperative programs with University of Idaho and Idaho State University in areas as diverse as natural resource management, nursing, and physical therapy. See the Cooperative Programs section of this catalog for specific requirements.

Majors

Health Sciences Major

The Health Sciences Major is a broad-based program of study that prepares students for careers or graduate study in the health care industry and related areas. This major provides excellent preparation for students entering health professions such as physical therapy, physician's assistant (PA), and pharmacy. Requirements for each professional program vary, thus early consultation with an advisor is encouraged. At the center of the major is the Health Sciences Core, a group of courses that provides a foundation in the natural and social sciences in a manner consistent with the liberal arts tradition. In addition to completing the Health Sciences Core, each student majoring in Health Sciences must also take additional upper division coursework in both the natural and social sciences. The additional courses may be chosen by students to enhance the depth of their major in their particular area of interest. The multi-disciplinary Health Sciences major has been designed to fulfill both the Natural Science and Social Science PEAK requirements. The Health Professions Studies minor in the Professional Enhancement PEAK is a good complement to this major since it includes any additional coursework needed for individual health professions graduate programs.

Major Requirements:

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Grounding in the foundational natural sciences on which the understanding of health and disease is based.
  • Foundational knowledge in the social sciences.
  • Completion of at least one course that highlights human illness.
  • Formation of a framework for considering biomedical issues.
  • Integration of natural and social sciences.
  • Application of the natural and social sciences to real-world problems.

Biology Major

Major Requirements:

For a career in biology, we recommend the following electives:

Student Learning Outcomes

Knowledge:

  • Demonstrate a broad-based understanding of biological principles grounded in theoretical structure, mathematics, and the physical sciences

Skills and Applications:

  • Complete a research project to learn the nature and methodologies of biology that includes the following components:
    • Hypotheses formulation and logical reasoning
    • Engage in experimental design
    • Locate and critically review biological literature
    • Analyze and interpret biological data
    • Draw logical conclusions
    • Present results of a research project both in oral and written form
  • Demonstrate and apply knowledge and use of quantitative skills, analytic methods and techniques used in the field and laboratory applicable to biological sciences
  • Apply biological knowledge and skills outside of the classroom by participating in independent research, off-campus study in biology, an internship, or teaching.

Integration:

  • Demonstrate ability to integrate scientific knowledge among the biological sub disciplines
  • Demonstrate ability to integrate biological knowledge with other disciplines
  • Contribute meaningfully to seminar-type critical discussions of scientific literature

Minors

Biology Minor

Minor Requirments (18-20 credits):

Students who wish to certify to teach biology as a second teaching field must complete 20 credits of biology including this minor. In such a case, this minor should include:

Students must also complete the requirements of a first teaching field (major) in another content area that is a state approved College of Idaho program, and the education minor in the Professional PEAK in preparation for the internship year. Please check with the Education Department for specifics.

Student learning outcomes

  • Critical thinking
  • Analytical skills
  • Problem solving in sciences
  • Written communication skills
  • Understanding of core biological principles
  • Understanding the nature and methodologies of science

Human Biology Minor

The Human Biology minor is designed for students desiring to better understand human biology.

Minor Requirements:

Student learning outcomes

  • Critical thinking
  • Analytical skills
  • Problem solving in sciences
  • Written communication skills
  • Understanding the biological basis of human wellness and disease

Health Professions Studies Minor

The Health Professions Studies Minor prepares students for entry into a variety of Health Professions programs. Several tracks are offered; thus, students may choose the track that fits most closely with their professional goals.

Minor Core Requirements (12 credits):

This minor requires the following core of courses in addition to the specific courses listed for each track:

Minor Tracks:

Although requirements for school admission are similar for most schools, there are some important differences. Thus, the student should check specific requirements for prospective schools.

 
 
 

Pre-Physical Therapy Track

The track consists of 38-40 credits as follows:

 

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Students will complete pre-requisite courses for graduate/professional program of interest.
  • Students will gain research or internship experience in their area of professional interest, further preparing them for a professional program in the field.
  • Students will have a grounding in the biological and physical sciences.

 

Technical and Analytical Skills in the Natural Sciences Minor

The Technical & Analytical Skills minor consists of 20 - 22 credits and a suite of courses that emphasize technical and analytical skills (statistics, computer applications and programming, Geographic Information Systems, Web management. course-specific laboratory techniques) in the Natural Sciences. The minor is designed for all students who plan to enter technical fields or graduate programs in the Natural Sciences. The minor is NOT recommended for students planning to enter professional school (medical, dental, etc.).

Minor Requirements (21.5 credits):

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Computer-based skills (software applications and/or computer programming)
  • Critical thinking
  • Problem solving
  • Analytical Reasoning
  • Communication skills
  • Understanding of the scientific method

Associated Minors

Natural Sciences Minor

The Natural Science Minor provides opportunities for students to sample widely among the natural sciences to gain knowledge of both physical and life sciences. Because much of our understanding of the natural world is framed quantitatively, the study of mathematics is included. In addition to studying how natural science is a way of knowing, students include coursework involving the relationship of science to other forms of knowledge, culture, or society.

Minor Requirements (13 credits):

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Critical Thinking
  • Analytical Reasoning
  • Quantitative and Qualitative Problem Solving
  • Written Communication
  • Sharpen student understanding of the methodology and limits of science
  • Increase student scientific literacy in both the physical and life sciences
  • Apply scientific knowledge in the broader context of the liberal arts

Cooperative Programs

Idaho State University Dual Degree Program in Nursing (BS/BS)

The College of Idaho Cooperative Program in Nursing is a dual degree program in collaboration with Idaho State University (ISU). The program is designed for students to attend The College of Idaho for three years and one semester, and then enter the Idaho State University Accelerated Nursing Program in January of their fourth year. The ISU program, which lasts for 16 months, includes all professional requirements for certification as a Registered Nurse, including all clinical experiences. When students have successfully completed the ISU Accelerated Nursing Program, they will be granted dual Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees from both The College of Idaho and Idaho State University.

Entrance into the Idaho State University program, as with all nursing programs, is highly competitive. Applicants to ISU's program must have a minimum GPA of 3.5 in all prerequisite courses and in coursework completed at The College of Idaho, with no single grade among the prerequisites below a C. PHI 202.3 is a required prerequisite which must be completed with a grade of “C” or better, but is not included in the GPA calculation for admission. Students must also complete the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) during the summer after their junior year. Once a College of Idaho student is admitted to the ISU Nursing Program, he or she must comply with the Department of Nursing student handbook. Students are advised to pursue a complementary major course of study along with the nursing prerequisites (though they do not need to complete the major if they are admitted into ISU's program). The number of positions in the ISU Accelerated Nursing Program is limited. Students who are not accepted into the ISU Accelerated Nursing Program during their senior year may complete a standard degree program at The College of Idaho, and then reapply to the ISU Nursing Program for entrance in January following graduation from The College of Idaho. Information on the ISU application process can be found at their web site.

During their course work at The College of Idaho, students will complete 105 credits, including minors in Social Sciences/History and Humanities/Fine Arts, in addition to all of the prerequisite courses for the Idaho State University Accelerated Nursing Program. Completion of the ISU program along with the prerequisites will count for the Natural Sciences and Professional Studies PEAKs. Please note that ISU only accepts a maximum of 8 credits in religion; therefore, the Religion Minor is not a viable option to fulfill the Humanities/Fine Arts PEAK. Transfer students must complete a minimum of 30 credits at The College of Idaho.
 

Required Prerequisite Courses

To be completed at The College of Idaho:

*These courses must be taken at The College of Idaho.

Student Learning Outcomes:

  • Critical Thinking
  • Analytic Reasoning
  • Problem Solving
  • Written Communication

Idaho State University Dual Degree in Medical Laboratory Science (BS/BS)

The College of Idaho Program in Medical Laboratory Science is a dual degree program in collaboration with Idaho State University (ISU). Under ordinary circumstances, students will attend The College of Idaho for three years, and then enter the Idaho State University Medical Laboratory Science program for their senior year. The Idaho State University program, which lasts for 12 months, includes all professional requirements, including all clinical experiences. When students have successfully completed the Idaho State University program, they will be granted dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Clinical Laboratory Science from both The College of Idaho and Idaho State University.

Entrance into the Idaho State University program is competitive. Idaho State University has offered up to four admission seats to College of Idaho students each year, but it is possible that more than four College of Idaho students will apply. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all prerequisite courses, and must apply for the Idaho State University program by January of their Junior year. Application may be considered after that date for competitive entry into the Medical Laboratory Science program. Due to the competitive nature of this program, students are strongly advised to pursue a complementary major or course of study along with the program prerequisites (though they will not need to complete it if they enter the Idaho State University program).

During their course work at The College of Idaho, students will be required to complete 93 credits, including PEAK minors in Social Sciences/History and Humanities/Fine Arts, in addition to all of the required prerequisite courses. The combination of the prerequisite courses and the ISU professional program will count for Natural Science and Professional Studies PEAKs. Please note that ISU only accepts a maximum of 8 credits in religion; therefore, the Religion Minor is not a viable option to fulfill the Humanities/Fine Arts PEAK.

Required Prerequisite Courses

To be completed at College of Idaho:

*These courses must be taken at The College of Idaho.

Student Learning Outcomes:

  • Critical Thinking
  • Analytic Reasoning
  • Problem Solving
  • Written Communication

Idaho State University Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (BS/BS)

The College of Idaho Cooperative Program in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology is a collaborative effort with Idaho State University (ISU). Under ordinary circumstances, students will attend The College of Idaho for three years, and then enter the Idaho State University program for the subsequent two years. When students have successfully completed the Idaho State University program, they will receive an Idaho State University Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences & Disorders, Emphasis in Pre-Speech-Language Pathology or Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences & Disorders, Emphasis in Pre-Audiology, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree from The College of Idaho.

Entrance into the Idaho State University program is competitive. Idaho State University has offered up to three admission seats to College of Idaho students each year, but it is possible that more than five College of Idaho students will apply. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all prerequisite courses. Due to the competitive nature of this program, students are strongly advised to pursue a complementary major or course of study along with the program prerequisites (though they will not need to complete it if they articulate into the ISU program).

During their course-work at The College of Idaho, students will be required to complete 93 credits, including PEAK minors in Math/Natural Science, Social Science/History, and Humanities/Fine Arts, in addition to all of the prerequisite courses for the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Program. The ISU professional program along with the prerequisite courses will count for the Professional Studies PEAK. Please note that ISU only accepts a maximum of 8 credits in religion; therefore, the Religion Minor is not a viable option to fulfill the Humanities/Fine Arts PEAK.

Required Prerequisite Courses

To be completed at The College of Idaho:

Student Learning Outcomes:

  • Critical Thinking
  • Analytic Reasoning
  • Problem Solving
  • Written Communication

Idaho State University Dual Degree Doctoral Program in Pharmacy (BS/Pharm.D.)

The College of Idaho Cooperative Program in Pharmacy is a dual degree program in collaboration with Idaho State University (ISU). Under ordinary circumstances, students will attend The College of Idaho for three years and then enter the Idaho State University Professional Doctor of Pharmacy program (Pharm.D.) for the next four years. When students have successfully completed the first two years of the Idaho State University Doctor of Pharmacy program, they will be granted a Bachelor of Science degree from The College of Idaho. When they successfully complete the final two years of the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum, they will receive a Pharm.D. from Idaho State University.

Entrance into the ISU program is competitive. ISU has offered up to two admission seats to competitive CI students each year. Applicants must have a minimum average GPA of 3.0 to apply to the program, but the average for admission is 3.65. Applicants must apply to the ISU College of Pharmacy – Doctor of Pharmacy program by the application deadline of February 1 of the year in which they intend to begin the program. Due to the competitive nature of this program, students are strongly advised to pursue a complementary major or course of study along with the program prerequisites.

During their course work at The College of Idaho, students will be required to complete 93 credits, including PEAK minors in Social Sciences/History and Humanities/Fine Arts, in addition to all of the prerequisite courses for the Pharm.D. program. Please note that ISU only accepts a maximum of 8 credits in religion; therefore, the Religion Minor is not a viable option to fulfill the Humanities/Fine Arts PEAK. The combination of the program prerequisites and the ISU professional program will count as the Natural Sciences and Professional Studies PEAKs. Prospective Pharmacy students should consult the Idaho State University Pharmacy web site for the most up-to-date information. The following is a general list of prerequisites subject to revision:

*These courses must be taken at The College of Idaho.

Student Learning Outcomes:

  • Critical Thinking
  • Analytic Reasoning
  • Problem Solving
  • Written Communication

Idaho State University Master of Occupational Therapy (BA or BS/MOT)

The dual-degree program in Occupational Therapy is a 3-3 course of study in which students undertake the PEAK curriculum and prerequisite studies for three years (under ordinary circumstances) at the C of I, and then articulate into the graduate program in Occupational Therapy at ISU. After two successful years in the ISU program, students will earn the BS degree from C of I. Upon completion of the program, students will earn the Master of Occupational Therapy degree from ISU. Students will complete at least 93 credits at C of I, with a major in dual-degree Occupational Therapy. Students undertaking this program will receive credit for completing all four PEAKs, for its prerequisites require considerable engagement in all PEAK categories. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all areas of the prerequisite courses, with no grade lower than a B, and must apply to the ISU program by December 15th of their junior year to ensure early acceptance into the program for qualified applicants. Students must also meet the minimum score requirement on either the GRE exam or the Miller Analogy Test, and complete at least 40 hours of experience under the supervision of a licensed Occupational Therapist, before making application. College of Idaho students will have up to three (3) dedicated admission seats for the Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) program each year for students completing the dual degree program. Students who complete this dual-degree program will earn the BS from The College of Idaho and the MOT from Idaho State University.

Required prerequisite courses to be completed at The College of Idaho:

Student Learning Outcomes:

  • Critical Thinking
  • Analytic Reasoning
  • Problem Solving
  • Written Communication

Idaho State University Doctor of Physical Therapy (BA or BS/DPT)

The College of Idaho Cooperative Program in Physical Therapy is an undergraduate-graduate articulation agreement with Idaho State University (ISU). Students will complete all of the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree at The College of Idaho, including the prerequisites for entrance into the Idaho State University Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. Prerequisites overlap significantly with the Health Professions Studies minor under PEAK. Students who complete The College of Idaho portion of this program will receive a BA or BS degree in the major they have completed. Upon completion of the Idaho State University portion of the program, students will earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Idaho State University.

Entrance into the Idaho State University program is competitive. Idaho State University has offered at least two admission seats to College of Idaho students each year, but it is possible that more than two College of Idaho students will apply. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all areas of the prerequisite courses, as well as the most recent 60 units of completed course work, and must apply for the Idaho State University program by January of their senior year. Students must meet minimum standards on the GRE or the Miller Analogy Test and complete at least 80 hours of experience, in two different areas of practice, under the supervision of a licensed Physical Therapist, before making application. For a complete description of the Idaho State University program and detailed requirements for admission, see their web site.

Required prerequisite courses:

* A one or two unit course in General Medical Terminology is required in the form of a university course or verification of completion of an online course.

Student Learning Outcomes:

  • Critical Thinking
  • Analytic Reasoning
  • Problem Solving
  • Written Communication

Idaho State University Master of Public Health (BA or BS/MPH)

The College of Idaho Cooperative Program in Public Health is an undergraduate-graduate articulation agreement with Idaho State University (ISU). Students will complete all of the requirements for a BA or BS degree at The College of Idaho, including the prerequisites for entrance into the Idaho State University Master of Public Health program. Students who complete The College of Idaho portion of this program will receive a BA or BS degree in the major they have completed. Upon completion of the Idaho State University portion of the program, students will earn a Master of Public Health from Idaho State University.

Entrance into the Idaho State University program is competitive. Idaho State University has offered at least two admission seats to College of Idaho students each year, but it is possible that more than two College of Idaho students will apply. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in all prerequisite courses and in all upper-division courses, and must apply for the Idaho State University program by January of their senior year. Students must meet minimum standards on the GRE and meet the entrance standards for the Idaho State University MPH program. For a complete description of the Idaho State University program and detailed requirements for admission, see their web site.

Required prerequisite courses:

Student Learning Outcomes:

  • Critical Thinking
  • Analytic Reasoning
  • Problem Solving
  • Written Communication